Artist Statement

Within my latest artistic direction I have made a shift towards work that is more conceptually based.  My aspiration is to create art which is both thought provoking and visually stimulating.  I have drawn from a variety of influences in modern culture for motivation and inspiration.

The central idea which fueled this new endeavour came to me through the media and the recent attention given to the world financial markets.  I started to consider the movement of commodities and the nature of trade, how we are all connected and ultimately effected by this exchange.  The themes of currency and exchange are both relevant to our time and international in scope.

Using plastic cards as the symbol for currency invigorated multiple paths.  Blank cards are painted and applied to create collages, paintings and 3 dimensional relief panels.  The series is broad in scope but remains cohesive through a central concept.

Biography

Ron opened Art Can Gallery in Canning in 2001 and has been actively involved in the support and promotion of the arts in the Annapolis Valley. Ron's professional art career was divided between painting and freelance commercial work. Chameleon Graphics was established in 1983 with the help of his brother, David Hayes. They worked for several advertising agencies as well as a number of corporate clients. With an opportunity to move to Nova Scotia in 1996 Ron left the commercial art world behind. Ron returned to school to study Expressive Arts Therapy and completed a Masters degree in Switzerland in 1999. Since moving to Nova Scotia Ron has had more time to focus on painting. He has exhibited in New York City, Zurich, Switzerland, Acadia University Art Gallery and Harvest Gallery in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. His work is on permanent view at ArtCan Gallery. Ron is currently the Chair of the Alliance of Kings Artists (AKA) Board of Directors. He continues to teach drawing and painting at Acadia University and operate Art Can Gallery in Canning, Nova Scotia.