Bio / Resume / C.V. / Art Biography / Artist’s Statement:

Will Morin is of Ojibwa/Scottish and French Canadian ancestry, originally from Batchawana Bay, Ontario, a member of the Michipicoten First Nation. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie in 1964 Will grew up mostly in Sudbury. In pursuit of the creative spirit Will has travelled throughout Canada, the United States and England.

Will is a professional visual and performing artist exhibiting his unique mixture of media and culturally inspired works and high-energy performances continually locally, nationally and internationally. Among them are exhibiting in annual national Native Art shows at the Woodlands Cultural Centre in Brantford Ontario as well as performing with Juno nominated Native Rock band No Reservations. He has won many 1st place awards at the Algoma Fall Festival of the Arts in the past 7 years including best of the show twice.

He received his formal art training first at Cambrian College and then from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and obtained his degree of Fine Art in 1993. Will followed this up with a degree in Native Studies from Laurentian University in 1994. He also obtained an Inter-disciplinary Humanities Master’s degree from Laurentian in summer of 2001.

Will has taught Visual Arts at Cambrian College and Native Cultural Arts at Sault College. He helped to develop a new private, university level, art school, the White Mountain Academy of the Arts, in Elliot Lake. Will has developed, co-ordinated and taught a culturally based literacy program for a year (2000-2001) at the N’swakamok Native Friendship Centre in Sudbury. He taught Visual Arts at the White Mountain Academy of the Arts for two years and continues to teaching at Laurentian University in the department of Native Studies of Sudbury University. Will privately teaches various visual arts medium in his studio and facilitated Native cultural presentations, “healing through the arts” activities with his Creative Self Rediscovery workshops for communities cultural groups, provincial aboriginal youth groups, health professionals and nursing students throughout North American and Europe.

Building a community is where Will shows his strength as a leader. As a youth he received the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Gold) and recently he was nominated for a Community Builder’s Ward for the Arts (2004) and he continues to provide opportunities for local and young artists participates in local festivals and other art and cultural events. Some of them are the Northern Lights Festival Boreal, Fringe Nord Theatre Festival and others. Every month for the past 7 years Will organises and displays local artists’ works at a local café / magazine store called Black Cat Too. He also has been involved with the boards of directors of the Sudbury Arts Council, Theatre Cambrian in Sudbury.

While with Theatre Cambrian Will directed a World Premiere (July 2000) of a revised version of the 60's rock musical Hair entitled Hair Y2K with special arrangement of the co-author James Rado. In January 2001 and Spring 2002 Will was the featured artist on two different episodes of Aboriginal Voices, on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Will also hosts two weekly one hour First Nation’s news and entertainment programs, Z-103:Anishnaabeg This Week and Campus Radio CKLU: Four Directions - Aboriginal Word.

In contrast to his art training Will has spent most of his youth in the cadets and part of his early adult years in the reserves and the Canadian Armed forces. During the Oka Crisis and the Gulf War of 1990-91 Will served as a medical assistant in eastern Canada.

“I work to honour our ancient Shaman Artists who painted the “Rock Art” of Agawa Bay. As an adult I realised that I was continuing in the same tradition with my art. Their images have a message, tell stories and record history. Within my modern art I continue that tradition of ‘images with a message.’ I come from a life of ‘making do with what I had.’ That is why I recycle, reuse anything to make art. Everything is connected, nothing is wasted.”

Resume / C.V.

Education

1998-2001 Interdisciplinary Humanities M.A. Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ont.

1993-1994 3yr B.A. in Native Studies, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ont.

1991-1993 Bachelor of Fine Arts: Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, N.S.

1985-1990 Diploma of Fine Arts: Cambrian College, Sudbury, Ontario

Teaching Experience

2002-2004 Laurentian University (University of Sudbury), Sudbury, Ontario Native Studies Professor

2001-2003 White Mountain Academy of the Arts, Elliot Lake, Ontario Art History Professor (Contemporary Native Art History), Photography Foundations.

