John Little 11 Scotts Point Road East Dover, Nova Scotia, Canada B3Z 3V9
Born: Newark, New Jersey, USA 1943 Canadian citizen since 1978
EDUCATION
1968 M.A. Program, Dalhousie Unversity, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1966 B.A. Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
WORK EXPERIENCE 1972 - present: full-time blacksmith/sculptor in Nova Scotia, self-taught
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2008 "The Art of Collecting", Mary Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2006-2007 "UNIQUE! 30 Years of Outstanding Crafts", Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau, Quebec
2006 "Did You Know...? Seldom Seen Works from the Nova Scotia Art Bank" Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2005 "Take Another Heat" at Mary Black Gallery, Halifax, and at ArtsPlace, Annapolis Royal, part of CanIRON V International Blacksmithing Conference
2004 "Bho'n Teallach-From the Forge" Maritime Blacksmith Association exhibition, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia 2002 "The Art of Worship", Mary Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia 2001 "Ancient Futures, The Art of the Blacksmith at the 3rd Millenium" Mary Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1999 "Far and Wide" Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia & touring 1998 "Poetry of the Vessel" Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1997 "Object of the Garden" Mary Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1996 "Festival of Hands" Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1995 "North of the Border" Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan, Alabama, USA 1995 Summit Collection, Summit Place, G-7 Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1990 "The Medium is Metal: The Theme is Water" Canadian Metal Arts Guild, Halifax, Nova Scotia and touring in Canada 1987 Internationale Ausstellung "Zetigemasse Kunstschmiedearbeiten und Skulpturen," Friedrichshafen, Germany 1986 "Ecphore'86", Halifax, Nova Scotia 1984 "Works of Craft" Museum of Man, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada touring) 1984 "Ars Sacra '84" Technical University of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1983 "Nova Scotia Art Bank" Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1982-86 "Atlantic Visions d'Atlantique" (touring) 1978 "Artisan'78" Canadian Crafts Council (Canada touring) 1977 Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. USA 1977 Museum of Contemporary Crafts, New York, NY, USA 1976 "Iron Solid/Wrought USA, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
Solo
2007 "Mouvement Tectonique" forged ironwork and musical sculptures, La Chapelle historique du Bon Pasteur, maison de la musique, Montreal (installation and performance) April 12-May 17
2007 John and Becky Little, "Forged Ironwork", Marigold Gallery, Truro, NS
1986 "John Little Forge Work" Anna Leonowens Gallery, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1985 "Ironworks, John Little" Lunenburg Art Gallery, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia 1980 "Ironwork" Fireworks Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
SELECTED PERFORMANCES (percussive iron sculptures)
2007 "Mouvement Tectonique": 6 week exhibition opens with percussionist Pierre Tanguay playing Tectonic Shift and Little Orakulus of Venus 1, La Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur, maison de la musique, Montreal
2005 "IronSky Ensemble" in concert at St. George's Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia featuring Tectonic Shift played by Jerry Granelli
2005 Opening Ceremonies CanIRON V International Blacksmiting Conference, featuring "Tectonic Shift" played by Jerry Granelli with Jeff Reilly
2003 Sound Sculptures "Volcanus Eruptus", "Man O' War", and "Rack of Gongs" played by Jerry Granelli with Jeff Reilly at The National Gallery Great Hall as part of the Nationl Art Centre's Atlantic Scene, Ottawa
2002 "IronSky" Musical performances by Jerry Granelli, percussionist, and Jeff Reilly, bass clarinet, featuring "Volcanus Eruptus" and "Sagromides of Venus", at Festival International Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, Quebec, and St. Mary's Art Gallery, Halifax, and 2001 at St. George's Round Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia, plus the CD, produced in East Dover and Halifax
2002 Peter Wiegold, London, England composes and guest conducts members of Symphony Nova Scotia in "Bitter Iron", a musical event featuring "Volcanus Eruptus" and other sound sculptures by John Little, with dance choreographed by Sheilagh Hunt, Dalhousie Arts Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, part of "Out of the Forge" Festival of New Music, 2001 and the Atlantic New Dance Festival 2002
2001 CD Iron Sky Sound Track for National Film Board Genie Award winning "Westray"
2001 Sound Sculptures and IronSky CD featured in documenary film "Jerry Granelli-In the Moment"
2000 Drum Fest 2000 participant, musical performance by John Little and Jim Faraday featuring "volcanus eruptus" St. Mathews Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2000 "Sagromides of Venus" invited to Sound Symposium, St. John's, NFLD, played by Don Wherry with the Black Auks
1995 "Soundscapes" performance by Anthony Cox, bassist, David Friedman, vibes and marimba player, and Jerry Granelli, percussionist featuring the percussive iron sculpture "Sagromides of Venus" Atlantic Jazz festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS and COMMISSIONS
2008 The Mary E. Black Gallery Sonic Gizmo, an interactive sound sculpture installed in the front courtyard of the Gallery, at the south end of the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk
