Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION2002-2006 Bachelor of Fine Arts Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University, Halifax, Sydney, Nova Scotia
1998-2000 Theatre Arts Program University College of Cape Breton, Sydney, Nova Scotia
SELECTED EXHIBITIONSCuratorial
2011 Guest Curator for Kloqowej: A 30 Year Retrospective of Caroline Gould, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2004 Curator Showcase of Aboriginal Arts and Crafts, Kings College, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2001 Curator Aboriginal Youth Art Exhibit, Micmac Friendship Center, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Solo2018 Mi’kwite’tmn, Cape Breton University Art Gallery, Nova Scotia *upcoming*
2018 Mi’kwite’tmn, McMaster Museum of Art, Hamilton, Ontario *upcoming*
2018 Mi’kwite’tmn, Haida Gwaii Museum, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia *upcoming*
2018 The Indian Truckhouse of High Art, Central Art Garage, Ottawa, Ontario *upcoming*
2017 Fine Dine (In Collaboration with Angella Parsons, Pavia Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2017 Mi’kwite’tmn, The Reach, Abbottsford, British Columbia
2017 Mi’kwite’tmn, The Reach, Abbottsford, British Columbia
2017 Mi’kmaw Word of the Day 2.0 (In Collaboration with Jordan Bennett), Eastern Edge, St. John’s, Newfoundland
2017 Mi’kwite’tmn, Lethbridge University Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2016 Mi’kwite’tmn, McMaster Museum of Art, Hamilton, Ontario
2016 Mi’kwite’tmn, Lethridge University Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2015 Mi’kwite’tmn, Grenfell Campus Art Gallery, Cornerbrook, Newfoundland
2015 Mi’kwite’tmn, Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
2014 Mi’kwite’tmn, Kenderdine Art Galleries/College Art Galleries, Saskatoon, Saskatoon
2014 Mi’kwite’tmn, Saint Mary’s Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2014 I’katk Ideal Law Conference, Dalhousie Schulich School of Law, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2012 L’nuk (In Collaboration with Jordan A. Bennett) Anna Leonowens Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2011 The Indian Truckhouse of High Art Site Specific to downtown Halifax, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2010 O’pltek, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, Ontario
2004 Kepmidedamnej, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2003 Ente’k, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2002 Klo’ke’wej, Micmac Native Friendship Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia
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2018 #callresponse, Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia *upcoming*
2018 #callresponse, AKA Artist Run Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan *upcoming*
2018 #callresponse, EFA Project Space, Brooklyn, New York *upcoming*
2018 #callresponse, Blackwood Gallery, Mississauga, Ontario *upcoming*
2017 Moose Fence, Sobey Art Award Exhibition, Art Museum of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
2017 Toqolukwetijik, Nocturne Festival: Art at Night, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2017 Wen Pekisink, VIVA! Art Action – International Performance Art Biennale, Montreal, Quebec
2017 Between My Body and Their Words, INSURGENCE / RESURGENCE, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
2017 On Native Land, Imago Mundi, venice, Italy
2017 Between My Body and Their Words, INSURGENCE / RESURGENCE, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
2017 (re)al-location: The Festival of Stewards, LandMarks 2017, Canada
2017 #callresponse, SAW Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
2017 Making A Mark, UnSettled, Roundhouse Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
2017 The Land Sings (In Collaboration with Eastern Owl), In Some Far Place, The Rooms, St. John’s, Newfoundland
2016 #callresponse, Grunt Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
2016 Ikatk, Nocturne Festival: Art at Night, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2016 Fine Dine (In Collaboration with Angella Parsons, Shaping The Shore, Cape Breton University Art Gallery, Sydney, Nova Scotia
2016 Ode to Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, Superimposition, Plug In ICA, Winnipeg, Manitoba
2016 O’pltek Cataloguing Party, Prismatic Arts Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2016 Elmiet, Terrior: A Nova Scotia Survey, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2016 L’nuwelti’k, Between You and Me, Idyllwild Arts Centre, Idyllwild, California
2016 L’nuwelti’k, Enviro-Sci Art Platform-Platform Projects at Art Athina, Athens, Georgia
2016 hide, I’ve Only Know My Own, MFAH/She Works Flexible, Houston, Texas
2016 Ode to Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, in All That You Touch, Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
2016 Nikamon Ochi Askiy (Ke’tapekiaq Ma’qimikew): The Land Sings (In Collaboration with Cheryl L’Hirondelle), FADO Performance Art Festival, Toronto, Ontario
2016 L’nuwelti’kinFifth World, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
2015 Ke’tapekiak Maqim’kew: The Land Sings, Exhibiting Sound Symposium, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
2015 Custom Made, Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops, British Columbia
