Photo by Pam Hardy
Chelsea Rushton holds a BFA with distinction in Creative Writing from the University of Victoria and an MFA in Visual Art from the University of Calgary, and she is certified at the 500 hour level as a yoga instructor. She is the developer and instructor of Art of the Soul: Creative Process as Spiritual Practice, a special topics lecture, seminar, and studio course that profiles 20th century modern and contemporary artists who engage in art-making as a method of spiritual inquiry and practice. Her research has been supported by the British Columbia Arts Council, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the University of Calgary’s Centre for Research in the Fine Arts, and Calgary Arts Development.
PRESS
2019
“‘A Day in the Life’ with Calgary Artist Chelsea Rushton.” Calgary Guardian, January 24.
2018
“How the Body Makes Marks: Toward a Somatic Shift in Architecture.” Berkeley Arts + Design News, March 30.
2017
Ylitalo, Katherine. “Work of Art: The Heart’s Prayer for order from chaos and action from order.” Avenue Calgary, May.
2016
Burke, Sarah. “Dreams, Visions, Guides, & Vespers At Krowswork.” East Bay Express, December 13.
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, Visual Arts, University of Calgary, AB
Bachelor of Fine Arts with distinction, Creative Writing, University of Victoria, BC
TRAINING
IRYT-500, Rishikesh Yog Peeth, Rishikesh, India
RYT-250, MokSana Yoga Centre, Victoria, BC
20-Hour Yoga Nidra Training, Ajna Yoga, Victoria, BC
50-Hour Children and Youth Yoga Teacher Training, Wymbin Yoga for Kids, Calgary, AB
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018
Vespers. Studio 55C, New York, NY
2017
The Sankalpa Centre for Dreams and Visions. Lightbox Studio, Arts Commons, Calgary, AB
2016
Vespers, Lauds, and Other Prayers. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
2015
Vision. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB.
Motherland. Untitled Art Society +15 Window, Arts Commons, Calgary, AB
2014
Motherland, in Progress. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
2013
Pilgrim. The Wunder Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
2011
Enzo: Bowl that Holds the Universe. Discovery Coffee, Victoria, BC
2010
Small Things. Bean Around the World, Victoria, BC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019
Art from the Heart. Studio 55C, New York, NY
2018
Your Brain on Art. cSpace King Edward, Calgary, AB
2016
Dreams, Visions, Guides, and Vespers, with Yuh-Shioh Wong, Fariba Bogzaran, and Georgia Carbone. Krowswork Center for Video and Visionary Art, Oakland, CA
2015
Post-Min. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
Dept. of Art Faculty & Staff Exhibition. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
2014
Dept. of Art Faculty & Staff Exhibition. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
Post-Min. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
2013
Transmission (with William Downey). The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
Beautiful Hybrid. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
Post-Min. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
2012
Moving Centre (with Isabel Porto Perrone). The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
2011
Opposites Attract. Open Space Arts Society, Victoria, BC
2010
Lunar Effect. The Ministry of Casual Living, Victoria, BC
RESIDENCIES
2017
AWAKENING: Art and Earth-Based Spirituality. Artscape Gibraltar Point, Toronto Islands, ON
2016
Luminous Bodies. July 4-18, Artscape Gibraltar Point, Toronto Islands, ON
COLLECTIONS
Artscape Gibraltar Point, Toronto Islands, ON
Arts Commons, Calgary, AB
Department of Art, University of Calgary, AB
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2018
How the Body Makes Marks. Wurster Gallery, College of Environmental Design, University of California, Berkeley, CA
2017
Art of the Soul: Student Work. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
2016
Art of the Soul: Student Work. The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
2015
Winter Games: Inuit Prints and Carvings from the Nickle Collection. December 18 - May 18, The Nickle Galleries Window, University of Calgary, AB
Lookout for the Future: the Making of a World Trade Centre Memorial, by Dick Averns. The Military Museums, Calgary, AB
Stories of War: Grade Seven Artwork inspired by Dutch War Brides, by Beverley Tosh. The Founders’ Gallery, Calgary, AB
2013
Ganga Gallery. Rishikesh Yog Peeth, Ram Jhula, India
2010
The Window Beside the Door Gallery. 737 Vancouver Street, Victoria, BC
Notable Works. Guerrilla installation, Department of Creative Writing, University of Victoria, BC
PUBLICATIONS
Art
2017
Four paintings. Word and Colour, Summer 2017. https://wordandcolour.com/
2016
“Birch Court (My heart grew a flower at your house).” Life as Ceremony Magazine, Spring/Summer 2016.
Eight paintings. Cordella Magazine, Issue 5, “Heal”.
http://www.cordella.org/#/chelsea-rushton/
2015
The Looking Glass, Hamish Hamilton's virtual gallery space:
www.hamishhamilton.ca/looking-glass/
Art Writing
Forthcoming
“Motherpeace Meets the Runway: Feminist Spirituality in High Fashion and Contemporary Culture.” Faith & Form.
“Meditating on Motherland: Creative Process as Spiritual Practice.” Pulse: Anthology of Critical Texts. Calgary, Emmedia.