2000-2001 N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre, Sudbury, Ontario Literacy Coordinator / Instructor

1998-1999 Laurentian University , Sudbury, Ontario Teachers Assistant: M. A. fellowship, Courses taught: Film History

1998-1999 Lansdown Public School, Sudbury, Ont. Teachers Assistant Ojibway Language N'Swakamok Native Alternative School, Sudbury, Ont.
Visual Arts Instructor

1996-97 Sault College School of Native Education, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Instructor: Four Seasons Anishnaabe Art Journey Courses taught: Living Arts (ie: crafts, & traditional arts), Native Art History, Arts & Culture (i.e.: traditions, ceremonies etc...), Native Literature Canadian Native Peoples (Issues, History, Politics of Natives), Native College Entrance (College prep., for Native students)

1994-1996 Cambrian College, Sudbury, Ontario Visual Arts Professor: 3D Foundations, Art History, Printmaking.


Papers Presented

2002 "Identity Construction in a Contemporary Cosmology",

Paper Presentation at University of Toronto

for the ABAL Conference: Healing Practitioners in a Hurting World

Paper: April 4th, 2002, Presentation: May 25, 2002

1998 "Aboriginal Pedagogy: The Art of Learning", S.S.M. Michigan (April 1998)
Lake Superior State University, 6th Biannual Native American Studies Conference

1996 “Western Canons vs. Native Bows and Arrows: a new direction for Native Studies”
1) 5th Biannual Native American Studies Conference,
Lake Superior State University, S.S.M. Michigan (April 1996)
2) Aboriginal Peoples Conference,
Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario (Oct., 1996)

Work Experience

2001-2003 Birds of Pray Create Sudbury, Ontario. Owner / Operator. Conference fascinator, Motivational speaker, Cross Cultural Consultant, Contract Teacher of; visual arts, cultural arts, Natives Studies, and a Professional Visual and Performing Artist.

2000-2001 N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre, Sudbury, Ontario. Literacy Coordinator: Curriculum developed of culturally inclusive literacy material, Literacy instructor First Nation liaison to community literacy network partners, wrote program reports and grant proposals.

1997-1998 White Mountain Academy of the Arts, Elliot Lake, Ontario.
Assistant Director of Cultural Affairs: First Nation Community Liaison, Cultural Activities Coordinator & Facilitator, First Nation Curriculum Developer, Grant Proposal Writer, for Canada's newest Bi-cultural university level private art school in Elliot Lake, Ontario. Developer of a new First Nations Training Institute (Mamaweswen Training Institute) located in Blind River, Ontario.

1995 Fringe Nord Theatre Festival; Producer s Assistant - Sudbury, Ontario

Military Service

1990-91, 1986-87, 1986-87
Medical Assistant (Nurses and Doctor's aid)
Canadian Forces Bases; Cornwallis Nova Scotia, Shilo Manitoba.
Medical Assistant: Basic medical training,
Canadian Forces Medical Services School, C.F.B. Borden, Ontario

1984 Royal Canadian Irish Regiment (Militia reserves), Sudbury, Ontario
Infantry Soldier

ART BIOGRAPHY

Group Exhibitions

1998 – 2004 First Nations Art Annual Juried Exhibitions
Woodland Cultural Centre, Brantford, Ontario

1998 Algoma Fall Festival of the Arts. Juried Exhibition-Oct. 30-Nov. 01 Harriet Black Award Best of the Show, Other awards:, Best of Sculpture, Best in Recycled Materials Algoma Art Gallery,
Sault Ste Marie, Ontario.

1997 Algoma Fall Festival of the Arts. Algoma Art Gallery, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
1- Winners of the Harriet Black Award Exhibition , 2- Juried Exhibition. Best in Wood

1997 3rd annual First Nations City Celebration; Toronto City Hall
The Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts
Toronto, Ontario

1996 Algoma Fall Festival of the Arts. Juried Exhibition Harriet Black Award Best of the Show including: Judges Choices, Best of Sculpture, Best in Recycled Materials Algoma Art Gallery, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario.

1993-98 Fringe Nord Theatre Festival Visual Art Exhibit - Sudbury, Ontario

1996-97 Annual Mamawi Gathering of Aboriginal Artists (Art Exhibition)
3rd Annual Native Art and Craft Exhibition
Elliot Lake, Ontario

1996 First Nations Art 1996",
Woodlands Cultural Center, Brantford, Ontario
This Ain t No Chair?ity Art Auction of Native Artist s Work to raise monies
For Cambrian College s Native Students Association

1992 1- Graduation Students Group Show; Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, N.S.
2- Net/Netting/Network Group Show; Mary E Black Gallery, Halifax, N.S.


