ARTIVISM
THE VISION
To create art & curate art that creates tangible social change. The dialogue is only the beginning-ArtRebel
THE CALLING
Carol SL Mark is an activist for human rights with an emphasis on women and children.
Carol believes Art can change the world with the voice of women.
Carol established ACA Gallery (art, culture, aid) in 2004-8. “art can change the world” with proceeds of art sales to grassroots projects targeted for women and children. ACA Gallery was the first social enterprise art gallery in Canada to raise awareness and funds, as setting a marker that art can create social change (This Magazine article). This was a first kind of art gallery to incorporate art, artists and purchasers involved in direct participation of change. ACA Gallery was an incubator where public school children created art that had a direct influence of where the funds from sales of their artwork at the gallery were donated, exhibits to include themes on women and violence, exhibits of art by homeless women and international support to include Rebecca Lalossa, women’s only village in Nairobi Park to establish a children’s library. This village was originally established when abused women had no where to live after leaving an abused domestic situation.
Carol has served on Toronto’s Committee on the Status of Women, a member of a women’s only film collective SHE -TV and her first short was in the UNESCO Women’s Conference in Beijing. As a supporter of women’s rights she supported Femaid based in France underground schools for girls in Afghanistan through RAWA, Revolutionary Afghanistan Women’s Association. Carol traveled to Afghanistan in secret in Oct 2002 with a commitment to aid the women to include 15,000 lbs of aid and a girls’ library named after Malalai Joya, the first elected woman parliamentarian on the support of a girls library
(CITIZENshift media for social change).
My Mission is ARTRebel for change in the 21st century.
THE ACTION
- I took a hiatus from my art due to breast cancer and now incorporate art & health to create change.
CURRICULUM VITAE EXHIBITS
2023 Co-Curator/Sponsor FLUX art showcasing Youth Trans Narratives
2023 MAY Curator /Photographer Wounded Knee Repatriation-SOUNDCLOUD PODCAST
2023 FEB Curator /Belonging is a term of affinity, association and kinship.
The Chinese have experienced challenges in Canada since the 1850's, the Exclusion Act barring anyone of Chinese origin unable to enter Canada 1923-1947 and present day covid with Asian racism.
As a Chinese Canadian I want to explore and examine our unique voices of belonging.
Where is the place we call home and how it connects us to where we will be in the future?
LAUNCH DRAGO SEED FOUNDATION CATALOGUE
2020 Curator Amazing Moss Park Art Fair
https://issuu.com/theloveofteamag/docs/amazing_moss_park_artists/18
NUIT BLANCHE 2017, RedHead Gallery: Who Are You? Group Exhibit, Toronto, Canada
January 10-24, 2017, The Corset Series 1- Rape, Group Exhibit FAC Embodied Resistance, OCAD, Canada.
The Corset, Group Exhibition f generation: feminism, art, progressions, George Paton Gallery, Australia, October 7-16, 2015.
35.5 X 100 m, Group exhibit You’re Not Here: FAC presentation International Women’s Day at Daniels Spectrum. March 3-31, 2015.
The Oracle Photography Exhibit, in collaboration with Nightwood Theatre HER2 play January 2015.
April 2014, The Oracle Photography Exhibit, Feminist Art Conference April 2014; Guest panel speaker on health advocacy and art.
Feminist Art Conference 2013, keynote speaker on art and social change-artivism.
August 2013 Oh, the River People, collaborate group project Jack Randell, Australia
2008-9 Documented as filmmaker and director of the story of Wounded Knee with Leonard Little Finger, direct descendent of Chief Big Foot massacred at Wounded Knee. Produced CD to raise funds for Lakota Language School .
Toronto East Chinatown Photography of a Unique Community- NOW December 2010- January 28, 2011 Riverdale Library, solo exhibit of portraits of Chinese Immigrant Shop owners and their stories. Donated to Toronto Image Archives
Cancer Connections curated by James Burns of Photosensitive; photos of individuals who have experienced cancer traveling across Canada with final exhibit in Ottawa June 1, 2010; portrait of Hema for exhibit and also included as image for Canadian Cancer Society publication
2009/10
http://www.photosensitive.com/newsletter/CC_Book_Launches_Story.php
Filmed &Interviewed Malalai Joya, first elected female parliamentarian Afghanistan 2008, donated to Citizenshift/National Film Board Canada.
ACA Gallery 2007Contact Photography group exhibit of the Lakota Sioux Portraits of modern Native American Indians.
