Cliff Eyland

Cliff Eyland (born 1954) is a Canadian painter, writer and curator. He studied at Holland College, Mount Allison University, and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Since 1981, he has made paintings, drawings, and notes in an index card format—3"x5" (7.6x12.7 cm).

Eyland has shown his work in public and secret installations in art galleries and libraries in Canada, the United States and Europe. Exhibition highlights include solo exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, the New School University in New York, The National Gallery of Canada Library & Archives, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Struts Gallery and Gallery Connexion (both in New Brunswick), the Muttart (now the Art Gallery of Calgary), the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, and in Halifax at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, eyelevelgallery, Saint Mary's University Art Gallery and Dalhousie University Art Gallery. Group exhibitions include shows at the National Gallery of Canada, in Florence, Italy, Manchester, England, and Lublin, Poland, and the Maison Rouge Museum in Paris, among others. Eyland's ongoing installation at the Raymond Fogelman Library at the New School University in New York City was regularly updated from 1997 until 2005. His permanent installation of over 1000 paintings at Winnipeg's Millennium Library opened in 2005. His permanent installation of 600 paintings at the Meadows Library in Edmonton and his permanent installation of 5000 works at the Halifax Central Library both opened in 2014.

Eyland has written criticism for Canadian art magazines since 1983. His curatorial work includes 9 years as a curator at the Technical University of Nova Scotia School of Architecture (Daltech) and freelance work for various galleries, including the Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art in Winnipeg. (From 1995 to 2005, Eyland was vice-president of the board of Plug In.) He was the director of Gallery One One One at the University of Manitoba from 1998 to 2010. He is currently an associate professor of painting at the University of Manitoba School of Art in Winnipeg.

Selected Reviews/Interviews (of Eyland’s art):

2015 Smulders, Marilyn. “Q&A with Cliff Eyland” http://nscad.ca/en/home/abouttheuniversity/news/qawithcliffeyland.aspx Halifax: Vivid (NSCAD) 2 February 2015 Trachenko, Alana. “Five Hundred and One Paintings + Buildings: recent works by Cliff Eyland” http://www.themanitoban.com/2015/01/five-hundred-one-paintings-buildings-recent-works-cliff-eyland/21945/ Winnipeg: The Manitoban, 6 January 2015 Cochrane, Steven Leyden. “Four ninety-nine, five hundred... five hundred and one” http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/four-ninety-nine-five-hundred-five-hundred-and-one-288648451.html Winnipeg: Winnipeg Free Press, 15 January 2015 2014 Young, Nora. (Radio episode on CBC Spark) “Hanging 5000 Paintings the Size of a Smart Phone…” http://www.cbc.ca/radio/spark/spark-270-1.2889937/hanging-5-000-paintings-the-size-of-a-smartphone-at-the-new-halifax-library-1.2889987 Cochrane, Steven Leyden. (re: Library Gallery) “For What it’s Worth,” http://WWW.WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM/ARTS-AND-LIFE/ENTERTAINMENT/ARTS/FOR-WHAT-ITS-WORTH-265648921.HTML Barnard, Elissa. “New library Home to…” http://thechronicleherald.ca/thenovascotian/1247679-at-the-galleries-new-library-home-to-6000-miniature-paintings “Facebook Posts by…,” http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/facebook-posts-by-george-toles-illustrated-by-cliff-eyland-1.2672084 Prokosh, Kevin. “Facebook Posts…” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 June 2014, C9 http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/status-symbols-262823271.html, Prokosh, Kevin. “Bed, Bath & Beyond,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 August 2014, G1-G2. 2013 Barnard, Elissa. “New library to get 5000 tiny paintings,” Halifax: The Chronicle Herald, 9 March 2013 online at: thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/923980-new-library Bessai, Margaret. “Cliff Eyland tells artists…” Saskatoon: CARFAC Saskatchewan Newsletter, 3-5. Cochrane, Steven Leyden. “Fire in the HOLE” Winnipeg: Uptown, Winnipeg Free Press, 5 September 2013, 14. Deglise, Fabien. Montreal: Le Devoir, “Un entrepot numérique pour l’univers de l’art” 11 February 2013 online at: www.ledevoir.com/galeries-photos/un-entrep-num Golland, Martin. “Cliff Eyland” (review of National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives residency/show/installation) Winnipeg: Border Crossings magazine issue 126, June, July, August 2013, 139-140. Mombourquette, Angela. “Eyland’s library art to probe institution’s changing face,” Halifax: The Chronicle Herald, 11 March 2013 online at: thechronicleherald.ca/hcw/942742-mombourquette Passey, Kara. “Accessible art for all” Winnipeg: The Manitoban, 4 September 2013, 16. Swan, Sarah. “Art shatters our way of thinking,” Winnipeg: Winnipeg Free Press, 31 July 2013, B4 http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/art-shatters-our-way-of-thinking-217711801.html McMackon, Jennifer and Eyland, Cliff. Online interview: http://simpleposie.blogspot.ca/2013/08/the-simpleposie-devils-dozen-13_4836.html 29 August 2013

