Ross Bell
London,ON
Summary
Working in a professional capacity within the art installation and handling field for over twenty years to gain knowledge on how to handle, transport, frame, crate, inventory and install art. Some of the many projects worked on include the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Gardiner Ceramics collection, post secondary institutions including the University of Toronto, York University and the University of Guelph and private collections including the Mirvish collection, the Thompson family collection, the Weston family collection and so on. Personally provided collection management and installation work for many corporations in Toronto and surrounding cities. This would include Onyx corporation, the former Cineplex Odeon, Sprott Management, the Royal Bank of Canada and the TD Bank as well as many others. I have the experience necessary to manage all aspects of a collection, to build infrastructure to store collections and to protect these resources though best practice policies, working with artists, curators, colleagues and other stakeholders to exceed expectations and provide excellence in the shows produced.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Preparator
Museum London
11.2010 - Current
- Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service to artists and curators.
- Developed strong communication and organizational skills through working on over 200 exhibitions over thirteen years, both art and history exhibitions at Museum London.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while scheduling and delegating tasks to 6 part time preparators.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion, while always following stringent health and safety guidelines.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Successfully operated heavy equipment such as forklifts, genie lifts, scissor lifts, cube vans and 5 ton trucks etc. I am trained in fall arrest, aerial platform and working at heights and have had my staff trained in these areas as well.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.
Lead Art Handling Specialist/ Quality Control
Pacart
09.2000 - 10.2010
- Worked for Pacific Art Services in Toronto dealing with transportation, installation, crating and special projects for ten years. I was quite often in the role of communicating directly with clients.
- Drove straight trucks requiring DZ license accross Canada and into the United States.
- Attended crating seminars, including CCI and others, trained to industry standards. Built crates for many sensitive art works and learned best practices of art handling from professionals.
- Learned rigging, how to move large sculptures with cranes and other equipment and methods.
- 2010 culminated with installing the artwork for the G20 and G8 summits in Ontario. Supervised the crew of 10 that transported and installed for the crew that transported and installed for the venues in Toronto and Huntsville.
Professor of Sculpture, Part Time
Fanshawe College
09.2004 - 04.2005
- Enhanced first year student's understanding by designing interactive and engaging lectures to introduce them to the discourse of sculpture.
- Demonstrated proper tool use and introduced students to processes available in the wood shop.
- Created dynamic learning environment that valued instructor and student interaction through art books and slide presentations and hands on demonstrations.
Sessional Instructor
University Of Guelph, Ontario
09.2000 - 04.2005
- Improved student comprehension by incorporating diverse teaching methods and materials in the first year Visual Studies program. Taught both the 2D and 3D cohorts.
- Boosted student performance by providing individualized support and targeted feedback.
- Enhanced classroom collaboration through the implementation of group projects and team-building activities.
- Increased student motivation by developing engaging lesson plans that catered to various learning styles.
Education
Master of Fine Arts - Sculpture
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON05-2000
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Sculpture
University of Lethbridge
Lethbridge, AB05-2000
Art And Design Diploma - Art
Red Deer College
Red Deer, AB05-1994
Skills
- P > Attention to Detail
- P > Organization and Time Management
- P > Maintenance and Repair
- P > Teambuilding
- P > Self-Motivated
- P > Teamwork and Collaboration
Websites
Accomplishments
2011 OAAG EXHIBITION AWARD:
Jack Chambers: the light from the darkness, silver paintings and film work Museum London. Ross Bell, Ron Benner, Wyn Geleynse, Robert Osthoff, Troy David Ouellette, Gallery Installation Team / Équipe d’installation de la galerie
2014 OAAG MONOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR / MONOGRAPHIQUE EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR: Budget over $ 20,000
Myfanwy MacLeod, or There and Back Again
Gallery Museum London and Vancouver Art Gallery
Ross Bell, Ron Benner, Paul Dreossi, Wyn Geleynse, Troy Ouellette, Gallery Installation Team
2018 OAAG AWARD EXHIBITION INSTALLATION AND DESIGN
BGL: Spectacle + Problems
Museum London, 2018
Cassandra Getty, BLG, and Ross Bell, Exhibition Designers
Ross Bell (Chief Preparator); Ron Benner, Wyn Geleynse, Robert Osthoff, Matt Trueman, Jeff Willmore, Billy Bert Young; and Janette Cousins Ewan (Art Registrar), Installation Team
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Chief Preparator
Museum London
11.2010 - Current
Professor of Sculpture, Part Time
Fanshawe College
09.2004 - 04.2005
Lead Art Handling Specialist/ Quality Control
Pacart
09.2000 - 10.2010
Sessional Instructor
University Of Guelph, Ontario
09.2000 - 04.2005
Master of Fine Arts - Sculpture
University of Guelph
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Sculpture
University of Lethbridge
Art And Design Diploma - Art
Red Deer College
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