BARBARA COOK BIOGRAPHY

Barbara, is a Toronto artist specializing in textile art works with mixed media components including cottons, linens, silks, threads, papers, plastics, vinyl and wires. Her work highlights the translucence of the textiles she paints or dyes and materials used for custom works including framed pieces and sculptures. Her work flows from experiences in her everyday life, nature and her love of gardening which has spurred many plant, ecological and conservation installations. Most recently her contributions to IHEART foundation events at the Toronto Zoo supporting their conservation efforts.   She has worked with multiple artists on various scales of art and with groups to curate and create art for Nuit Blanche Toronto for the past 11 years.

EXHIBITIONS:

Nuit Blanche Toronto, Independent Project on the grounds of the Spadina Museum, Toronto ON

• -  September 29th^t, 2018 ‘W-O-M-A-N’: Artist of ‘Heart and Soul’, Curator and Manager of 13 artists for group One Path project.
• -  September 30^th, 2017 ‘ONE PATH’: Artist of ‘Ephemerality’. Mentor and Manager of 7 artists for group’s project.
• -  October 1^st, 2016 ‘BEYOND’: Artist of ‘Beyond the Yellow Brick Road’, Co-Curator and Manager of 10 artists for group4d2. Sponsored by AVANI. Also constructed Gloria Stein’s River: The Shroud of Buczacz 16’ x 24’. www.gloriasteinartist.com
• -  October 3^rd, 2015 ‘GENESIS MEMORY LANE’: Artist of ‘A Tribute to Vishnu’, Co-Curator of 12 artists for group 4d2. Sponsored by AVANI
• -  October 4^th, 2014 ‘ELEMENTAL’: Artist of ‘Sylph’, Co-Curator of 14 artists for Art Science Collective Canada          
• -  October 5^th, 2013 ‘CONVERGENCE’ Artist of ‘Efforescence’, Co-Curator of 15 artists for Art Science Collective Canada
• -  September 29^th, 2012 ’TRANSFORMATIVE MOTION’: Artist of ‘Ashes to Ashes’ and ‘Tree’, Co—Curator and Co-Producer of 14 artists for the Artist Cooperative of Canada
• -  October, 2011 ‘METAMORPHOSIS’: Artist to ‘The Connector’ and co-producer of event.
• -  October 2008, 2009 & 2010: Art assistant to artist Gloria Stein (www.Gloria SteinArtist.com) in building and installing her giant art installation projects. Also, assistant in the preparation of the art and grounds for the show’s installations.

Skylight Gallery; Northern District Library, Toronto, ON

    August 2012: Artist, Curator and Producer for: pluriPOTENT   The Wonder of Stem Cells Through Artist's Eyes; group show of the Art Science Collective Canada. Created with producers at the Ontario Science Centre.

Hillcrest Village Fibreworks: www.facebook.com/HillcrestVillageFibreworks/

• Galleria 814, Toronto ON June 13 to June 27, 2017 - Fragments
•  Galleria 814, Toronto ON June 14 to June 28, 2016 - Joined by Threads
•  Galleria 814, Toronto ON from June 2 to 16, 2015 – Gathering
•  The Studio for Movement Toronto, ON -November 2013
•   SideSpace Gallery, Toronto ON, June 2011

WORKSHOP LEADER:

• Burr House, Richmond Hill Ontario 2008- Lecture
• Town of Richmond Hill Ontario Community Centres, 2001 - 2003 led various quilting/textile workshops
• Various custom workshops in Southern Ontario and New York City

 CUSTOM WORK INCLUDES:

• Sheelagh is a textile/ mixed media 122 cm long x 91cm wide Great Indian Rhino statue created for a private sale. 2017
•  Nandu is a textile/mixed media 122 cm long x 95 cm wide Great Indian Rhino statue created for the Toronto Zoo for auction for their iHeart fund raisers. 2017
• Tribute to Vishnu is a textile/mixed media 122 cm long x 91 cm wide Great Indian Rhino statue created for the Toronto Zoo for auction for RHINO AWARENESS. It was also part of the group exhibit GENSIS: MEMORY LANE for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2015.
• Under World 2015 – A textile image of the world under the sea. 107cm W x 76cm H x 5cmD
• Mixed Media/Wire ‘Tree’ Sculpture (created for customer and shown at Nuit Blanche 2012) 244cm tall with branches reaching out 91 cm wide.
• Canyon 2010 – A Textile image of a canyon and waterfall. 60 cm W x 107cm H x 8cm D
• Multiple quilts in various sizes
• Multiple Purses, Handbags and Totes 2000-2005 – sold privately

Other:

•  Richmond Hill Studio Tour and Sale 2005 through 2008, Richmond Hill, ON
•  Markham Quilt Guild, Markham, ON - Presentation of Work. September 2009
• Burr House Spinners and Weavers Guild, Richmond Hill, ON, 2008- 2011.

            Member, presenter and sales in guild store.

o  

• Participating artist in the Gallery of Pottery and Fine Art in Newmarket, ON 2008 – 2009
• Grimsby Art Festival Saturday, September 6, 2008, Grimsby ON
• 
  
•    IA.K.A Artful Décor (Interior Design) Burlington, ON 1999 – 2002