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EDUCATION

Masters of Social Work with Honors, McGill University - Montreal, Quebec

BFA with Distinction, Painting and Drawing,  California College of Arts - San Francisco, California

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EXHIBITIONS

Solo and Two Person Exhibitions:

2017 - ‘Jiggen Yuy Soppi’ Changemakers: Ndar, Gallery Ethiopique - Saint Louis, Senegal

2016 - Howl Arts Festival - Cajibi - Montreal, Quebec

2015 - Remembering: A sister Project, Destiny Arts Center -Oakland, California

2015 - The Floating Homeland, Vues D'Afrique Rally Expo - Maison Parent-Roback - Montreal, Quebec

2009 - Recent paintings: Shanna Strauss - Umoja Arts Center - Arusha, Tanzania

2005 - Dreamscapes - Fotini Gallery - Arusha, Tanzania

2004 - Bila Shaka - Purple Plum Restaurant - Oakland, California

2003 - Ndoto za Mashariki/ Dreams the East - West Gallery - San Francisco, California

 

Group Exhibitions:

2018 - Here We Are Here: Black Canadian Contemporary Art  - Montreal Museum of Fine Arts - Montreal

2018 - When She Rises - Los Angeles, California

2018 - Obvious Magic: This Womanist Imaginary, Ashara Ekundayo Gallery – Oakland, California

2017 - Policing Black Lives - Grande Bibiliothéque - Montreal, Quebec

2017 -  The Black Woman is God: Divine Revolution, SOMArts Gallery - San Francisco, California

2017 - Take Care of Your Self - Pop Up Gallery -3845 St. Laurent Blvd - Montreal, Quebec

2017 - POP Montreal - Apt 200 - Montreal, Quebec

2017- While No One Was Looking, Mainline Gallery - Montreal, Quebec

2017- Cabaret Anti-racine, Maison D’Haiti - Montreal, Quebec

2016 - Black Fem' Art - Espace Mushagalusa, Montreal, Quebec

2016 - Art Afro - Art District Gallery, Montreal, Quebec

2016 - Changemakers- MAI Center Gallery - World Social Forum 2016, Montreal, Quebec

2016 - Defi 35 - Articule Artist Run Centre - Montreal, Quebec

2016 - Égéries Noire/Black Muses, Place des Arts - La Salle George Emile Lapalme Gallery, Montreal Quebec

2015 - Common Aliens -  Z Art Space -Montreal, Quebec

2015 - SalonEsque - MAI (Montréal Arts Interculturels) Gallery - Montreal, Quebec

2014 - Action Against Racism Group Exhibition- Centre Communautaire de Loisir de la Côte-des-Neiges - Montreal, Quebec

2010 - Braeburn Art Fair - Arusha, Tanzania

2009 - Visa to Dance: Tanzanian Women Artists -  Diamond Jubilee Hall - Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

2009 - East African Art Biennale - Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

2005 - Art and Development Conference - Wilfred Laurier University - Waterloo, Ontario

2003 - Senior Group Show - California College of Arts - Berkeley, California

 

STREET ART AND MURALS

2018 - Public art piano - Montreal, Quebec

2018 - Mural honoring Chyna Gibson - Collaboration with Jessica Sabogal, Sacramento, California

2017 - Mural honoring Ellen Gabriel and Mary Two Axe Earley - Unceded Voices: Anti-Colonial Street Artists

Convergence, Montreal

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COMMISSION

2018 - Public art  piano - City of Montreal

2018 - Mural for The Women's Resouce Center - The University of Arizona

2018 - Mural honoring Chyna Gibson - The California Endowment 

2017 - Artwork for 'Frames for Life Liberation and Belonging' Booklet - Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at UC Berkeley

2016 - Artwork for Égéries Noire/Black Muses exhibition at Place des Arts - La Table ronde du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs /Black History Month Round Table,  Montreal Quebec

 

