About Allyson Mitchell

Allyson Mitchell is a maximalist artist working predominantly in sculpture, installation and film. Since 1997, Mitchell has been melding feminism and pop culture to play with contemporary ideas about sexuality, autobiography, and the body, largely through the use of reclaimed textile and abandoned craft.

self portrait
Allyson Mitchell, self portrait, © 2003

Her work has exhibited in galleries and festivals across Canada, the US, Europe and East Asia. She has also performed extensively with Pretty Porky and Pissed Off, a fat performance troupe, as well as publishing both writing and music. She recently completed her PhD in Women's Studies at York University, where she also teaches cultural studies.

Allyson Mitchell's work has been generously supported by the Chalmers Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario and Toronto Arts Councils and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Artist CV

EDUCATION

  • 1998-2006 Ph.D., Graduate Programme in Women's Studies, York University
  • 1996-1998 M.A., Women's Studies, York University
  • 1988-1995 B.A., Honours Double major in Women's Studies and English, York University

ARTIST RESIDENCIES

  • University of Illinois, Artist in residence March 04-11, 2007
  • Trinity Square Video, Toronto ON, "Eat", Themed Commission Program March-May, 2004.
  • Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff Alberta. "Big Rock Candy Mountain", April 20 - June 07, 2003

EXHIBITIONS

Solo Exhibitions

(2009)
  • Untitled McMaster Museum of Art, Hamilton ON Curator: Carla Garnet
  • Untitled AKA Artist Run Centre, Saskatoon SK
(2007)
  • Untitled University of Buffalo Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY
  • Untitled Stride Gallery, Calgary AB
  • Sasquatch Squat, Thrush Holmes Empire, Toronto ON
  • Brain Freeze York Quay Centre, Toronto ON
2006
  • Hungry Purse Toronto Alternative Art Fair International, Toronto ON
  • Tawny and Silverback Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Toronto ON
2005
  • Sasquatch Clutch Toronto Alternative Art Fair International, Toronto ON
  • Lady Sasquatch Paul Petro Contemporary Art, Toronto ON
  • Faux Naturelle Gladstone Hotel Artist Designed Rooms, Toronto ON
2004
  • Big Trouble CBC Atrium, Canadian Art Foundation, Toronto ON
  • The Fluff Stands Alone Paul Petro Contemporary Art, Toronto ON

Selected Collaborative Exhibitions

2006
  • Defend the Sugar Bush with Andrew Harwood, Harvey Levine Gallery, Los Angeles CA
  • Granny Square Wreck Room with Paul Campbell, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Toronto ON
2005
  • Lady Sasquatch with Andrew Harwood and Miuki Madelaire, Chelsea Galleria Annex, Miami FL
  • Granny Square Wreck Room with Paul Campbell, Toronto International Art Fair, Toronto ON
  • Feels Like a Natural Woman Whitney Lee, Cecille R. Hunt Gallery, Webster University, St Louis MO
  • Granny Square Wreck Room with Paul Campbell, Come Up to My Room Design Show, Toronto ON
2004
  • Double CHIN Picnic C Zeidler, RM Vaughan, A Harwood, Katherine Mulherin Art Projects, Toronto ON
2003
  • Halfway Across Canada with Christina Zeidler The Other Gallery, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff AB
2002
  • Deliverance From Disaster Bucky and Fluff's Craft Factory, Paul Petro Contemporary Art, Toronto ON
  • Flea Market Freak Out Bucky and Fluff's Craft Factory, Katherine Mulherin Contemporary Art, Toronto

