Biography
Macaulay T. Eteli
Macaulay Eteli is
a self-taught artist whose love for art was shaped by childhood games in his
native country Nigeria. He started drawing on dirt, wooden slates, craft paperbags
and any surface that was at his disposal. While growing up in Nembe, Bayelsa
State, Nigeria, Macaulay also explored the use of clay dug up from the
shoreline of the river in front of his residence. With the clay he fashioned
ornaments and miniature sculptures.
While focusing on
his secondary school curriculum, Macaulay Eteli remained active with his art by
producing drawings and cartoons for his class and the school theater group.
Upon graduation from high school in 1974, Eteli worked with the Rivers State
Council for Arts and Culture as a Cultural Assistant (woodcarving). Outside of
his daily employment, Eteli intensified is focus on fine art as he produced his
first full portrait painting (48" x 24") and a concrete sculpture of
an angel which were both commissioned works.
Eteli immigrated
to Canada in 1978 where he studied for a Civil Engineering Technology diploma
and a Bachelor degree in Education. However it wasn't until 1993, after a seven
year working period with "Construction Control Group" and
"Ontario Hydro", that he decided to pursue a full-time art career.
Captivating yet
never overpowering, this is the aura that Eteli's latest body of work conveys.
His relaxed style beckons viewers
to -- come closer and listen to a story. As you look his creation comes alive.
His subtle style allows him to flow from traditional images to sceneries to
abstracts. This ability shows depth and maturity in Eteli's exhibitions.
Eteli
has been recognized in Heather Miller’s 2003 publication “The Visual Arts
(Canadian Heritage Collections, Primary Documents of 20th Century Canada)”
The painting
titled “Stage One” is featured on page 46 of the above publication.
In
1995 he won the first price award at The Shaw Festival Show of the Arts/crafts
at Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada.
Eteli
was nominated for the "Outstanding Developing Artist" award at the
inaugural "Our Image Visual Arts Award" held on 28th of
April 2001 at The Design Exchange in Toronto, Canada
Other
organizations that have also taken notice of his paintings include:
Arts Actualites
Magazine, Clichy, France 2004
L'Art Africain
Contemporain (Contemporary African Art) Paris, France.
Umoja Magazine
(Cover page February 1996) Madison, Wisconsin U.S.A,
Dr. Achin
Gottberg of Germany (author of the lexicon "VISUAL ARTIST OF AFRICA TO THE
SOUTH OF THE SAHARA).
The Toronto Star
- Toronto, Canada 1995
The Globe and
Mail -Toronto, Canada 1996
WORD, Toronto's
Urban Culture Magazine 1996
Oshawa This Week,
Oshawa, Canada. 1998
City T V Toronto,
Canada
CBC Radio 1997
CIUT and CKLN Radio Toronto Canada. 1998
Film
Appearance 1999 - Six
paintings featured as set props in
"Sweet Sixteen" directed by Jeff Byrd, and produced by Brandon Bates
(NEW JACK CITY), featuring twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry and their little
brother Taj.
SELECT EXHIBITIONS
Solo
2002 Oct, Ashanti Room Gallery, Toronto
1998 May, Durham
Board of Education Arts Endowment, Oshawq Ont. Canada.
1997 Oct. Open
Studio "From Sketches to lithographs", Oshawa, Ont., Canada.
1996 May, Nubian
Art Gallery, Hamilton Ontario, Canada.
1993 August
Artczar Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1991 June African
Resource Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Group
2004 April, Mother Love, Ashanti Room Gallery, Toronto
Ont. Canada
2004 African Musical Roots: Royal Ontario Museum,
Toronto, Ont. Canada
1999 Upper Canada
Law Society, Ossgood Hall, Toronto
1997 Aug Shaw Show Of The Arts And Craft, Niagara - The - Lake, Ont., Canada.
1997 Jul,
AfroFest Queens Park Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
1997 Jun, Art In
The Park Windsor, Ontario Canada.
1996 Aug.
"Art Naturally at the Guild Inn" Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
1996 June Art In
The Park, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
1995 Aug. African
Festival of the Arts, Dusable Museum Chicago, IL, U. S. A
1995 Aug. Shaw
Show of the Arts and Crafts Niagara - On-The - Lake. Ontario Canada.
1994 Sept.
African Festival of the Arts Field Museum, Chicago, IL, U. S. A
1994 Aug. Shaw
Festival show of the Arts Niagara- On-The-Lake, Canada.
1994 Feb, State
University of New York, at Buffalo, U.S. A
1993 Oct, Robert
MacLaughlin Art Mart, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
1992 Aug.
Featured Artists, Artczar Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1992 Feb. La
Galleria, Toronto, Canada
1991 Aug. Osibi
Festival, Ottawa, Canada
1991 July, African
Resource Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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