A painter and printmaker, working primarily with pastel on paper and oil on linen.
Stein established the Church Street Press in 1998 where he hand print limited edition books, with his own illustrations in wood engraving or stone lithography.
Much of his work has been influenced by summers spent on Georgian Bay, his home in Newfoundland, and his travels.
With his wife, Charlotte, Alan has travelled extensively in Europe sketching on-site and creating several exhibitions of cityscapes shown at the Roberts Gallery over the past 25 years. Alan and Charlotte bought a house in the harbour of Old Bonaventure, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland in 2015. Alan has established a studio there and is presently working with Des Walsh on a hand printed and illustrated book of his poems set in the Trinity Bight area.
n 2017 Alan was invited to be an on-board artist on an Adventure Canada expedition to Greenland and Labrador, this was an inspirational trip, resulting in a deeper understanding, and a larger commitment to Newfoundland and Labrador inspired artwork. On-site sketching every day led to a larger body of works which have been exhibited in public galleries.
Dividing his time between Parry Sound and Old Bonaventure, Alan continues to find home, and inspiration, in the landscape of both Georgian Bay and Newfoundland.
Fine Arts, Humber College, 1970-1974
New School of Art, Toronto, 1972
Studied at Burleighfield School under Patrick Reyntiens OBE, life drawing with Cecil Collins, Central School of Art London, 1976
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Various courses at Humber College, Sheridan College, Toronto Board of Education and Ontario College of Art from 1973 through 1985
STUDIO EXPERIENCE:
Established The Church Street Press, painting studio, Parry Sound 1987
Head designer The Glass Studio, Toronto 1984-87
Personal glass studio, Toronto 1977-87
Alan's wood engravings were featured in the film "Al Purdy was Here" by Brian Johnson, this screened at TIFF, Fall 2015-2016 across Canada and at International Film Festivals, TVO and CBC documentary channels.
PUBLICATIONS:
Georgian Bay Today, "On Spirit Lake, Process, prints, poetry, prose" by Tom Smart, Director of Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Summer 2019
The Power of the Press, "On Spirit Lake" by Patti Vipond, photos by Sandy McLennan, Parry Sound Life, July 2019
"The Lakes, Bays and Visions of Alan Stein",Book Arts Canada, article by Tom Smart, June 2019
"Exploring New Landscapes for Inspiration", by Charlotte Stein, Parry Sound Sideroads & Shorelines, August 2017
"Georgian Bay", Georgian Bay Land Trust, edited Nick Eyles, 2017
Ateliers – Studios, RCA, studio profile, 2017
"Al Purdy Was Here", by Charlotte Stein, Parry Sound Sideroads & Shorelines magazine, February 2016
"New Life For Old Art" by Patti Vipond, Sideroads of Parry Sound, March 2015
"Memory and Reality" by Peter Wood, Georgian Bay Today, Winter 2014-2015
"Of Poetry Pictures and Books", Alan Stein’s Book Works, Amphora, Tom Smart, 2014
How to Illustrate a Poem, 25th Anniversary of the Church Street Press, Devils Artisan #74, 2014
Arabella, by Lori Steiner, 'Artist to Collect' profile, Fall/Winter issue, 2011
Amphora, Chester Gryski, 2010
"Dreaming of Dorsets", Saint John Telegraph Journal, by Tom Smart, 2010
Devils Artisan #74, Featuring the wood engravings of Alan Stein, "How to Illustrate a Poem" by Lisa Moore, "Now I'm One of the Old Guys", by Alan Stein, 25th anniversary checklist, studio photos and engravings, 2014
Cover image, annual awards issue, biographical essay by Dr. Kate F.Hays, American Psychologist Journal, 2013
Chester Gryski, Wayzgoose, Amphora, Alcuin Society #155 July, 2010
Charlene Peck, Sideroads of Parry Sound, Spring issue, 2009
Alan Stein, Amphora #147, "Alphabet Stories" Herman Zapf, 2007
Fraser, Lynn, Canadian Bookseller magazine, 2006
Arseneau, Laura Beyond the Book, 2005
Dault, Gary Michael, Globe & Mail, 2003
Donelly, Judy, Devils Artisan #52, 2003
Ink Paper Lead, Board Leather Thread, catalogue, Coach House Press, 2002
Lichen, Spring, 2001
Govier, Katherine, Devil’s Artisan, 2001
Purdy, Al. “The 30,000 Islands of Georgian Bay”, Imperial Oil Review, 1999
Queens Quarterly, volume 103, #2, 1999
HAND PRINTED LIMITED EDITION ARTIST BOOKS:
On Spirit Lake, Georgian Bay Stories (2019) book launch at Arts & Letters Club, (April 2019), twelve original stories by authors incld; Ed Bartram, Judy Fong Bates, Joseph Boyden, Andrea Curtis, Nick Eyles, Katherine Govier, Wayne Grady, John Irving, David Macfarlane, Elizabeth MacCallum, Waubgeshig Rice, Susan Swan, poem by Douglas LePan with introduction by Tom Smart, 14 wood engravings limited edition 100 copies
