Please join us for tea and biscuits and a talk by Kristin Poole, Artistic Director for Sun Valley Center for the Arts, in Sun Valley, Idaho, and for The Foster Art & Wilderness Foundation, in Palo Alto.
Kristin has worked with Tony Foster for many years and regards him as a storyteller at heart. Poole has come to know Foster through his stories, both painted and oral. In her words:
"His paintings reveal not only wild places but adventures and histories that ignite a longing in all of us. As a curator who has presented Foster’s works in museum shows, I am attracted to his ability to stimulate these longings as he tells stories about place, history and the land. I will share the work I have done with him, why I admire him and why his stories are important."
Poole invited Tony Foster to participate in two past exhibitions at Sun Valley Center for the Arts: After Lewis and Clark and The Whole Salmon, both of which traveled to other institutions. Additionally, Poole has organized a summer 2019 project, Mirage: Energy and Water in the Great Basin, for Sun Valley Center for the Arts, and Foster will be participating with his exhibition Great Basin & Copper Basin at the Gail Severn Gallery in Katchum, Idaho.
The My Journey with Tony Speaker Series features friends and colleagues of Tony Foster who have either accompanied him on his painting journeys or who have been influential in the evolution of The Foster.
About Kristin Poole
Kristin Poole has, since 1997, served as Artistic Director for the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, where she leads programming for the accredited museum whose multidisciplinary approach involves exploring topics of relevancy through visual art exhibitions, humanities, lecture and seminars, and music and theater performances.
A curator and art historian, Poole also develops exhibitions and lectures and writes on topics related to modernism, American Craft and contemporary art.
Prior to joining the staff at the Center, Poole worked as an independent lecturer, consultant, and art historian. Previous experience includes: Director of Chicago International New Art Forms Exposition; Curatorial Assistant, Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago); and Director of Lill Street Gallery (Chicago).
She holds an MA in Modern Art History from the University of Chicago and a BA in Studio Art and English from Denison University.
About Tony Foster
Born in Lincolnshire, England, artist-explorer Tony Foster finds inspiration in the wild places of the world, which he paints en plein air. Since 1982, he has undertaken a variety of watercolor “journeys”—painting projects based on a philosophical or environmental theme—that often involve multiple expeditions over many years. His subjects range from mountains, rivers, rainforests, deserts, coral reefs and Arctic icebergs to such iconic natural areas as the Grand Canyon and Mount Everest.
Hiking, rafting, kayaking or canoeing to find the perfect painting site, then camping outdoors for weeks at a time to make his paintings, Foster frequently faces challenging weather and difficult conditions. His paintings, complete with diary excerpts and “souvenirs,” document his experiences in wilderness and his commitment to its preservation.
