Photograph by Tom Willock |
Bill Peters is a photographic artist based in Calgary, Canada. While Peters has been driven to make images throughout his life, his path become a visual artist followed a circuitous route. As a young man he contemplated a career in the photographic arts but instead opted to study Astronomy at the University of Southern California. Peters says, "I was passionate about understanding the universe and felt this path provided a great creative outlet plus it appealed to my technical and scientific inclinations." In addition to the sciences, Peters studied film and photography at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and followed his science degree with an M.A. in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology from the University of Toronto.
During the 1980s, Peters combined his interests in the visual arts with science by writing, directing or producing fifteen major productions for planetariums at the Royal Ontario Museum and the Manitoba Museum. This was a creatively satisfying period; however, Peters recalls, "I saw how planetariums and museums were not reaching their potential and I began successfully raising funds to for new initiatives to strongly engage the community. The momentum of this work led me into senior leadership, culminating as President and CEO of the TELUS World of Science – Calgary and Chief Project Officer for the new science centre in Calgary."
In Calgary, Peters led a series of projects which tripled the attendance of TELUS World of Science - Calgary. Then he developed the vision and the fund raising to build a new science centre. Peters notes, "When I left the organization in October, 2008, I had obtained a site for the new centre and the major funding was secured or pending. I’m especially pleased I was able to partner with the Creative Kids Museum Society to build that museum as Calgary’s project celebrating Alberta’s Centennial.
"While leading a major museum was challenging and satisfying in terms of the results achieved, during the 1990s the work became less fulfilling in a personal creative sense. I began setting aside time each year to return to my roots in expressive, fine art photography. This was really essential to my soul and sustained me during intense years of planning, building, fund raising and more. "
Peters is considered a leading photographic technical expert and a master printer with both silver and digital technology. He has solved technical problems or built cameras for both his own use and for leading artists including John Dunn, David Campion, Todd Korol and Mary Ellen Mark.
Since becoming a full-time visual artist in 2008 Peters has been surprised and delighted by the artistic breakthroughs he has made. He has transitioned from working primarily in black and white to making large, intensely coloured, sometimes highly abstract images. Peters says, "The images have become metaphors for what I feel for the city, the land, the future. I’m excited to see where exploring these metaphors will lead."
Education
AB Astronomy, University of Southern California, with courses in film, photography and communications
MA History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto
Getty Museum Leadership Institute
Hendricks Institute – Certified Conscious Relationship & Body-Mind Vibrance coach
QED Inc. Certificates in Project Planning and Project Delivery
Exhibitions
Prior to 2008
Moments of the Eye – selected images – Canmore Artists and Artisans Guild - 1995
2008
Natural Landscapes, Gallery of Photographic Arts – Canada
Moments of the Eye – Paris, Gallery of Photographic Arts – Canada
Moments of the Eye - Paris – selected images – Jack Singer Concert Hall
When the City Isn’t Looking – individual exhibition - Gallery of Photographic Arts - Canada
Branch, Reflections, Mt. Lorette Ponds, Kananaskis, Canada. TELUS World of Science, Calgary
2009
Branch, Reflections, Mt. Lorette Ponds, Kananaskis, Canada. TELUS World of Science, Calgary
Moments of the Eye – Paris – selected images – Jack Singer Concert Hall
When the City Isn’t Looking – selected images – Gallery of Photographic Arts - Canada
When the City Isn’t Looking – selected images – EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts
When the City Isn’t Looking – selected image – TELUS Calgary Convention Centre
Three Mimes – Paris – Gallery of Photographic Arts – Canada
When the City Isn’t Looking – Selected Images – Willock and Sax Gallery, Banff, Canada
|
