BIOGRAPHY
Maurice Gareau was born in Montreal in 1951 and has been painting since the sixties. He first worked in drawings, oils and acrylics until the end of the seventies, when he discovered glass painting, which has become his main artistic activity.
His exploration is focused on the human figure which can be found in many of his works and continues to fascinate him by the expressions and emotions it conveys.
This quest for expression in the human figure brought him to San Francisco from 1986 to 1989, where he worked with the audacious pionners of the Studio Glass Movement.
On his return to Montreal, inspired by this exceptional adventure, he began a movement in favor of the use of stained glass as a way of artistic expression.
In addition to his artistic work, he organises numerous group exhibitions where personal expression is a prerequisite for participation.
In his workshop, he forms numerous apprentices and encourages them to depart from the traditional categories as an emphasis on artistic self expression.
He also taught, glass painting at the Glass Craft Center of Quebec, in numerous professional studios, and in his own workshop.
Very involved in the promotion of art glass, he has been one of the creators of the Glass Artist Association of Quebec; and also, collaborated in the coordination of the Canadian Glass Biennal, in 1996. He was then administrator of the glass family in the Quebec Craft Council, and among the Glass Art Association of Canada and Artists in Stained Glass of Canada.
He has also received many grants from the Culture Ministry of Quebec, to support his artwork and to allow him to be a speaker in the United States and Mexico.
His work is featured in numerous private collections and it is now possible to appreciate thirteen of his panels, at the National Liberty Museum of Philadelphia, under the theme : " QUEST FOR LIBERTY THROUGH THE AGES ". You can also get the book " Voyage to Liberty through Faith ", at the museum, illustrating twelve of his panels. This series was entirely realized with the collaboration of his wife Vénita, who contributes to the elaboration of most of his works and remains, after twenty years, his muse and companion.
1990 Personnages en Verre,Complexe du Canal Lachine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1996 Canadian Glass Biennal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1995 Verriers du Québec, Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
1994 Glass as a canvas, Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
1993 Environmental Glass Associates, Corning, New York, United States
1993 Eclats de Verre, Centre du Vieux-Palais, St-Jérome, Quebec, Canada
1993 An Verre/en Verre, Maison de la Culture Marie-Uguay, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1992 Teachers exhibition, Centre des Métiers du Verre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1991 Grand Prix des Métiers d'Art, Maison de la Culture Frontenac, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
On the fourth floor,in a room called " Quest for Liberty through the Ages " , we invite you to walk around the reconstituted remains of Noah's Ark, and to look at twelve etched stained glass panels, depicting twelve bible heroes who contributed to free their people, often at the sacrifice of their own life.
His exploration is focused on the human figure which can be found in many of his works and continues to fascinate him by the expressions and emotions it conveys.
This quest for expression in the human figure brought him to San Francisco from 1986 to 1989, where he worked with the audacious pionners of the Studio Glass Movement.
On his return to Montreal, inspired by this exceptional adventure, he began a movement in favor of the use of stained glass as a way of artistic expression.
In addition to his artistic work, he organises numerous group exhibitions where personal expression is a prerequisite for participation.
In his workshop, he forms numerous apprentices and encourages them to depart from the traditional categories as an emphasis on artistic self expression.
He also taught, glass painting at the Glass Craft Center of Quebec, in numerous professional studios, and in his own workshop.
Very involved in the promotion of art glass, he has been one of the creators of the Glass Artist Association of Quebec; and also, collaborated in the coordination of the Canadian Glass Biennal, in 1996. He was then administrator of the glass family in the Quebec Craft Council, and among the Glass Art Association of Canada and Artists in Stained Glass of Canada.
He has also received many grants from the Culture Ministry of Quebec, to support his artwork and to allow him to be a speaker in the United States and Mexico.
His work is featured in numerous private collections and it is now possible to appreciate thirteen of his panels, at the National Liberty Museum of Philadelphia, under the theme : " QUEST FOR LIBERTY THROUGH THE AGES ". You can also get the book " Voyage to Liberty through Faith ", at the museum, illustrating twelve of his panels. This series was entirely realized with the collaboration of his wife Vénita, who contributes to the elaboration of most of his works and remains, after twenty years, his muse and companion.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1991 California Stained Glass & Design School, Oakland, California, United States1990 Personnages en Verre,Complexe du Canal Lachine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2000 Symbology 2000, Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada1996 Canadian Glass Biennal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1995 Verriers du Québec, Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
1994 Glass as a canvas, Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
1993 Environmental Glass Associates, Corning, New York, United States
1993 Eclats de Verre, Centre du Vieux-Palais, St-Jérome, Quebec, Canada
1993 An Verre/en Verre, Maison de la Culture Marie-Uguay, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1992 Teachers exhibition, Centre des Métiers du Verre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1991 Grand Prix des Métiers d'Art, Maison de la Culture Frontenac, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
MUSEUM
National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, United StatesOn the fourth floor,in a room called " Quest for Liberty through the Ages " , we invite you to walk around the reconstituted remains of Noah's Ark, and to look at twelve etched stained glass panels, depicting twelve bible heroes who contributed to free their people, often at the sacrifice of their own life.
