Art by Ruth Tait

RESUMÉ

PROFESSIONAL GOALS: to engage in and sustain a professional art practice, within several discipline boundaries – web design, comic book creation, curatorial, painting, research and teaching.

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ryerson Chang School, Certificate: Professional Web Accessibility Auditing
York University, MA Interdisciplinary Studies
OCAD University, BDes
Toronto School of Art, Professional Studio Course
Sheridan College, International Summer Program, Animation 1st Year
AOCA Hons. Ontario College of Art, Toronto, majored in Illustration
Camberwell School of Art, London, England. Painting & Graphic Design
St. Martin’s School of Art, London, England, Foundation Year

SELECTED TEACHING

(2024) Sessional Professor—teaching Graphic Fiction, University of Ottawa, Ottawa
(2005-2008) Contract—teaching InDesign Computer Program, Toronto School of Art
(2003) Contract—teaching Storyboard/Sequential Art, Ontario College of Art and Design
(2001-3) Part-time Art Instructor, School By The Water, Harbourfront

RELATED/SELECTED WORK HISTORY

(2022-) Lifting As We Climb digital book series by creative team funded through Canada Council Strategic Funds and Initiatives Digital Now
(2021) My Origami Motorcycle accessible digital comic, a Canada Council Digital Originals project executed by Rebecca Singh & Ruth Tait
(2020) Voices of the Ancestors: Stories & Lore From Ghana’s Volta Region, book design—built EPUB3 format ebook from manuscript by Gail Nyoka for purposes of self-publishing
(2020) Turning 90: Vignettes from a long life, book design for print and epub3 format for author and self-publisher Janice Tait
(2019) Beyond the Basics, designed and built an EPUB format accessible ebook from print format 600 pg teaching manual published by Action Canada for Sexual Rights and Health (https://www.actioncanadashr.org/)
(2016) The Introvert, a book trailer in movie format for author Michael Michaud fb.com/theintrovertbook.com
(2013) The Piazza at Bishops Landing, architectural rendering for Southwest Properties, Halifax
(2013) Time Tremors, storyboard for Xenophile Media
(2012) Bush Garden, graphic novel sequence for Xenophile Media
(2012) Magic Precinct, storyboard for ithentic.com
(2012) Guest Artist, Nuit Blanche 2012 Independent Project, “Small Audiences”, Theatre Local
(2011) designer for website firstunitariantoronto.org
(2011) illustrator for web game “The Bartletts” at theloyalistbartletts.com [delisted]
(2009) guest presenter at Artists Week, November 7—15, 2009, Toronto,
(2009) guest artist for St. Clair Artwalk, September 27, 2009
(2009) guest presenter at Word on The Street “No Rules, No Budget, All Fun! How and why you should make comics!”
(2009) moragart.com website
(2009)etwhittaker.com website design & construction for installation artist Elaine Whittaker
(2008) i-studio reading from self-published graphic Novel "Outworld"
(2008) Margie Kelk artist assistant
(2008) lizpreissphotography.com website design & construction
(2008) adamlodzinskiart.com website design & construction
(2008) rogerloft.com website design & construction
(2008) wright-ware.com website design & construction
(2007) Extraction! comic book anthology—comix reportage pub. by Cumulus Press, Montreal
(2007) Doppleganger, storyboard for web film
(2005) Kreiger Maps, storyboard for feature film
(2005) janicetait.com website design & construction
(2005) Senior Intelligence, storyboard for OFDC Calling Card film
(2005) propellerctr.com (no longer online), website design & construction
(2005) The Adventures of Supercilitator, commercial 16-page comic book
(2005) margiekelk.com (no longer online), website design & construction
(2004) drlodzinski.com, website design & construction
(2004-07) Propeller Gallery – Gallery Administrator/Curatorial Assistant
(2004) Ontario School of Ballet, Toronto, sets for Ballet Recital – "Harry Potter"
(2004) Amicus Players, set painting for "Design for Living"
(2003) Safe, storyboards for 20 min independent film (OFDC Calling Card)
(2003) Amicus Players set painting for Moon Over Buffalo
(2001) Curtain Call Players: Scene painting for musical production in North York Fairview Theatre
(1997-2006) Ontario School of Ballet, Backdrops for stage productions
(1997/8/9) HRDC Toronto/York Region - ITI, Comic Strips for Info Campaign (paper, TTC) on web site
(1997) Ontario School of Ballet, Toronto—500 sq. ft mural for front of building, on a ballet and jazz dance theme
Sales and commissions for paintings, portraits, landscapes and drawings over a 15-year period

SELECTED GRANTS & AWARDS

2022 Strategic Funds and Initiatives Digital Now, Canada Council Grant 2021
2020 Digital Originals Canada Council Grant
York University Joseph Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship-Master’s (CGS M)
York University York Graduate Scholarship
Honourable Mention Crankyfest film festival Film "Just Another Day", 2014
Official Selection FiExiff Expeimental Festival Sydney Australia Film "Just Another Day", 2014
Official Selection Female Eye Film Festival Film "Just Another Day", 2014
Governor General's Academic (undergraduate) Medal 2014
Ontario Arts Council Writers Reserve 2010
2008 Montreal Expozine Award: "Best English comic 2008"
Ontario Arts Council Writers Reserve Grant, 2007
Honorary Membership, Propeller Centre for Visual Arts (2006)
Klaus Schoenfeld Award for Storyboard Art

