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Purdy, Henry; In A Shade
Artist: Henry Purdy
Title: In A Shade
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 99 cm X 124 cm
Acquisition Date: 1982
Current Location: 5th Floor, Jones Building, Minister's Office
Henry Purdy, C.M., F.R.S.A., R.C.A., A.N.S.C.A, is a professional visual artist working on Prince Edward Island for over 50 years. He was elected into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1978 and had been on the executive and Council of the Academy, representing the Atlantic Provinces, for a number of years. He was awarded the Royal Society of Arts medal in 1981 for his contribution to the Fine Arts in the Atlantic region. Purdy is a past member of the Canada Council (appointed in 1984 and reappointed in 1987). He served on the Board of the Canadian Conference of the Arts , as P.E.I.'s representative, for several years. Purdy served on the Board of the Confederation Centre of the Arts, appointed by the Provincial Government, from 1984 until 1991.
His works are in collections, private and corporate, in many countries including the U.S.A., U.K., Australia and Germany, as well as every province in Canada. A partial listing of Canadian collectors (collections) are: P.E.I. Mutual Fire Insurance; City of Moncton, N.B.; Saint John, N.B.; Confederation Centre of the Arts; Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters in Charlottetown; University of Prince Edward Island; Holland College; Atlantic Tourism & Hospitality Institute; University of New Brunswick; St. Mary's University, Halifax; Memorial University, St.John's, Newfoundland; Canadian Coast Guard College, Sydney, N.S.; Dofasco, Hamilton, Ontario; Avon of Canada, Toronto; Stentor Management, Ottawa; The Canadiana Fund, Ottawa; McInnes Cooper, Charlottetown; Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa; etc.. These works include sculptures, paintings, prints and drawings. Major sculptural pieces commissioned and installed at Confederation Centre of the Arts and Town of Parkdale in 1973.
He has had over 140 exhibitions from 1958-2009 and has participated in group exhibitions throughout Canada. Purdy's work was on exhibition at the Eptek Exhibition Centre in Summerside for summer of 1994. He had one-person exhibitions (and organized group shows 1996-2009) at Ellen Creek Gallery, Charlottetown, and at The City Hall Gallery, Moncton, 1996. A major exhibition, “Henry Purdy- Freedom Comes Inside Out,” of his work was organized and shown at the Confederation Centre of the Arts Gallery, August 8 to October 10, 1999. A book of his drawings entitled "Prince Edward Island Sketchbook" was published by Four East Publications of Nova Scotia in 1981. He collaborated with Rev. Adrien Arsenault in producing a number of books of poetry and drawings. Purdy’s Lady Slipper design for a $350 gold coin for the Royal Canadian Mint was selected and minted in 1999.
Purdy was awarded the Lister Memorial Trophy by the P.E.I. Crafts Council as the Outstanding Craftsperson in 1992 and awarded an Honourary Life Membership in 2002. He received the prestigious 125 Commemorative Medal presented by the Government of Canada in 1992. Purdy was one of the founding members of the P.E.I. Council of the Arts in 1973. He served as Chairperson of the Council and was the Crafts representative (1998). Purdy is a Past President of the Prince Edward Island Crafts Council and was the Chairperson of the Standards Committee. He was one of the founding staff members of Holland College in 1969, creating the Commercial Design Program, and was Director of the Centre of Creative Arts at the College from 1977 to 1992. He is the Past/Founding Chair of the Holland College Association of Retirees (2001). He is the Past Vice-President of the Community Foundation of Prince Edward Island (2001). Purdy conducts art workshops and courses throughout Prince Edwards Island, Nova Scoita and New Brunswick, and is a Sessional Lecturer with the University of Prince Edward Island for the Fine Arts Studio 111 course.
Purdy was awarded the Fr. Adrien Arsenault Senior Arts Award by the P.E.I. Council of the Arts in 1996. This award recognizes excellence of work and contribution to the professional arts in the Province over a substantial period of time and is the most significant arts award given on Prince Edward Island.
Purdy was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada in August 2001. He was presented with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal September 2002. In 2008, he was presented with the City of Charlottetown’s Citizen Recognition Award for his contribution to the City over the years.
Henry Purdy and his wife, Gertie, live in Charlottetown (Parkdale), P.E.I. They have three married children (Scott, Dan and Sharon).
This information has been taken from www.gov.pe.ca