Selected Group Exhibitions

2007
  • Recent Textile and Popular Culture, The Dalhousie Art Gallery, Halifax NS Curator: Sarah Quinton
  • Faux Naturel Foreman Art Gallery Bishops University, Lennoxville Quebec Curator: Astria Suparak
2006
  • Faux Naturel The Warehouse Gallery, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY Curator: Astria Suparak
  • Super String Stride Gallery, Calgary AB Curator: Anthea Black
  • fray Textile Museum of Canada and The Koffler Gallery, Toronto ON, Curators: S Quinton & C Farrell
2005
  • Blame Canada Harvey Levine Gallery, Los Angeles CA
  • Pot Modern Zsa Zsa Gallery, Toronto ON
  • Extra/Ordinary The Cube at Beco, Kansas City MO
  • Beyond/In Squeaky Wheel/Albright Knox Museum, Buffalo NY
  • Making History The qu-Art Gallery, Toronto ON
  • Stitch or Swallow Here Gallery, Bristol UK
2004
  • Propagandista Toronto Free Gallery, Toronto ON
  • The End of The Line Soap Factory, Minneapolis MN
  • Self Publish or Perish Open Space Arts Society, Victoria BC
2002
  • Drawing Dissent Art System, Toronto, ON
  • DocuLomo Gallery TPW, Toronto ON
  • Believe in the Good of Life West Wing Gallery, Toronto ON
  • Breakfast of Champeens Paul Petro Gallery, Toronto ON
  • Selfish Slaves of Zines and Animation A Space Gallery, Toronto ON

ARTICLES

  • Buszek, Maria Elena. 2005. Allyson Mitchell: Lady Sasquatch. Self-published essay.
  • Cooper, Charlotte. 2003. Body Politics: The Big Issue. Diva Magazine 10(6).
  • McKay, Sally. 2004. Fun Fur Feminism. Canadian Art Magazine 21(2).
  • Milroy, Sarah. 2005. Lady Sasquatch Revenge. The Globe and Mail, 23 September.
  • Osborne, Catherine. 2003. Artistry Beyond Cool. The National Post, 03 November.
  • Pohl-Weary, Emily. 2006. Allyson Mitchell Interview. Kiss Machine 13 (Fall/Winter).
  • Reckitt, Helena. 2006. My Fuzzy Valentine: Allyson Mitchell. C Magazine 89 (Spring).
  • Saturday Night Magazine. 2001. Allyson Mitchell: The Big Fat Revolutionary. 10 February.
  • Steenbergen, Candis. 2003. Allyson Mitchell on Fear, Fat, Funk & Feminism. Good Girl Magazine 5.
  • Temple, Kevin. 2005. Sexing the Sasquatch. Now Magazine, 15 September
  • Underwood, Nora. 2000. Body Envy. MacLean's Magazine 14 August.
  • Vaughan, RM. 2005. That's Ms Sasquatch To You. The National Post, 16 September.

FILM and VIDEO

  • Foodie, 8 min, 35MM, with Fiona Smyth (in progress)
  • Unca Trans, 3 min, Super8/video, with C. Zeidler (in progress)
  • Melty Kitty, 3 min, Super 8, 2006, A. Mitchell.
  • Feeding the Deer, 2 min, Super 8, 2005, A. Mitchell & P. Vermeersch.
  • Big Trubs, 3 min, Super 8/video, 2004, A. Mitchell.
  • Free! Bake! Sale, 3 min, video, 2004 A. Mitchell
  • If Anyone Should Happen To Get In My Way, 5 min, 16mm, 2003 A. Mitchell & C. Zeidler.
  • Glitter, 1 min, 16mm, 2003 A. Mitchell & C. Zeidler.
  • Sicker Lover, 1 min, 16mm, 2003, A. Mitchell.
  • Precious Little Tiny Love, 3 min, Super 8/video, 2003, A. Mitchell.
  • Mayo Jar, 3 min, Super 8/Video, experimental, 2003 Allyson Mitchell.
  • Believe, 1 min, Super 8/Video, 2002. Allyson Mitchell and Lex Vaughn.
  • Inside Out Trailer, festival trailer, Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film Festival of Toronto, 2002
  • Pink-Eyed Pet, animation, 3 min, Super8/Video, 2002. Allyson Mitchell and Lex Vaughn.
  • Bon Bon. animation, 4 min, 16mm, 2001. Allyson Mitchell and Lex Vaughn.
  • My Life in 5 Minutes. 4 min. computer animation, 2000. Director, writer, producer, Allyson
  • Candy Kisses. Animation, 2.5 min, 16mm, 1999, Allyson Mitchell.
  • T.V. Did This To Me. Animation, 2.5 min, 16mm, colour, 1999, Allyson Mitchell
  • Cupcake. Animation, 2.5 min, Super 8/video, 1998, Allyson Mitchell.
  • Don't Bug Me. Animation,1min,16mm,colour,1997. Allyson Mitchell.