2015 McCain Biennale, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, New Brunswick
2015 Making Otherwise: Craft and Material Fluency in Contemporary Art, Cambridge Galleries, Cambridge, Ontario
2015 Fifth World, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatoon
2014 Making Otherwise: Craft and Material Fluency in Contemporary Art, Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2014 Ikatk (She Protects), Stronger Than Stone Symposium, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2014 L’nuwelti’k, Nasgwa’tatijig Performance Series, Vaste et Vague Centre d’artistes, Carleton-sur-mur, Quebec
2014 Memory Keepers, Urban Shaman Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
2014 Hot Looking, Art In The Open Festival, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
2014 Making Otherwise: Craft and Material Fluency in Contemporary Art, Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
2013 Hot Looking, Nocturne Festival: Art at Night, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2013 L’nuwelti’k, Festival jè st, Moncton, New Brunswick
2013 Aboriginal Voice: Four Artists from Atlantic Canada, Galerie d’art Louise et Reuben- Cohen, Moncton, New Brunswick
2013 Maqimikew Ketapiaq (The Land Sings), AntigoNIGHT Festival, Antigonish, Nova Scotia
2013 L’nuwesimk:El-noo-wee-simk (In Collaboration with Angella Parsons), Art In The Open Festival, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
2013 Ke Pite’m, Cape Breton University Art Gallery, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
2012 L’nuk (In Collaboration with Jordan A. Bennett), Nocturne Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2012 The Indian Truckhouse of High Art, Art. Awards. Celebration, Creative, Nova Scotia Awards Celebration, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2012 L’nuwelti’k, Prismatic Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2012 Basket Weaving, Planet IndigenUS Festival, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto Ontario
2012 Snapshot, Khyber Centre for the Arts, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2012 Material Wealth: Revealing Landscape, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario
2011 Ancestral Teachings: Contemporary Perspectives, Thunderbird Centre, Toronto, Ontario
2011 Basket Weaving Debajehmujig 6 Foot Festival, Manitowaning, Ontario
2010 Elmiet, Nocturne and Prismatic Arts Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2010 L’nuk (In Collaboration with Jordan A. Bennett), The Other Gallery, Banff, Alberta
2010 Ka’kawej, Art in Public Spaces, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta
2009 Ke Pite’m Time Will Tell, Public Performance Series, Eye Level Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2009 Traditional Mi’kmaq Basketry, Tent Dwellers Canoe Festival, Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia
2009 Traditional Mi’kmaq Basketry, Treaty Day Aboriginal Arts Showcase, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2008 The Urban Aboriginal Guide to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2006 Untitled, Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2005 Traditional Storytelling, Nations In A Circle, Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2003 Basket Weaving, Nations In A Circle, Dalhousie Sculpture Court, Halifax, Nova Scotia
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2017 Residency Faculty, Inherent Design, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta *upcoming*
2017 Residence, Oboro Centre, Montreal, Quebec
2017 Visiting Scholar, NSCAD University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2016 Indigenous Digital Visual Arts Residency, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta
2015 Looking Europe in the I, Cape Breton University, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
2014 Residence The Pictou Island Portages, part of the Great Canadian Pilgrimages Project, Pictou Island, Nova Scotia
2014 Residence Cape Breton University Art Gallery and Unama’ki College, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
2013 Residence University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art & Design with Scottish Sculpture Workshops and the Naked Craft Network, Scotland, United Kingdom
2013 Artist-In-Residence, Cape Breton University Art Gallery and Unama’ki College, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
2012 Residence, Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2011 Residence, Klondike Institute for Arts and Culture, Dawson City, Yukon
2011 Visiting Artist, Debajehmujig Creation Centre, Manitowaning, Ontario
2010 Flying Eagle Internship Onelight Theatre Co. and Canada Council for the Arts, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2010 Thematic Residency on Indigenous Languages, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta
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2017 Award for Arts Achievement and Excellence, International Council of Fine Arts Deans
2017 Sobey Art Award Shortlist
2016 Nova Scotia Masterworks Award Finalist
2016 Sobey Art Award Longlist
2015 Salt Spring National Art Prize Finalist
2015 Sobey Art Award Longlist
2015 Grants to Individuals, Arts Nova Scotia
2014 Inter Arts Touring Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
2014 Grants to Individuals, Arts Nova Scotia
2014 Sobey Art Award Longlist