2016
“Foreword.” Bridges: A Celebration of the 85th Anniversary of the Alberta Society of Artists. Calgary: ASA.
Scholarship
2016
“Motherland: Country of the Healer, Country of the Healed.” The International Journal of Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts, Volume 12, Issue 1, pp. 53-62.
2015
“Drawing Out Understanding: Arts-Based Inquiry and Gifted Students.” Co-authored with Dr. Jennifer Eiserman and Heather Lai. Gifted Education International. Accessed Sept 1, 2016.
http://gei.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/03/31/0261429415576992.abstract.
Creative Writing
2014
“the mountains, the sea.” Room Magazine, 37.4 Winter.
2011
sunmoon, a chapbook. Victoria, Oak Press.
SELECT ARTIST TALKS, WORKSHOPS, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS
2017
“The Sankalpa Centre for Dreams and Visions.” Artist talk for Campus Calgary students, Arts Commons, Calgary, AB
“How Do I Feel Right Now?” Public engagement initiative supported by the Sankalpa Centre for Dreams and Visions, Lightbox Studio, Arts Commons, Calgary, AB
2016
“Sankalpa: Planting the Seeds of Intention.” Yoga nidra meditation in Dreams, Visions, Guides, and Vespers, Krowswork Center for Video and Visionary Art, Oakland, CA
“Sitting: Does it Belong in Utopia?” Co-facilitated with Galen Cranz. 8th Architecture, Culture, and Spirituality Forum, New Harmony, IN
A Tour of Public Art on Campus.” Nickle at Noon Lecture Series, University of Calgary, AB
2015
“Winter Holiday Cards: A Silkscreening Workshop Inspired by Prints from Barracks to Banks: Canadian Silkscreens for War and Peace.” The Military Museums, Calgary, AB
“Art and Meditation at the Nickle.” University of Calgary, AB
A Tour of Public Art on Campus.” Nickle at Noon Lecture Series, University of Calgary, AB
“The Stitched Mandala.” Artist talk and workshop, Untitled Studios, Calgary, AB
2014
“Motherland.” Department of Art Lunch Hour Lecture Series, University of Calgary, AB
ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS
2016
“Using Experiential Anatomy in Architectural Design: Recent Findings Regarding Organic and Rational Drawing,” with Galen Cranz and Emily Rosen. Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture Connections-Bridgesynapses, La Jolla, CA
2015
“The Cloth Book: a Record, a Memoir, an Offering.” Universities Art Association of Canada Conference, Halifax, Canada
“Motherland: Making Space for the Sacred, Creating Sacred Space.” 7th Architecture, Culture, and Spirituality Forum, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, USA
“Motherland: Life/Death/Life.” Humanities Education and Research Association Conference, San Francisco, USA
2014
“Motherland: Charting a Sacred Territory.” Universities Art Association of Canada Conference, Toronto, Canada
“Motherland: A Journey into the Self and Through.” 11th International Dabrowski Congress, Canmore, Canada
“Drawing Out Understanding: Arts-Based Inquiry and Gifted Students.” With Dr. Jennifer Eiserman and Heather Lai. 11th International Dabrowski Congress, Canmore, Canada
“Motherland: Country of the Healer, Country of the Healed.” 9th International Conference on the Arts in Society, Rome, Italy
TEACHING
2014 - 2017
Developer, Instructor, Art of the Soul: Creative Process as Spiritual Practice, University of Calgary, AB
This lecture, seminar, and studio course profiles 20th century modern and contemporary artists who engage in art-making as a method of spiritual inquiry and practice. Study of the artists is supported by readings and critical discussions of texts that contextualize their work, and explorations that engage the spiritual in students’ creative processes.
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2017
Artist Biography Writer, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton, AB
2015
Rozsa Foundation Gallery Intern, The Nickle Galleries and Founders’ Gallery, University of Calgary, AB
Research Assistant, BFA Curriculum Review, Department of Art, University of Calgary, AB
2014 - 2015
Visiting Artist Coordinator, Department of Art, University of Calgary, AB
2013 - 2014
Model Booking Coordinator, Department of Art, University of Calgary, AB
2010 - 2012
Independent Contractor, Open Space Arts Society, Victoria, BC
2008
Curatorial Assistant, The Maltwood Art Museum & Gallery, University of Victoria, BC
PUBLIC SERVICE
2017
Painter, Leon the Frog Restoration Mural, University of Calgary, AB
HONOURS
2017
Shortlisted candidate, 4th Crystal Ruth Bell Residency, Beijing, CN
SELECT GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND AWARDS
2017
Calgary Arts Development Artist Opportunity Grant
2016
Calgary Arts Development Artist Opportunity Grant
2015
Calgary Arts Development Artist Opportunity Grant
University of Calgary Centre for Research in the Fine Arts Travel Grant
2014
Graduate Scholar Award, 9th International Conference on the Arts in Society
University of Calgary Graduate Students' Association Travel Grant
Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship
2013
Alberta Foundation for the Arts Graduate Scholarship
2012
University of Calgary Centre for Research in the Fine Arts Travel Grant
2008
British Columbia Arts Council Scholarship