Kaija Savinainen

We are shaped by our personal histories. We see the world in our own unique way because of them. 

My ancestral roots are of Karelia, a Finnish speaking region now partly in Russia, and partly in Suomi (Finland). My family story is of escape from the oppression of Stalin in the 1920’s, the post WW2 handover of Finnish resistors to be sent to Soviet gulags  and ultimately the family’s  escape to Sweden,  and then ultimately to Canada – a place to start over.

These displacements have given rise to my strong connectedness to nature. Being uprooted, I so very much value what surrounds me. From these feelings, I am driven to make art that reflects the layers of nature , and the spirit of the places I am immersed into.

My Karelian ancestors believed in animistic deities, or haltijas. (pronounced hall- ti -yas).Every human has a haltija, usually called haltijasielu (haltija soul) or luontohaltija (nature haltija).   According to ancient tradition, a strong willed, artistic person was believed to have a strong haltija who granted them good luck and skills to complete their tasks well. Much of these beliefs came from the gentle story-telling of my mother who could recite hundreds of lines of the Kalevala - the ancient creation story of our people.

From an early age in Sweden, I was the kid in school that teachers saw as the class artist. From posters to murals to stage sets, I was called upon to pitch in with these evolving talents. The role of artist, from elementary school onward meant some form of acceptance, which as an immigrant - one can best hope for. New to Canada, awkward adolescent years in Thunder Bay were made bearable by the tutelage and support of Kay McCullough – an amazing Northwestern Ontario artist and teacher.

Ultimately migrating to Alberta and accepted into the fine art program at the creative atmosphere at  University of Lethbridge, had me immersed in art studies under dream professors Pauline McGeorge , Geoffrey  Spalding, John Clark, Carl Granzow. Mentored there too by visiting contemporary Canadian artists Christpher Pratt, Landon Mackenzie, Alex Wyse, Wynona Mulcaster,  and US sculptor Deborah Butterfield all set me on this path. Moving to Ottawa in the latter 1980’s I was struck by the evocative expressiveness of Québecois painter Charles Gagnon. I continue to learn from the work of Finnish sculptor Eva Ryynänen and early Scandinavian and Finnish painters whose work in the early 20th Century was viewed by members of Canada’s Group of Seven, ultimately influencing  Lawren Harris and colleagues to paint Canada’s wilderness as never before.

Strong family and artistic connections in recent years back to Lake Superior country, to the Yellowknife, North West Territories area and with visits back to Sweden and Finland has all reinforced my drive to show nature’s vulnerability, her beauty, her complexities and subtleties through my paintings. 

In doing so, I hope to stimulate the viewer’s sense of where we are going with what nature has bestowed upon us and which is all around us. Nature needs our respect, and care more than ever these days, and I challenge us all to be mindful of this through my art. 

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Lethbridge. Awarded President's Gold Medal as the top student in the Faculty which combined Visual, Performing, and Literary Arts

Excelled at Sculpture, Drawing, Painting,
Print-making, Ceramics Studio courses
(A, to A+ averages in all)

Developed knowledge of international Art History – Survey and specialized courses in the history of art, evolution, and role and contributions to society. Extensive research 
in contemporary and Canadian art

Bachelor of Education, University of Ottawa Qualifications for Intermediate and Senior Art Teaching. Graduated with Very Great Distinction.

Instruction

Art Teaching | Faculty of Fine Art, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Studio mentor, and teaching assistant.

Art Instructor | Adult Education TR Leger Alternate School. Taught art history, drawing, art techniques to many young and older adults all striving to gain their high school diploma. Organized first-ever graduate art exhibitions

Art Teacher | Venta Preparatory Private School An excellent school where art instruction was highly valued. Taught senior students all aspects of art-making. Mentored students in submitting works to art exhibitions and competitions

Professional Artist Practice: Willow Creek Studio, Almonte, Ontario, 1989-present. 

International Collections

Represented by Saatchi Galleries, London UK Painting, sculpture, print-making artworks created for collectors in Canada and internationally. 

The Ten Collective Member of one of Canada’s pre-eminent art collectives whose shows attract thousands annually.

Solo and Group Shows Participant in over 100 solo and group exhibitions, Ottawa, Montreal Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton.

Private Collections Works in private collections in Japan, the USA, Scandinavia, and many collections throughout Canada. 

Community Art Activity Founder and organizer of the annual Artists Studio Tour, Ottawa Region, 1997 to present. 

Artist In Residence | Porphyry Island | Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior Summer Program artist on this incredible island on Lake Superior.

Read about Kaija in The Humm newspaper ~ Arts, Entertainment & Ideas in the Ottawa Valley.