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
2013 | National Aboriginal Day Gala, Capitol Theatre, Moncton, NB
2012 | M&T Deli Artist in Residency, Fredericton, NB
2007 | Your Mother, Green Turtle Clothing, Fredericton, NB
2004 | Traces 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
CollectionArtNB | Link to catalogue art-acquisitions
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