VIVID: The NSCAD University Newsletter for Alumni and Friends
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What's Inside?
- A Message from President Peggy Shannon
- A Message from Alumni Association President Ashley Delaney
- Presidential Instillation Update
- Alumni Events
- Alumni News
- Inside NSCAD
- NSCAD in the Community
- Opportunities
Message from President Peggy Shannon, PhD
Friends,
I would like to begin by congratulating the new President of the Alumni Association, Ashley Delaney (BDes 2006), and the new Vice-President, Rachel Castellano (BFA 2010) for their recent election into these important roles, and I wish them the very best.
On October 6, 2023, I was formally installed as President of NSCAD – the first event of its kind here. I was proud to welcome university presidents, dignitaries, elected officials, as well as our faculty and staff, to celebrate a new direction for our university. The future looks bright for NSCAD!
A week later, NSCAD co-hosted the Native American Art Studies Association conference, which brought together Indigenous artists and scholars from around the world to Halifax. It was an honour to meet with so many distinguished people and the conference served as a terrific learning opportunity for many of our faculty and students. My heartfelt thanks goes out to NSCAD faculty member Dr. Carla Taunton and alumna Dr. Heather Igloliorte (BFA 2003) who were instrumental in bringing the conference to Mi’kma’ki.
I have been travelling, meeting with alumni in Vancouver, and Calgary. We’ve met so many talented creatives whose journeys and stories are inspiring. Our alumni are eager to connect with one other and many have remarked on a new energy emerging from NSCAD.
I will be in New York this week meeting with alumni and visiting other universities. Our Interim Provost Jana Macalik will be in Toronto for an event related to Art Toronto. You can find the invitation below.
Message from Alumni Association President Ashley Delaney (BDes 2006)
Thank you to those who made time to participate in this year’s NSCAD Alumni Association AGM. As I enter my second year on the Board, I am thrilled and honoured to be your newly elected President.
In this new role, I am committed to representing our community alongside a passionate group of new and returning Board members. Together, we will look to continue to create strong connections, to seek out ways to support this community, and to celebrate our collective and proud NSCAD roots.
I welcome you to connect, reach out, share your thoughts, accomplishments, questions. I’m looking forward to working with you, learning more about what you do, where you are in your journey, and how we can help.
Meet all of the Alumni Association directors and officers here.
Ashley Delaney (BDes 2006)
President, NSCAD University Alumni Association
president@nscadalumni.ca
Presidential Instillation
On October 6, NSCAD President Peggy Shannon, PhD was officially installed as the 23rd president of the university at a ceremony at Pier 21 Museum of Immigration. This is a new tradition for NSCAD: it was the first installation in our 136-year history. The event, emceed by NSCAD Board of Governors Chair, Dr. William Barker, featured musical performances by Morgan Toney, Owen Lee, Aliyah El-Amin and Mack Lawless. A presidential medallion, created by alumna Heather Rathburn (BFA 2008), was created for this and future events.
Dr. Shannon spoke about her optimism for NSCAD’s future, "I see a future that imagines the unimaginable; that forges creative paths for our students so that when they graduate, they can go on to make a difference – to make their mark - wherever they may go. I see a new purpose-built campus on the waterfront where it will serve as a beacon for everyone entering our beautiful city by water. It will be a tangible reminder of the huge impact the arts offer our city, our nation, and our world."
Speakers included Dr. Sheldon Levy, Former President and Vice-Chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University and Sheridan College; Elanor Jazzar, NSCAD University student; Dr. Carla Taunton, Associate Professor, Division of Art History and Contemporary Culture, NSCAD University; Haeahn Woo Kwon, Assistant Professor, Division of Fine Arts (Sculpture) NSCAD; William Lahey, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of King’s College; and Dr. Shannon’s son Isaiah El-Amin.
The ceremony closed with a poem by Dr. Velina Hasu Houston, Distinguished Professor and Playwright, University of Southern California, written especially for the occasion, and reprinted here with her permission:
See beyond the fog,
a laden vessel anchors.
The promise arrives
and we learn to listen well.
Oh, there is so much to hear.
Art Work: (TODAY) Working in Galleries & Museums - Join Senior Deputy Director of Exhibitions and Collections for MoMA Christy Thompson (BFA 1997) and Stefan Hancherow (BFA 2008) Curator for RBC as they discuss the path they took from NSCAD and the intricacies of their work. Oct 24, 2023 1 p.m - 2 p.m (Atlantic) FREE VIRTUAL TALK Register here.
NSCAD Events for Alumni and Friends.
This fall, NSCAD is coming to a city near you! Join us for a night of conversation and reconnection. Tell your friends! Hope to see you there. RSVP@nscad.ca
TOMORROW
Warm up event for Art Toronto
Wed., Oct. 25, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
The Broadview Bistro & Bar, 106 Broadview Ave, Toronto
New York
Fri., Oct. 27, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Canada New York, 61 Lispenard Street, NYC
Art Work: Musically Inclined
Explore the creative links between music and fine art with singer songwriter Jenn Grant (BFA 2006) and musician Andrew Scott (BFA 1988) of Sloan as they discuss their careers and time at NSCAD University. Nov 21, 2023 1 p.m - 2 p.m (Atlantic) FREE VIRTUAL TALK Register here.
