Ralph Simpson
Plant Fibre Artist

CV

CV by Ralph Simpson, a wood fibre artist, combining a deep respect for traditional basket weaving techniques with his own contemporary innovations, inspired by nature's forms. He works out of his studio in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

 

Education

MSc.  Forest Pathology (UNB) BSc.  Ecology (Dalhousie University) Advanced Studio Practice (New Brunswick College of Craft & Design) Visual Arts Diploma (New Brunswick College of Craft & Design)

LEARNING WORKSHOPS — National Basketry Org., Tacoma, WA, USA. Ann Coddington, Sculptural Basketry + workshop, 2023. — Haystack Mtn. School of Crafts, Maine, USA, Fibre Arts, Sculptural Form, Natural Color with Dee Clements, 2023. — Stowe Mountain Basketry Festival, Stowe, VT, USA. Six plant fibre weaving workshops, 2023. — Stowe Mountain Basketry Festival, Stowe, VT, USA. Seven plant fibre weaving workshops, 2022. — Cedar Weaving Circle, Western Red Cedar, Todd  DeVries, Vancouver, BC.   2021
— Maori School of Basket Weaving, Veranoa Hetet, Aotearoa, New Zealand,   2021
— Yellow cedar weaving techniques, Holly Churchill, Alaska, USA, 2021
— Basketry Arts School, Sydney, Aus.- Twining Patterns with Catriona Pollard, 2020
— Craft Council, UK - COLLECT 2020-  Educational Mission, London, UK, 2020
— Willow and Bark Basketry, Tours, France, with Norbert Faure, 2019
— Willow Basketry Workshop,Nowy Tomsyl, Poland with Krszyztof Pierzynski, 2019.
— Willow Basketry Mentorship, Poznan, Poland, with Tadeusz Pieta, 2018
— Weaving by the Sea, Girona, Spain;
— Contemporary Looping, Netting, and Knotting with Tim Johnson, 2018
— Mediterranean Nansa Fish Trap Technique with Monica Guilera, 2018
— Haystack Mtn. School of Crafts, Maine, USA, Fibre Arts, Basketry with Lois Russell, 2018
— Parrsboro Shores Creative Arts, Parrsboro, NS. Willow basketry workshop, 2017
— Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, St Andrews, NB:
- Indigenous Visual Arts Workshop, Christian Chapman, 2016
- Silversmithing, Brigitte Clavette, 5-day course, 2016
— New Ross Farm, NS, Willow Basketry Workshop, Heather Sanft, 2016
— Abbe Museum, Bar Harbour, ME.
-Black ash basketry, Gabriel Frey, Pack Basket, 2 days, 2016
-Black ash basketry, Molly Neptune and George Neptune, 2 days, 2015
-Black ash basketry, Gabriel Frey, Market Basket, 2 days, 2015
-Black ash basketry, Molly Neptune and George Neptune, 2 days, 2014
-Black ash basketry, Richard Silliboy, potato basket, 1 day, 2013

Residencies

— NBCCD, George Fry Gallery, Fredericton, NB, 2022 — Killarney Lake Nature Preserve, Fredericton, NB, 2022. — Conservation Council of NB, Fredericton, NB, 2022 — Artist-in-Residence, Fredericton Botanic Garden, Fredericton, NB, 2021
— Artist-in-Residence, Conservation Council of NB, Fredericton, NB, 2021.
— Artist-in-Residence, City of Fredericton, O’Dell Park, Fredericton, NB, 2020.
— Artist-in-Residence, Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation, St Andrews, NB, 2020.
— Artist-in-Residence, Bruno Bobak Studio, Fredericton, NB, 2019.
— Artist Residency, Hoyt House Studios, Kings Landing, NB, 2018.
— Artist-in-Residence, Kingsbrae International Residency for the Arts, St. Andrews, NB, 2017.
— Artist-in-Residence, Fundy National Park, Craft NB - Beneath the Surface, Alma, NB, 2017.