2012 Trepanier, P. et al “Passions of a Bibliophile,” Vernissage, National Gallery of Canada, Fall 2012, 6-7. Gillmor, A. “Winter Kept Us Warm,” 14 December 2012, CBC online: http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/scene/other/2012/12/14/winter-kept-us-warm/ Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art The Canadian Art Database (uploaded 2012) http://ccca.concordia.ca/artists/artist_info.html?languagePref=en&link_id=6858&artist=Cliff+Eyland Kiendl, Anthony et al, My Winnipeg, catalogue to the maison rouge exhibition, Paris: maison rouge/Plug In ICA.

2011 McLaughlin, Bryne. "Prairie Scene, Capital invasion," Canadian Art website: http://www.canadianart.ca/online/see-it/2011/04/28/prairie_scene/ Simpson, Peter. "Prairie Visions," The Ottawa Citizen, Saturday, April 30, E1-E2 (reproduction of Eyland's painting "Jack"). Mayes, Alison. "See and Be Scene," The Winnipeg Free Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/see-and--be- scene-120847119.html (Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 28, 2011 D1). 2010 Enright, Robert. "Wordlessly, Bookishly,: Guy Maddin & Cliff Eyland," Winnipeg: Border Crossings magazine, 14 (see also: http://www.bordercrossingsmag.com/issue116/article/2812). Idiom, "Fair Warning: Interview with AA Bronson" (re: New York Art Book Fair) http://idiommag.com/2010/11/fair-warning-interview-with-aa-bronson/ Macalino/Eyland (interview) "Rational Means The Cliff Eyland Interview" by Chris http://mirofaru.wordpress.com/bird-of-prey/ 2009 Armstrong, John. “Cliff Eyland,” Canadian Art magazine, Toronto, Summer, 94- 96; Burke, Andrew. “Site Specific: Visualizing the Vernacular in Andrea Dorfman’s Parsley Days,” in Rain/Drizzle/Fog: Film and Television in Atlantic Canada

		by Darrell Varga, University of Calgary Press, Calgary, 219-233;

Collings, A.K., Neurartic. “Two From Winnipeg,” http://neurartic.blogspot.com/2009/02/two-from-winnipeg.html 27 February; Dault, Gary Michael. “Library Science…,” The Globe & Mail, Toronto, Saturday, 28 February R8; Lieberman, Michael. “Cliff Eyland: The ‘Librarian Painter,’” http://blog.seattlepi.com/bookpatrol/archives/162572.asp?from=blog_last3 22 February, 7 March; Mida, Ingrid, “Bookart” http://blogofabookworm.blogspot.com/search/label/Cliff%20Eyland 7 March. 2008 Lederman, L. “One Visionary…,” (feature about The Big Gift exhibition)

                      	Toronto: The Globe & Mail, Saturday, July 26,, R1-5; 

