Mary Smith McCulloch

Mary Smith McCulloch was born in Ardrishaig Argyll, Scotland. She was educated at the Glasgow School of Art and immigrated to Canada in 1967. From 1973 until her retirement in May 2000 she was a professor of Fine Arts at Okanagan University College.
Mary has exhibited extensively in Canada and Scotland and has participated in numerous printmaking biennial and triennial exhibitions in Yugoslavia, The Netherlands, India, Slovenia, Poland and Germany. Mary has her work in various public collections in Canada and Great Britain.
Locally her work is in the permanent collections of the Kelowna Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of the South Okanagan, Penticton. Some of her art works can be viewed at the Eldorado Hotel, The Capri Hotel and CHBC Television Station, Kelowna.

Exhibition "Evora" October 13 to 27th
The inspiration for my recent work came as a result of a visit to Evora , a world heritage site situated in Portugal 135 kilometers east of Lisbon. The quality of light and the architecture showing the evidence of layers of settlements from the stone age to the Romans, the Moors and the Christians were what first interested me.
However, it became much more than that. For me Jose Saramago, the Portuquese writer in his essay for World Heritage sums up best why I titled this body of work Evora. " When it is spoken or when we stop to listen to it , the actual place name of Evora sounds on our lips and to our ears, like a memory of an ancient voice" '' For Evora is mainly a state of mind, the kind that throughout history so often defends the past without allowing it to encroach on the space that rightfully belongs to the present''

Autunmal Equinox Monoprint 20 x 24 inches

Autunmal Vineyard Monoprint 11 x 29 inches

Jorge Monoprint 21 x 20 inches

Vinho Rose Monoprint 10 x 15 inches

Vinho Chardonnay Monoprint 10 x 15 inches

Ice Wine A Monoprint 22 x 27 inches

Ice Wine B Monoprint 22 x 27 inches

Vineyard Viginette D SOLD Monoprint 8 x 7 inches	Vineyard Viginette E SOLD Monoprint 8 x 7 inches

Vineyard Viginette F SOLD Monoprint 8 x 7 inches

Artist Statement for the Civilization Series;
My new work investigates the passage of time. I am interested in cross-cultural issues particularly in the way in which they connect as well as the way in which they can fragment. I work with ancient archetypal structures as a vehicle to act as metaphors to express authority, power, disintegration and sanctuary.

Passage to Iona Monoprint 30 x 42 inches

Timeless Authority Monoprint 42 x 30 inches	Timeless Sanctuary Monoprint 42 x 30 inches

All is Vanity Monoprint 42 x 30 inches	Sanctuary Unique Print 1/1 20 x 14 inches

Kettle Valley Railway Series

Through the Trestle Intaglio 24 x 19 inches	Under the Trestle I Intaglio 24 x 19 inches

Under the Trestle II Intaglio 17 x 18 inches

Artists Statement for the Vineyard Series
My work is an investigation into the structures and patterns of land formations, natural and man-made. I am interested in the geology of the land, and the location and development of the land by man from prehistoric times to the present. My recent work reflects my fascination with the structural pattern of the vineyards in the Okanagan region.

Vineyard B Monoprint 19 x 26 inches	Vineyard D Monoprint 19 x 30 inches

Series of Etchings of Okanagan Orchards and Vineyards

Vineyard I Etching 6 x 9 inches	Vineyard H Monoprint 6 x 12 inches

Belgo Orchard Etching 8 x 29 inches

Orchard Vignette Etching 5 x 4 inches

Artist Statement for the Okanagan Valley Hoodoo Series
My work explores and investigates the relationship of archetypal forms and structures present in archaeological, geological and historical sites. I work primarily with intaglio printmaking processes in non-traditional ways. The hoodoo formations of the Okanagan Valley and the unusual basaltic cliff formations of the hebridean island of Staffa located off the west coast of Scotland are the sites I explored and used as source material.
The monoprints "Okanagan Hoodoos" and "Hoodoo Veil" were created by building up layers of forms and structures on an etching plate, then inking it and allowing the press to reshape and transform the original plate. For these works I deliberately kept my techniques loose; concept and process reacted with one another in the alchemy of image making.

Folded Cliffs of Summerland Monoprint 23 x 18 inches	Hoodoo Veil Monoprint

Okanagan Hoodoos Monoprint

Artist Statement for the Standing Stone Series
My work explores the relationship of archetypal forms present in the ancient sites of the standing stones and Celtic crosses located in the West Coast of Scotland. Since the schist stone used to build these ancient structures is one of the oldest and therefore one of the hardest, these Menhirs have remained for thousands of years with very little altering their appearance. Celtic monks to carve Celtic crosses used this same stone and in the early years of Christianity the cross was sometimes carved into existing standing stones thus layering and uniting pagan and Christian symbols. The location and the formations of the standing stones have intrigued generations of Celtic people. Archaeologists, historians and scientists are still trying to establish their purpose. What I am so interested in is their enduring mythical strength. I like the fact that they are shrouded in mystery and that by erecting these strikingly authoritative phallic structures ancient people have left an imprint on the landscape for future generations to ponder.

Dalraida Standing Stones Monoprint/Etching 36 x 24 inches	Bandelier Curtain Monoprint 16 x 22 inches

Dalriada Cuimhne Etching/Aquatint 6 x 7 inches	St. Martain's Cross Uniqueprint 16 x 20 inches

Fingals Cave Collagraph 36 x 24 inches	Staffa Collagraph 24 x 35 inches

To view artwork from Mary McCulloch that has sold click HERE