Damian Moppett Named to Prestigious Artist-in-Residence Program

Online, June 2, 2010 (Newswire.com) - TORONTO - Canadian contemporary artist, "nature-man" Damian Moppett will be fixated on a different kind of art this summer, the art of whisky making.

Vancouver-based Moppett, 41, known for his intense depictions of the "artist in the creation of art" has been selected to represent Canada at the ninth annual Glenfiddich Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program in Scotland.

Glenfiddich is the world's most awarded single malt and the pioneer of an annual international artist development program. The Glenfiddich Artist-in-Residence program is highly regarded for creating a communal artistic experience. Moppett will be one of only eight artists from around the world selected to take up residency at the Glenfiddich distillery.

Moppett, who will move into a cottage at the Scottish distillery on June 20 will be joined by artists; Mao Yan, China; Shiau-peng Chen, Taiwan; Ha Young Kim, UK; Matthew Sandager and Carrie Iverson, USA; Valay Shende, India and Dan Halter, South Africa.

"Glenfiddich believes in fostering pioneering talent," says Lindsay Prociw, Senior Brand Manager for Glenfiddich. "While making whisky is certainly a complex science, there remains an inherent degree of art and expression in the work of our Malt Master and distillery family. Fostering this type of creativity and experimentation in others is sincerely important to us."

The Banff Centre Visual Arts Program assists in the selection of the Canadian artist.

About Damian Moppett

Born in Calgary Alberta, Moppett is a graduate of the Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Vancouver, where he went on to teach between 1998 and 2004.

Moppett's art spans the entire range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, film and ceramics. His work is analytical, conceptual, and highly referential in both form and content. He explores the process of craft-making and its ability to function as a highly personal and autobiographical art form.

His work has been exhibited in Canada and Europe at The Power Plant, National Gallery of Canada, Musee d'art contemporain de Montreal and the Vancouver Art Gallery.

His solo-exhibitions include; Catriona Jeffries Gallery, Vancouver (2007/2010), Yvon Lambert, Paris, (2009), Temple University Gallery, Philadelphia (2009) and Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, (2006). His work is included in the collections of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA and the Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC.

About the Artist-in-Residence Program (AiR)

Established in 2002 by Peter Gordon, the great great grandson of William Grant, founder of Glenfiddich, the AiR is an award-winning program now in its ninth year. Each year up to eight artists from around the world reside in distillery cottages for three months to be inspired by the surroundings, community and the distillery itself. The Glenfiddich Distillery is located in the town of Dufftown (population 2,000) in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. This year, artists will represent, China, Taiwan, South Africa, US and Canada. Fields of interest include art, sculpture, film, photography and music.

The Glenfiddich artist-in-residence program has previously sponsored Canadian artists Arabella Campbell (2009), Dave Dyment (2008), Jonathon Kaiser (2007), Annie Pootoogook (2006) and Myfanwy Macleod (2005).

About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons is an independent family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and today still controlled by the fifth generation of his family. The Company distils some of the world's leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world's most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, the handcrafted range of The Balvenie® single malts and one of the world's best loved blended Scotches, Grant's®, as well as selected other spirits, including Hendrick's® Gin, and Sailor Jerry® Spiced Rum.

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Note to Editors: High-resolution images of his work are available upon request.

To arrange an interview with Damian, please contact:
Barbara Jesson / Gerald Crowell
Jesson + Company Communications Inc.
[email protected] / [email protected]