Teaching

— Saint John Arts Centre, Saint John, NB, Plant Fibre Basketry. (3), 2023. — Artist’s studio, Fredericton, NB, Sculptural Basketry, 2023. — Tweedside Community Centre, Harvey, NB, Plant Fibre Basketry, 2023. — AX - Art Centre, Sussex NB. Foraged Plant Fibre Basket Weaving, 2023. — Ice House Gallery, Tatamagouche, NS, Foraged Plant Fibre Weaving, 2023 — 50+ Seniors Centre, Maces Bay, NB, Soft Rush Basketry (2), 2022. — LW Fisher Library, Woodstock, NB, Plant Fibre Weaving, 2022. — Sculpture Symposium, Saint John Waterfront, Plant Fibre Baskets, 2022. — AX - Art Centre, Sussex NB. Foraged Fibre Basket Weaving Workshop, 2022. — George Fry Gallery, Fredericton, NB, Foraged Plant Fibre Basketry, 2022. — Ice House Gallery, Tatamagouche, NS, Foraged Plant Fibre Weaving (2), 2022. — Saint John Arts Centre, Saint John, NB, Plant Fibre Basketry, 2022 — Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Ctr, St. Andrews, NB, Rush Weaving, 2022 — Saint John Arts Centre, Saint John, NB, Plant Fibre Basketry, 2021 — AX - Art Centre, Sussex NB. Foraged Fibre Basket Weaving Workshop, 2021.
— Craft NB, Craft Summer Fest, Gagetown, NB, Foraged Fibre Weaving Workshop, 2021.
— Saint John Arts Centre, Saint John, NB, Plant Fibre Basketry, 2 Workshops, 2021.
— Gallery 78, Fredericton, NB, Hand Weaving Plant Fibre Basketry, 2021.
— Norwood Inn, Washedemoak Lake, Cambridge Narrows, NB, Weaving with Foraged Fibres, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
— Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre, St Andrews, NB, Weaving with Weeds, 2021
— Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre, St. Andrews, NB, Rush Weaving, 2020
— Florenceville Arts Centre, Florenceville, NB, Plant Fibre Basketry, 2020
— Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB, Plant Fibre Weaving, 2019.
— NBCCD, Fredericton, NB, Willow Basketry, 2019
— Kings Landing, Prince William, NB, Willow Basketry, 2019
— Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Ctr, St. Andrews, NB, Weaving Plant Fibre, 2019.
— Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB,  Hand Weaving with Plant Fibres, 2019.

Awards

— ArtsNB – Creation Grant – 2023. — Collections Art NB, Provincial Permanent Art Collection, Title of the piece- Rose Hip, 2023. — ArtsNB – Career Development – Professional Development Grant, 2023. — Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Across Canada Program Grant, 2022. — ArtsNB - Career Development Award, Professionalization and Promotion, 2022. — Conservation Council of New Brunswick, Project Fund Grant, 2021 — ArtsNB - Career Development Award, Arts by Invitation, 2021 — Artsnb - Creation Grant, Plant Fibre Foraging and Fabrication, 2021.
— Artsnb - Creation Grant, Reconstructing the Tree, 2020.
— The Sheila Hugh MacKay Foundation - Nel Oudemans Award recognizing excellence in fine craft and design by an emerging New Brunswick artist, 2019.
— Artsnb - Arts by Invitation, Professional development, 2019.
— Artsnb - Career Development, Professional Development, Mentorship, 2018.
— Artsnb -  Arts Infrastructure Grant for emerging artists, 2018.
— The Sheila Hugh MacKay Foundation Bursary - in recognition of excellence in artistic accomplishment and academic achievement, 2017.
— Artsnb - Creation Grant, Weaving the Sculptural Form, 2017.
— The Governor General’s Academic Medal - Highest Academic Standing in the NBCCD Graduating Class, 2016.
— Gwen Bear Scholarship, Highest Standing in Aboriginal Visual Arts Program, 2016.
— New Brunswick Lieutenant Governor Environmental Award,  2007.
— Canadian Environmental Achievement Award Restoration and Rehabilitation 2006.

