Hamilton-based artist E. Robert Ross is sharing his work with Redeemer in a unique way. Ross is spending a month in Redeemer’s atrium with a small studio while he creates a painting of Quebec City’s Chateau Frontenac. During his time on campus, students and others are getting an inside look at the painter’s process, and the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the artist. “Ross is here as an act of service to our community. This is as an opportunity for the larger community to watch the evolution and development of the work on a daily basis,” explained Chris Cuthill, assistant professor and chair of the art department. Students, faculty and Redeemer community have chatted with Ross and observed his process as he paints. Ross was also a guest speaker at assistant professor of art Phil Irish’s Art in the Marketplace class. “The idea is that everybody– staff, visitors and especially students– get to see work and come and ask questions about what the piece is about or how I’m creating it. The students, for instance, did perspective drawings last term in class, and they learned how to stretch canvas, so they see this happening in action as I work on this piece,” Ross reflected. “I gave advice on where to show their art, how to approach galleries and other parts of the profession.” Over about a month spent at Redeemer, Ross is working on a series of paintings of iconic Canadian buildings inspired by the 19th century Dutch industrialist William Cornelius Van Horne. Besides the Chateau Frontenac, Van Horne also designed the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta. The series will commemorate both the 100th year since the death of Van Horne, and Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017. A full-time artist since 1975, Ross was born and raised in the Hamilton area, where he currently resides with his wife and two children. He has had solo exhibitions at galleries throughout Southern Ontario and his work is currently being displayed at Hamilton’s Focus Gallery on James St. North. His work is included in art collections locally, nationally and internationally, including the Collection of HRH the Prince of Wales, and the Duchess of Cornwall and the Collection of President Bill Clinton among others. Ross has done a number of large-scale paintings in public areas in Hamilton, including St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Royal Botanical Gardens and McMaster University. For more information about Ross and his work, please visit: http://www.e-robertross.com/index.html