March 18, 2006
Gene's new PBS TV Show, Journeys of an Artist goes on air nationally in the US! Check local listings for details.
Gene Canning has developed, and is the host for a new Art and Travel TV program titled "Journeys of an Artist", which began broadcasting nationally on PBS Television March 18th 2006. The show takes Gene and a weekly guest artist, to various places throughout North America and the world. The show combines travel and art all into one show. Gene states " I want our viewers to feel that they are traveling with us. Getting to know the areas we are traveling to, as well as getting to know the artists that have joined us on our journey. By the end of the show viewers should feel like they have met the artists. I want the artists to share what makes something jump out at them in a landscape, or in a place. Why do artists seem to have this unquenchable need to travel, to see the places they paint. What is it that they are looking for when they go to these sometimes remote areas? For instance, Guy Coheleach told me he has been to Africa over 60 times! I want to know why. What better way to find out then to go to Africa with him!"
Gene has been co-hosting a four day TV art auction for a PBS station based in Watertown, New York for the last few years. One year he took on the duties of artist host, interviewing the artists and talking about each of the paintings that came up for auction. " I've never had any official art training so I don�t know a lot of the art terminology. I think the viewers really enjoyed that. I talked more in general public�s language". One year after the auction the PBS staff introduced the idea of Gene hosting his own show. He now had significant on air experience and the PBS staff knew they liked his approach, as did their viewers. " I thought the idea over for a few days, not really thinking it would become a reality. I knew I didn't want to do an art instructional video, not that I don�t enjoy them, I just thought that if I was going to do a TV show I wanted to come up with something really different. That's where the idea for a show where viewers would get to meet different well known artists came from. I started thinking the idea through. How would I make the show unique? Suddenly a light came on. Why not add a travel component to the show. Most artists travel to gather reference for their artwork, or to paint on location. Wouldn't it be something for us to travel with these artists as they tour the world". From that point on, Gene says the show idea took off. As things were being worked through Gene realized, as well, that many artists already live and paint in beautiful areas around the world. The show could travel to the artist's studios and visit with them right where they create their art. For the travel component of the show, we could take in the beauty of their local areas. The artists acting as our tour guides, telling us how the area has influenced their art. From those simple beginnings came a show that is already getting the attention from many people in the art business as well as the general public.
Gene reports that the response has already been so great that plans are underway for season two. "We have only just begun!". WPBS television reports that "Journeys as an Artist" has been made available to all the PBS stations, which number over 300.
Gene Canning is an artist from Havelock Ontario. He is known for his paintings of sporting dogs, African and North American wildlife and for scenes of rural Canada. Gene is included in the prestigious reference books: "Who's Who in Canada" and "Who's Who in Executives and Professionals" in the US, and the Cambridege Biographical Society's book of Who's Who . His art has been featured in several magazines and by such TV networks as CBS, ABC, PBS, and City TV. More recently Gene has opened an original art gallery, Canning Galleries in Peterborough Ontario Canada. Gene is a signature member of World Nature Artists Group and is an Associate Member of the Society of Animal Artists. His art is in private and public collections including the official residence of Canada's Governor General.
For more information regarding the show please contact WPBS Television at 1-315-782-3142 or call Gene Canning at 1-705-745-8736. You can also reach Gene by email at
gene@genecanning.com.
Guest Artists for Season One
John Banovich, Tanzania Guy Coheleach, Serengeti and Nongorongoro Crater Michael Dumas, Algonquin Park Bradley Schmel, Civil War Re-enactment Virginia Steve Hanks, New Orleans and California Dwayne Harty, Yellowstone Artists of Zanzibar, Zanzibar Rod Crossman, Rivers of New York State
MARCH 21, 2006
Gene will be speaking and presenting a Powerpoint presentation about his new TV show, and his art. It is expected that there will be approximately 100 people in attendance. This is something Gene always enjoys doing. If your group would like to have Gene at one of your events please contact his Assistant Pat Edwards at Pat@genecanning.com
MARCH 25, 2006
Gene will be attending the Ontario Chapter of the Safari Club International dinner and auction. Gene has two giclee prints up for auction. This is Gene's first time attending an SCI event.
April 22, 2006
Gene will be attending two fundraising dinners. The Ducks Unlimited Dinner is in Campbellford, Ontario and the Trenton Wildlife Dinner in Trenton, Ontario
April 22, 2006
For the month of May Judy Minor will be the guest artist at Canning Galleries. Judy will be present April 7, 2006 for the opening of the show. The show runs until April 30, 2006. To view Judy's work visit www.judyminor.ca
April 22, 2006
For the month of May Cyril Cox will be the guest artist. Details to follow.