Viewfinder (2014), 18 selected poems by Michael Crummey, launch Oct. at Arts & Letters Club Toronto, 20 wood engravings, Ltd.Ed. 50
The Golden Lilies (2009) eight new glosas by P.K.Page, Ltd.Ed 50, 10 wood engravings, hand coloured frontspiece,
dedication and launch 'PK Page-Irwin Room', Trent University
In Venice (2007), historic text compiled by Alan Stein. Ltd.Ed. 15, 5 stone lithos, hand coloured frontspiece, hand-painted covers, lino-cut end-paper 32 pages
In Smoke, Ten Variations on Eugenio Montale (2005), by Gary Michael Dault, edition 80,
4 engravings, 38 pages
Say the Names (2001) by Al Purdy. edition 5, 1 engraving 6 pages
Home Country (2000) by Al Purdy. edition 105, 13 engravings 101 pages
Towards the Open, Georgian Bay Poems (1998), by Douglas LePan edition 75, 10 engravings, 62 pages, o/p
In Mexico (1996) by Al Purdy. edition 50, 10 engravings, 80 pages, o/p
Islands (1994) compiled by Alan Stein. edition 50, 17 engravings 40pages, o/p
NATIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS:
RCA - Royal Canadian Academy of Art, elected 2014
SCA - Society of Canadian Artists, elected 1999
CSPWC - Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour, elected 1997
PROVINCIAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS:
OSA - Ontario Society of Artist, elected 1998
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS:
Canadian Book Binders and Book Artists Guild.
Centre for Book Arts, NYC
Wood Engravers Network of North America.
Festival of the Sound, past president
Arts and Letters Club of Toronto, fine arts committee
2023 - Harbours: Newfoundland & Portugal, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2021 - Songs of Weather, Georgian Bay and Newfoundland, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2019 - Greenland - Labrador a series of pastels based from on-site sketches, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2018 - Greenland to Labrador, Adventure Canada on-site trip sketches, Arts and Letters Club
2017 - Rooftops of Italy & Spain, Newfoundland and Georgian Bay, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
July - August 2017 - Images at Nightfall Georgian Bay, Festival of the Sound, with live performance projections inspired by Srul Irving Glick.
July - August 2017 - Viewfinder wood engravings, English Harbour Arts Centre, Newfoundland
Spring 2016 - “Recent Travels in Italy” Masters Gallery, Calgary
2015 - New Works, southern Saskatchewan, Georgian Bay with a focus on Newfoundland's Bonavista & Avalon Peninsulas, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2015 - Viewfinder, Grimsby Art Public Gallery
2014 - Viewfinder, Arts & Letters Club, Toronto
2013 - On the Road in Italy, Revisiting New York, Exploring the Scottish Highlands- Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2012 - Cityscapes, New York City, Masters Gallery, Calgary
2012 - On The Bay, Stockey Centre, Parry Sound
2011 - The Quiet Snow – Amsterdam Canals – New Work of Georgian Bay & Italy, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2009 - Georgian Bay – Further Explorations & Petrushka, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2008 - Venice – Georgian Bay, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2007 - Place, Reflections on Venice and Georgian Bay, Station Gallery, Parry Sound
2005 - Into the Night, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2004 - In Town – On the Bay, Station Gallery, Parry Sound
2003 - New Work pastels on paper, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2001 - Paris Day & Night, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2000 - Home Country, District Museum, Parry Sound
2001 - Latcham Gallery, Stouffville
1997 - In Mexico, Toronto Reference Library
1998 - Carnegie Gallery, Dundas
1998 - Grimsby Public Art Gallery
1995 - Inner Islands-Outer Islands, WKP Kennedy Gallery, North Bay
2022 - Figurative Pop Up Show, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2022 - present, Annual Artists Choice Exhibition, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2020 - “Strength in Numbers, The CanLit Community” Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto. Alan’s hand printed, limited edition book “The Golden Lilies” by PK Page, is part of this exhibition celebrating Canadian Publishing. His book, sketches, and wood engraving illustrations are part of this important exhibition.
