Jeremiah Birnbaum


My work continues to reference and comment upon iconography of the masculine construct.  Influenced by the works of Willie Doherty and Douglas Gordon, this latest body of work, The Irony of Protection,  explores the idea of re-formatting identity through presentation and the responsibility which flow from this.  By intentionally limiting the viewer's information regarding format and association, the subjects, both individually and as a group, become void of independence and are reduced to iconic images.  What the viewer sees is then reinforced by the viewer's inherent expectations.  As the artist I am interested in my ability to objectively limit a subject's context and my accountability resulting from this process.  Utilizing a drawing style which balances representation with mark-making provides the viewer with a recognizable format (an image for identification similar to a passport or driver's license photo) and at the same time reminds them that the image, like the format, is constructed.

Education
2003-2006   Visual Arts Bachelor of Fine Arts, Emily Carr Institute, Vancouver
2001-2003   Portfolio Program, Victoria College of Art, Victoria
2001           Six week Intensive Portfolio Program, Victoria College of Art, Victoria

Two, Three and Four Artist Exhibitions
2007    A Demarcated Site of Construction; in collaboration with C. Dylan McHugh,
                ARC Building in association with the 2007 Eastside Culture Crawl, Vancouver
2006    Crawl; in collaboration with C. Dylan McHugh, ARC Building in association with
                the 2006 Eastside Culture Crawl, Vancouver
2006    The Factory Show;  with Attila Richard Lucacs & Martha Sturdy, Gallery M by Martha Sturdy, Vancouver
Group Exhibitions
2008    Emerging, Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver
2008    Drawing Expo ’08; in collaboration with C. Dylan McHughLittle Mountain Studios, Vancouver
2007    Pre-Shrunk Show; Argyle Fine Art Gallery, Halifax
2007    Fine Art of Schmoozy; Latitude 53 Contemporary Visual Culture, Edmonton
2007    Art for Life; Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver
2007    The Portrait Show; Gaff Gallery, Vancouver
2006    ECIAD Graduation Show; Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Vancouver
2006    Queering Art and Politics; Concourse Gallery, Vancouver
2005    Sequential Show; Concourse Gallery, Vancouver
2004    The Urban Landscape; Subeez Restaurant, Vancouver
2003    Group Show, Birdhouse Gallery, Victoria
2003    2003 VCA Year End Show; Victoria College of Art, Victoria
2002   2002 VCA Year End Show; Victoria College of Art, Victoria

Awards
2005   Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre Artist/Mentor Mural Project Grant;
                    Vancouver Parks Board in association with Marpole-Oakridge Community Center Association
2002   John Chamberlain Painting Scholarship; Victoria College of Art, Victoria