Jan Yates makes paintings, ephemeral land works, installations, interventions and community projects that consider shifts in a changing climate. With sensitivity as to how weather shapes environment, communities and culture, the artist focuses on remote, wild locations and is concerned with the impact climate change has on isolated communities-and with how communities impact climate and the ecosystem.
Yates has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards with recognition from the Ontario Arts Council. An elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists, her paintings are collected throughout North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. OAC international residency grants have also supported Yates' work in Ireland and the Shetland Islands.
Residencies 2020 The Booth, Shetland, Scotland ( postponed due to pandemic) 2019 The Weaving Shed Gallery, Shetland, Scotland 2016 Sumburgh Head Lighthouse and Nature Centre, Shetland, Scotland 2015 The Booth, Shetland, Scotland 2012 Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Ireland
Grants and Awards 2016 Recipient, Ontario Arts Council International Residency Grant, Toronto, Canada Recipient, Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant, Toronto, Canada 2015 Recipient, Ontario Arts Council International Residency Grant, Toronto, ON 2010 Recipient, Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant, Toronto, ON Recipient, Award, First Place, Tenth Biannual Juried exhibition, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON 2007 Recipient, Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Grant, Toronto, ON 2005 Recipient, Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Grant, Toronto, ON 1999 Recipient, Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Grant, Toronto, ON Recipient, Peninsula Press Award, St. Catharines Art Association Annual Juried Exhibition, Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, ON Recipient, Award, Excellence in Oil Painting, Grimsby Festival of Art, Grimsby, ON
Site responsive installation, intervention, community engagement 2019 Murmur, Shetland, Scotland Landlines / Tidelines, Shetland, Scotland Visiting artist Land Walks, Urafirth Primary School, Shetland, Scotland 2018 Ephemeral Graffiti, Bruce Trail, Niagara, Canada Land walks / Land works, Bruce trail, Niagara, ON 2017 Land art: community workshop, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON, Canada Land walks / Land works, Bruce trail, Niagara, ON Square Roots: community installation celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara,ON. Canada: our home stories, community workshop, celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday, Jordan Historical Museum,Niagara, ON 2016 Visiting artist workshop with Sound School students, Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Shetland, Scotland Visiting artist open Studio, Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Shetland, Scotland Land walks / Land works,Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Shetland, Scotland 2015 Visiting artist open Studio, The Booth, Shetland, Scotland Bright Ideas, outdoor installation, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, On, Canada Land walks / Land works,, Shetland, Scotland 2014 The Milkweed Project, outdoor installation, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON 2013 Rags for those Loved: the dog tree, outdoor installation, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON 2012 Rags for those Loved, Intentions from Ireland. Outdoor installation in conjunction with Niagara Nights of Art, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON
Selected Solo Exhibitions 2019 Da Waander, Weaving Shed Gallery. Hillswick, Shetland 2017 Landmade, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, On, Canada 2016 Simmer Dim, Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Shetland, Scotland Direct Encounters, Jordan Art Gallery, Niagara, Canada 2013 Agri-culture, Hamilton Conservation Authority, Dundas, Canada 2011 Niagara Escarpment, Sunrise Gallery, Hamilton, ON Agri-culture, Pumphouse Visual Art Centre, Niagara on the Lake, ON, Canada 2009 Agri-culture, Jordan Art Gallery, Jordan, ON, Canada Agri-culture, Lincoln Public Library, Niagara, ON, Canada
Selected small group Exhibitions 2020 Imagine Together, Hambly & Hambly, Ireland 2017 Through our Eyes, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, On, Canada Ways of Working: Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON 2014 Alla Prima, Earls Court Gallery, Hamilton, Canada 2013 Mark of Beauty, Union Gallery Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland 2012 This Land is OUR Land, The Greenbelt Dichotomy, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, Canada 2011 Greenbelt Harvest Picnic, Daniel Lanois & friends, Christie Lake conservation area, Dundas, ON, Canada 2009 Crossing Borders, selected works by Canadian artists, Kenan Center House Gallery, Lockport, NY, United States Local Produce, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON, Canada 2008 Artists Respond to the permanent collection, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON, Canada Big Girls, Lilttle Girls, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON, Canada