Residency: Carrie Allison (BFA/BA 2014, MFA 2018) is participating in the Climate artist-in-residence program for 2023/2024 at CreativePEI. The program aims to strengthen community resilience through the creation and dissemination of artwork. During her residency Carrie will continue her research and sculptural monocultures. Read more here.
New Venture: Congrats to Ashley Delaney (BDes 2006) and her business partner Sue Oland on their new business and location. CO+ is a one stop shop for boutique branding and business strategy company. Read more here.
New Role: Congrats to Naqsh Sagar (BFA 2021, VAC 2022) who has joined the team at Wunder as a designer. "While she can usually be found sweating the details on a layout or falling in love with a new typeface, she’s a problem solver at heart and will be crucial to bringing our campaigns to life," Read more here.
Exhibition: If You Don't Kill Me I Will Tell You a Good Story, new works by James Kirkpatrick (BFA 2003).
"Recently reading a series of old fables from different parts of the world I noticed a re-occurring clunky technique of moving through themes and concepts by having a character prevent their own execution by entertaining an oppressor through weaving together a series of compelling never ending stories. Until Oct. 31. Katzman Art Projects, 5431 Doyle St, Halifax, NS. Read more here.
Exhibition: Pollinators, the show brings together works by five artists whose creations sprout from an appreciation of ecology and environmental awareness, including Heather Tolluch (BDes 2014). Through the analogy of an ecosystem, each artist and their respective mediums and artistic approaches converge to inhabit the exhibition with diverse ecological artworks. Until Nov 4. ArtSpace, 165 1/2 King Street West, Chatham, ON Read more here.
Exhibition: Taking Spaces, ceramics by Bronwyn Arundel (BFA 2008). This collection of ceramic wall pieces by straddles clay and painting with sweeping abstracted landscapes and narrative drawing. Bronwyn uses open vistas, plant life and natural land formations to create conversation between figurative subjects and their spaces. Until Nov 5. Free Spirit Gallery, Gabriola Island 590 North Road, BC Read more here.
Exhibition: Skeena Salmon Arts Show, is an annual exhibition dedicated to the cultural and ecological importance of the salmon. A life sustaining species that ties our cultures, communities & ecosystems together, the exhibition features ceramics by Nadia Gemeinhardt (BFA 2011). Until Nov 11. Smithers Art Gallery, 1425 Main St, Smithers, BC. Read more here.
Exhibition: House & Home, an exploration of place and space featuring works by Frankie Macauly (BFA 2015), Shelley Mansel (1998),
Anna Syperek (BFA 1980), Hannah Proctor (BFA 2022). Opening Oct. 28, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Until Nov 19. Ice House Gallery, 31 Creamery Rd, Tatamagouche, NS. Read more here.
Exhibition: Double Vision, collaborative works by Kristiina Lahde (BFA 1999) and her partner Adam David Brown. Show contains first official collaboration between the two artists. Each work was produced in a call-and-response exchange of ideas, with materials handed off from one artist to the other to be transformed by a new set of marks, and so on. Until Nov. 18 Read more here.
Project: Congratulations to the designers of Narrative Environments Studio, Melanie White (BDes 23) and John deWolf (BDes 1992) on their completion of a series of ski related design projects for Wentworth Valley Developments. Read more here.
Award: Congratulations to Tyson Hynes (BDes 1997) and his team at District Design Co. on their Ice Award win. Read more here.
Book Launch: Congratulations to Jack Wong (BDes 1997) on his book release this year, The Words we share. Launch party Nov. 1, 6 - 8 p.m. (conversation at 6:30 PM), Woozles Children's Bookstore, 6013 Shirley St, Halifax, NS. Read more here.
Exhibition: The Water's Edge, working in a variety of mediums, Carley Mullally (BFA 2015) and Declan O'Dowd (BFA 2000) the exhibition at explores the relationship between the act of walking and collecting on the shorelines of Nova Scotia and the “gathering of thoughts” on the washed-up marine waste found there. Opening Reception Nov. 2, 6 - 8 p.m., until Nov. 26. Craig Gallery, 2 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth. Read more here.
Public Art: Float, a new public art commission for the Halifax Common Aquatics Facility by Brandon Vickerd (BFA 1999). This series of bronze sculptures imitates childhood inflatable toys often see at the pool and beach. The swan pictured is just one of four of Brandon's pieces now on display. Halifax Common Aquatics Facility, 1999 Bell Rd., Halifax, NS.
Read more here.
Retail Show: Craft Nova Scotia Designer Craft Show. Find work by: Megan Archer (1997-98), Alexandra McCurdy (BFA 1980), Alexis Vessey (BFA 2009), Allyson Simmie (BFA 1989), Violeta Izquierdo (BFA 2016), Julian Covey (BFA 2020), Donn Sabean (BFA 2016), Peter Eastwood (BFA 1977), Jessie Marshall (BFA 2013), Kaas Ghanie (BFA 2016), Kate Grey (BFA 2016) & Deb Wheeler (BFA 1976). Nov. 17, 12-7p.m., 18 & 19 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pavillion 22, Halifax Seaport, NS. Read more here.
