Speak Up Speak Out
On Parliament Hill, May 10, 2012; Canadian War Artist Allan Harding MacKay destroyed 5 original art works depicting aspects of Canada's military heritage in Somalia and Afghanistan to protest the Harper led Conservative Government's abuse of power.
As a follow up the artist created an art work as a gift to Conservative Members of Parliament.The conversation continues.
AHM
Allan Harding MacKay has over the span of his visual arts career, accumulated extensive and multifaceted credentials as professional artist, gallery director, curator, and arts administrator.
His positions in visual art organizations have included CEO and senior management positions in a variety of administrative, curatorial, project management and consultation roles throughout Canada from 1970 to present.
He has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally. Public collections including the Canada Council Art Bank, National Gallery of Canada, Canadian War Museum, Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Art Gallery of Alberta and Kunstmuseum Bern Switzerland have acquired his works as well as corporations and private collections in Canada and Switzerland.
He has served as a visiting artist, resident artist and lecturer at several Canadian universities, art colleges, public galleries and national conferences and has been awarded numerous artist grants by the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and Alberta Foundation of the Arts.
At the invitation of the Canadian Department of Defence the artist served on two war artist assignments in Somalia (1993)and Afghanistan(2002).
His experience in the realm of public art includes 4 commissions in Toronto and Kitchener, Ontario.
He presently maintains a studio in Nelson, British Columbia.
Email: ahmackay@hotmail.com