Selected Juried Exhibitions 2019 Transformations, St. Catharines City Hall, Niagara, On, Canada 2016 Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON 2013 Beyond the Wall: Unpacking the Layers of St. Catharines’ Walls, St, Catharines City Hall, St. Catharines, ON 2009 Escarpment, On the Edge, St, Catharines City Hall, St. Catharines, ON 2008 Tenth Biannual Juried exhibition, 1st Place, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON Garden City: Views of St. Catharines, City Hall, St. Catharines, ON 2005 Fertile Ground, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, West Niagara, ON Sour Grapes, Niagara Artists Company St. Catharines, ON 2000 Small Works, Carnegie Art Gallery, Dundas, ON 2000 Grimsby Public Art Gallery's Juried Exhibition 2000, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON St. Catharines Art Association's Annual Juried Exhibition, Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, ON 1999 St. Catharines Art Association's Annual Juried Exhibition Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, ON International Women's Day Annual Juried Exhibition Rodman Hall St, Catharines, ON Grimsby Public Art Gallery Juried Exhibition, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON Women's Art Association Annual Juried Exhibition, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, ON St Catharines Art Association Annual Juried Exhibition, Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, ON
Group Exhibitions 2019 Sea Life, Shetland, Scotland 2008 Agri-culture, Lincoln Public Library, Niagara, On, Canada Pumphouse Visual Art Centre's Invitational Instructors' Exhibition, Pumphouse Visual Art Centre, Niagara on the Lake, ON Flirtations and Congeries: Artists Respond to the Permanent Collection, Grimsby Public Art Gallery Grimsby, ON Revealed, Women's Voices, Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, ON 2006 Arts and Tarts, Women in Art, Niagara Artists' Company, St. Catharines, ON 2005 Fertile Ground, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, West Niagara, ON Sour Grapes, Niagara Artists Company St. Catharines, ON Small Works, Carnegie Art Gallery, Dundas, ON Big Girls/ Little Girls, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON Related Experience 2021 Shared curatorial and business practice in an artist-run gallery, (since 2005), Jordan Art Gallery, ON, Canada 2016 Artist talk, Shetland, St. Catharines Art Association, Niagara, On, Canada 2015 Artist talk, Shetland, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON 2012 Kitchen Table Talk, The Greenbelt Dichotomy, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON 2009 Exhibition Juror, District school board of Niagara annual juried exhibition of graduate students, Niagara, ON Guest Presenter, St. Catharines Art Association, St. Catharines, ON 2007 Exhibition Juror, Grimsby Festival of Art, Niagara, ON Artist Mentor, Grimsby Community Murals Project, Niagara, ON Guest Presenter, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON
2019 Pages from the Frozen Sea artwork inclusion for book curated by Eva Mantell & Sarah Stengle North Notes, Tom Morton, The Shetland times, Shetland 2016 60 North radio, interviewed by Tom Morton, Shetland, Scotland Canadian artist paints wild Shetland, Stephen Gordon, The Shetland Times, Shetland, Scotland 2015 60 North Magazine, Shetland, Scotland The Art of 40, 'Bright Ideas', exhibition catalogue & DVD, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON, Canada Kate Leathers, Rhona Wenger 2013 A celebration of Creatures Great & Small, Peter Van Hiel, Grimsby Lincoln News, Niagara, ON, Canada 2012 Arabella Magazine, ON, Canada 2011 Stephen Parr, This Land is YOUR Land, Artists respond to the Greenbelt legislation, Cogeco TV, Niagara, ON, Canada Amanda Street, the Greenbelt Dichotomy, Niagara this Week, Niagara, ON 2009 Mike Zettel, Art and Wine a complementary pairing, Niagara This Week, Niagara, ON 2007 Lori Littleton, Art, Wine & the Great Outdoors, Does it get any better? The St. Catharines Standard, Niagara, ON Laura Hollick, Food For Thought, Pulse magazine, Niagara, ON Laura Hollick, Blooming' En Plein Air', Pulse magazine Niagara, ON 2005 Joanne McDonald, Energy from Art': Firecracker Fuchsia a joint effort of three Niagara Artists, Niagara This week, Niagara, ON Niagara Life Magazine, Yolanda's Garlic, St. Catharines Market Square, Niagara, ON Mathew Van Dongen, Now Art and Taxes are Inevitable - New exhibit at City Hall adds some culture to paying your bills; Spectrum Verve, The Standard, St. Catharines, ON Elaine Hujer, Playing around with Nature, The Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton, ON 2004 Elizabeth Chitty, Revealed, Women's Voices, Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, ON Joanna Manning, Real Art Horse, Pulse Niagara, West Niagara, ON Sharon Hiebert, Flirtations & Congeries, Grimsby Public Art Gallery Exhibition Catalogue Grimsby, ON 2003 Joanna Manning, A Dog's Life, The Tribune, Welland, ON Kelly Putter, Fine Art, The Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton, ON 2003 Denise Davy, Kurts' World, The Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton, ON Christopher Waters, Rejects no More, The St. Catharines Standard, St. Catharines, ON Katharine Nadeau, Gallery Exhibit Features Local, The Grimsby News, West Niagara, ON Terry McNamee, Yates Selected for Exhibition, The Grimsby Independent, West Niagara, ON Dorothy Turcotte, Grimsby's Murals, The Downtowner, St. Catharines, ON Laura Arsenau, Big Girls/Little Girls, exhibition catalogue, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON Sharon Hiebert, Big Girls/Little Girls exhibition catalogue, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON
Teaching 2020 LAND & SEA: intro to cold wax medium, Sunbury Shores arts & nature centre, New Brunswick, Canada 2019 LANDWORKS: WALK & MAKE::Bruce Trail,,Niagara, Canada Murmur, Urafirth Primary School, Shetland, Scotland Drinks with Van Gogh, The Cornerstone, Shetland, Scotland 2017 LANDWORKS: WALK & MAKE, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, Canada Painting with oil and Cold Wax, Rogue Studio, Niagara, ON Encaustic Painting ,Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON Plein air painting, The Elora Centre for the Arts, Elora, ON Shorelines: plein air painting workshop, Elora Centre for the Arts, Elora, On Drinks With Van Gogh, Forty Public House, Niagara, ON 2016 Painting with oil and cold wax, Elora Centre for the Arts, Elora, ON 2015 Painting with oil and cold wax, The Booth, Shetland, Scotland Outdoor painting, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON 2014 In the Orchard, plein air painting workshop, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON Encaustic Painting, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON 2013 Introduction to Encaustic painting, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON. Exploring the Surface, painting with Cold Wax, Pumphouse Visual Art centre, Niagara on the Lake, Niagara, ON Encaustic Painting, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON 2012 Encaustic Painting, Pumphouse Visual Art centre, Niagara on the Lake, Niagara, ON Exploring the Surface, painting with Cold Wax, Studio on the Ridge, Niagara, On Plein Air Landscape, Studio on the Ridge, Niagara, ON 2011 Guest instructor, District School Board of Niagara, Grimsby Secondary School, Niagara, ON Exploring the Surface, painting with Cold Wax, Studio on the Ridge, Niagara, On Plein Air Landscape, Studio on the Ridge, Niagara, ON Guest instructor, District School Board of Niagara, Grimsby Secondary School, Niagara, ON 2010 Plein Air Landscape, Studio on the Ridge, Niagara, ON Encaustic Painting, Studio on the Ridge, Niagara, ON 2009 Guest instructor, District School Board of Niagara, Grimsby Secondary School, Niagara, ON Encaustic Painting, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON Plein Air Landscape, Studio on the Ridge, Niagara, ON Encaustic Painting, Studio on the Ridge, Niagara, ON 2008 Guest instructor, District School Board of Niagara, Grimsby Secondary School, Niagara, ON Impressionist Landscape, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON Introduction to Encaustic Painting, Burlington Art Centre, Burlington, ON Introduction to Encaustic Painting, Pumphouse Visual Art Centre, Niagara on the Lake, ON 2007 Encaustic Painting, the Southampton Art School, Southampton ON Paint Spectacular Sunsets, the Southampton Art School, Southampton, ON Grimsby Community Murals Project Grimsby, ON
Affiliations & Associations Visual Arts Scotland, UK Society of Canadian Artists, Canada Landscape Artists International Greenbelt Collective, Ontario, Canada Jordan Art Gallery, Niagara, ON Visual Arts Ontario, Toronto, ON Carfac, Toronto, ON
Selected Contributions, Donations and Community Service 2019 Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, Shetland, Scotland 2015 Grimsby Public Art Gallery, ON, Canada 2014 Jordan Historical Museum, Niagara, ON 2012 McNally House Hospice, Niagara, ON Grimsby Public Art Gallery Annual Art Auction, Grimsby, ON Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Jordan Art Gallery, Niagara, ON 2010 Grimsby Public Art Gallery Annual Art Auction, donation, Niagara, ON Jordan Historical Museum, Niagara, ON 2008 Grimsby Public Art Gallery Annual Art Auction, Niagara, ON 2007 Grimsby Public Art Gallery Annual Art Auction, Niagara, ON Grimsby Historical Museum, Niagara, ON 2005 Foundation of Resources for Teens, Niagara, ON Grimsby Historical Museum, Niagara, ON Grimsby Secondary School Art Cub, Niagara, ON Dundas Valley School of Art Annual Art Auction, Dundas, ON Women's Resource Centre fundraiser, Niagara, ON Outside the Lines- work by young artists, Lincoln Public Library, Lincoln, ON Grimsby Public Art Gallery/Library Building Committee, Niagara, ON
Selected Collections Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, Shetland, Scotland Geoff Jukes (Weaving Shed Gallery), Shetland Sumburgh Head Lighthouse and Nature center, Shetland, Scotland Kacaba Vineyards, Ontario, Canada Bizkids, Seattle, Washington, US Rubin Thomlinson LLP, Toronto, ON Brock University, Niagara, ON R Cann, Cultural Services , City of St. Catharines, Canada J. Surasky, Author, New York, US Gary Thomas Kelly, Distinctive Interior Design, Florida, US R Mostacci, MCIP, RPP, Director, Community & Development Services, Fort Erie, ON R Wenger, Director, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Niagara, ON A Carter, Design the World, Toronto, ON Concorde Ridge, Niagara, ON B Kirshbaum, writer, Seinfeld, Everyone Loves Raymond, Los Angeles, US M Jane, comedian, Comedy Store, Improv, Los Angeles, US