September 26, 2006 Source: :
http://www.mta.ca/news/?id=1106 Renowned artist Christopher Pratt returns to campus, Sept. 29 SACKVILLE, NB —Newfoundland artist and Allisonian Christopher Pratt will deliver the annual Mary (West) Pratt and Christopher Pratt Lecture at Mount Allison University on Friday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Crabtree Auditorium. Pratt’s talk is entitled "On Making Pictures" and everyone is welcome to attend. Christopher Pratt was born in St. John’s, NL and his first interest in painting was encouraged by his paternal grandfather, James C. Pratt, a businessman who retired and began painting as a hobby when he was 65. After a period of study at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Christopher went on to study at Mount Allison as a pre-med student, but found that he was far more interested in what was going on at the fine arts department than he was in medicine. He showed some of his paintings to then faculty members Lawrence Harris, Ted Pulford, and Alex Colville, and was encouraged by their support of his talent. He left Mount A for a period of time to travel and to study at the Glasgow School of Fine Arts, but later returned to Mount A where he completed his degree in fine arts in 1957. After his graduation, Christopher returned to St. John’s where he became the first curator of Memorial University’s Art Gallery. His work has been shown across Canada. In 1972, Christopher received an honorary degree from Mount Allison, followed in 1973 by the Order of Canada. He was also appointed Companion of the Order of Canada in 1983 and received an honorary doctorate in 1996 from Dalhousie University. The Mary (West) Pratt and Christopher Pratt Visiting Artist Lectures are supported by an endowment established by Mount Allison University’s Class of ’57 in recognition of their classmates Mary (West) Pratt and Christopher Pratt. The lecture series is also supported by the Marjorie Young Bell Distinguished Visitors Fund. These annual lectures explore the role of art in the human experience. A reception with the artist will follow the talk at the Owens Art Gallery. Everyone is welcome to attend. —30— For further information please contact the Alumni Office, Mount Allison University, tel: 364-2608 (jwilbur@mta.ca).
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