Canadian 1927-

Pat Martin Bates with Gallery Owners and her Art Exhibit 1970 Photographed by Victoria Daily Times Image courtesy of the University of Victoria Special Collections

Patricia Martin Bates’ innovative art practice draws from both western and eastern influences that has brought her international recognition. After settling in Victoria in 1963 she embarked on worldwide travels where she studied sacred sites, texts and architecture of China, Japan, India and the Middle East, and found spiritual environments similar to ones she had found in Canada. The Arctic Signal series was inspired by her time in the prairies in the 1950s where she became interested in the unique geographical sounds and sensibilities. Bates favoured the monoprint: a single edition individually crafted work, often with metal, collage and perforated elements (estampille) that challenged the convention of multi-edition printmaking. She was appointed to the University of Victoria’s Department of Visual Arts in 1965 and became an active member of the Limners and greater arts community.

Arctic Window Signal #3: Silent Ice Growing, Moving: Water Rebirth 1968
Monotype on paper
56.5 x 78
University of Victoria Acquisition Fund