NICHOLAS ANGELO
FINE ART

JOHN  (JOANN) SAARNIIT - Canadian (Estonian) - (1912 - 1982)

Was born in Estonia in 1912.  Received his Diploma as Master of Decorative Painting from the State School of Art in Tallinn, Estonia, in 1939.  In Finland he started painting of his memories of World War II.  Inspired mostly by horrors witnessed during war days and life in Siberia.  The first exhibition in history on the unique theme was arranged in Stockholm, Sweden in 1948 (Grona Paletten Galleries).  Saarniit was one of 347 Estonians who came across the Atlantic Ocean illegally in 1948.  Upon his arrival in Halifax N.S., Saarniit organized the first independent exhibition by an Estonian artist in Canada with the help of the Red Cross.  Saarniit's latest creations are based upon prehistoric Sumerian motifs and are executed in the high relief method, he has won many awards for his professional work.

Saarniit has Exhibited at:

Tallinn, Estonia 1930-32

Kolomna, U.S.S.R. 1942

Helsinki, Finland 1943

****Grona Paletten, Stockholm, Sweden 1944-1947

Liljewalch, Stockholm, Sweden 1947

*Lord Nelson Hotel, Halifax, N.S. 1948

Laing Galleries, Toronto 1949, sponsored by I.O.D.E.

"Koit," Montreal 1951

**The First Estonian Lutheran Church, Toronto 1950, 1951.

Coast to Coast (New Can. Art Exh.) 1953

Royal York Hotel, Toronto 1957

*Eaton's Fine Art Gallery, Toronto 1959-1963

Art Gallery, Vancouver, B.C. 1961

Central Library, Toronto 1961

Erie Saving Bank Hall, Buffalo, U.S.A. 1961, 1976

**Sobot Gallery, Toronto, 1962

Canadian House, London, England 1963

The Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto 1963

*Navy Pier Hall, Chicago, U.S.A. 1963

****St. Peter's Church Hall, Toronto 1965--1970

Expo '67 Recreation, Montreal

*San Francisco, U.S.A., 1967, 1975

Toronto Dominion Centre Exh. Hall 1968

**********Estonian House in Toronto, 1969 - 1980 - 1981

*Estonian House in New York, U.S.A., 1971

St. Lawrence Centre, Toronto 1972--1975

**Baltimore Estonian House, U.S.A. 1974, 1979

*Lakewood, N.J.,  U.S.A 1979, 1981

KAR Gallery 1977

O'Keefe Centre, Toronto 1976 - 1980 - 1981

Seattle, U.S.A. 1981

*******************************

Represented in the permanent collections of Imperial Order Daughters of Empire 1949; Cana House, London, England; Chicago Tribune, U.S.A.; Eastern High School of Commerce, Toronto; Willowdale High School, Ont; Canron (Can. Iron Foundry), Ont; Estonian House in Toronto,  and in private collection.  Per Albin Hanson, Sweden; S. J. Sacks, Canada; Mural Royal Trust Tower; E. J. E. Alfred, Toronto

**************

Aviva Chapter Hadassah 3rd Award, 1957; 2nd Award, 1960; Award of Merit 1975, San Francisco

SAARNIIT STUDIO

***************************************************

Mixed Media on Masonite, Plaster, Paint, Found Objects

Titled: "Sumerian Tablets II"

Signed Front & Rear and Dated 1981

Image Size: Approx: 15" X 11"

Framed