Pnina Granirer

Pnina Granirer

born in 1935 in Braila, Romania
immigrated to Israel in 1950; immigrated to Canada from the United States in 1965
studied at the Bezalel Art Academy, Jerusalem (1956-1960); studied printmaking at the Print Studio, Vancouver, British Columbia (1969-1972)

click on thumbnails at left to view larger images

Having lived in Romania, Israel, France, the United States, and finally Canada, Pnina Granirer draws on a diverse experience of cultures to create her work. Her influences range form the fairy tales and folk art she remembers being exposed to as a child, to the German Expressionism she studied later on in Israel. A mixed media artist, Granirer’s work has included the themes of family and childhood, the duality of good and evil, landscape, and the immigrant’s experience. In the Cannibal Bird Suite (1981-82) Granirer used the old West Coast Indian tradition of initiating young men by sending them into the forest to confront the Cannibal Bird, in order to express her own feelings about the finding of self, in the confrontation of one’s own ghosts and demons. In 1984 she was concerned with Family Portraits, a series based on an old family photo album. As the album contained photographs from Romania and Israel, Granirer used it as a means "to look back into the past in order to understand the present, on the personal as well as on the universal level. The pictures one sees in the photo album," she says "are of people smiling into the camera, captured forever in their hopes for the future--but this future does not always materialize in the shape one wants it to be" (1998). In 1989, Granirer was exploring images of female icons and the relationship between nature and culture in her Carved Stones Suite, of which she wrote, "in this series there is an attempt to integrate stones carved by (mostly) men and seen as a symbol of culture (considered superior to nature), with stones carved by the elements and seen as a symbol of nature. The latter has been associated with the female . . . by integrating the two, these works pay homage to nature and bring culture back to its source" (1998). In 1990 she published a limited edition book of poems accompanied by her own illustrations, The Trials of Eve, a new look at the myth of Adam and Eve in the form of a three-act play narrating Eve’s courtroom trial and the tribulations that follow, ending on a note of hope for humanity. This theme was further explored in her 1995 series, In Search of Eden. In 1998, the Richmond Art Gallery in Richmond, British Columbia, held a forty-year retrospective of her work which the curator, Gregg Simpson, describes as constantly betraying "a belief in images which reflect the universality of humanity; she has the ability to both draw from deep ties to the culture of the Old World even the ancient or prehistoric ones, and to simultaneously transmute them into something uniquely West Coast" (1997). In 1976 Granirer won first prize for graphics at the Nordau Annual in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in 1989 she received the Alcuin Citation Award for The Trials of Eve. Also an instructor at the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Continuing Studies (Vancouver, British Columbia), Granirer lectured frequently, and in 1993 was co-founder of Artists in Our Midst, a project for community participation in the arts. She has also worked as an illustrator, and designed sets for theatre production, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1983) and A Comedy of Errors (1984).