SELECTED SCREENINGS

Survey Exhibitions:
  • Vancouver Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Vancouver BC, 17 August 2007
  • Sugar and Splice Feminist Film, Festival, Winnipeg MB, 27 May 2006
  • Pleasure Dome, Toronto, ON, 24 October 2003
  • Squeaky Wheel, Buffalo NY, 12 March 2004
  • LadyFest, Toronto, ON, 08 September 2002
Gallery Screenings:
  • A Space Gallery, Andy Warhol Museum, The Box Salon, ED Video, The Elastic Residency, Neutral Ground, Spin Gallery, Trinity Square Video, The Walker Art Center
Short Film Festivals:
  • Images Festival of Independent Film and Video, Pleasure Dome New Toronto Works Show, The Hamburg Short Film Festival, Rendezvous With Madness Festival Toronto, Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival of Toronto, Splice This!, Super 8 Film Festival Toronto, Kinemathek Karlsruhe E.V., Rehab: Parkdale Film Festival, Women in the Director's Chair
Lesbian and Gay
  • Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Regina, San Francisco, Austin,New York, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Portland, Washington D.C., Rochester, Brazil, Tokyo, Melbourne, Milan, Finland, Auckland, Philadelphia, Bologna, London, Bern, Paris, Freiberg, Sydney, Dublin
Film Festivals:
  • New York, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Portland OR, Washington D. C, Rochester, Brazil, Tokyo, Melbourne, Milan, Finland, Auckland, Philadelphia, Bologna, London, Bern, Paris, Freiberg, Sydney, Dublin,
Collections:
  • National Library and Archives, Ottawa Ontario
  • Trent University, Peterborough Ontario
  • Carleton University, Ottawa Ontario
  • Queen's University, Kingston Ontario
  • McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario
Tours:
  • Women In the Director's Chair National US Tour
  • Satan McNugget Roadshow National Canadian Tour
Institutional Screenings:
  • McMaster University, Ontario College of Art and Design, Trent University, York University, Waterloo University, University of Toledo, University of Illinois, Northwestern University, Washington University, Southern Oregon University, Macalester College, Wilfrid Laurier University, Concordia University, Queen's University, Syracuse University.

SELECTED PERFORMANCE

  • “Pink Pant Period” Chub Rub, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto ON Feb 24, 2006
  • “Lovin' our Sisters” 7a11d fundraider, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto ON February 14, 2006
  • “Lesly and the Lys” Toronto Alternative Art Fair International, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, November 06, 2005
  • “Canadiana Dolly” 7a11d fundraiser, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto ON. August 15, 2004.
  • “Slim Road Show” NOLOSE conference, Cherry Hill, NJ, July 09, 2004
  • “Big Judy” Feminist Studies Symposium, York University, April 23, 2004
  • “Big Judy” Mayworks in the Schools, George Brown, Casa Loma, March 25, 04
  • “Super Size Night” Thornloe University Theatre, Laurentian University, Sudbury ON. November 30, 2003
  • “Well Well Well” Fem Cab, Theatre Passe Murraille, Toronto, ON. March 23, 2003
  • “Double Double” Mix Festival, New York City, Nov 23, 2002.
  • “Wide Load” , Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto ON. June 28, 2002
  • “Visions in White” Strange Sisters, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Toronto ON. June 21, 2002
  • “Variety Show” Inside Out Festival of Lesbian and Gay Film and Video, Traxx, Toronto ON. May 20 02
  • “Fat Cheerleaders” Clit Lit: May Works, The Red Room, Toronto ON. May 06, 2002
  • “Move It Fatty” Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto, ON. March 10, 2002
  • “Wide Side Story” Anatomic Café, Festival of Film and Dance, Rivoli, Toronto ON. Sept 26, 2001
  • “Livin' La Vida Porka!” , Chubbalicious, 360 Club, Toronto ON. June 13, 2001
  • “Baby Elephant Walk” , Fem Cab, St. Lawerence Centre for the Arts, Toronto ON, March 04, 2001.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2006-2007
  • Course Director FACS 2500 3.0 Contemporary Art and New Technologies
  • Fine Arts Cultural Studies, Faculty of Fine Arts, York University, Toronto
  • Course Director FACS 4920 3.0 Feminist Cultural Theory
  • Fine Arts Cultural Studies, Faculty of Fine Arts, York University, Toronto
  • Course Director WMST 3523 6.0 Feminisms and Film
  • School of Women's Studies, York University, Toronto
  • Course Director WMST 4514 3.0 Tough Chicks: Women's Strength and Anger in Pop Culture
  • School of Women's Studies, York University, Toronto
2006
  • Course Director SART 4800/4870 "Special Topics in Sculpture" University of Guelph, GuelphON
2002-2006
  • Course Director WMST 4508.06
  • "Young Feminisms: Contemporary Feminist Activism" York University, TO ON
2004-2006
  • Course Director HUMA 3980 6.0
  • "Popular Culture in the 20th Century", York University, Toronto ON