Abramson, S. “Public Art…” Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press,Thursday, July 31, D3; Abramson, S. “Challenging…” Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday, October 2, D4. 2007 Cooper, E. Arts Now Podcast #1, Toronto, available online at: http://blogto.com/podcasts/ Balzer, D. "Eye Candy," Eye Weekly, Toronto, available online at: http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_03.22.07/arts/eyecandy.php Dault, G.M. "Cliff Eyland at Leo Kamen," The Globe and Mail, Toronto, Saturday March 24, 2007, R12. 2006 Enright, R., Maddin, G. "Winnipeg Report," London (UK): Frieze magazine, issue #97, March 2006, 144-151. Lafortune, W. "Street Cred," (review of Eyland curatorial project) Calgary: Gallerieswest magazine, Summer, 50-52. Goddard, P. "Art Goes Mobile," Toronto Star, Toronto, 16 December 2006, available online at: http://www.thestar.com/article/150947 Roberts, L. "It's Beautifully Useless Technology," Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg, September 28, 2006, D4; Locke, S. "Switched On," The Uniter, Winnipeg, September 21, 2006, 15; 2005 Montcombroux, B. "One Month Free Rent," (review of Eyland curatorial project) Winnipeg: The Manitoban, January 19, 18. Walker, M. "Five Proposals..." (Millennium Library commission commentary) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Saturday, February 5, C3. Roberts , L. "Big Time," (review) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday, February 17, D6. Dault, G.M. "Cliff Eyland at Leo Kamen," (review) Toronto: The Globe & Mail, Saturday, February 12, R10. Walker, M. "Making a Millennium Statement," (Millennium Library commission commentary) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Saturday, April 23, C1/3. Meyes, A. "Feast Your Eyes," (Millennium Library commission commentary) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Saturday, October 8, 2005, F3; Edgar, P. "Unique Art will adorn Library," (Millennium Library commission commentary) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Wednesday May 11, A3. Pauch-Nolin, K. "Neurotic Note Cards," (Millennium Library commission commentary) Winnipeg: Uptown, 29 September 2005, 23. Pauch-Nolin, K. "Guerrillas Under Glass," (review of Eyland curatorial project) Winnipeg: Uptown, 2 March 2005, 19. Collins, C.J. "The Moment of Creation for Cliff Eyland," (feature article) Winnipeg: Style Manitoba, Summer 2005, 33. Roberts, L. "Art from A to Z" (year-end review) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Tuesday, December 29 2005, D1. Fronda, J. "The Art of Downtown," (review) Winnipeg: The Manitoban, vol.93 no.13, 16 November 2005, 14. Pauch-Nolin, K "Creative Minds - Year in Review Visual Arts," Winnipeg: Uptown, 15 December 2005, 18. Perlmutter, K. "'A Silva Rerum' (A Forest of Things): The Art of Cliff Eyland," (feature article) Winnipeg: The Icelandic Canadian, vol.59 #2, 2005, 50-53 (including cover image). Adamski, P. "To Curate or Create," (biographical) Five One Six Three The NSCAD University Magazine, December 2005, 14-17. Abzurbs, (cover Image of the band The Abzurbs), Toronto: Broken Pencil magazine issue #29, 2005. 2004 Roberts, L. "Local Artists Bound for Glory," (review) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday, 17 June, D8. Horowitz, R. "Bound..." (catalogue essay) Paperwait, Winnipeg: aceartinc., vol. 6, 2003-2004, 24-27. Milroy, S. "Gifts from the Gallery," (review) Toronto: The Globe & Mail, Saturday, December 18, L6. Roberts, L. "Biggest, Best and Brightest," (review) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday, December 23, D4. 2003 Hirshmann, T. "Bank on it Vital," (RBC Competition exhibition review) Toronto: Now Magazine, November 27 - December 3, Vol. 23 No. 13. Proudfoot, S. "Fifteen Glimpses..." (RBC Competition exhibition review) Toronto: The National Post, Thursday, November 20, B6-7. Bernard, E. "Deck Your Walls... N.S. Artists," (RBC Competition exhibition review) Halifax: The Halifax Herald, Sunday, November 2. Dault, G.M. "Gallery Going" (review) Toronto: The Globe and Mail, Saturday, December 13, L12. Enright, R. "Sexy Boy: the Art of Cliff Eyland," (feature article) Winnipeg: Border Crossings magazine, November, 54-63. The 2003 New Canadian Painting Competition, (catalogue of the exhibition produced by RBC Investments and the Canadian Art Foundation) Toronto: RBC. Gillmor, A. "A Sneaky Way to Work with Paint," (review of Newton's Prism: Layer Painting exhibition) Toronto: The Saturday Post, February 