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

1998-95	In Search of Eden Prince George Art Gallery, Prince George, British Columbia; Torres Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1998	Pnina Granirer - Celebrating a Life's Work, a 40 Year Survey Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, British Columbia
1997	Synchronicity Oktavia Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1995	Pacific Exchanges Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden, Vancouver, British Columbia Pnina Granirer - 1985-1995, A Survey Zack Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1993	Juxtapositions Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, British Columbia Heart of Stone Art Centre of New Westminster, New Westminster, British Columbia
1990	Carved Stones Suite Smash Gallery of Modern Art, Vancouver, British Columbia Back to the Source Sandstone Studio, Gabriola, British Columbia The Trials of Eve and book launch of the limited edition, Women in Focus, Vancouver.
1989	Carved Stones Alliance française, Vancouver, British Columbia Carved Stone Series Art Gallery of the South Okanagan, Penticton, British Columbia; Galerie Rochon, Toronto, Ontario
1988	New Works Gateway Gallery, Richmond, British Columbia Carved Stones Threshold Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1987	Les Rochers Bleus Galerie Aktuaryus, Strasbourg, France
1986	The Blue Rocks Series Atelier Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1985-84	Family Portraits Koffler Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia; Chrysalis Gallery, University of Western Washington, Bellingham, Washington; Calgary Jewish Centre, Calgary, Alberta
1984	Cannibal Birds Suite & Trials of Eve Sunshine Coast Arts Centre, Sechelt, British Columbia New Works Civic Centre, North Vancouver, British Columbia
1983	Du Canada Galerie Artal, Strasbourg, France New Works Gold Design Fine Arts, Calgary, Alberta
1982	Cannibal Birds Suite & Trials of Eve Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, British Columbia New Works Shalom Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia The Captive Birds Suite Gold Design Fine Arts, Calgary, Alberta
1980	West Coast Series Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia New Works Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia West Coast Series Gold Design Fine Arts, Calgary, Alberta Les Oiseaux cannibales Galerie Artal, Strasbourg, France
1979	Pnina Granirer - New Works Fleet Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Topham Brown Gallery, Vernon, British Columbia; Kelowna Art Association, Kelowna, British Columbia; Kamloops Public Art Gallery, Kamloops; New Drawings Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia Coast Forest Images Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1978	New Works Maples Gallery, Saanich, British Columbia; Minotaur Gallery, Mission, British Columbia Pnina Granirer WomanArt Gallery, New York, New York Childhood Magic Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1977	New Drawings Presentation House, North Vancouver, British Columbia New Works Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1976	Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia
1975	West Coast Images University Women's Club, Hycroft, Vancouver, British Columbia; Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1972	The Kite Series Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, British Columbia
1970	Pnina Granirer - Batiks Unitarian Church, Vancouver, British Columbia
1966	Pnina Granirer Danish Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia; Pandora's Box Gallery, Victoria, British Columbia; Art Den Gallery, Montréal, Québec
1962	Hillel House, Urbana, Illinois Student Union Gallery, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

