Photographer – Designer – Painter – Primitive Art Collector – Film Maker – Businessman
Born in Suceava, Romania
Have always been a visual artist in many media.
Environmental Studies, Faculty of Architecture, with Gordon Adaskin running the Design Department.
Photographer: Had photos published in Northern Light 1974 and 1975 issue, including one cover.
Commissioned to do the photography for the autobiography of Harry Adaskin (founder of the School of Music at UBC)
Commissioned by Illingworth (Buck) Kerr to shoot the portrait for his retrospective “Harvest of the Spirit” in 1985. Published in travelling exhibition catalogue.
Film Maker: 1972 “Mainstreet Soldier”, a cinema verité film, made together with two friends. Premiering at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, it was the first film to be shown as a work of art. Acted as producer, photographer, etc.
Second film “The Mourning Suit”, a full length feature film, made together with a friend. This was the 1975 Canadian entry in the Locarno Film Festival. The film premiered in Winnipeg in 1976. European distribution followed.
1978/79 – Start work as designer, and marketing manager for a furniture company, expanding reach of the company’s markets.
Painter: 1967 – Shows at Gallery Four, Winnipeg. Subjects vary – Abstract, constructivist, and graphic works predominate. Intermittent figurative work followed, with some drawing and water colours.
Oil landscapes start to predominate the output, with a special interest in McGillivray Falls, Manitoba.
Collecting primitive art and trading art works with friends of similar distinction. The masks of Papua, New Guinea and Asmat shields, hold a particular interest. In 1985, through The Raven Art Gallery, a few pieces end up at the Walker Museum.
1987 – Design, Marketing & Business: Acquires Crown Cap Mfg. Ltd., which was originally established in 1934 and sold its products mainly on the Prairie Provinces. Incorporates on Jan. 15, 1987, as Crown Cap (1987) Ltd. with Head Office, manufacturing and showrooms in Winnipeg, and an additional showroom in New York. Having a vision toward the Canadian, US and European markets, a fur collection is designed. Additional designs and products are added to represent a radically new company, covering outdoor, fashion, men’s and ladies’ head-wear, and accessories.