Tara Francis

Education

2022  |  Risk Management Certification, Metepenagiag, NB

2021  |  JEDI Art Business Accelerator Program

2003 – 2004 |  Advanced Studies, New Brunswick College of Craft andDesign (NBCCD), Fredericton, NB – Combining Aboriginal imagery and silk painting techniques

2002 – 2003 |  Independent Study, NBCCD

2001 – 2002 |  Diploma in Fine Craft, Surface Design, NBCCD

1999 – 2000 |  Native Arts Certificate, NBCCD

1994 – 1996 |  Diploma of Hospitality and Tourism/Travel and Tourism, NBCC, St. Andrews, NB

Selected Professional Experience

2003 – Present  |  Professional Contemporary Indigenous Artist, NB

2021–2022  |  Quillwork Workshop Instructor, Anglophone District South, NB

2020  |  Indigenous Visual Arts Instructor, NBCCD, Fredericton NB

2019  |  Traditional Medium Instructor, Tobique FN, Burnt Church FN, Elsipogtog FN, NB, Presque Isle, Maine

2018  |  Visiting Artist, NBCCD, Fredericton NB

2017  |  Assistant Festival Organizer, Prismatic Arts Festival, Dartmouth, NS

2015  |  Traditional Medium Instructor, Bouctouche First Nation, NB

2014  |  Traditional Medium Workshop Instructor, St. George’s, NFLD

2013  |  Workshop Instructor, Beaverbrook Art Gallery Outreach: Young Ancestors Elsipogtog, NB

2010 – 2012  |  Traditional Media Instructor, Aboriginal Visual Arts Program, NBCCD, Fredericton, NB

2008 – 2012  |  Workshop Instructor, Fredericton Arts and Learning, Inc.,Fredericton, NB

2011  |  Participant in dialogues with Dr. Marie Baptiste, from University of Saskatchewan for Study entitled “Animating the Mi’kmaw Humanities in Atlantic Canada” St. Mary’s FN

2009 – 2011  |  Cultural Coordinator/Artist in Residence, Fredericton Native Friendship Centre, Fredericton, NB

2006  |  Craftsperson, Soldier’s Barracks, Historical Garrison District, Fredericton, NB

2005  |  Artist in Residence, Fredericton Arts Alliance, Historical Garrison District, Fredericton, NB & Manager, String Fever Textiles Gallery, Fredericton, NB

2004 – 2005  |  Model, Drawing Studio, NBCCD, Fredericton, NB

2004  |  Retail Gallery Salesperson/Artist in Residence, String Fever Textiles Gallery, Fredericton, NB & Craftsperson, Grass Roots Fine Craft Shop, Fredericton, NB

2003  |  Manager/Tour Interpreter/Craftsperson, Rising Artisans,Fredericton, NB & Craft Workshop Instructor, Solder’s Barracks, Fredericton, NB

2002  |  Day Camp Coordinator, Fredericton Native Friendship Centre, Fredericton, NB

2001  |  Camp Leader, Kids Kraft Day Camp, NBCCD, Fredericton, NB

2000  |  Craftsperson, various Native Craft sales, NB

1999  |  Kindergarten Assistant, Rexton Elementary School, Rexton, NB

1997  |  Day Camp and Workshop Developer, Miramichi Youth Village, Miramichi, NB

Solo Exhibitions

2015 |  Sun and Moon, Prismatic Arts Festival, Dartmouth, NS

2013National Aboriginal Day Gala, Capitol Theatre, Moncton, NB

2012M&T Deli Artist in Residency, Fredericton, NB

2007Your Mother, Green Turtle Clothing, Fredericton, NB

2004Traces of My Ancestors, The Gallery Downstairs, NBCCD, Fredericton, NB

2003  |  Traces of Our Ancestors, Elsipogtog First Nation, Big Cove, NB

Group and Collaborative Exhibition

2022  |  Wayfinding Exhibition, Saint John Art Center, Saint John, NB; Petapan First Light Symposium; Exhibition,ehpituwikuwam, Beaverbrook Art Gallery Fredericton, NB; Exhibition Kmawqepiyapon, Riviere-du-loup, Québec; Tali Ktantutes Mimajuaqan // How do I live here? Chase Gallery, Halifax, NS

2021–2023  |  Stitching ourselves Together, Quillwork Exhibition, Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA

2021–2022  |  Wabanaki Art Exhibition, Phillips Gallery, Yorkville, Ont.