Solo Exhibitions

2001 Dec. Indians and Aliens, Black Cat Too Community Art Display Space,  Sudbury,Ont.

2000 Dec. Mirrored Images, Black Cat Too Community Art Display Space, Sudbury, Ont.

1999 Nov. Art From The Soul, Black Cat Too Community Art Display Space, Sudbury, Ont.

1998 Aug. Dis-Car-Dead Parts , Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault St. Marie, Ont.

1996 Oct. Nini?de, Man Made , Applegrove Bistro, Sudbury,Ont.

1994 Birds Applegrove Bistro, Sudbury

Birds of Pray Cambrian College, Sudbury

 Birds of Pray Art Effects Gallery , Sudbury

Performances (Theatre)

2001, 2002- Jan. Aboriginal Peoples Television Network: Aboriginal Voices Featured Artist, two different 15 minute interview broadcast nationally.

1985 - 2001 Theatre Cambrian - Community Theatre group
Founding member: Past board member, performed as an actor, director, set designer.

Notable
Productions: Hair - (actor) May 1990, Jesus Christ Super Star - (actor) May 1992 , The
World
Premier of Hair Y2K the revised version of "Hair" by special permission of original
co-writer
James Rado - (Director, actor, set designer) July 2000

1996 - 2002 No Reservations - Native Folk Rock Band
Cultural Theatrical Performer: A Juno nominated Native Folk Rock band where I contribute a theatrical performance of mythical Native characters to the band's concert shows Notable International Performances: Indian Summer Festival - Milwaukee Wisconson (2 years)

Sept. 1999 - 2000, Ottawa Folk Festival - 1998, Stan Rogers folk festival - Canso Nova Scotia July 1999, Aboriginal Voices Festival - July 1998, Northern Lights Festival Boreal - 1997 - 2000, National Aboriginal Day - June 21 1998, Museum of Civilization, Hull, P.Q.

Community Involvement / Other Interests

2001 CKLU Student Radio Station, Z-103 / Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc.
Host of "Anishinaabeg This Week", a weekly one hour Native new and music program.

2001- 2004 Northern Lights Festival Boreal, - Sudbury, Ont
Co-ordinator / Organizer: Artist's Village

1998 - 2004 Black Cat Too Community Art Display Space: Sudbury, Ont.
Curator / Organizer: of monthly exhibits of the works of local performing and visual artists'.

1998 Northern Lights Festival Boreal, Sudbury, Ont
Visual Art Performance, "The Weaving Project"
Art Express, August, Sudbury, Ont.
Co-ordinator / organizer, A Community Arts showcase of local artistic talent.

1998 Fringe Nord Theatre Festival, Sudbury, Ont.
Co-ordinator / organizer, Visual Art Exhibit.

1997 Elliot Lake Community Theatre Group, Elliot Lake, Ontario
Director, actor, set design & construction, founding member.

1997 Algoma Fall Festival of the Arts, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Committee member to organize the 1997 art show & exhibition.

1996 Sault Ste. Marie & District Arts Council, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Board Member

1997 Fringe Nord Theatre Festival, Sudbury, Ont.
Co-ordinator / organizer Visual Art Exhibit:.
Theatre Cambrian, Community Theatre Group , Sudbury, Ontario
Founding member, president (1996), vice-president (1999-2000)
Poetry Nites, Sudbury, Ont. Organizer / Host of weekly poetry readings AT Various Locations,

1994-96 Presentation of Native Arts & Culture: throughout Sudbury schools
Sudbury Arts Council: Vice President - Sudbury, Ont.

1995 Northern Lights Festival Boreal: Sudbury, Ont., Performed & conducted poetry workshops.
Fringe Nord Theatre Festival 1994 Sudbury, Ont. Wrote and performed a play.

1992-94 Canadian Federation of Students: (CFS?S): National Native Students Representative

1992-93 Halifax School of Dance: Modern Jazz Dance training. - Halifax, N.S.

1985-86 Katimavik Youth Program; Participant

1985 Duke of Edinburgh Award (Gold)