June Clark (artist) facts for kids

June Clark (born 1941) is an artist who lives in Toronto, Canada. She was born in New York City. June Clark creates art using photography, sculptures, and collages. She used to be known as June Clark-Greenberg. Her art often explores ideas about who we are and where we come from. She looks at how history, memories, and our own identity shape us.

Early Life and Education

June Clark was born in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. In 1968, she moved to Toronto, Canada. This was a time of big protests and social change in the United States. Both New York and Toronto have influenced her artwork.

Clark said that when she first moved to Toronto, she was excited. She found new things but also remembered what she knew. After moving, she studied art at York University. She earned her first art degree in 1988 and a master's degree two years later.

June Clark's Artworks

June Clark is well known for her photo etchings and sculptures. Her art often looks into her own life experiences. She explores themes like Black identity, being away from home, and memories.

She started her photography work in the early 1970s. She helped start The Women's Photography Co-op. Since then, her art has been shown in many cities. These include New York, Paris, Toronto, and Montréal.

Photo Etchings and Collages

In the 1980s, Clark began making large photo etchings. One famous work from this time is Formative Triptych (1989). For these pieces, Clark uses old family photos. She also uses snapshots and negatives from her own pictures. She puts them next to words she remembers from childhood. Sometimes she uses words from books.

Clark explained that she changes the photos by adding text. She also removes parts of the images when making the etchings. She said her art is not just about photography or printmaking. The images become symbols of the people who said these things to her.

Sculptural Works

Another important work is Family Secrets (1992). This series has nineteen black-painted cigar boxes. Each box is filled with small items and memories. Clark said these items are like a "residue." They remind her of the people they bring to mind.

Clark continued to create photo and sculptural art. In 1997, she showed Streetwise and Harlem Quilt. In 2000, she exhibited Once… After. In 2004, Clark made Dirge. This mixed-media artwork is a personal sad song for her home country. It shows her feelings about values that shaped her identity changing. Dirge is made from rusted metal pieces. She collected these from highways. This famous work shows the American flag. It represents social problems for Clark.

Teaching and Community Work

Besides making art, June Clark has taught fine art. She taught at places like York University. She has also served on art boards. These include the Toronto Arts Council. She has been a judge for many art awards. Since 2000, Clark has worked for the City of Toronto government. She helps with cultural affairs.

Exhibitions

June Clark started showing her art in the early 1970s. Her first solo shows were in Toronto in 1974. These included Portraits of Cuba and My Family.

In the 1990s, her art was part of two big group shows. These were The Creation... Of the African Canadian Odyssey in Toronto (1992). Another was Just the Facts? Contemporary Documentary Approaches in Ottawa (1999). Her work was also shown in Paris in 1994.

Clark had her first major solo show in a professional gallery in 1990. This was Mnemosyne at Mercer Union. Her Formative Triptych installation was shown there for the first time. Four years later, she had another important solo show. This was Whispering City at The Koffler Gallery. It featured her work from the previous five years.

More recently, Clark's art was in the 2016 exhibition. This show was called Toronto: Tributes + Tributaries, 1971–1989. It was at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Recognition and Awards

June Clark has received several important awards and honors. From 1996 to 1997, she was an Artist-in-Residence. This program was at The Studio Museum in Harlem. Before that, she received The Canada Council Studio in Paris award. She got this award every year from 1993 to 1996. She has also received many grants. These grants came from The Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council.

Art Collections

June Clark's artworks are part of many important collections. These include:

• Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON
• National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, ON
• The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, ON
• Galerie du Jour – Agnès b., Paris, France
• Collection of Agnès b., Paris, France