D’Arcy Wilson (MFA University of Calgary ’08, BFA Mount Allison University ’05) is an Atlantic Canadian artist whose work laments past and ongoing colonial interactions with the natural world. From her own perspective as a descendent of European settlers in Canada, she notes instances in which her culture’s affection and desire for nature are impeded by its tendency to harm.
D’Arcy’s interdisciplinary work has been presented across Canada, most recently at Dalhousie University Art Gallery (2019), The Beaverbrook Art Gallery (2018), The Rooms Art Gallery (2017) and the Owens Art Gallery (2016), as well as M:ST, Flotilla, and Connexion ARC, and her work will be included in the 2019 Bonavista Biennale (Floe). D’Arcy is based in Corner Brook, NL, where she is Assistant Professor in the Visual Arts Program at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Grenfell Campus.
To get in touch, contact D'Arcy Wilson at darcyannewilson@gmail.com
D'Arcy Wilson, CV
Education
M.F.A. 2008 The University of Calgary, Calgary AB
B.F.A. 2005 Mount Allison University, Sackville NB
Solo Exhibitions
2019, January- The Memorialist, Dalhousie University Art Gallery (Curated by Peter Dhykhuis)
2016, November- The Memorialist, The Owens Art Gallery, Sackville, NB (Curated by Gemey Kelly)
2014, May- Tuck, Forest City Gallery, London, ON
2014, April- Fleshold, Arstplace, Annapolis Royale, NS
2014, February- Fleshold, Galerie La Centrale Powerhouse, Montreal
2012- Protect Your Love, The Khyber, Halifax, NS
2012- Tuck, The Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University, Sackville NB. (Curated by Gemey Kelly)
2011- Fleshold, Galerie Sans Nom, Moncton, NB
2011- Mother & Thief, Third Space Gallery, Saint John, NB.
2008- Trapper, TRUCK Gallery, +15 Window, Calgary, Alberta
Two-Person Exhibitions
2018, August- Bracken, Penelope Smart at Dynasty, Toronto, ON (curated by Penelope Smart)
2017, May- The Ordinary Place is Sufficient, The Day Room, St. John’s, NL (curated by Penelope Smart)
2014, September- Protect Your Love, Arnica, Kamloops, BC (two-person show)
2012, May, Fleshold, ODD Gallery, Dawson City YT (Two-Person Show)
Performances and Festivals
2019, February- The Memorialist- keynote address, Dalhousie University Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
2018, March- The Memorialist: keynote address, Connexion ARC, Fredericton NB
2017, September- The Memorialist: keynote address, Flotilla (The 2017 Biennial Gathering of ARC’s), Charlottetown, PEI
2016, August- No Deliverance, Art in the Open (Curated by Pan Wendt and Becka Viaugh), Charlottetown, PEI
2014, October- Weeper, Nocturne Art at Night Festival (Curated by Eryn Foster), Halifax, NS
2014, October‑ Recalling Your Presence While Calling Your Name, Mountain Standard Time Festival of Performative Art (MS:T 7), Calgary (Juried)
2014, September- Recalling Your Presence While Calling Your Name: In Memoria, Lumière (Art at Night Festival), Sydney, NS (Juried)
2013, June- Recalling Your Presence While Calling Your Name: In Memoria, Public performance at Point Pleasant Part, in collaboration with Halifax Regional Municipality’s Point Pleasant Park Artist in Residence Program. (juried residency)
2013, July: Bedtime Stories, public performance in Point Pleasant Park, as Point Pleasant Park Aritst-in-Residence, Halifax, NS (juried residency)
2012- Tuck, Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, Nocturne 2012, Halifax, NS. (Juried)
2009- Keepers, part of You Gave me Strength to Stand Alone Again, 14th Annual Symposium of Art, hosted by Struts Gallery, and The Owens Art Gallery in Sackville NB. (Juried)
2009- Mother, Struts Gallery. A part of You Gave me Strength to Stand Alone Again, 14th Annual Symposium of Art, Sackville, NB. (Juried)
Selected Group Exhibitions
2019, August – September, The Bonavista Biennale: Floe, Bonnavista, NL (Curated by Catherine Beaudette, David Diviney, Matthew Hills)
2018, October, Depository Park, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton NB
2017, February: In Some Far Place, curated by Mireille Eagan, The Rooms, St. John’s
2016, October: Shaping the Shore, From Here and Away, curated by Karie Liao, Cape Breton University Art Gallery, Sydney, NS
2016: September, Im/Penetrable Nature, Galerie d’art Louise-et-Reuban-Cohen, L’Université de Moncton, Curated by Nisk Imbeault, Moncton, NB
2016: January, Voisins, Galerie SKOL, Montreal, QC
