Robert Amos receives Honorary DFA

An artist, art historian, author and arts writer, Robert Amos has dedicated most of the past four decades to documenting — both journalistically and visually — Victoria’s visual arts scene, whether with the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, the Times Colonist newspaper or in his own many books. But he has also spent over 15 years working with the Artist Archives in UVic’s Special Collections, making him an ideal choice to receive an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts during the Fall Convocation ceremony. As Dr. Cedric Littlewood, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, noted in his introduction, “By bringing people, buildings and neighbourhoods to life, Robert’s contributions to BC’s art history is the very fabric of Victoria’s history.”

“Art history isn’t all about the distant past: in fact, art history is all around us. If we reflect on and understand the times we live in, we may come to understand ourselves a bit better,” said  Amos during his 10-minute talk. “I’m passionate about sharing stories with students, art lovers and the general public and while the internet provides instantaneous global reach to any information we may want to look up, unless we who live and work here create and tell our own local stories, and find a way to preserve and safeguard those for the future, there won’t be anything there for anyone to look up and access.”

Amos noted how UVic students are surrounded by art, mentioning the Salish banners, sculptural panels, ceremonial furniture and pieces from the University Art Collection displayed across campus. “Art really is part of our life here on campus and it’s more than just decoration,” he said. “Art is a form of communication . . . and if you find a way to communicate the reality of your own time and place, history will be interested in what you have to say.”

Watch Robert’s convocation address here