Curriculum Vitae

 

 

EDUCATION:
1979 - 1981Cranbrook Academy of Art, MI. USA:  Master of Fine Arts in Metalsmithing
1975 - 1979University of Toronto:  Bachelor of Music
WORK EXPERIENCE:
1986 - dateSelf-employed, Canada:  Freelance jewellery artist and metalsmith
1981 - 1985Lunt Silversmiths, MA. USA:  Commercial silver designer
1990 & 1991Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Council: Coordinator of the 1st and 2nd annual Christmas Craft Fairs in Corner Brook, NL.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Sept. 2013New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, Fredericton: Lecturer
Sept. 2007Nova Scotia Metal Arts Guild, Halifax: Juror, Lecturer, Workshop Leader
Aug. 1993Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s, NL., Mainstream Design: Paddling Against the Current: Conference Speaker
July 1988Haliburton School of Fine Arts, Ontario:  Metalsmithing instructor
June 1981American Craft Museum, New York City, USA:  Silversmithing and jewellery techniques demonstrator
1980 & 1981National Music Camp, Interlochen, MI. USA:  Metalsmithing instructor
EXHIBITIONS:
Sept. 2022Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Gallery, St. John's, NL: The 50th Anniversary Exhibiton, invitational group show, curated by Bruno Vinhas
June 2022Makers Guild Wales Gallery, Wales U.K: Colloquy, international group show of 13 leading silversmiths from the U.K. and 6 from Canada, curated by three of the participants.
March 2022Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS: Colloquy, international group show of 13 leading silvermiths from the U.K. and 6 from Canada, curated by three of the participants.
Sept 2019Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, Scarborough, ON: 32 Points - 32 Voices, A Compass of Peace, international group show in celebration of Peace, curated by Wendy Cooper-Parkinson
2018 to 2019Cross-Canada tour of 5 galleries (St. John's, NL; Vancouver, BC; Elora, ON; Halifax, NS; Corner Brook, NL): Mentor & Metalsmith - The Silver Art of Arthur Brecken & Wesley Harris, solo show in tribute to teacher, Mr. Brecken, curated by Wesley Harris; 172-page fully-illustrated self-published catalogue
Oct. 2015Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Gallery, St. John's, NL: Stellar, group show featuring work of 8 established Newfoundland artists, curated by Gloria Hickey
July 2015Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Gallery, St. John's, NL: All Member's Exhibit, awarded excellence in craft for Innovation and Design
May 2015Beaux-arts des Ameriques Gallery, Montreal, Quebec: RCA New Inductees Exhibition 2015
Summer 2013Toronto Pearson International Airport, ON: Canadian Mosaic of Metal, invitational group show, curated by Aggie Beynon
May 2013Zilberschmuck Gallery, Toronto, ON: Three Elements, invitational group show; 58-page catalogue
Jan. 2012Metal Arts Guild of Canada: Larger than Life, Exhibition in Print, one of 21 entrants accepted for publication
Summer 2011Grenfell Campus Art Gallery, Corner Brook, NL: Rare Reflections, Wesley Harris and Hilary Rice, two-person show, metals and textiles; 24-page catalogue
Spring 2011Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Gallery, St. John’s, NL: Rare Reflections – the Art of Wesley Harris, solo show
July 2005
Design Exchange, Toronto, ON: Northern Lights, Metal Arts Guild of Canada member show; featured on catalogue cover
Oct. 2002Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Gallery, St. John’s, NL: Metal: 5 Views, five-person show, curated by Gloria Hickey; 28-page catalogue
Aug. 1993Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Gallery, St. John’s, NL: Paddling Against the Current, juried group show
Sept. 1991Barber Gallery, Guelph, ON: Rosemarie & Wesley Harris, two-person show, watercolours and metals and nature photography
Summer 1981American Craft Museum, New York City, USA: Craft in Motion
May 1981Nelson Gallery / Atkins Museum, Kansas City, USA: Statements in Sterling/81, sponsored by the Sterling Silversmiths Guild of America
Jan. 1978Hart House, University of Toronto: Hart House Craft Exhibition, First prize, advanced category
June 1974Hamilton Place, Ontario: Image 74, juried group show
AWARD HIGHLIGHTS:
Nov 2019Dolphin Bowl acquired by the Provincial Art Bank Program, Newfoundland and Labrador
April 2019Labrador Wave scuptural piece becomes part of the permanent collection at The Rooms Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador (provincial art gallery)
May 2015Officially inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA)
2003Research grant of $15,000., Canada Council for the Arts
May 1981First prize winner, Silver Design Competition, a national student competition sponsored by the Sterling Silversmiths Guild of America
COMMISSION HIGHLIGHTS:
Princess Anne — brooch depicting coat of arms of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Newfoundland Premier Brian Tobin — pair of labradorite cufflinks
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists — brooches with monogram
Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador — 30th anniversary pin/pendant 
Work in numerous private collections across Canada and United States
Work in private collections in Australia, Norway and England
PUBLICATIONS / CATALOGUES / WRITINGS:
March 2018Catalogue: Mentor & Metalsmith - The Silver Art of Arthur Brecken & Wesley Harris, foreword by Don Stuart, introduction by Wendy Cooper-Parkinson, essay by Wesley Harris
Summer 2011Catalogue: Rare Reflections, Wesley Harris and Hilary Rice, essay by Charlotte Jones
Dec. 2007Jewellery Business: Labradorite: All that shimmers, by Niki Kavakonis pp. 40 – 43
May/June 2006Craft Council of NL Newsletter: How Necessity, Inherent Logic, Technique and Tool Influence Design, by Wesley Harris, pp 4 – 5 
Fall 2005MAGazine (Metal Arts Guild of Canada): Hour Glass, by Wesley Harris, p. 4
Summer 2005Catalogue and cover photo: Northern Lights, edited by Niki Kavakonis
Jan./Feb. 2005Craft Council of NL Newsletter: The Layered Art of Mokume Gane, by Wesley Harris, pp. 4 – 5, cover photo
Winter 2005MAGazine (Metal Arts Guild of Canada): The Common Ground, by Wesley Harris, p. 11
Fall 2004MAGazine (Metal Arts Guild of Canada): The Pearl, by Wesley Harris, p. 10, cover photo
Jan./Feb. 2004Craft Council of NL Newsletter: An Approach to Design, by Wesley Harris, pp. 4 – 5, cover photo
Oct. 2002Catalogue: Metal: 5 Views, essay by Gloria Hickey
Winter 1989MAGazine (Metal Arts Guild of Canada): An Approach to Design, by Wesley Harris, p. 4
MEMBERSHIPS:
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) http://rca-arc.ca/
Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador www.craftcouncil.nl.ca Member Profile
Canadian Society of Decorative Arts (CSDA) https://csda-ccad.org