2021–2022  |  Wabanaki Art Exhibition, Gallery on Queen, Fredericton NB

2021  |  Wabanaki Art Exhibition, Gallery on Queen, Fredericton, NB

2021  |  Echoes of our Ancestors, George Fry Gallery, NBCCD, Fredericton, NB

2020  |  New Works, Gallery on Queen, Fredericton, NB; Survivance of Indigenous Art: 2020 Pandemic, Online Art Exhibit, Mawi’Art; Wabanaki Art Exhibition, Gallery on Queen, Fredericton NB; Cultural Residency Exhibition, Gallery Sans Nom, Moncton NB

2020  |  Constellation blue-Galerie Bernard-Jean Caraquet NB; Circadian Group Exhibition, Ax Gallery, Sussex NB

2019  |  Cultural Residency Exhibition, Saint John Arts Centre NB; Keepers of the Light, Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John’s NFLD

2019  |  Demonstration Artist, Petapan First Light, Indigenous Arts Symposium, St. John’s NFLD; Demonstration Artist, Neqotkuk Wolastoqiyik Traditional Gathering , Tobique, NB; Cross Cultural Residency, Metepenagiag, Caraquet, St. John, New Brunswick; We Are Still Here, Our Roots Are Strong, New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, Fredericton,

2018  |  The Art of Labour, Yellow Box Gallery, St. Thomas University, Fredericton,

2017  |  Demonstration Artist, Grand Reopening, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton; Showcase Artist, FAVA, Caraquet; Demonstration Artist, The Bridge Project, Fredericton,

2016  |  Scarlet Thorns and Metamorphosis, City of Saint John Gallery, Saint John,

2015  |  Showcase Visual Artist, Prismatic Arts Festival, Halifax,; Over and Under, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON

2014  |  Showcase Artist, Petapan Aboriginal Arts Symposium,, Truro, NS; National Aboriginal Women’s Conference, Membertou, NS

2013  |  Tahkomiq/Ma’kemiqew. Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Fredericton, NB; Nails, Gallery 78, Fredericton, NB; Cultural Survivor Exhibit and Show, Pequot Museum, Mass US; Kingsclear Powwow Art Exhibit, Kingclear, NB

2012  |  From Tradition Works by Gina Brooks and Tara Francis, Sunbury Shores, St Andrews, NB; Glimpse of the Wabanaki, New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, Fredericton, NB; By Land, By Sea, By Air Surface Design Alumni Fashion Show/ Exhibit NBCCD, Fredericton, NB

2012 – 2013  |  Culture Crawl Studio 4ward, Fredericton, NB

2012  |  Sagatay, Aboriginal Artist Conference, Charlotte St. Arts Centre Fredericton, NB

2011  |  The Matrix Artist in Residence, Sunbury Shores, St Andrews, NB; Teachings, Gallery Connexion, Fredericton, NB

2010  |  Last Minute Christmas Sale, Fredericton Crafters, Fredericton, NB; Silk and Glaze, Quill and Fire, exhibit and sale, Richibucto, NB; Downtown Fredericton Artist’s Market, Downtown Fredericton, NB; Cultural Expressions Festival 2010, Officer’s Square, Fredericton, NB; Aboriginal Arts Gala, Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Curator and Showcased Artist, Fredericton, NB; Aboriginal Day Celebrations, Downtown Fredericton, NB; International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Display, Boyce Farmer’s Market, Fredericton, NB; Celebration of Faith in Diversity, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, NB

2009 | The Native Friendship Centre’s Christmas Craft Sale, Fredericton, NB; The Woman’s Festival Officer’s Square, Fredericton, NB; Downtown Fredericton, Artist Market, Fredericton, NB

2008  |  The Green Festival, Kent County, NB

2006  |  Fredericton Arts Alliance Artists-in-Residence Exhibition, Fredericton City Hall, NB

2005  |  Introductions, 4Winds Gallery, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA; Quillwork display, String Fever Textile Gallery, Fredericton, NB

2004 |  Elite Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Aboriginal National HockeyTournament, Miramichi, NB; Home is Where the Art Is, UNB Art Centre, Fredericton, NB; Fredericton Arts Alliance Art Gala and auction, Fredericton Playhouse Gallery, Fredericton, NB; Artist-in-Residence, Quillwork display/demonstration, String Fever Textiles Gallery, Fredericton, NB; Grass Roots Craft Shop Collaborative, Historical Garrison District, Fredericton, NB; Native Women’s Conference, Delta Fredericton, NB; Native Nurses’ Conference, Delta Fredericton, NB