2014: 2014 Nova Scotia Art Bank Purchases, The Anna Leonowens Art Gallery, NSCAD, NS
2014, February- Somewheres, the Confederation Centre of the Arts Art Gallery, Charlottetown, PEI (curated by Pan Wendt)
2014, June- Muse, The Banff Park Museum National Historic Site, Banff, AB, curated by Anne Koval
2013- 2013 Nova Scotia Art Bank Purchases, The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Yarmouth, NS
2012- The Collector’s Circle, The Banff Park Museum National Historic Site, Banff, Alberta (Part of Exposure 2012, curated by Kari Cwynar)
2010- Here Not Here, curated by Penelope Smart, Thunder and Lightning, Sackville NB
2009- Prints by Young Artists in Japan and Calgary, University Hall, Kyoto City University of the Arts; Kyoto, Japan (Curated by Bill Laing)
Screenings:
Tuck (A part of SPANE: Threshold (Screening of Performance Art in the Natural Environment, curated by Tomas Jonsson and Johannes Zits)
2016, February 15: Gallery Connexion, Fredericton, NB
2015, October 5: Performing Mobilities, Melbourne AUS
2015, September 30: Art Nomade Screening, Chicoutimi, QC
2015, September 26: Live Biennial Screening, Vancouver BC
2014, October 1: M:ST Festival 7, Calgary AB
Curation:
2018 (September) Co-Curator with Matthew Hills for Saltbox Festival of Contemporary Art, Grenfell Art Gallery, Corner Brook, NL
2018 (August) Co Curator for Art in the Open, with Pan Wendt, Charlottetown PEI
2017 (October), Site-Studio Artist Residency between the Bonne Bay Marine Station and Grenfell Campus Visual Arts Program, Memorial University, Norris Point and Corner Brook, NL (Inaugural Visiting Artists are Calgary-based Eric Moschopedis and Mia Rushton.)
2017 (August), Co Curator for Art in the Open, Charlottetown, PEI
2016 (November), Saltbox Contemporary Arts Festival, hosted by the Grenfell Art Gallery, Corner Brook, NL, November 17th, 18th, 19th, 2016.
Residencies:
2018: (July/August), Outdoor School, The Banff Centre, Banff AB
2016 (August), Struts Gallery and Faucet Media Arts Centre, Sackville NB
2016 (July), Cape Breton University Art Gallery Artist-in-Residence, Sydney, NS
2016 (February) Klondike Institute of Art and Culture Artist-in-Residence, Dawson City YT
2015 (April — September) Centre for Art Tapes, Local Artist-in-Residence, Halifax, NS
2014‑ (July 28— August 1) Guest Artist, Art City, Winnipeg, MB
2013- (June/July) The Point Pleasant Park Residency Initiative, Halifax, NS
2013- (January) Atelier d’Estampe Imago Artist in Residence, Moncton, NB
2012- (September — November) Re:Focus, Sustainable Art Residency, Visual Arts Nova Scotia (in collaboration with the Ecology Action Centre, and the Khyber Centre for the Arts), Halifax, NS
2011- (May/June) Althea Thauberger’s La Commune. The Assylum. Die Bühne. The Banff Centre, AB.
2009- (August) Art in the Park, The Confederation Centre and Prince Edward Island National Park, PE.
Awards and Grants
2019 Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council Project Grant, Visual Arts
2018 The Canada Council for the Arts, Professional Development Grant
2018 Sobey Art Award, Longlist (Atlantic Canada)
2017 Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council Project Grant, Visual Arts
2017 Artistic Creative Grant, Memorial University of NL Internal Grant
2017, Shortlisted for Visual Arts Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL CARFAC) Excellence in Visual Arts Award: Large Year Award
2015 The Canada Council for the Arts Project Grant
2015 Arts NS Creation Grant, 2015
2014 Arts NS Presentation Grant
2014-Nova Scotia Art Bank Purchase Program
2013- Nova Scotia Art Bank Purchase Program
2012 The Canada Council Travel Grant
2012- Centre For Art Tapes Media Scholarship, Halifax, NS
2011 The New Brunswick Arts Board Creation Grant
2011 The New Brunswick Arts Board Travel Grant
2010 The New Brunswick Arts Board Creation Grant
2008- Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Art Production Grant, Multidisciplinary Program
2008- The Centre for the Research in the Fine Arts’ Graduate Research and Travel Fund
2007- Carl O. Nickle Graduate Scholarship, University of Calgary
2007- Royal College of Art Travel Bursary/Exchange Program (between the University of Calgary and The Royal College of Art), London, England
2006- Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship for graduate studies, University of Calgary
2006- The Royal Canadian Academy of Art, Scholarship for Graduate Studies
2006- The New Brunswick Arts Board, Creation Grant, Category “C”