2007 Little Orakulus of Venus II completed for Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, NS
2002 and 1989 Atlantic School of theology, Halifax, NS: 3 candlestands
1996 Fuji Pavilion, Jardins Botanique, Montreal, Quebec: 11 decorative sculptures
1990 Canadian Museum of Civilization: - J. Chalmers Collection 1984, 1978 - Massey Collection, Canadian Museum of Civilization
1984-85 Fortress Louisbourg, NS: extensive re-creation ironwork 1982, 1974 Art Bank of Nova Scotia 1978 Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council Permanent Collection
SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
2007 Little Orakulus of Venus II completed for Deborah Simmons and family, as a gift for her brother, Danny Simmons, musician (Toronto, ON)
2006 Shambhala Bell commissioned by John Leon for his 30' tower, for ceremonial use
2002 Sagromides of Venus purchased by Erin Donovan, Toronto musician and percussionist, and played in a vaiety of venues from Toronto's Harbourfront to Newfoundland's Sound Symposium, incuding performances with dancer Yvonne Ng
Derek and Jackie Oland, New Brunswick
The Late Barbara Newman, Nova Scotia
Craig Foundation, Nova Scotia
Sobey Family, Nova Scotia
Hart Massey, Ontario
Tony Saulnier
GRANTS and AWARDS
2008, 2007 Finalist for Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterworks Arts Award (Tectonic Shift)
2008, 2007 short-listed for Portia White Prize
2007 presentation grant from NS Department of tourism, Culture and Heritage to present Tectonic Shift and other works at La Chapelle historique du Bon Pasteur in Montreal
2003 Nova Scotia Arts and Culture grant to produce large stainless steel musical sculpture-"Tectonic Shift"
2000 Best Piece Alternate Material & Best Piece Sculpture: Metal Arts Guild of Nova Scotia Exhibition and Competition, Halifax, Nova Scotia 1998 Nova Scotia Arts Council Grant: to produce musical/ percussive iron sculptures 1987 Canadian Council Visiting Artist Program: to visit blacksmith shops in Germany 1978 Canada Council Explorations Grant
MISCELLANY
2008 Paul Frehner, composer, (University of Western Ontario) continues to work with recordings of John's sound sculptures, especially Tectonic Shift, to compose a piece of music suitable for dance. Fahrettin Guven of Turkey and Cananda is working on the choreography.
2008 Paul Frehner composes 'Fuse', a piece for violin and electronics, for violinist Monica Germino. The electonics component uses samples from Tectonic Shift.
2008 John is guest instructor in blacksmithing and design at Haliburton School of the Arts, Fleming College, Haliburton, Ontario
2007 Paul Frehner composes 'Submerged Echoes', and electro-acoustic musical composition based solely on the acoustic sounds of Tectonic Shift.
2005 demonstrator of blacksmithing and design for CanIRON V (international blacksmithing conference) Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada
2004 Juror for "Iron in the Wind", exhibition by Saskatchewan chapter of the Western Canadian Blacksmiths' Guild
2004 demonstrator of blacksmithing and design at New England Blacksmiths Meeting, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
2003 Juror for Saskatchewan Craft exhibition "Dimensions", Regina, SK
2001 demonstrator of blacksmithing and design at CanIRON III (international blacksmithing conference) North Battleford, Saskatchewan
1992 consultant to Dinosaur restoration project, Museum of Natural History, NY, USA 1979 visited by Chinese Craft Delegation
SELECT MEDIA
Radio: CBC: 2008 April and July, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1995, 1992, 1991, 1980, 1976 including Morningside with Peter Gzowski, Basic Black, and Richardson's Round-up, the , Sounds like Canada (featured Tectonic shift April 15, 2008) and Information Morning Television: CTV National (John Little 'Sound Sculptures' featuring Tectonic Shift); 2003 CBC Artspots (6) www.cbc.ca/artspots/html/artists/jlittle&granelli; 1996: CBC "On the Road Again"
Print: Canadian
2005 "From the Forge Comes Magic" by Anna Horsnell Wade Nova Scotia Craft News
2005 "Steeling the Show" by Stephen Pedersen The Chronicle Herald, Halifax
2005 "One Big Tectonic Shift" by Stephen Pedersen The Chronicle Herald, Halifax
2003 Macleans magazine, by John DeMont 2001 "IronSky Astonishes Imagination" concert review by Stephen Pedersen, The Chronicle Herald "Unique Sculpture Inspires Musicians" by Stephen Pedersen, The Chronicle Herald "Wiegold pleasantly pounds out Bitter Iron at the Out of the Forge Fest" concert review by Stephen Pedersen., The Chronicle Herald 2000 "Organic Tension" Canadian Architect re Fuji Pavilion, Montreal, Quebec 1995 "Voices of Iron and Steel" by Stephen Pedersen The Mail Star 1993 "Dinosaur Smithy" by June Davidson Dalhousie, the Alumni Magazine 1986 "John Little Forge Work" review Arts Atlantic 1985 "John Little: Iron, Hand-forged", by Charmaine Gaudet Arts Atlantic
Print: International
2009 From Fire to Form, Sculpture from the Modern Blacksmith and Metalsmith by Mathew Clarke
2008 Ironwork Today 2 Inside and Out by Jeffrey B Synder pp. 97-98,172-173,211
2006 Ironwork Today Inside and Out by Dona Z. Meilach front cover pp. 8, 12, 14, 128, 137, 140, 157, 201, 242
2005 Around and About: "John Little Workshop" The Anvil's Ring vol.33 no.3 2005 Gallery: "Iron in the Wind" Exhibition, Saskatchewan The Anvil's Ring vol.33 no.3
2004 Exhibition Maritime Blacksmiths Association: "Bho'n Teallach-From the Forge" The Anvil's Ring vol 33 no.1
1992 "Smith" in "The Talk of the Town" by Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker 1989 "A Modern Day Hephaestus" by Peter Mandel, Brown Alumni Monthly 1987 "Moderne Kunstschmiedearbeiten und Skulpturen" review, Metallhandwerk+Technik 1977 "200 Years of the Smithy's Art" The New York Times
