Tina Marais is a Canadian textile and visual artist, who lives and works in the greater Montreal region. She was born in 1977 in Cape Town, South-Africa. She creates large scale textile abstractions and sculptural work which attempt to map the unpredictability of human experience and impact of environmental change. Her works engage themes such as cellular and physical metamorphosis, growth change and our journey within the body, but also our journey of transitioning through different environments and spaces.
Her work has been exhibited regionally, nationally and internationally in both solo and group exhibitions. Solo exhibitions include, "CODEX I", at gallery de la ville, Montreal, Codex II at the Mary E black gallery in Nova Scotia and "soixante17" at the Regional Museum of Vaudreuil-Soulanges. She has also been selected for various international textile art biennales, most notably the 16th International Triennial of Tapestry in Lotz, Poland. Material Thinking 1st international, Contemporary Material Art biennale, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, and as invited artist at the BIEN Biennially, in Slovenia. As well as the “World Textile art Biennale of contemporary Textile art", in Montevideo, Uruguay where she received a mention of honor for her selected artwork.
Her works are included in various public and private collections, in Canada and internationally. She has presented various conferences, most recently during the World textile art biennale in Madrid, and in 2021 as invited artist at the BIEN biennale in Slovenia.
Her artistic practices include Cultural Mediation projects presented in the greater Montreal region. Struthers has continued to contribute to this initiative with the creation and implementation of commissioned Public arts projects. She has developed and realized over 70 socially engaged projects during the past 10 years. She represents Fine Craft on the administrative councils of Culture Monteregie, and the Conseil des Arts et de la culture de Vaudreuil- Soulanges.
Struthers is a recipient of grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Conseil des Arts et lettres du Quebec and various prizes and mentions. She was awarded the Dora and Avi Morrow Fellowship for Excellent Achievement in Visual Arts, by Concordia university in 2019, and The Joyce Melville Memorial Scholarship, in 2021. She was one of the three finalists for the Prix Charles-Biddle-2019, and was winner of the prestigious Artiste in the community award in 2021, for the project Rassemblement from the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec. She graduated from the Open Window Art Institute in Pretoria, South-Africa where she studied Visual communication with Fine art specialization, after which the focus of her work shifted to using textile as her principal medium, completing a MFA in Fiber and Material practices at Concordia university in Montreal in 2022.
My work considers the entangled matters of materiality, ecological and social structures, and the memories of places and things. Throughout my creation process I organically embed my reflections into cloth, mapping this journey with needle and thread.
I have always been fascinated by organic elements in the natural environment. They are never static, their ever-changing realities and flux are only visible to us in time as we experience it. This quality of change — imperceptible movement into decay on one hand and exuberant growth on the other — inspires my abstractions. As I venture through the unfolding of my life story, treading new ground, and on occasion revisiting once familiar spaces and territories, I change, I become, I evolve.
Using textiles as the basis for construction in my work, I contrast natural and synthetic fibers to create forms that echo organic and inorganic life forms, cellular mutations, and elements of tactile memories. By using contrasting materials and the inclusion of reclaimed elements I reflect on the impact of the textile industry and consumerism on the environment, especially on fragile water systems. I often imagine that cloth carries the imprint of the memory of water.
Cloth can hide, transform and heal things. Hand-stitching, and fabric manipulation, is and has always been an extension of myself, a way to visualize feelings I cannot verbalize. Cloth can be twisted and contorted, it can be stretched and folded. It holds my memories, and the traces of the time and thoughts I stitched into it. Cloth grounds me; it is both predictable and has an incredible ability to be transformed, to mutate and metamorphose into many forms.The precision of lines and folds, the grid-like structure of woven cloth, in contrast to the multidimensional layers of the vibrant, natural cellular, molecular structures that construct our reality is an interconnected dynamic that I explore: an inseparable coexistence.
There is an inexhaustible tension between weft and grain, between the human and non human, webbing of emotional elasticity as I map the entangled memories of territories and matter. The cloth of things can be torn, the skin of things can be stretched too thin.