8, SP6. Karlinsky, A. "Multimedia Exhibit was Salt-lickin' Good," (review of Newton's Prism: Layer Painting exhibition) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday, February 20, D8. Walker, M. "Art Attack!," (preview of Young Winnipeg Artists exhibition) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday, March 13, D1. Karlinsky, A. "Young Winnipeg Artists," (review of Young Winnipeg Artists exhibition) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday, March 20. Martino, K. "Youth Movement," (review of Young Winnipeg Artists exhibition) Winnipeg: Uptown magazine, March 20, 7. Cameron, A. "Hey, We're from Winnipeg, too," (review of Young Winnipeg Artists exhibition) Toronto: MacLean's magazine, March 24, 62. Goddard, P. "Paintings the Size of a File Card," (review) Toronto: The Toronto Star, Saturday, April 12, H9. Dault, G.M. "Cliff Eyland..." (review) Toronto: The Globe and Mail, Saturday, April 19, R7. Enright, R. "The Spirit of the West," (includes review of Eyland curatorial project) Toronto: The Globe and Mail, Saturday, May 10, V2-V3. Walker, M. "Rockin' the Boat," (includes description of performance work) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, Tuesday, August 7, D1-D2 Walsh, M. "Nouveau Winnipeg," (includes review of Eyland curatorial project) Winnipeg: Border Crossings magazine, May, 15-16. 2002 Sherman, J. "My Life..." Joseph Sherman, Halifax: Arts Atlantic, Fall, 6-7. Dahle, S. "Proud Spinster..." (review of Bev Pike: The Spinster Project exhibition) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February, C4. Gillmor, A. "A New Spin..." (review of Bev Pike: The Spinster Project exhibition) Toronto: The National Post, 26 January, SP2. Bravo television. "Bev Pike" (about Bev Pike: The Spinster Project exhibition) Toronto: Bravo. Foss, K. "A Bauhaus Renaissance..." (Re: Dr. Botar's Gallery One One One Andor Weininger acquisitions) Toronto: The Globe & Mail, 26 February, R2. Crosbie, L. _____ (contains commentary and reproduction of a Malahat Review cover image by Eyland) Toronto: The Globe & Mail, 13 February, R2 Enright, R. "Permission to Dream..." (includes review of the Dominique Rey exhibition) Toronto: The Globe & Mail, 2 November, V4-V5. Duff, T., Glowak, D., Hollenberg, S., Wark, J., Wheatley, C. "Charmaine," (section of writing about Charmaine) Halifax: Arts Atlantic, Winter, 4-11. McKaughlin, B. "Gallery Hop," Fall (supplement with reproductions of three of Eyland's paintings, unpaginated but the reproductions are listed as number 15; also on line at http://www.canadianart.ca/) Toronto: Canadian Art magazine. 2001 Milroy, S. "Cliff Eyland: Retouched Reproductions," (review) Toronto: The Globe & Mail, Saturday, 17 November, R21. Penoloza, S.S. "Multiple Mini, (review) Toronto: C magazine, Winter, 10. Koh, G. "Giveaways: a Partial Account," (feature article) Toronto: MIX, Fall 2001, 24-29. Wark, J. "Charmaine Wheatley," (review of Eyland curatorial project) Toronto: Canadian Art magazine, 78-79. 2000 Enright, R. "Postcards from the Edge, Robert Enright, (feature article) Toronto: The Globe and Mail, Sat. January 8, R8-R9. Mackay, G. "Cliff Eyland at the Art Gallery of Ontario," (review) Toronto: The Globe and Mail, Sat. January 29, R9. Enright, R. "Heartland," (CBC Winnipeg television profile). Stephen, V. "Cliff Eyland Labels," (catalogue essay) Halifax: The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Journal Vol.17/2, 16. Keating, N. "Cliff Eyland -- AGNS artist in residence," Halifax: The Daily News, Sunday, August 20, Sunday Homes, 8. Trapanier, P. "Halifax Proposals," (exhibition brochure) Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada. Anon. "Halifax Proposals," Vernissage magazine, Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada. 1999 Ritchie, C., Rance, D. Cliff Eyland: Excerpts/Inserts, Christina Ritchie and Donald Rance (exhibition catalogue) Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario. Metcalfe, R. "Charlottetown Calling," (commentary) Toronto: C Magazine, Sept.-Nov., 48 1998 McElroy, G. "Cliff Eyland: Retouched Reproductions/Abstract Paintings," (review) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 60, Summer, 5-6. McGee, R. "Big Apple Bibliolatry," (review) Winnipeg: Border Crossings, Spring, 60. Madill, S. ed., Cameron, E., Lewis, D. Cliff Eyland ID Paintings (catalogue) Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, June. McKaughlin, B. "Pictures for the..." Toronto: Canadian Art, Summer, 25. Gopnik, B. "The Texture..." Blake Gopnik, (review) Toronto: The Globe and Mail, Sat. Aug.1. Gopnik, B. "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Obsessive," (feature article) Toronto: The Globe and Mail, Sat. August 15, C4. 