2005- Imago Print Shop Emerging Artist Bursary, Moncton NB
Artist Lectures/Papers
2017: Panelist in Art/Nature: Contemporary Art in Natural History Museums and Collections conference at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Berlin (June 25th)
2017: Presentation of Paper at UAAC, Banff
2016: Presentation of Paper at UAAC, Montreal
2016, Sydney Public Library, Hosted by Cape Breton University Art Gallery, Sydney, NS
2016, Klondike Institute of Art and Culture, Dawson City, YT
2015, Halifax Central Library, arranged by Centre for Art Tapes, Halifax, NS
2014, NSCAD (Foundation Department), Halifax, NS
2014, Forest City Gallery, London, ON
2014, La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse, Montreal, QC
2013, Cape Breton University Art Gallery, Sydney NS
2013, Atelier d’Estampe Imago, Moncton, NB
2012, ARCAC, Annapolis Royal, NS
2012, The Khyber Centre for the Arts, Halifax, NS
2012, The Owens Art Gallery, Mount Allison University
2011, Galerie Sans Nom, Moncton NB
2011, St. Thomas University Fine Arts Department, Fredericton NB
2011, Third Space Gallery, Saint John, NB
2009, The Confederation Centre for the Arts, Charlottetown PEI
2007, The Royal College of Art, Printmaking Department, London, UK
Collections
The Confederation Centre for the Arts, Charlottetown, PE
The Nova Scotia Art Bank
The Royal College of Art, London, UK
Teaching
2016 to Present: Assistant Professor, Visual Arts (Painting, Drawing and Interdisciplinary Studio), Memorial University of Newfoundland (Grenfell Campus), tenure-track, August 1, 2016 to present
2015: Assistant Professor, Visual Arts (Drawing and Painting), Memorial University of Newfoundland (Grenfell Campus), three-year term, August 1, 2015 — 2018
2015: Term teaching position, Assistant Professor (Drawing and Painting), Memorial University of Newfoundland (Grenfell Campus), January 1 — April 30th, 2015
2010 to 2011- Assistant Professor, Visual Arts, Part Time, St. Thomas University, NB
2009 to 2010- Lecturer, Visual Arts, Part Time, St. Thomas University, NB
2009- Lecturer, Fine Arts, Part Time, Mount Allison University, NB
Selected Bibliography:
D’Arcy Wilson: The Memorialist, catalogue with essay by Feliciy Taylor, The Owens Art Gallery, 2017
“D’Arcy Wilson: In Conversation with Linda Rae Dornan”, in Open Studio 07/2015 —11/2016,
International artist-in-residency catalogue, Struts Gallery & Faucet Media Arts Centre, 2017
“10 Artists Who are Reinventing History”, by Amanda Shore, Canadian Art, Fall 2017
“The Memorialist”, exhibition review by Virgil Hammock, Vie des Arts, Winter 2016/17
“Faut-il (re)tisser le lien avec les animaux sauvages? L’art insterspécifique de D’Arcy Wilson”, by Julia Roberge Van Der Donckt, Versus Magazine, Spring-Summer, 2016
“Halifax Zoo is a well kept secret of Fairmount History: Halifax artist digs up all she can find about the city’s first zoo”, by Phlis McGregor, CBC News, September 4th, 2015.
“D’Arcy Wilson: Tuck, Forest City Gallery, London, Ontario May 23—June 20, 2014”, by Henry Adam Svec, C Magazine, issue 123: Wet.
“Explorations of Our Problematic Relationship with the Wild” by Vince Cherniak, The London Yodeler, June 21st, 2014
“Fleshold: London art exhibit explores human need to connect with nature”, by Mila Petkovic, Metro, May 14th, 2014
"Halifax Based Artist Explores the limits of human/animal interaction at La Centrale", By Mark Ambrose Harris, Nightlife, Montreal, February 21, 2014
"Bedtime Stories for Halifax Wildlife: D'Arcy Wilson at Point Pleasant Park", by Heather Saunders, Artist In Transit, August 1st, 2013
"Serve and Protect: D'Arcy Wilson's Re: Focus Sustainable Art residency explores the wilderness, our relationship with the wild unknowable and attempts a delicate balance with Nature " by Adria Young, The Coast, Halifax NS, September 27th, 2012
“Animals and Lines of Desire”, by Meg Walker. Gallery Text, ODD Gallery, Dawson City, YT, May 2012
“Protect Your Love” Re: Focus Sustainable Art Residency Catalog with texts by Brionny Carros, Daniel Joyce, and James McSwain. Visual Arts Nova Scotia, 2013.
"Tuck", Gallery Catalog with essay by Rita McKeough, Owens Art Gallery, Sackville NB, January 2012
Selected Service
September 2015 — Present: Grenfell Art Gallery Committee, Member
January 2012 to September 2015- Board Member (2012-14: Fundraising Chair, 2014-2015: Programming Chair), Eyelevel Gallery, Halifax, NS
2007- 2008- Board Member, The New Gallery, Calgary, AB