Publications

— Ralph Simpson - Plant Fibre Artist, Ralph Simpson, 2023. Catalogue, 72 p. — Fibre Focus, Summer Edition, Plant Fibre Foraging and Weaving Magazine Distribution-1500, 2023 — Rewilding Magazine https://www.rewildingmag.com/ralph-simpson-weaves-the-wild/ Distribution 5000, 2023. — CulturePass Events Post: January 23 - February 5 [header image], 2023, Tides Institute and Museum of Art; https://mailchi.mp/2a195b28d692/culturepass-events-post-january-23-february-5. Distribution 8000, 2023. — Driftwood Arts and Entertainment publication, Salt Spring Island, BC, Salt Spring National Arts Prize, front page photo, 2021 — Created Here, Issue 8, Winter/Spring, 2019. Image, page 36
— Created Here, Issue 5, Spring/Summer 2017. Tim Hogan Black Light Special, Text and photos by Ralph Simpson.
— Studio visit with Ralph Simpson, Sept. 29th, 2017
— Crafting the Future - A National Student Exhibition, 2017. Ontario College of Art and Design exhibition catalogue, page.52 Black ash and copper basket.
— Beneath The Surface, Craft NB, 2017 Exhibition catalogue pp. 32 - 35, and 73.
— New Brunswick College of Craft and Design - View Book, recruitment publication pp. 15, 47, and 50.
— New Brunswick College of Craft and Design - Creativity Book, recruitment publication pp. 2 and 48.

Exhibitions

SOLO —  George Fry Gallery, Fredericton, NB. Fabricating Rhythms - Curator - Karen Ruet, August 18 - September 14, 2022. — UNB Forestry Dept., Fredericton, NB. Bark Basketry, Curator - Ed Czerwinski, 2021.
—   Connexion ARC, Fredericton, NB, Public Installation - Cedar Watch, Curator - Kelly Hill, 2020.
— Glass Roots Gallery, Moncton, NB, Ralph Simpson - Wood Fibre Art, Curator - Curtis Dionne, 2019.
—Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, St. Andrews, NB, Wood Fibre Fusion (paid), Curator - Sara Brinkhurst, 2019.
— Saint John Arts Centre, Saint John, NB, Woven Forms (paid), Curator - Andrew Kierstead, 2018.