Exhibition: By Her Hand: Contemporary Quilts Inspired by the Nova Scotia Museum is an exhibition of contemporary quilts inspired and informed by historic quilts in the museum’s collection. See works by Marilyn Smulders (BFA 2019) and Andrea Tsaang-Jackson. Until Jan. 7, 2024. Museum of Natural History, Halifax, NS. Read more here.
Project: Congratulations to Alicia Lawrence (VAC 2021) who just completed a digital best practices project for WÂSASKOTEW: RESEARCH which is the culmination of two years of research. The
Wâsaskotew Project has brought to the public a harmonized structure for digital engagements to benefit artists and arts organizations. The word, Wâsaskotew is a Cree word that means ‘it emanates light,’ and is a suitable word to represent the use of digital mediums. Read more here.
Jewellery Talk: John Esposito, founder of Malleable Jewellery, a Toronto-based slow fashion brand focusing on ethical solutions to fine jewellery, will present on ethical supply chains within the jewellery industry.
Oct. 24th, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Bell Auditorium (D440) NSCAD Fountain Campus (through main entrance, take elevator to 4th floor, 5163 Duke St., Halifax) EVERYONE WELCOME
Donation Announcement: The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation invested $500,000 to support sustainable fashion and textiles programming at NSCAD. The generous contribution will support the Sow to Sew project, which will help to grow NSCAD University’s profile as a centre of sustainable fashion and textiles. Over the next two years, this gift will provide bursaries for graduate and undergraduate students, welcome artists-in-residence, support a speakers series, expand NSCAD Art Factory’s Fashion Hacking project, and provide programming for the Alfoldy Craft Institute at NSCAD. Read more here.
New Speaker's Series: The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation's Sow to Sew Speaker Series launches at NSCAD with a talk by Cesar Padliia. Come to the Learning Commons - second floor, Fountain Campus (5163 Duke St., Halifax). NSCAD Creative Entrepreneurship Lab's Erinn Langille (BFA 2003) will interview Cesar about his career as a vintage clothing archivist, filmmaker, writer, and musician. Q&A will follow. Space is limited. A bagged lunch will be provided. Mon., Nov. 6, noon.
Watch our website for more details.
Residency: Shoora Majedian Selected for the William and Isabel Pope NSCAD Painting Residency 2023.
Exploring the themes of dance and singing, two activities banned for women in Iran, she will continue her study on composition and colour choices by examining Western old masters alongside the repetition and movement of figures in Persepolis Apadana bas-reliefs. During this period, Shoora plans to delve deeper into her research on the quality of pigments and surface ground preparation for her paintings. Read more here.
Exhibition: Every year Art Toronto brings the city to life with art of all genres, this year is no exception! Participating artists and speakers include: Letitia Fraser (BFA 2019), Professor Jordan Bennett, Carrie Allison (BFA/BA 2014, MFA 2018), Christy Thompson (BFA 1997), Stefan Hancherow (BFA 2008), Sarah Milroy (1982/3), Jazz Keillor (BFA 2023), Trevor Baird (2012), Brendan Tang (BFA 1998),
Brandon Vickerd (BFA 1999),
Seamus Gallagher (BFA 2019) & Lou Sheppard (BFA 2006). Oct. 26-29, Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building, ON. See more here
Award: Congratulations to Associate Professor Ericka Walker, in September she was awarded the 2023 Alumni Promise Award from her alma-mater University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
The award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated distinctive achievement in a career, civic involvement, or both. It is presented to acknowledge alumni who are making a mark early on in their career.
Read more here.
Community Project: For the last two years Associate Professor Jennifer Green (BFA 2009) has been researching and implementing flax growing projects across Nova Scotia. She was recently interviewed by CBC about her most recent harvest. Read more here.
Residency: The Gardiner Museum Artist Residency offers public working space and access to museum resources to a single artist or collective for the development of their work. Paid residency opportunity that will last 8 – 12 weeks. Deadline: Nov. 12, 5 p.m. EST Read more here.
Virtual Talk: Coming Out as a Disabled or d/Deaf Artist, facilitated by Alexia Vassos. Arts AccessAbility Network Manitoba will be presenting a Discussion Series Event every two month. Nov 13, 6:30pm CST
Deadline to register for the session Nov. 10 Register by sending your name and contact info to:
programming@aanm.ca
Employment: Illustrator or illustration student interested in building portfolio, needed for book, Twumhene and the Golden City. Scope of work is approximately 22 illustrations total including characters, landscape, and colour. The work also requires layout and composition for our eventual printing. Read more here.
Work at NSCAD: NSCAD is hiring! Check out our careers page to see the open opportunities.
Stay in Touch
We want to hear from you! Please send us your news. What are you working on? Where are you living? What inspires you? Any recent achievements? Use the online form, and tag your work on social media with #keepcreatingNSCAD.
Email us at alumni@nscad.ca if you are interested in being profiled for your work or business.
Header image: Artist, Violeta Izquierdo (BFA 2016) image courtesy of the artist.