SHE-TV 1993- 1996 Women’s television collective Maclean Hunter Cable Half hour documentaries aired also on VISION-TV United Nations Fourth World Conference On Women, Beijing China 1995 Action for Equality, Development and Peace. Produced and directed a 30 min. documentary on women’s health that was screened at conference and archived at the UN.
CURATOR & DIRECTING
Established ARS NOVA ARTS bringing culture & arts to the city of Toronto. Launched on Oct 16, 2010 with the sponsorship of Europe’s leading art critic Edward Lucie-Smith for a public lecture St.Lawrence Town Hall, a master class for art students. and exhibits of screening at NFB of first digital artist Lillian Schwartz.
Art Director & established ACA ART GALLERY ‘art can change the world’ 2004-2008 as an incubator for art and social change to enable individuals to be engaged in humanitarian aid work with over 40 exhibits. This was a first kind of art gallery globally to incorporate art, artists and purchasers involved in direct participation of change.
ACA Gallery was an incubator where public school children created art that had a direct influence of where the funds from sales of their artwork at the gallery were donated, exhibits to include themes on women and violence, exhibits of art by homeless women and international support to include Rebecca Lalossa, women’s only village in Nairobi Park to establish a children’s library. This village was originally established when abused women had no where to live after leaving an abused domestic situation.
THIS Magazine article
http://www.thismagazine.ca/issues/2007/03/carolmark.php
Curated Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival: FIGURE & GROUND, MAY 1 - 31 / 2011 Iranian Bodies & The Such prize-winning images by Iranian photographers would never have been seen in Iran, let alone anywhere else in the world. These startling images visually represent freedom or the lack thereof.
The passion of these artists is evident in their searing hunger for complete artistic and ideological freedom. This collection of radical images was organized by an unofficial body called Persbook Curated By Edward Lucie-Smith and Carol Mark.
Curated Health Care Design Improving Emergency Care Symposium with leading designers, architects, healthcare professionals & Ontario hospitals. Opened by Health Minister Glenn Murray,MPP Toronto Centre 2011.
Guest speaker at Toronto public schools Orde Park and Toronto Island School in engaging children in creating art messages to other children in the world, engaging and dialoging and putting love into action, art exhibit raised funds for Afghanistan library and soccer balls for children in the Yucatan.
Mentored university and art students on art and humanitarian aid work and supporting outreach initiatives with York University, University of Toronto, OCAD and local Toronto high schools. ACA Gallery 2004-8.
Curated kidsreadAfghanistan Photography Exhibit at ACA Gallery in partnership with FemAid, Paris and public lectures at Earl Grey School, St Clement’s Girls School, Women’s Association at the University of Toronto 2006.
Hosted CONTACT International Photo Exhibit May 2007 Fundraiser for Ben & Doreen Wicks Little Libraries. Honorary host former Mayor David Crombie.
Curated Nuit Blanche Exhibit for kidsreadAfghanistan 2007 with partnerships with FemAid, France: open air screening, National Film Board of Canada, open installation in public park, musical events.
Curated Gaia, Soul of A Planet international photographic exhibit ; Allen Lambert Galleria Brookfield Place March 2008.
Board Member Trinity Square Video on community access to local and international video media 2006-8
CURATED
NUIT BLANCHE
http://ccca.concordia.ca/nuitblanche/nuitblanche2007/b.html
http://ccca.concordia.ca/nuitblanche/nuitblanche2007/artists/b18a.html
CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY
Redefining People & Places https://scotiabankcontactphoto.com/archive/2008/open-exhibition/aca-gallery-art-can-change-the-world-redefining-people-places
Sublime Realism https://scotiabankcontactphoto.com/archive/2007/open-exhibition/aca-gallery-sublime-realism
Global Fusion https://scotiabankcontactphoto.com/archive/2006/open-exhibition/global-fusion-2/
Funds donated in memory of Doreen Wicks, Little Libraries
CLIMATE CHANGE
https://www.artmajeur.com/fr/webism/news?page=1&open=contact_header
MENTORSHIPS
Mentorship Program Hot Docs International Film Festival, Ontario Film
Development Corporation. Grant Ontario Development Corporation
REVIEWS
https://www.factoronto.org/2017-exhibition
https://mcclungs.ca/2017/01/29/artists-at-work-at-the-feminist-art-conference/
http://www.radixonline.ca/?p=16191
http://www.shedoesthecity.com/her2-strikes-chord-buddies-bad-times-theatre
https://torontoguardian.com/2014/03/2014-feminist-art-conference-artist-carol-mark/