RESIDENCIES 

2018 - Mikw Chiyâm Teaching Artist Residency, Waskaganish, Cree Nation/Quebec

2017 - Waaw Artist Residency - Saint Louis, Senegal (November 2017)

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AWARDS AND GRANTS

2015 - Akonadi Foundation; The beloved community grant recipient, Oakland, California

2014 - Toronto Dominion Bank; Then & Now 2015 Grant recipient, Montreal, Quebec

2014 - Lotte Marcus Sheldon Prize; Innovative arts-based service project, Montreal, Quebec

 

ARTIST TALKS

2018 - Unceded Voices - Panelist - Tucson, Arizona

2017 - While No One Was Looking - Panelist - Mainline Gallery, Montreal

2017 - Change Agents of East Africa - Panelist - Concordia University, Montreal

2016 - Diaspora Speaking Conference, Montreal, Quebec

2016 - Howl Arts Festival, Montreal, Quebec

2016 - 21st Century Learning: Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Creativity. Art and Social Justice Panelist - Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec

2005 - World University Service of Canada Art and Development Conference, Wilfred Laurier University - Waterloo, Ontario

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BOOKS

2017 -  Frames for Life, Liberation & Belonging - Published by Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive

Society at UC Berkeley

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MAGAZINE/JOURNALS

2018 - M: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, May - Aug 2018

2017 - Americana E-Journal of American Studies in Hungary, Volume 13, Number 1, Spring 2017 

http://americanaejournal.hu/vol13no1mixed/joachim

2017 - Montreal Serai, Volume 30, Issue 3

https://montrealserai.com/article/indigenous-street-artists-create-holy-alliances/

2017 - The Humans Magazine, May 2017, Issue # 3

2017 - Articulation, Spring 2017 Issue - While No One Was Looking

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2015 - Tic Art Toc, Issue #5 -  Liaisons Dangereuses

 

MEDIA

2018 - Sacramento News & Review: https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/altar-for-chyna-doll/content?oid=26270462

2017 - CULT MTL http://cultmontreal.com/2017/10/st-henri-mural-defaced/

2017 - The Eastern Door http://www.easterndoor.com/2017/08/29/mohawk-change-makers-grace-brand-new-mural/

2017 - CBC ARTS http://www.cbc.ca/beta/arts/exhibitionists/we-are-changemakers-celebrating-montreal-s-black-women-leaders-by-immortalizing-them-in-wood-1.3962107

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DOCUMENTARIES

2017 - Unceded Voices 2017 Documentary Series - Episode 5

 https://www.facebook.com/uncededvoices/videos/2035687000045424/

2017 - SAYSPORA SPEAK SERIES - Navigating diasporic identities & authenticity in the

African context https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5gzO_3yRL0

 

BLOGS

2017- word and color https://wordandcolour.com/2017/05/19/diaspora-blues-nailah-king/

                                       

2016 - SAYASPORA http://sayaspora.com/?s=changemakers

2015- Mlle Parker Blog http://mlleparker.com/connecting-canadians-to-black-history-and-culture-10-must-see-events/

2015 - L'Initiative https://linitiative.ca/?s=shanna+strauss

2015 - Cameroon Voice http://www.cameroonvoice.com/news/article-news-17815.html

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ARTS EDUCATOR/ COMMUNITY ART

2018 (September - October) - Art Teacher for Mikw Chiyâm Arts Concentration Program at Wiinibekuu

High School , Waskaganish, Cree  Nation/Quebec

2013-2017 - DESTA Black Youth Network - Montreal, Quebec - Community worker and program

coordinator, designing and implementing arts-based programs

2009-2010 - Umoja Arts Center - Arusha, Tanzania - Visual art instructor for children and youth

2008-2010 - Braeburn School - Arusha, Tanzania - High school art teacher  

2005-2006 - Mkombozi - Arusha, Tanzania  - Visual art instructor for street-involved youth