2018, '19 - Christina Parker Gallery summer exhibition
2017 - Revisiting the Rural, Christina Parker Gallery, St. John’s
2016 - Uncovering Artists Books, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, touring
2015 - Summer exhibition, 3 person, Christina Parker, St. John's
2015 - 30th Anniversary exhibition of Aird Gallery, Toronto
2014 - Festival of Seven, Art Gallery of Sudbury
2013 - A Death Greatly Exaggerated: Canada's Thriving Small and Fine Press. Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library UofT
2013 - Lost Voices, live performance projections, Festival of Sound
2012 - 140th Anniversary OSA Exhibition, Aurora Cultural Centre
2012 - Gifted Archives of Ontario - OSA art exhibition
2010 - 85th Anniversary of CSPWC Arts & Letters Club, curated B. Mitchell. Sense of Place , G& Summit Centre Huntsville Ont.
2009 - Alcuin Awards for Excellence in Book Designs in Canada, (juror), National and International venues, touring exhibition
2009 - Ex Libris, MacLaren Art Gallery, Barrie
2008 - 100 years of Art at the Arts & Letters Club, Varley Art Gallery
2008 - '09 - Art of the Book '08, National touring exhibition
2008 - Vseradice International Artists Symposium, Czech Republic
2006 - 30th Stifung Buchkunst, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Germany
2005 - Beyond the Book, Grimsby Public Art Gallery
2004 - '05 - Alcuin Society, exhibition of Excellence in Book Design in Canada
Vaughan Memorial Library. Acadia University. Emily Carr Institute of Design. WAC Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University, Redpath Library, McGill. University of Alberta. Design Exchange, Toronto.
2003-04 - Art of the Book ’03, Third prize, York Quay Gallery. Organized by CBBAG, National touring exhibit, (juror)
2002-03 - Painted Sound, Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts, with CSPWC, Ink Paper Lead, Board Leather Thread, Touring exhibition,
2002-03, Canada Trust Gallery, Toronto Reference Library, W.D. Jordan Special Collections Library, Queens University Kingston, Gallery Stratford, Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, Guelph,
2001 - '05 - Drawing, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto
2001 - The Eye and the Hand, Etobicoke Civic Art Gallery
2001 - '02 - Alcuin Society, Exhibition of Excellence in Book Design in Canada, First Prize Vancouver Craft Museum, Acadia University,
2001, Emily Carr Institute of Design, Redpath Library, McGill
2001, The Book an Evolution in Meaning., First prize, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
2000-'02, SCA Open Juried Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto
2001, The Library Project, travelling, organized by University of Manitoba
2000, A Brush With History, 75th Anniversary Exhibit CSPWC, Art Gallery of Mississauga
2000, RCA juried exhibit, Gallery Stratford
2000 - present, Annual Artists Choice Exhibition, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
1999, If you go down in the woods today… Works by members of the North American Wood Engravers Network, Line Gallery, Scotland
1993-05, Open Water juried CSPWC exhibit, John B Aird gallery, Toronto
1998, Artist Members Exhibition of Contemporary Bookworks, Centre for Book Arts, NYC.
1998, Art of the Book, National touring exhibit, Organized by CBBAG
1998-'99, Fine Printing: the Private Press in Canada, National touring exhibit, opening Thomas Fischer
CANADA: Government of Ontario Art Collection , National Library of Canada, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, Massey College and Victoria Library, University of Toronto; Toronto Reference Library; McGill Univ. Library Rare Book Collection. Redpath Collection, Montreal; MacKimmie Library, Univ. of Calgary; Bruce Peel Special Collections Library, Univ. of Alberta; Libraries at UBC; Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University, B.C., Grimsby Public Art Gallery. Government of Ontario Art Collection. Four Seasons Hotels, Irving Oil Inc.
USA: New York City Public Library, Rare Book Dept.; Wellesley College Library, NY.
International: National Library of Ireland; National Library of New Zealand, Book and Type Museum, Leipzig. National Library of Germany. Vseradice, Czech Republic. Meermanno Museum, The Hague, Netherlands
Grimsby Public Art Gallery