Bill Peters Artist's Biography

Artist's Biography

Photograph by Tom Willock

Bill Peters is a visual artist working primarily in abstract photography. He is well known as a master printer using both silver based and digital technology.

With a science degree from the University of Southern California and studies in film and photography at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Peters began his creative career writing and directing multi-media programs for planetaria. Peters says, “At the time planetaria were seen to be about space and astronomy. I realized they were about theatre, about creating an engaging bond between artist and audience.”

Moving from planetarium to science centre and museum work, Peters’ focus on museums engaging with their audiences and acting as agents of social change lead him to senior leadership roles in Canada’s museum community. In 2008 when the succession of projects headed by Peters, including transforming Calgary’s planetarium into a science centre, building an innovative dome theatre, a Children’s Museum and getting a new science centre for Calgary ready for construction came to a natural conclusion, Peters welcomed the opportunity to return to more personally creative work. He says, “Even while leading a major museum I was driven to set aside time each year to pursue fine art photography, a passion I can trace back to my work with a Nikon and a view camera at USC.

Peters feels the tools of an artist are critical to executing a strong artistic vision. He started by building and adapting his own equipment and has become a leading photographic technical expert. He has solved technical problems or built cameras for both his own use and for leading artists including David Campion, John Dunn, Todd Korol , Mary Ellen Mark, Craig Richards and George Webber.

Peters says he is surprised and delighted by the artistic breakthroughs he continues to make. He has transitioned from working primarily in black and white with a view camera 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
Certificates in SMART Project Planning and Project Delivery

Exhibitions

Prior to 2008 Series	Venue	Notes
Fifteen major productions for Canadian planetaria as Writer/Director.
Moments of the Eye – Paris	Canmore Artists and Artisans Guild	Group Show
Death Valley and the Southwest	DaVinci Chocolata, Calgary	Group Show
Death Valley and the Southwest	Calgary Science Centre	Single Image

2008 Series	Venue	Notes
Natural Landscapes	Gallery of Photographic Arts – Canada	Group Show, EXPOSURE Event
Moments of the Eye – Paris	Gallery of Photographic Arts – Canada	Featured Artist
Moments of the Eye – Paris	Jack Singer Concert Hall	Group Show
When the City Isn’t Looking	Gallery of Photographic Arts - Canada	Solo Exhibit
When Water Dreams - precursor	TELUS World of Science, Calgary	Group Show
Moments of the Eye – Paris	Calgary Philharmonic	Group Show

2009 Series	Venue	Notes
When Water Dreams - precursor	TELUS World of Science, Calgary	Group Show
Moments of the Eye – Paris	Jack Singer Concert Hall	Group Show
When the City Isn’t Looking	Gallery of Photographic Arts - Canada	Group Show
When the City Isn’t Looking	EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts	Group Show
When the City Isn’t Looking	TELUS Calgary Convention Centre	Group Show, EXPOSURE Event
Moments of the Eye – Paris	Gallery of Photographic Arts – Canada	Group Show
When the City Isn’t Looking	Willock and Sax Gallery, Banff, Canada	Continuing
Moments of the Eye – Paris	Société francophone du centre d’arts visuels	Group Show
When the City Isn’t Looking	Calgary Philharmonic	Group Show

2010 Series	Venue	Notes
When Water Dreams	Willock and Sax Gallery, Banff	Featured Artist, EXPOSURE Event
When the City Isn’t Looking	Calgary Philharmonic	Group Show
When the City Isn’t Looking	Gerry Thomas Gallery/Picture the Cure	Group Show
When the City Isn’t Looking	Jack Singer Concert Hall	Group Show


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