San Murata

A Unique Fusion of Fine Art Painting and Jazz Violin Music

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Curriculum Vitae

Professional Experience

1995 – present: Painter

1985 – present: Jazz Violinist

1980 – 1995: Artist and Illustrator

1974 – 1980: Art Director, CTV, Toronto

1973 – 1974: Art Director, Global TV, Toronto

1971 – 1973: Art Director, City TV, Toronto

Education

1964: B.A. (Economics) University of Musashi, Tokyo, Japan

Grants

2018: Canada Council for the Arts: “Kyushu Nights” Jazz Tour in Japan with Neil Swainson, Jan./Feb.

OAC Exhibition Assistance Grant, Agnes Jamieson Gallery, Milton for Exhibition “Painting beyond Limitations” with Seitaro Kuroda at Tsunagi Art Museum in Kumamoto, Japan

2015/16: Ontario Arts Council: Quebec / Ontario Exchange Grant “On the Trail of Krieghoff”, residency.

2014: Ontario Arts Council: Exhibition Assistance Grant: Art Gallery of Northumberland.

Publications       

2018: “ Live Tomorrow, Not Yesterday” Auto-biography of San Murata, published by Kajikasha Co. Ltd., Kumamoto, Japan.

1990: “Boy and One Dollar” Children’s Book, Oxford University Press, Toronto. 

1972: “Plato & Company” Children’s Book, Annick Press, Toronto.

Solo Exhibitions

2019: “Inuit Fine Art” Gallery, Port Hope Ontario, Exhibition August 17 to September 1, 2019.

“Ontario & Quebec: Living for Landscapes”, Agnes Jamieson Gallery, Minden, Ontario

May 30 to July 6, Public Gallery, Solo Invitational, Opening Friday, May 31 4:30 to 6:00 pm.

“Gunjo Gallery” Solo Exhibition, Kurume, Fukuoka Province, Japan, February. 

2018: “ Painting Beyond Limitations”: Tsunagi Art Museum, Kumamoto / April 28 – July 16,2018 / Exhibition with Artists San Murata & Seitaro Kuroda/ Public Art Museum, Curated Exhibition.

2017: Motokawa Art Gallery, Kumamoto, Japan (February), also 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Hamaya Department Store Art Gallery, Nagasaki, Japan (March)

2016: San Murata Studio Show

Chritstensen Gallery, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Tsutaya-Ya Bookstore, (presented by Motokawa Art Gallery), Kumamoto, Japan  

2015: Engine Gallery, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada

AH! Arts & Heritage Centre, Warkworth, Ontario, Canada 

2014: Bahia Studio, Kumamoto, Japan also 2013. 

2013: Spazio Dell’Arte, Toronto, Canada, also 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.  

2012: Gunjo Gallery, Kurume, Japan, also 2011 and 2010.

2011: Oeno Gallery, Bloomfield, Ontario, Canada also 2010, 2008 and 2007

2009: Colborne Art Gallery, Colborne, Ontario, Canada

Yamagata-Ya Department Store Art Gallery, Kagoshima, Japan                           

2008: First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, Canada also 2003.

2007: Oeno Gallery, Bloomfield, Ontario, Canada

2006: Folk Art Nouveau Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

2005: Hannabi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, also 2004.

1998: Japan Foundation Gallery, Toronto, Canada

1995: Canadian Embassy Gallery, Tokyo, Japan /

Zen Niku Gallery, Hiroshima, Japan

Illustration Awards

1999: Toronto Art Director’s Club, Bata Shoe Museum, Canada, Merit Award

1998: Toronto Art Director’s Club, YMCA Canada, Certificate of Accomplishment

1996: UNICEF, New York, Book Cover, Selected Illustration,

1995: Toronto Art Director’s Club, Royal Bank, Canada, Silver Medal

Four Season’s Hotels, Menu Design, Beckett Paper, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Award of Excellence

1994: CA Magazine Awards (USA), Four Seasons Hotel, Canada, Merit Award

Beckett Paper Company, Hamilton, Ohio, USA, Award of Merit for Packaging.

