Skip to the content of the web site.

2005 Shantz Internships

2006 Richard Rizzo

For my internship I went to Sackville New Brunswick, home of Mount Allison University, the Bay of Fundy and Professor Jeff Burns. I decided to work with Jeff Burns because of the similarities of our work but as well the diversity and differences of approach. Jeff Burns mostly taught me that correct methodology and along with good ideas bear witness to interesting and creative works of art. The projects that Jeff had me helping him with were varied. I spent most of my time there helping him with a large commission proposal for the Neurology Department at the Halifax Hospital. For this project I researched appropriate material needed because of the hospital setting. As well, I worked on an Architect tool called Sketch-up where I inserted Jeff's painting right into the real dimensions of the space we were proposing at the Hospital while also creating a walk though of the proposed site in video (avi format). I also worked on organizing Jeff's artworks, mainly as a reference material, I stretched canvasses for him and helped him with his curriculum for the upcoming academic year.

The ability to work with Jeff Burns in Sackville, New Brunswick also bought along other amazing opportunities for me. The Town of Sackville has a very rich art culture there, with having the oldest University Art Gallery, Called the Owens Art Gallery to having Struts Gallery an Artist Run Centre. These institutions organize and bring in artists from around the country and the world. During my stay and on my free time, I was lucky enough to be able to help out with the Summer Art-Camp that Mount Allison puts on for the brightest and best upcoming art students in the province. I put together a video in which we sent to each and every student as well as the Province of New Brunswick. During my stay I also gave a workshop on Resin to 12 interested community members at Struts Gallery, I lectured and worked with them with epoxy resin helping them work out some ideas they had as well as teaching them the technical aspects of the material. Lastly, I became a member of Struts gallery and was able to have a solo exhibition of my works there. These experiences along with working with Jeff Burns and learning some of the professional aspects of being an Artist have proved to be one of the most important learning experiences during my MFA at the University of Waterloo. I wish to thank the Keith and Win Shantz Internship Program, as well as the Department of Fine Arts and the University of Waterloo for providing me with the opportunity to learn and grow as an artist though this unique experience.