2003 |  Mahsos Motifs Christmas Sale, Fredericton, NB; Boyce Farmers Market, Fredericton, NB; Rising Artisans Student Consignment Shop, Historical Garrison District, Fredericton, NB Aboriginal Arts; Exhibition, The Gallery Downstairs, NBCCD, Fredericton, NB; National Aboriginal Day Celebration display, Officer’s Square, Fredericton, NB; Surtex International Student Design Competition; Crossley Carpet Design Competition; A Show of Hands, NB Fine Craft Centre, Fredericton, NB

2002 |  Boundless, NBCCD Graduation Exhibition, Fredericton NB

2001  |  Wrapping it Up, Playhouse Gallery, Fredericton, NB

Selected Commissions, Grants and Awards

2022 |  A Male Monarch for A Male Monarch, The Honorable Brenda Murphy, Lieutenant Governor of NB, Gifted to King Charles III, London England.

2022 |  Migitjoo Quillwork Portrait, Beaverbrook Art Gallery Acquisition, Fredericton, NB

2021 |  4 Sisters Monarch Butterfly Quillwork, Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor Acquisition, Maine, USA

2021 |  Every Child Matters Orange T-shirt Logo design, Government of NB, Fredericton, NB

2021 |  Telling our Twisted Histories, Digital Art series, CBC, Canada

2020 | CollectionArtNB acquisition of Grandmother Moon Turtle, Grandmother Moon Turtle Legend, Monarch

2017 | Abalone River Mural, Rainbow Sky Gallery, Private Collection, Fredericton NB

2016 | 3D Teepee Mural For Canada 150 Year of Reconciliation NYE Launch, Moncton, NB

2015  |  Reproduction Chief Atwin Traditional Chief’s Kilt, NBCCD, Fredericton, NB

2003  |  Intergovernmental Affairs commission for First Lady of Mali, Africa.

2003  |  Commissions in Belgium, Germany, USA

2003  |  Aboriginal Creation Grant (artsnb)

Artist Talks

2022  |  Resistance Reciprocity and Roadkill, Demo and Talk Arts Atlantic Artis Symposium Saint John, NB

2022  |  Matues, the animal who dwells in the mud, Thirdspace Gallery, online talk; Kmawqepiyapon, closing ceremony, Riviere-du-loup, Quebec

2021  |  Making a Point, Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor MN, USA; Cross Cultural Residency Artist Talks, Kouchibouguac, NB

2019  |  Neqotkuk Wolastoqiyik Traditional Gathering, Tobique NB; Cross Cultural Residency Artist Talks; Metepenagiag Heritage Park FN; Boite Theatre, Caraquet, St. John Arts Centre, NB

2017  |  Festival Inspire, Teachings from the Medicine Wheel Teepee Artist Talk, Moncton NB

2016  |  Scarlet Thorns and Metamorphosis, Saint John Art Centre, NB

2013  |  Wabanakigig Documentary Series Season 3 Episode 1 Tara Francis “Images and Silk” Bear Paw Production, APTN

2012  |  Sagatay Aboriginal Artist Conference, Charlotte Street Arts Centre

Trade Shows

2014 – Present  |  Various JEDI Plenaries and National and Regional Indigenous Conference Trade Shows. On going Pow Wows and Traditional Gatherings.

Organizations

Mawi’art Indigenous Arts Collective

MIA: Maritime Indigenous Artists

Publications

Visual Arts News Sisterhood bound by Quills, June 16th 2022

Created Here Magazine  |  Issue 19 Bodies Series

CBC Telling our Twisted Histories Exhibit

CBC Information Morning Fredericton

Epekwitk Quill Sisters PodCast

CBC

Portland Press Herald

CollectionArtNB  |  Link to catalogue art-acquisitions

Maritime Edit

South Branch Scribble

JEDI Blog

APTN Wabanaagig Season 3 Episode 1 Tara Francis, Images in Silk: (Video no longer available)

Gynocratic Art Gallery Feature

Created Here Studio Visit Article

Visual Arts News  |  Fall 2019 edition.Cross-Cultural Creation Residency Breaks Barries in New Brunswick / Profile by Jericho Knopp