Sandra Hawkins

Paintings are inspired by my experiences engaged in nature whether walking in a forest, sailing and kayaking on the Ottawa River, climate change research expedition in the High Arctic fjords of Svalbard, or visiting Canadian arctic circle communities along the Northwest Passage since 1980. In all medium I'm fascinated with light and transparency and this comes through in my paintings, photography and media installations. I use these aesthetic strategies to evoke metaphors of uncertainty and liminal spaces impacted by rapid changes to our planet.

Formal degrees:
- Masters in Environmental Studies, York University Toronto
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, magna cum laude, University of Ottawa
- Certificate in Fine Arts, St. Lawrence College, Ontario
- Post Graduate study, Sociology of Culture & History, Carleton University
- Bachelor of Arts, majors Sociology & Architecture, Carleton University
- Art courses: Ottawa School of Art, School of Photographic Arts Ottawa.
- Residencies: National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa Art Gallery, Vermont Studio Centre, Hungarian Multicultural Centre, Banff Centre, Canadian Arctic Return, Arctic Circle Expedition Svalbard Archipelago,

• ArtTour International Top 60 Masters, Arts & Design Institute New York City
• Ontario Art Council Grants, supported by several recommender galleries 2004 to present
• K. M. Hunter Award Nominee, Ontario Art Council, Ontario Arts Foundation
• Premier's Award (Ontario) Nominee by St. Lawrence College, Brockville Ontario

• 2019 "Sailing Top of World & Climate Warming Impacts", Visual Presentation at BYC
• 2009 Carleton U. Initiatives in Education, Contemporary Visual Art Discourse
• 2001 University of Ottawa, Professor, Arts Administration Certificate Program
• 2000 Algonquin College, Business of Art for Visual Artists in Canada
• Adult Education Certification, St. Xavier University, Distance Learning N.S.
• Design and deliver of customized workshops on The Business of Art – Visual Artists in Canada, since 2000 in Ottawa, Nova Scotia, China, Ulukhaktok Hamlet Northwest Territories

* 2022 Corridor Gallery 45/75, City of Ottawa, Public Art Installation
* Art Zone, Agnus Jamieson Gallery Minden Ontario
• 2020 John B. Aird, DRAWING 2020, Toronto Ontario, Group*
• 2020 Carleton U, 5th Carleton Community Exhibition, Group
• 2019 – 2010, Ottawa Art Gallery, Annex Commercial Gallery*
• 2018 Create for Peace, ArtTour International, Rio Gallery, New York City Group*
• 2017 Water and Navigation Series, Galerie Luz @ Belgo Montreal Quebec, Solo*
• 2013 Atrium Gallery, Arctic Return - Ecology of Memory, Ottawa, Solo*
• 2010 CONTACT Photo Festival, Arctic photomontage, Toronto, Group*
• 2010 Reference Studio Gallery, Ecology of Identity, Toronto, Solo
• 2010 Ecology of Narrative Space, Reference Gallery, Queen St. W. Toronto, solo
• 2010 Paintings and Prints, Gevik Gallery, Yorkville, Toronto ON. Featured
• 2010 Available Light, National Gallery of Pakistan, Islamabad, Invited
• 2009 Available Light, Alhamra Gallery, Lahore Pakistan, Catalogue
• 2009 Still Revolution, CONTACT918 Bathurst Photography Festival, Toronto*
• 2009 4° HOMENAJE AL AGUA (4th Homage to Water), Extensión Bogotá*
• 2009 Reversal, Video 11-minute, Estuary Gallery, Bogotá Columbia*
• 2009 Deep North, Art & Digital Culture, House of World Culture, Berlin Germany*
• 2009 Global Forces, Intimate Spaces #2, Rails End Gallery Haliburton ON, solo*
• 2009 Arctic Crisis #2, City of Ottawa Centrepointe Theatre Gallery ON solo*
• 2009 Global Forces-Intimate Spaces, MVS Gallery, St. Lawrence College solo*
* juried exhibitions

I enjoy the paintings by Peter Doig for his handling of the paint medium, and for the way his practice moves along a continuum of semi abstract expression to communicate ideas.

painting, photography, environment, water, glaciers, sailing