Exhibitions/Developing Projects
"Passages" exhibition, THEMUSEUM, Kitchener, Ontario, 2025-26 (Possibly going to MA Rouyn-Noranda, 2026)
Richard is partnering with artist's group The People's Climate Collective to create a 6000 sq ft immersive exhibition on environmental themes at THEMUSEUM in Kitchener, planned for winter 2025 or 2026. The exhibition will involve approximately 10 discrete installations. Visualizations for the first two in-development are shown below.
Richard is partnering with artist's group The People's Climate Collective to create a 6000 sq ft immersive exhibition on environmental themes at THEMUSEUM in Kitchener, planned for winter 2025 or 2026. The exhibition will involve approximately 10 discrete installations. Visualizations for the first two in-development are shown below.
"Passage", Atrium installation visualization. A pod of aquatic creatures (dolphins, fish, whales) transformed into abstract representations of vessels (canoes, kayaks), which is where these boat forms came from. Insect writing pieces from trees in windows and on forms as stained glass fragments evolved from nature.
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"Ghost Forest" visualization, Passages first installation.
"Ghost Forest" exhibition, Musee d'art Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, 2025
Involving collaboration with Sound Weavers Collective, soundscapes and visual projections related to the Insect Writing series, as well as fragmented sculptural forms based on trees. Visualization of the first installation seen below.
Involving collaboration with Sound Weavers Collective, soundscapes and visual projections related to the Insect Writing series, as well as fragmented sculptural forms based on trees. Visualization of the first installation seen below.
"Earth Etchings" exhibition, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Ontario, 2019
An exploration of environmental and climate change issues in various media, emphasizing connections between urban and wilderness experiences, and between people and nature (June 14 - Sept 21, 2019).
An exploration of environmental and climate change issues in various media, emphasizing connections between urban and wilderness experiences, and between people and nature (June 14 - Sept 21, 2019).
"The Three Seasons" exhibition, MacLaren Art Centre, Ontario, 2012
> Curatorial statement by Ben Portis (PDF)
> The Three Seasons Podcast @ MacLaren (Audio)
> "Richard Watts: Weight of the Soul" essay by John K. Grande (PDF)
> Curatorial statement by Ben Portis (PDF)
> The Three Seasons Podcast @ MacLaren (Audio)
> "Richard Watts: Weight of the Soul" essay by John K. Grande (PDF)
"Reconnection" exhibition, Robert Langen Art Gallery, Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, 2021
This two-person online exhibition shares work that centres around the urgent need for facing our deepest compounding human-made crises, including climate change, inequality and a global pandemic, through Reconnection. These intersections are explored in Earth Etching sculptures which honour the earth, poetry, and video stories. People emerge to share stories and catalyze action, while the voice of the earth grounds us in the reminder that we are inseparable, calling us home to action.
Earth Etchings are represented in the exhibit through photographs and in-depth video profiles. This exhibition was a collaboration with the artist's son, Kai, and can be found here.
This two-person online exhibition shares work that centres around the urgent need for facing our deepest compounding human-made crises, including climate change, inequality and a global pandemic, through Reconnection. These intersections are explored in Earth Etching sculptures which honour the earth, poetry, and video stories. People emerge to share stories and catalyze action, while the voice of the earth grounds us in the reminder that we are inseparable, calling us home to action.
Earth Etchings are represented in the exhibit through photographs and in-depth video profiles. This exhibition was a collaboration with the artist's son, Kai, and can be found here.
Proposals
For further proposals and developing projects, see page here.
Proposal, Waterfront Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, 2024
This proposal for a temporary floating public art installation was submitted for a call from Waterfront Toronto, and titled "Arktic Rescue Operation: Water Meter Ark". The proposal was to modify the existing Ark sculpture further, situating it in a different context drawing attention to Toronto’s relationship to the Great Lakes, and combining this sculpture with a print of the “Plan” water system drawing wrapped around an ice floe ‘raft’. Ark also has whimsical elements, much like a character in a children’s storybook. It is at its core a statement about our connection to water and the Great Lakes, with a message both humorous, poetic and serious, conveyed through a transitional object made by us to navigate and fish these very water systems we rely on. This proposal was considered a strong contender, and I am hoping to reapply with it in future competitions.
This proposal for a temporary floating public art installation was submitted for a call from Waterfront Toronto, and titled "Arktic Rescue Operation: Water Meter Ark". The proposal was to modify the existing Ark sculpture further, situating it in a different context drawing attention to Toronto’s relationship to the Great Lakes, and combining this sculpture with a print of the “Plan” water system drawing wrapped around an ice floe ‘raft’. Ark also has whimsical elements, much like a character in a children’s storybook. It is at its core a statement about our connection to water and the Great Lakes, with a message both humorous, poetic and serious, conveyed through a transitional object made by us to navigate and fish these very water systems we rely on. This proposal was considered a strong contender, and I am hoping to reapply with it in future competitions.
Proposal, Downsview Airport Lands, Toronto, Ontario, 2024
This proposal was submitted in response to a call for submissions by Northcrest Developments called 'Beyond the Tarmac', seeking large-scale activations on the Downsview Airport Lands. The proposal was to integrate a poetic and immersive 'Mobile Art Circus' combining sculpture installation with new media into this space, including the integration of several shipping containers painted with murals, being "pulled" by the artist's Ark sculpture.
The design was to create a meaningful and whimsical narrative on contemporary issues - speaking to climate change, sustainability and urban infrastructure, including delivery systems for water and energy that many people rely on. The installation also connects urban culture with nature in the City through pieces made from local trees, especially endangered ones such as Ashes, and by referencing Great Lakes environmental issues.
This proposal was submitted in response to a call for submissions by Northcrest Developments called 'Beyond the Tarmac', seeking large-scale activations on the Downsview Airport Lands. The proposal was to integrate a poetic and immersive 'Mobile Art Circus' combining sculpture installation with new media into this space, including the integration of several shipping containers painted with murals, being "pulled" by the artist's Ark sculpture.
The design was to create a meaningful and whimsical narrative on contemporary issues - speaking to climate change, sustainability and urban infrastructure, including delivery systems for water and energy that many people rely on. The installation also connects urban culture with nature in the City through pieces made from local trees, especially endangered ones such as Ashes, and by referencing Great Lakes environmental issues.
Proposal, The New Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough, Ontario, 2021
This proposal to the New Canadian Canoe Museum envisioned a steel sculptural series, based on the Canoe Museum's collection, combining canoe ribbing forms with the twisting organic movement of aquatic creatures such as fish or whales. The ribbing patterns were designed to echo musical scores. The full proposal can be found here. Note: the artist is in active conversation with the Museum about acquiring a canoe piece for its collection.
This proposal to the New Canadian Canoe Museum envisioned a steel sculptural series, based on the Canoe Museum's collection, combining canoe ribbing forms with the twisting organic movement of aquatic creatures such as fish or whales. The ribbing patterns were designed to echo musical scores. The full proposal can be found here. Note: the artist is in active conversation with the Museum about acquiring a canoe piece for its collection.