In June 2012 Daniel Francis Gray was part of a group of 50 Canadian artists who participated in a project supporting efforts to protest the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline in BC. The group (led by Raincoast Conservation Foundation with support from First Nations communities, eco-tour operators and coastal lodges) took their paints, canvases and carving tools on an expedition into the heart of what would have been the tanker route for the pipeline, through the ocean channels and wilderness of the north and central BC coast. The trip resulted in a travelling exphibition of over 60 artworks, a film and a book. The film premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival in October 2012.
Gray was instrumental in founding the Qualicum Beach Grand Prix d’Art held annually in July. The event brings plein area air artists together to paint in a three-hour marathon. Gray belongs to the Pastel Society of Canada and has exhibited work in Paris, New York, Minneapolis and Florida.
Image Dimensions (inches/centimetres)
Image Height (inches)
20
Image Width (inches)
27
Image Width (centimetres)
68.58
Image Height (centimetres)
50.8
Framed?
Yes
Acquisition Type
Purchase
Essays
Daniel Francis Gray is known for his plein air coastal landscapes. He works with pastel, his studio the outdoors and his subjects are what catch his attention in the moment, whether on the shore or a crowded street.
“It’s my observation, my built-up experience and my choice of material, and to have my tools and to be on the beach and have a couple of hours to work; to me, it is using my time on this planet at its best. Regardless of the results. Sometimes they don’t work out, sometimes they do.” Quote from “Artist’s Exhibit Features the Varied Shore of Rathtrevor,” Adam Kveton, Parksville Qualicum Beach News, June 26, 2018, https://www.pqbnews.com/entertainment/artists-exhibit-features-the-varied-shore-of-rathtrevor-1157652