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

Tranquil Interludes, private home vernissage, 2017
Natural OBJECTives, Solo Exhibition, The Boyd Gallery, Bocageon, 2009
Natural Selections, Solo Exhibition, UU Church, Ave Rd., December 2005
Pellucid Intervals, Solo exhibition (traveling) Humber/Guelph University Gallery (2005)
Pellucid Intervals, Solo exhibition at Rosedale United Church (2004)
Going Outside Solo Exhibition, UU Church, Ave Rd., Sept 2000

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

BAM!, Artscape Wychwood Barns Artist Market, June and September, October 2011
BAM!, Artscape Wychwood Barns Artist Market, July and September, 2010
Artists Week reading and performance, Artscape Wychwood Barns (Toronto, Nov 2009)
Artscape Wychwood Barns Artists Winter show (Toronto, 2008)
01000100 01101001 01100101 01101001 01110100 01110011 (digits), Propeller Centre for Visual Arts (Toronto 2008)
Artscape at the Gladstone, invitational show at Queen St. hotel, "the Gladstone" (2008)
It’s About Time, Fundraiser show for the Artists Health Clinic (Toronto 2007)
11:annual members show, Propeller Centre for Visual Arts (Toronto 2007)
Diagrams:Drawings:Models: annual curated show Propeller Centre for Visual Arts (Toronto 2006)
Stopgap, group show Propeller Centre for Visual Arts, 984 Queen St. W., Toronto (2006)
Disaster Relief Fundraiser, group show Propeller Centre for Visual Arts, 984 Queen St. W., Toronto (2005)
Cornucopia, group show Propeller Centre for Visual Arts, 984 Queen St. W., Toronto (2004)
After the Drill is Gone, group show, OCAD Transit space, Toronto (2004)
Bearing Witness, offthemap Gallery, 80 Spadina, Toronto (2004)
Whodunnit, OCAD College, Toronto (2003)
Markham Art Fair, Outdoor show (2003)
Junction Arts Festival Juried Group Exhibition of Artists (Sept. 2002)
Whodunnit, OCAD College, Toronto (2002)
Images of the Humber, Black Creek Pioneer village, 2001

CURATORIAL WORK

(2014) Coordinator of Community (Love) Creates Change curated by Denise Morazé and Oana Tanese—Peter MacKendrick Community Gallery
(2006) Coordinator of the 0.7% show, curated by Antonia Lancaster, juried group show for HIV/AIDS
(2005) PPOP! @ Propelller, exhibition of the other art of 24 Comic Book artists

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

(2024) Brooklyn Dog's Adventures series accessible digital books [link]
(2012) A Brooklyn Dog’s Adventures in France, illustrations & design for children’s book, Tait Sisters Press
(2007) Extraction! comix reportage pub. by Cumulus Press, Montreal
(2006) Mix Magazine, article "Ice Follies II: Where Nature, Art and Northern Lifestyle..."
(2006) Drawing the Line Again, pub. by Drawing the Line Publications
(2005) Supercilitator, comic book story for Facilitators Conference, Pub. by Globe Resources
(2004) Mix Magazine: article "Life Drawing Apologia"
(2003-4) Outworld Bk.1 Episode 1,2 3 & 4, Pub. by Open Mind Comics, Toronto (part of 300-page Graphic Novel)
(2003) Walk, Pub. by Open Mind Comics
(2003) Drawing the Line, Comics Anthology, Pub. by Drawing the Line Publications
(2005) Kiss Magazine: comic strip
(2003-5) Don’t Touch Me #9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Comics Anthology, Pub. by Don’t Touch Me Comics
Hive review of Toronto Comic Arts Festival
Wegway 4 comic strip
Lola #9 "Trans/Planting" review

SELECTED SELF-PUBLICATIONS

(2023) Outworld Trilogy, epub digital graphic novel, self-published [link]
(2010)More Than 3 Stories, 30-page graphic stories Anthology
(2008)3 Stories, 30-page graphic stories Anthology
Outworld, Episodes 1—6: a Sci-Fi graphic Novel
(Reprint 2009) Boudicca’s Shield, 32-page Graphic Novel

SELECTED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER

(2009-2015) Wychwood Barns Community Association board member
(2008-2016) Artscape Wychwood Barns member, Live/Work Studio Community
(2007-2008) T.A.I.S. Member of the Board for Toronto Animation Image Society (Treasurer)
(2009) Volunteer for L.E.A.F. Toronto
(2009) member of Communication Task Force, 1st Unitarian Church of Toronto
(2004-2007) Propeller Centre for Visual Art, hours spent on gallery maintenance, projects, curatorial
(2005) Toronto Comic Jam, Adviser to the new Board of Directors for monthly event (c. 25 hours annually)
(2000-05) Executive member of Friends of Lulu, organization promoting the visibility of women in comic book creation and production (c. 100 hours annually)
(2004) Digin Campbell Park Festival, community comic jam event (c. 10 hours)

LANGUAGES

English, French;

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

(2018-) Ottawa Calligraphy Society contributing member