GROUP — AX Arts Centre, Sussex, NB, Sustainable Craft - Curator - Alison Murphy, 2024 — Kitteridge Gallery, Tacoma, WA, USA, More Basketry 2023. — Saint John Airport, Saint John, NB, Airport Lounge Exhibit - Curator - Tandi Hooper, 2023 — Ice House Gallery, Tatamagouche, NS, Beneath - Curator - Brandt Eisner, 2023 — Saint John Arts Centre, Saint John, NB, Sculpture Symposium Workshop Exhibition, 2023 — Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS, OPENING! Craft Today, 2022. — National Basketry Organization, Gloucester, MA, USA, Every 1, 2022. — Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, St. Andrews, NB, Maritime Colours, 2022. — Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB, Isolated//Together, 2022. — CraftNB, Fredericton, NB, Atlantic Vernacular - Curator - Gillian Dykeman, 2022. — Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Ctr, St. Andrews, NB, Art for Climate Change, 2022. — Ice House Gallery, Tatamagouche, NS, Terra Forms – Curator - Brandt Eisner, 2022. — Gallery 78, Fredericton, NB, Small Treasures - Curator - Germaine Pataki, 2022. — Salt Springs, BC, Salt Springs National Art Prize Finalist Exhibition, 2021. — National Basketry Organization, Gloucester, MA, USA, Every 1, 2021. — Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Penny Gallery, Fredericton, NB, 2021. — Dieppe Cultural Centre, Dieppe, NB, Isolated//Together, 2021. — Albert County Museum, Hopewell Cape, NB, Inspired by Nature, 2021 — Arts and Nature Centre, St. Andrews, NB, ART400 Exhibition, 2021. — The Ice House Gallery, Tatamagouche, NS. Exotica, 2021.
— UNB Arts Centre, Conservation Council of NB, Climate Change Response, 2021.
— Weavers  Around The World, NSW, AU. online Exhibition. New Ways, 2021.
— Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB, Human Threads, (paid), a collaborative collection of wearable Covid-19 masks designed for the Atlantic Ballet, 2021.
— Atlantic Ballet, Moncton, NB, Isolation Together, Covid-19 Masks, 2020.
— Mary E Black Gallery, Halifax NS, NSDCC Members Exhibition, (paid), 2020.
— National Basketry Organization, Gloucester, MA, USA, Getting Close, 2020.
— Cape Breton Centre for Craft, Sydney, NS JUNCTURES, 2020.
—Saint John Arts Centre, Saint John, NB, JUNCTURES, 2020.
— McCain Gallery, Florenceville, NB, Curator - Jennifer Stead, 2019.
—Saint John Airport Exhibition, Saint John, NB, Curator -Tandi Hooper, 2019
—The 4th World Wicker and Weaving Exhibition, Nowy Tomysl, Poland, Curator - Andrzej Pawlak, 2019.
— AX Gallery, Arts & Culture Centre, Sussex, NB, Process (paid), Curator - Christiana Myers, 2019.
— Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF), Citizens of Craft, UNB, Fredericton, NB, Curator Maegan Black, 2019.
— Carrefour Communitaire Beausoliel Centre Gallery, Miramichi, NB,Conversations, Curator -Vicky Lentz, 2019.
— Lieutenant Governor’s Residence Gallery, Fredericton, NB, Conversations, Curator - Vicky Lentz, 2018.
— McCain Gallery, Florenceville, NB, Small Works Show, Curator - Jennifer Stead, 2018.
— McCain Gallery, Florenceville, NB, NB Craft, Conversations, Curator - Vicky Lentz 2018.
— International Roser Albo Basketry Curated Competition & Exhibition, Inside Out, Salt, Spain,  2018.    
— MacBeath Hall Gallery, Prince William, NB, Hoyt House Residency, 2018.
— Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, Saint Andrews, NB, Making Waves, 2018.
— Inverness County Centre for the Arts Gallery, Inverness, NS.  Small Treasures. Curator- Ray Cronin, 2018.
— Restigouche Gallery, Campbellton, NB, Exhibition-Beneath the Surface, 2018.
— Gallery@CraftEast, Halifax, NS, Arts Alliance Exhibition, 2018
— New Brunswick Museum Exhibition Centre, Saint. John, NB. Residency Exhibition-Beneath the Surface, paid, 2018.
— Fibre Arts Network, UNB Arts Centre, Fredericton, NB, Canada 150 - A Celebration of Fibre, 2017.
— Ontario College of Art and Design University, Toronto, ON, Crafting the Future, 2017.
— UNB Arts Centre, Fredericton, NB, Residency Exhibition -Beneath the Surface, 2017.
— Gallery on Queen, Fredericton, NB, NBCCD Grad Program Exhibition, 2017.
— George Fry Gallery, Fredericton, NB, Since First Light, 2017.
— The Fredericton Playhouse, Fredericton, NB, Earth and Light, 2016.
— Fiber Arts Network, Fredericton, NB, Public Library, Exhibition, 2016.
— Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB, NBCCD Grad Exhibition, 2016.
— George Fry Gallery, Fredericton, NB, All My People, 2015.

 Memberships 

— Textile Society of America, Baltimore, MD, USA
— National Basketry Organization, Gloucester, MA, USA.
— Connexion ARC, Fredericton, NB.
— Nova Scotia Design & Craft Council - Juried Member (2017).
— Craft NB - Juried Member (2015).
— Fredericton Fiber Arts Network (FAN).
— Fredericton Arts Alliance. — Handweavers Guild of America, GA, USA. — Fiber Art Network of America, MA, USA. — Tides Institute and Museum, ME, USA. — Textile Society of America, Baltimore, MD, USA. — National Basketry Organization, Gloucester, MA, USA. — Nova Scotia Craft Council -Juried Member. — Nova Scotia Basketry Guild.
— Arts Link NB.
— Beaverbrook Art Gallery - Fredericton, NB.
— Abbe Museum - Bar Harbour ME.
— Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Ctr, St. Andrew's, NB.
— Parrsboro Creative, Parrsboro, NS.

Community Involvement & Volunteer Service

— Craft NB,  Jurying weaving applicant’s portfolios.
— Craft NB Board, Membership Committee (chair).  
— Hospice House Fredericton – volunteer since 2016.
— Duke of Edinburgh Award Program, NB Provincial Awards Officer, since 2006.