SELECTED HONOURS & AWARDS

Academic Scholarships
  • 2000-2002 Doctoral Fellowship Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada
  • 1997-1999 Dean of Graduate Studies' Academic Excellence Scholarship, York University
  • 1998-1999 Ontario Graduate Scholarship Ontario Ministry of Education and Training, Student Affairs.
Grants and Awards
  • 2006 Canada Council for the Arts, Visual Artist Project Grant
  • 2005 Toronto Arts Council, Artist Film and Video, with Fiona Smyth
  • 2005 Ontario Arts Council, Artist Film and Video, with Fiona Smyth
  • 2004 L.I.F.T (The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto) Film Production Grant
  • 2004 Chalmers Fellowship Award, with Fiona Smyth
  • 2004 Toronto Arts Council, Theatre Grant, with Pretty Porky and Pissed Off
  • 2003 Canada Council for the Arts, Creation Program Grant, with Pretty Porky and Pissed Off
  • 2002 The Lesbian And Gay Community Appeal of Toronto, Cultural Production Grant
  • 2002 L.I.F.T. (The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto), Film Production Grant
  • 2000 Best Animation, Planet Out Short Film Awards

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • Mitchell, A. 2005, "Recovered Heart" Success and Recovery, Instant Coffee: 20.
  • Mitchell, A 2005 "Porky" D. Kulick & A. Meneley (Eds) Fat: The Anthropology of an Obsession (NY: Penguin)
  • Mitchell, A 2002 "Cellulite" & "Always Hungry" (Illustrations) C. Brushwood Rose & A.Camilleri (Eds) Brazen Femme: Queering Femininity (Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press).
  • Mitchell, A & A Slone 2002 "Fat and Femme", C. Brushwood Rose & A.Camilleri (Eds) Brazen Femme: Queering Femininity (Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press).
  • Mitchell, A & L. Rundle, L. Karaian, Eds. 2001 Turbo Chicks: Talking Young Feminisms (Toronto: Sumach).
  • Mitchell, A. 2000 "Fat Teen Diary", Fireweed: A feminist quarterly. 67 (1): 13-17.

ARTIST TALKS

2007
  • MFA Programme, Faculty of Fine Art, York University, Toronto ON'
  • Department of Visual Arts and Design, Sheridan College, Oakville ON
  • Department of Liberal Studies, Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto ON
  • Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
  • XSpace Gallery, Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto ON
  • Sexual Diversity Program, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
2006
  • Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Syracuse, Syracuse NY
  • Faculty of Fine Art, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
  • Sexual Diversity Program, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
2005
  • Dept of Women's Studies, Queen's University, Kingston ON
  • Toronto School of Art, Toronto, ON
  • Dept of Visual Arts, York University, Toronto ON
  • Dept of Visual Arts, Concordia University, Montreal QC
  • Dept of Visual Arts, Wilfred Laurier University, Kitchener ON
  • Dept of Women Studies & Film Studies, MacMaster University, Hamilton ON
  • Dept of Women's Studies Cultural Studies, Trent University, Peterborough ON
2002
  • Simone De Beauvoir Institute, Concordia University, Montreal QC
  • The School of the Arts, McMaster University Hamilton ON
  • Textile Department, Seneca College, Toronto ON

Click here to download a PDF of Allyson's full C.V.

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