2014 Aboriginal Traditional Visual Art Forms Creation Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
2013 Grants to Individuals Presentation Grant, Arts Nova Scotia
2010 Grants to Individuals Presentation Grant, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture & Heritage
2010 Flying Eagle Program, Canada Council for the Arts
2010 Grants to Individuals Creation Grant, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture & Heritage
2009 Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange Travel Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
2008 Aboriginal Traditional Visual Art Forms Research Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
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2016 Mi’kmaw Basketry, Springhill Institution, Springhill, Nova Scotia
2016 Mi’kmaw Basketry, Micmac Native Friendship Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2015 Mi’kmaw Basketry, NOVA Women’s Institution, Truro, Nova Scotia
2013 The Role of the Mi’kmaw Basket in Contemporary Fine Art, University College of Cape Breton, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
2012 Intro to Mi’kmaw Language, Micmac Child Development Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2011 – 2012 Intro to Mi’kmaw Basketry, NSCADU School of Extended Studies, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2010 Mi’kmaw Basketry, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, Ontario
2004-2008 Facilitator/Instructor Various Workshops for At-Risk Youth
Subjects include:
- Traditional Mi’kmaw Drumming/Chanting
- Screen Printing
- Traditional Ash Weaving
- Block Printing
- Acting and the Theatre
- Mi’kmaw Language Classes
2018 madaabii, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay ON
2017 (re)al-location: The Festival of Stewards, Partners In Art for LandMarks2017
2014 IRSSA Commemorative Marker, Assembly of First Nations & Aboriginal Healing Foundation & City of Ottawa
2013-14 Spirit Panel, Canadian Museum for Human Rights
2011 Basket Weaving, Debajehmujig Theatre
2010 Elmiet, Onelight Theatre
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COLLECTIONS
2014 Awi’je’jk, Grenfell Campus Art Gallery
2011 Inside Out Basket, Private Collection of Catherine Wivell
2010 Family Picnic, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
2010 Split Basket, Private Collection of Chief Leroy DC Denny
2010 Lean To, Private Collection of Nancy Lowry
2010 Loki’s Comb Basket, Loki’s Hair Design Studio
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2016
Mooney on Theatre Monomyths – Stage 1 (FADO Performance Arts Centre), Winter 2016
Guelph Tribune Indigenous artists have much to say about the past and future in new exhibition, Winter 2016
2015
Canada Art Rock, Paper, Scissors: “Custom Made” Review, Summer 2015
2014
C Magazine Wrongs Can Make It Right: The performance and sculptural installation work of Ursula Johnson Jane Affleck, Winter 2014
Visual Art News Ursula Johnson’s Mi’kwite’tmn (Do You Remember): Review Hilary Beaumont
Canadian Art Ursula Johnson: Traditions and Transformations Daniel Joyce, November 2014
Studio Ursula Johnson Remakes Robin Metcalfe, Fall/Winter 2014
Canadian Art Online Feature Ursula Johnson Q+A: Of Craft and Cultural Survival Alison Cooley, June 2014
No More Potlucks Nuji’tlateket (One Who Does It): An Interview with Ursula Johnson, ME Luka, 2014
2013
Salon (3 Part Series on Indigenous Art Relations in the Atlantic Region) by Mike Landry for the Telegraph Journal 2013
Cape Breton Post CBU has its first Artist in Residence March 2013
NSCAD News “I am an Aboriginal Artist” Marilyn Smulders, February 2012
The Coast New Traditions Stephanie Johns, January 2012
TedX, Dalhousie University 2012
Chronicle Herald Mi’kmaq artists warm up for endurance performance Elissa Barnard, October 2012
Woodworkers Guide Basket Making with Ursula Johnson 2011
Ancestral Teachings: Contemporary Perspectives, Exhibition Catalogue curated by Vanessa Dion Fletcher, Thunderbird Aboriginal Arts, Culture and Entrepreneur Centre 2011
Kloqowej: A 30 Year Retrospective of Caroline Gould, Exhibition Catalogue by Ursula A. Johnson, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage and The Nova Scotia Designer Craft Council 2011
Visual Arts News Artist Profile Lizzy Hill, Summer 2011
Visual Arts News Artist Profile Lizzy Hill, Summer 2011
The Coast Nocturne spotlight: Ursula Johnson: Elmiet Sean Flinn, October 2010
Expressions: Canadian Aboriginal Artists, Artist Profiles by Jennifer David of Stone Circle Consulting, Canada Council for the Arts 2010
The Walleye O’pltek (It is not right):Ursula A. Johnson A. Arnone, December 2010
Chronicle Journal Stories, political banter seen in art Joleen Davis, November 2010
ARGUS Lakehead University Twists on tradition from Canadian artists Derek Wall, November 2010
The Coast Nocturne spotlight: Ursula Johnson: Elmiet Sean Flinn, October 2010
Chronicle Herald Tonight it’s Party Time Elissa Barnard, October 2010
Blogspot Elmiet: October 16, 2010 David Murray (blog of random volunteer audience participant who scalped me in performance), October 2010
2008The Urban Aboriginal Guide to Halifax, NS, Ursula A. Johnson, Dalhousie Art Gallery 2008
The Coast Call and response Laura Kenins, March 2008
2006
CBC Artspots Featured Artist Profile 2006
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Contact Image: Lucas Morneau (Mi’kwite’tmn Install)