1992: Annual CA Illustration Competition, New York, Selected Design, New York

Toronto / Montreal 350 Birthday Logo Design, selected by Mayor June Rowlands

Hanes Canada T-Shirt Design Competition, Canada, Gold Medal

1989: CAPIC Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators, Jazz Festival Poster, Silver Medal

1988: Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York, Art Direction, Roslyn Eskind, YMCA Selected Illustrations.

Toronto Art Directors’ Club, Royal Bank, Silver Medal

1987: International Advertising Festival, Jamaica, New York, Gold Medal

Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. USA, Work selected for the Permanent Collection.

Toronto Art Directors’ Club, YMCA, Canada, Merit Award

1986: Toronto Art Directors’ Club, Marshall Cummings & Associates, Merit Award, YPT, Canada, Merit Award

1985: Toronto Art Directors’ Club, Metro Toronto Zoo, Canada, Silver Medal / Couples Resort, Merit Award

1984: ‘American Illustration’, (USA) Abrams Publishing, New York, Selected Illustrations

1983: Toronto Art Directors’ Club, Avenue Magazine, Canada, Merit Award

Musical Portfolio

Discography: “Summer Never Came” with Mark Kieswetter (piano) & Neil Swainson (bass) 2016.

“Sansongs”: Original Compositions performed on piano by Mark Kieswetter, 2014.

“These Foolish Things” with Mark Kieswetter (piano) 2013.

“Rough Sketch” with Yumi Nakata (piano), Kumamoto Japan 2013.

“These Foolish Things” San Murata, Danny McErlain, Rosemary Galloway & Kathryn Moses, 2004.

“Nuage” with Bob George (piano), Dick Felix (bass) & Gary Benson (guitar) 1995.

Performances

2019: ‘Moshe Hammer and San Murata’ Jazz Bistro, September 18, accompanied by Neil Swainson and Reg Schwager, shared the stage with internationally acclaimed violinist Moshe Hammer, Toronto, Canada

2018: ‘Canada Japan Jazz Exchange’ Victoria Hall, Cobourg, Jazz Bistro with Reg Schwager & Neil Swainson & Japanese jazz players, Toronto, Canada

“Kyushu Nights” 14 Day / 11 Gigs / Jazz Tour in Japan with Neil Swainson, Canada Council Grant            

2017: The Loft, Cobourg Laura Smith with San Murata (violin) and Tony Quarrington (Guitar)

2017: “WESTBEN Jazz Fringe” with Steve Holt (piano), 2017 and with Mark Kieswetter (piano) & Ross McIntire (bass), 2016.  Jazz @ The Loft, Cobourg with Reg Schwager (guitar) and Neil Swainson (bass) 2017, with Mark Kieswetter (piano) and Neil Swainson (bass) 2016, Mike Francis (guitar) and Dave Young (bass) 2015.

2016: Sundays @ Terra Cotta Inn: Resident Musician with a variety of other jazz artists 2006 to present.

2015: Japan Tour: Kumamoto & Hakata Jazz Clubs, 7 venues with Yumi Nakata (piano).

2014: ‘Chanson Tour’ in France with Japanese Chanson Trio, Toyota (Piano), M. Takasugi (Vocals)

2007: Prego Restaurant, Yorkville. Resident Musician with Bob George (piano) 1995 – 2007.

2005: Le Select Bistro: Toronto, with Nathan Hilts (guitar) and Jack Ziorawski (bass) also 2004.

Other Venues: Top of the Senator, The Rex Hotel, Roy Thompson Hall, Ontario Science Centre. Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival, All Canadian Jazz Festival in Port Hope, Jazz & Folk Festivals, Picton, Barrie, Mariposa and Shelter Valley and Three Tours of Japan to Hokkaido, Tokyo, Fukouka, Hiroshima and Kumamoto, (2009 – 2014)

Tennis

Singles: Ontario Senior Championship, 2016, Finalist, Rank #6 (in Canada), Eastern Canadian Senior Championship, Over 65, Rank #4 (in Canada) 2008. Canadian Senior Championship, Rank #5 (in Canada), Over 55, 1999.  

Doubles: Ontario Senior Doubles Championship (OSDC), 2016, Finalist Rank #2 (in Canada), Partner:  John Mitchell /OSDC Over 70, Winners, 2012 & 2010. OSDC, Over 65, Winners, 2007 & 2005.

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