John Sabourin, a Dene from the Dehcho First Nation of Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada. John began painting acrylics in 1989, but became serious about pursuing a career as an artist in 1995 after completing a Fine Arts Course with Arctic College. He decided to continue formal studies of Art at the Victoria College of Art, Victoria, British Columbia, graduating in1999. John's paintings explore the complex relationship between humans and nature. As a carver he embraces his Dene culture bringing stone to life through stories and legends.

  John has sold paintings to private collectors in Canada and the United States. He has completed commissions and murals including a granite sculpture for the French Federation in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in 2005 and a painting for the City of Yellowknife Public Library in 2004. In 1999, along with two other artists, John completed a five foot marble sculpture that celebrated the cultural diversity of Canada's north. John has been interviewed by local and national news media including A.P.T.N. and Global TV and he has been featured on C.B.C. Artspots.

  In February 2007, John was honored to represent the N.W.T. in "Burning Cold" a juried art exhibition of ten Canadian artists at the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon. The show will be travelling to Nanaimo Art Gallery in January, 2008 and Oakville in August, 2008. After numerous group exhibitions in places such as Sydney, Australia (2002), Arizona (1998), and New Mexico (1995). John had a solo exhibition of his carvings at Nor-Art Gallery in Yellowknife, N.W.T. in February, 2006. In 2005, John received the People's Choice Award and in 2004 the Artists' Choice Award for his work at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik, Northwest Territories where he had been exhibiting his paintings and carvings since 1993. From 2003 - 2007 he was pleased to participate in the Open Sky Festival in Fort Simpson, N.W.T.

  John feels privileged to be able to work at something he cares about so deeply, and enjoys sharing his art and knowledge with others. He has taught carving workshops to students at schools in Yellowknife, N.W.T. since 2003 and to adults at various art festivals.

  John is represented by The Guild Shop, Toronto,Ontario Sandra Whitton Gallery, Kingston,Ontario, Birchwood Gallery, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Bear Claw Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta and Arctic Artistry Gallery in New York.

Education
2005 Honorary Fine Arts Certificate, Aurora College, Fort Smith, NT
1999 Victoria College of Art Diploma, Victoria, British Columbia
1995 Fine Arts Certificate, Aurora College, Fort Simpson, NT
1989 Fine Arts Certificate, Intro. Print making, Intro. Intaglio, Arctic College, Cape Dorset, Nunavut

Awards and Achievements
2007 First Place/Artists' Choice Award, National Snow Sculpture Competition, Gatineau, Quebec
2005 People's Choice Award, Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuvik, NT
2004 Artists' Choice Award, Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuvik, NT

Upcoming Exhibitions
2010  Northern House, Art Exhibition Vancouver, BC Winter Olympic Games February
2010 "One of a Kind Show" Toronto, Ontario April
2010 First People's Fine Arts Exhibition, Canadian Guild of Crafts, Montreal, QC June
2010 Open Sky Art Festival, Fort Simpson, NT June

Solo and Group Exhibitions
2009 Kingston Town and Country Studio Tour, Kingston, Ontario
2009 "Talking Earth and Flying Fish" The Guild Shop, Toronto, ON March
2009 Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuvik, NT
2008 Autumn Leaves Artist Tour, Thousand Island Arts, ON, October
2008 Sandra Whitton Gallery, Kingston, ON, solo exhibit, October
2008 "Burning Cold", Oakville Galleries, Oakville, ON, group exhibit, October
2008 "Burning Cold", Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, ON, group exhibit, December
2008 Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuivk, NT
2008 Fanfayre Festival, Kingston, ON, June
2008 "Burning Cold" Nanaimo Art Gallery, Jan. - Feb
2007 The Canadian Aboriginal Festival, Toronto, ON, November
2007 "Gallery Artist and Guests", Sandra Whitton Gallery, Kingston, Ontario December
2007 "Burning Cold', Yukon Arts Centre, Canada Winter Games (juried), February
2005 Nor-Art Gallery, Yellowknife, NT (solo)
2002 Arctic Artistry Art Gallery, New York, NY May
2002 Our Legend, Australia and Canadian Indigenous Art, Walkabout Gallery, Sydney, Australia
1999 Victoria College of Art, MacPherson Playhouse, Victoria, BC
1998 Spirits in the Sun Scottsdale, Arizona (group)
1997 Art Exhibition, Fort Simpson Visitor Information Centre, Fort Simpson, NT (solo)
1995 "Keeping our Stories Alive", Dene and Inuit of Canada Exhibition, Santa Fe, New Mexico
1993-2009 Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuvik, NT

Commissions
2007,     "Brother Eagle", sandstone sculpture, private collection
2007 "Spirit Journey", chlorite carving, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, NT
2006 Raven project, fiberglass raven, the City of Yellowknife, NT, Yellowknife Art Society
2005 "Cultural Interchange", large granite sculpture, French Federation, Yellowknife, NT
2003 "A Northern Life", mural, the Public Library, City of Yellowknife, NT
1999 "Sculpture of the North", French Federation, Yellowknife, NT
1995 "Old times", mural, the Visitor Information Centre, Village of Fort Simpson, NT

Teaching
2009 Queen's University, Open Studio, Kingston, ON
2009 Katarowki Native Friendship Centre, Kingston, ON
2008  Queen Elizabeth Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Kingston, ON
2008 J.R. Henderson School, Kingston, ON
2008 Kingston School of Art, Kingston, ON
2006 Chief Jimmy Bruneau School, Rae Edzo, NT
2003-07 Open Sky Festival, Fort Simpson, NT
2003-07 Schools of Yellowknife District #1
2006 Chief Jimmy Bruneau School, Rae Edzo, NT