Persona

Lobchuk, Bill, 1942-

Printmaker and screen shop operator Bill Lobchuk was born in Neepawa, Manitoba in 1942. He studied under Ken Lochhead and received a Diploma of Art from the University of Manitoba in 1966. In 1968 he opened the Screen Shop at 50 Princess Street in Winnipeg. By the early 70s he had operated the Screen Shop, the Printmakers Gallery and the Sunnyside Sign Company. These were replaced by the Grand Western Canadian Screen Shop which he formed with partner Len Anthony in 1973. The Shop was a focal point for many printmakers and artists through the 1970s. Artists such as Judith Allsopp, Ted Howorth, Chris Finn, Robert Archambeau, Don Proch and Tony Tascona, from Winnipeg and David Thauberger, Vic Cicansky, Joe Fafard and Russ Yuristy from Saskatchewan printed many of their works at or through the Shop. Both Lobchuk's own works and those printed through and by his screen shop have received recognition in Canada and throughout the world, with shows and works in France, Poland, Yugoslavia, Holland, Norway and Japan. Bill Lobchuk was also active in various professional organizations. He was President of the Canadian Artists' Representation, Manitoba, from 1972 to 1975, National Representative of the same organization from 1976 to 1978, and National Director from 1978 to 1980. He was a member of the Manitoba Arts Council from 1974 to 1976, President of the Canadian National Committee of the International Association of Art (1977-80), on the Advisory Committee to Gallery Oseredok of the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre and fund-raiser for the Jack Chambers Foundation.