1998	Art '98 Vancouver, British Columbia
1997	Ars Mundi - 4th International Conference of the Visual Arts Vancouver, British Columbia
1997-93	Artists in Our Midst Vancouver, British Columbia
1996	Quay Gallery - Gibsons, British Columbia A Child's View Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, British Columbia
1995	A Jewish Beaux Arts Zack Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1994	Unraveling the Patterns - Reweaving the Future Women and a Sustainable Development Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
1993	Mona in Brno Gallerie Mladych, Brno, Czech Republic 11th Annual Vancouver Exhibition Community Arts Council, Vancouver, British Columbia La Couleur de mon art Studio 16, Vancouver, British Columbia Canadian Artists for the Olga Havel Foundation Galerie Palles, Prague, Czech Republic The Canadada Elvis Stamp Series Smash Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia Art Can't Hurt NEWZONES Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1992	Canadian Women Artists Canadian Embassy, Paris, France The Stendhal Effect Emily Carr College of Art, Vancouver, British Columbia Christmas Show Patrick Doheny Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia Rainforest of the Mind Gallery Alpha, West Vancouver, British Columbia Genesis Victoria Jewish Centre, Victoria, British Columbia
1990	A Celebration of the Female Spirit Coe Gallery, Portland, Oregon Bumbershoot Seattle, Washington
1989	Emma Lake Artists' Workshop, Emma Lake, Saskatchewan The New Landscape Pitt Gallery Invitational, Vancouver, British Columbia BC Festival of the Arts Vancouver, British Columbia Gallerie - Annual 1989 Community Arts Council, Vancouver, British Columbia Pnina Granirer - Peter Davenport British Columbia Club, Vancouver, British Columbia
1989-88	Fear of Others - Art against Racism Roundhouse, Vancouver, British Columbia; Firehall Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1988	Mona Lisa and Others Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, British Columbia
1987	Reverberations - Poetry and Art Canadian Cultural Centre, Paris, France Biennale de la société des beaux-arts Grand Palais, Paris, France
1986	BC Artists at the Square '86 Robson Media Centre,Vancouver, British Columbia Jewish Visions '86 Vancouver, British Columbia Festival francophone '86 Robson Media Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia 101 Vancouver Artists Pitt International Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia Sacred Arts St Andrew's Wesley Church, Vancouver, British Columbia
1985	British Columbia Women Artists 1885-1985 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia Theatre Arts Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia
1984	BC Artists at the Square '84 Robson Media Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia A Canadian Collection '84 Peretz School, Calgary, Alberta Jewish Visions Vancouver, British Columbia
1983	A Canadian Collection '83 Peretz School, Calgary, Alberta Print Fair Bern, Switzerland Three Artists Alliance Française, Vancouver, British Columbia Viewpoints, a Reality Show - Working Women, Working Artists Calgary Board of Education, Calgary, Alberta
1982	A Canadian Collection '82 Peretz School, Calgary, Alberta Two Artists Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1981	A Canadian Collection '81 Peretz School, Calgary, Alberta Emerging Canadian Artists Muttart Gallery, Esso Collection, Calgary, Alberta
1980	A Canadian Collection '80 Peretz School, Calgary, Alberta 13 Women Artists Gallery Move, Vancouver, British Columbia
1979	Focus One Gallery,Vernon, British Columbia Kamloops Public Gallery, Kamloops, British Columbia Hogar Gallery, Lima, Peru
1978	The Archives Collection of the Society of Canadian Painters and Etchers Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario The Artist's Work as a Reflection of his Environment Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation, Ottawa, Ontario Lincoln Centre, New York, New York WomanArt Gallery, New York, New York
1977	Accent on Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba WomanArt Gallery, New York, New York Third Annual Malaspina Print Show Helen Pitt Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia For the Birds Fine Arts Gallery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia 14th Annual Calgary Graphics Exhibition International Civic Centre, North Vancouver, British Columbia King County Arts Commission Centre, Seattle, Washington Four Canadian Artists Zagreb, Yugoslavia USA National Print Exhibition Hunterdon Art Centre, Clinton, New York
1976	Civic Centre, Community Arts Council, North Vancouver, British Columbia Four Canadian Artists Maribor, Yugoslavia; Moderna Galeria, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia Nordau Annual - First Prize Graphics Vancouver, British Columbia
1975	International Woman's Year Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia Dawn, Women Artists of BC Student Union Building Gallery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Malaspina Printmaker's Society Helen Pitt Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia Perth Drawing International Perth, Australia Creative Women Fantastic Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1974	Mido Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia 50 BC Women Artists Student Union Building Gallery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia 11th Annual Graphics International Alberta College of Art, Calgary, Alberta ISIS Vancouver, British Columbia (travelling) Canadian Painters-Etchers Exhibition Toronto, Ontario and Alberta (travelling) Canadian Artists Exhibit Student Union Gallery, International Math Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Dimension Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1973	Deer Lake Printmakers' Society Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, British Columbia Three Artists H&S Canvas Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1972	SCAN - BC Artists Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia Canadian Painters-Etchers, 56th Annual Show Toronto, Ontario Private Patrons Collects BC Contemp. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia
1971	Canadian Printmakers and Engravers Annual National Graphics Toronto, Ontario Picture Loan Juried Show Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, British Columbia H&S Canvas Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1970	United Nations Permanent Collection, New York, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Montréal, Québec Four Artists H&S Canvas Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1968	Canadian Painters-Etchers Graphics National Show Toronto, Ontario
1967	Picture Loan Gallery Show Pointe Claire, Québec
1965	Annual Art Show Ithaca, New York
1963	Central Illinois Artists' League, National Juried Show Champaign, Illinois
1960	Union of Israeli Artists Jerusalem, Israel

COLLECTIONS

Agnes Etherington Gallery, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario
Archives of the Society of Canadian Painters-Etchers and Engravers
BC Ferry Corporation, Victoria, British Columbia
Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, British Columbia
Canada Northwest Energy Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
City of North Vancouver, British Columbia
City of Strasbourg, France
Dal Cor Corporation
Daon Development Corporation
Dominion Securities Pitfield
Environmental Management Assoc.
Esso Canada Resources, Calgary, Alberta
Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta
Gulf Oil of Canada, Calgary, Alberta
Human Rights Commission, United Nations, New York, New York
J.E.D. Management
Jewish Centre, Calgary, Alberta
Jewish Community Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia
Lions' Gate Hospital, North Vancouver, British Columbia
London Regional Art Rental, London
Merlin Resources Ltd.
Pan Canadian Petroleum, Calgary, Alberta
The Peter Savage Collection, Calgary, Alberta
Prince George Art Gallery, Prince George, British Columbia
Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, British Columbia
Rogers Group
Shell Canada, Calgary, Alberta
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia
Sun Tower, Toronto, Ontario
Supreme Petroleum, Toronto, Ontario
Toby, Russell, Buchnell & Partners
UNICEF Collection, New York, New York
The University Centre, University of British Columbia
Vancouver Art Gallery Rental, Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver, British Columbia
Yad Vashem Museum, Jerusalem, Israel