1997 Cronin, R. "A Reasoned Compulsion: an Interview with Cliff Eyland," Toronto: C Magazine, May-August, 22-26. Cronin, R. "Cliff Eyland: Wildlife," (review) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 58, Summer, 5-6. 1996 Buchholz, G. "Exhibit Offers Mix of Art, Books," (review of Immense /Ordered/Deranged) Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Free Press, 23 March, B9. Fleming, B. "Unique Exhibit..." (review of Immense /Ordered/Deranged) Winnipeg: The Metro, 4. "Civil Wars," (review of Immense /Ordered/Deranged) Winnipeg: Border Crossings, Spring 1996, 7-8. 1995 Walsh, M. "Flying the Co-op," Meeka Walsh (reproduction of a painting) Winnipeg: Border Crossings, Fall, 5. McElroy, G. "Cliff Eyland," (review) Charlottetown Arts Atlantic 53, 13. 1994 Saunders. M. "New Works Show Marriage of Folk and Contemporary Art," (review of Uses of the Vernacular in Contemporary Nova Scotia Art exhibition) Halifax: The Daily News, 29 January, 24. Graff, T. "The Green Fuse," (commentary on First Great Garden of the Gulf... exhibition) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 49, Spring/Summer, 38. Metcalfe, R. "Uses of the Vernacular..." (review of Eyland curatorial project) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 50, Fall, 34-37. 1992 Bernard, E. "Eyland Creates Real Life Stuff…" (review) Halifax: Mail-Star/Chronicle-Herald (Halifax), 7 March, C9. Downton, D.R. "Artist/Writer?" (review of panel) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 43, Spring/Summer, 42. McElroy, G. "Cliff Eyland," (review) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 44, Fall, 17. Murchie, J. "Towards a Letter of Appreciation," John Murchie essay in THE 100,000 NAMES OF ART, Saint Mary's University Art Gallery, 6-9. 1991 Creates, M. "Small Works: in Search of a Non-toxic Art Practice," (exhibition essay) Toronto: Parallelogramme, vol.16, no.4, 78. Larsen, A-M. "Charlie Murphy," (review of Eyland curatorial project) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 40, 10-11. Metcalfe, R. "Firmly Rooted in Cultivar," (review of Eyland curatorial project) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 40, 35. 1990 Bernard, E. "Mueller Mixes..." (review of Eyland curatorial project) Halifax: Mail-Star/Chronicle-Herald (Halifax), 29 January, A12. Mollison, J. "Disturbing News...", (review) Charlottetown: Guardian Patriot, April 7. Gibson Garvey, S. The Tenth Dalhousie Drawing Exhibition, (catalogue essay) Halifax: Dalhousie Art Gallery. Metcalfe, R. "Fast Forward," (commentary) Toronto: Canadian Art, Spring, 44. Bernard, E. "Dal Drawings..." (review) Halifax: Mail-Star/Chronicle-Herald, 4 May. Bernard, E. "Making It.." (review) Halifax: Mail-Star/Chronicle-Herald, 18 May, D1. Lawlor, M.C. "Atque ars..." (review of Eyland curatorial project) Charlottetown, Arts Atlantic 37, 9-10. "Richard Mueller..." (review of Eyland curatorial project) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 37, 40-43. Gard, P. "Small Works..." (review) Saint John's: The Newfoundland Herald, 22 December, 22. Cameron, E. Divine Comedy, (Eyland citation/commentary) Eric Cameron, Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 24 and 26. 1989 Sady, M. "Halifax/Lublin Exchange," (review) Vancouver: Vanguard, Feb./Mar., 31. Townsend-Gault, "Some Contemporary Art in Nova Scotia and the Weldon Tradition," (commentary) Halifax: Dal Law School Alumni Journal, 35-38. 1988 Metcalfe, R. "Cliff Eyland: Ocean Playground," Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 32, 52-53. Barber, B. Lublin/Halifax exchange (catalogue) Halifax: eyelevelgallery. Kelly, G. Artist's Art, (catalogue essay) Halifax: Dalhousie Art Gallery. Bernard, E. "Eyland's New Exhibition," (review) Halifax: Mail-Star/Chronicle-Herald, 17 February, 2-E. Lounder, B. "Michael Fernandes," (review of Eyland curatorial project) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 30, 3. 1986 Metcalfe, R. "Cliff Eyland," (review) Charlottetown: Arts Atlantic 25, Spring, 5. 1984 Townsend-Gault, C. "Cliff Eyland," (review) Vancouver: Vanguard, March, 48-49. 1983 Peacock, J. "Notes on the Work," (catalogue essay) Appropriation/Expropriation, Halifax: Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, 12.

External links

Cliff Eyland Official Website*
Gurevich Fine Art*
Actual Gallery*
CCCA Canadian Art Database*