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alibhai, Amir Ali. "In Search of Eden." Artfocus 4, no. 1 (Fall 1995): 18-19.

The Archives Collection of the Society of Canadian Painters-Etchers & Engravers. Toronto, Ontario: Art Gallery of Hamilton, 1978.

The Artist's Work as a Reflection of His Environment. Ottawa, Ontario: Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation, 1978.

Berson, Cathy. "The Trials of Eve." OUTLOOK (March 1994): 19, 20.

Canadian Artists for the Olga Havel Foundation (catalogue). Prague, Czech Republic: Galerie Palles, 1993.

Canadian Woman Studies, Women and Spirituality 17, no. 1 (1997): 81, 91.

Crook, Marion. The Trials of Eve: A Viewer's Guide to the Film / Crook, Speck and Jordan-Bastow. Vancouver, British Columbia: Jordan-Bastow Productions, 1992.

Dawn, Women Artists of BC. Vancouver, British Columbia: University of British Columbia, 1975.

"The framing of Eve." Matriart 5, no. 3 (1995): 27.

Gold, Melanie. "Freedom, harmony, endurance and motion." Arts West (1978): 8-13.

Granirer, Pnina. The Trials of Eve. Vancouver, British Columbia: Gaea Press, 1989.

---, and Roger H. Boulet. Cannibal Birds Suite & Trials of Eve. Burnaby, British Columbia: Burnaby Art Gallery, 1982.

Kuehn, Sadie, Suzanna Egan, et al. Fear of Others - Art Against Racism. Vancouver, British Columbia: Vancouver Artists' League, 1988.

Levis, Deanna. "Vancouver: Pnina Granirer at the Bau-Xi Gallery." Art Magazine (October/November 1977): 27-28.

Lindberg, Ted. Pnina Granirer - Portrait of an Artist. Vancouver, British Columbia: Ronsdale Press, 1998.

Maranda, Jeanne. "Pnina Granirer, une artiste de l'ouest canadien." Canadian Woman Studies 3, no. 3 (1982): 4-6.

Muttart Gallery. Emerging Canadian Artists. Calgary, Alberta: The Gallery, 1981.

Mystery in Endgrain: Contemporary Wood Engraving in North America. Mission, British Columbia: Barbarian Press, 1995.

"Mystery on Gabriola." Continuing Studies Calendar, University of British Columbia (Spring/Summer 1995): cover, 2, 8.

Owens, Yvonne. "The golden devil charm of Pnina Granirer, celebrating a life's work." Artichoke 10, no. 1 (Spring 1998): 38-39.

Perth Prize for Drawing International. Perth, Australia: Western Australia Art Gallery, 1975.

Pnina Granirer: In Search of Eden. Prince George, British Columbia: Prince George Art Gallery, 1998.

"Pnina Granirer: A Vancouver artist enters another stage." Arts West (May/June 1984): 14.

Poesie et modernité. Paris, France: Centre culturel Canadien, 1987.

Siegel, Rachel Josefowitz, and Ellen Cole, eds. Patterns in the Lives of Jewish Women. New York, New York: Haworth Press, 1997.

Simpson, Gregg. Pnina Granirer. Celebrating a Life's Work: A Forty Year Retrospective. Richmond, British Columbia: Richmond Art Gallery, 1998.

Surrey Art Gallery. Mona Lisa and Others. Surrey, British Columbia: The Gallery, 1988.

Tuele, Nicholas, Christine Dean-Johnson, and Roberta Pazdro. British Columbia Women Artists, 1885-1985. Victoria, British Columbia: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1985.