EDUCATION
2019 – 2022
MFA Textiles and Material Practices,
Concordia University, Montreal QC
1999
Visual Communication (Fine Art),
Open Window Academy, Pretoria, South-Africa
1997
Fine Arts, Open Window Art Academy
EXHIBITIONS
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
UNFOLD, MY SKIN, Thesis exhibition, MFA Gallery Concordia university, Montreal, QC
CODEX III Craft Council Gallery, St. John's NL
LE FLUX DE L'OR BLEU Galerie Vincent-D’Indy, Boucherville, QC
2020
CODEX II Mary E Black Gallery, Halifax NS
FLUX ET REFLUX, Gallerie Hachem, Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC
2019
LE FLUX DE L'OR BLEU Théâtre Paul-Émile Meloche, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
2018
RENFILER Galerie Marie and Pierre Dionne, MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry QC
SOUS LE PEAU DE L'HIVER Maison Félix Leclerc, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
2017
CODEX I Galerie de la Ville, Dollard des Ormeaux QC
SOIXANTE 17 Musée Régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Vaudreuil-Soulanges QC
2016
REPEAT OFFENDERS Galerie de la Ville, Dollard des Ormeaux QC (Two Person)
2015
RACINES AU CARRÉ Salle Hélène-Rouette, L’Île-Bizard QC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
THE 12th FROM LAUSANNE TO BEIJING, International Fiber art Biennale, Yunnan Minzu University and Yunnan Provincial Museum. China
MATERIAL THINKING 1st International Contemporary Material Art Biennale, Tsinghua University, Beijing, Chine
GALERIE BERNARD , artiste invité, Montréal
ART VOLT Collection Concordia University, Maison de la conceal des arts de Montreal
CONTAMINATION CULTURELLE III, Conseil des Arts et de la Culture, Vaudreuil-Soulanges, QC2021
BIEN BIENNALE, Invited artist, Slovenia
ART SOUTERRAIN, CREER DES PONTS, Montreal, QC
Maureen VII, Produit Rien, Montreal, QC
Biennale International du lin, Portneuf, QC
UBUNTU 2020 Maison Félix leclerc Vaudreuil-Dorion,QC
Contamination Culturelle, Vaudreuil-Soulanges, QC
Terre Maires II Musée Régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Vaudreuil-Soulanges QC
2020
Denim, Stylish, practical, , timeless,Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel, Switzerland
Contaminations Culturelle Vaudreuil-Soulanges QC
2019
VIII World Contemporary Textile Art Biennial Madrid, Spain
The 16th International Triennial of Tapestry Lodz, Poland
Miles of Separation C – Street Gallery (Drury University), Springfield MO, USA
Contemporaneo, International Textile Art Exhibition São Paulo and Rio, Brazil
International Textile Biennial Haacht, Belgium
The Doll House Galerie de la Ville, Montreal QC
2018
World of Threads Festival Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre Gallery, ON
Hard Twist 13 Gladstone Hotel, Toronto ON
Fantastic Fibres 2018 Yeiser Art Centre, Paducah KY, United States
The 12th International Biennial of Contemporary Textile Art (Scythia)
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
Love and Inspiration International Exhibition Haegeumgang Museum,
Myeon Geoje, South Korea
Entre Nous Maison Trestler, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
2017
Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Scope Art, Miami Beach FL, United States
VII World Contemporary Textile Art Biennial Montevideo, Uruguay
Fibre Arts VIII Biennial Sebastopol Centre for the Arts, Sebastopol CA, United States
The 8th International Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Mini Textile Art (Scythia)
Ivano-Frankivs'k, Ukraine
The Brain Project (Multi-venue, outdoor public exhibition) Toronto, ON
International Textile Biennial Haacht, Belgium
Treillis et Interstices Galerie de la Ville, Montreal QC
Un Bardeaux Pour Toi, Musée Régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges
Duram Mashaal Gallery, Montreal QC
Entre Nous Maison Trestler, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
2016
TRIENNALE INTERNATIONAL DES ARTS TEXTILES en Outaouais,
Moon Rain Centre for Textiles, Val-des-Monts QC
The Brain Project (Multi-venue public exhibition) Toronto, ON
Jardin de Lumières Saint Charles Multi Centre, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
Art for Life La Maison de Soins Palliatifs de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Hudson QC
Petit Mais Grand Saint Charles Multi Centre, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
Traitartist MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
Entre Nous Maison Trestler, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
2015
Tour du Chapeau Musée Régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, QC
Trait D'Artiste Centre de Marie-Uguay, Notre-Dame-de-L'Île-Perrot, QC
L'Art au Vignoble Vignoble Côte de Vaudreuil QC
Entre Nous Maison Trestler, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
2014
Terre Maires Musée Régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Vaudreuil-Soulanges QC
L'Art au Vignoble Vignoble Côte de Vaudreuil QC
PUBLIC ART AND COMMISSIONS
2021 – RESILIENCE, ville de Saint Catherine, QC
2020 – ON SEME ENSEMBLE, Pincourt QC,
LE RASSEMBLEMENT, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC in collaboration Monica Brinkman.
2019 – LE FLUX DE L'OR BLEU, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Théâtre Paul-Émile Meloche
LA DANSE DES MAINS, Salle Pauline Julien, Montreal QC. The project was developed and presented with the collaboration of Salle Pauline-Julien, as part of the program Cultural bridges, of the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM) and its partners, Culture Montréal , the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Société de la Place des Arts, the Conseil des arts et de la culture de Vaudreuil-Soulanges and The Quartier des spectacles.
LIGNE D'EAU, Six cultural mediation projects and public artworks, with flood victims, Rigaud, Hudson, Vaudreuil-sur le lac, Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Vaudreuil-Dorion and Pointe Fortune, QC.
VIBRER ENSEMBLE, Ile-Perrot and Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
2018 – Unité dans la Diversité Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, To celebrate the city receiving the international award of Mexico City of the UCLG won by the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion in
2017 – AU FIL DES TERRES, MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges QC,
2016 – NID AUTUMN, Ville de Rigaud QC, In situ installation, Festival des Couleurs.
Envol Vers L'Avenier l'Île-Perrot, QC, Public art in collaboration with Diane Collet.
Travaillons Ensemble, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Public art
Un Accent Féminin l'Île-Perrot and Vaudreuil-Dorion QC Public sculpture
2015 – Mon Nid Chez Moi Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Multi-panel textile installation in Centre des Services Sociaux to commemorate the 20th anniversary of “la semaine des familles québécoises.”
Plus Haut Plus Loin Vaudreuil-Dorion QC. Public sculpture
Au Coeur de ma Communauté Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Public sculpture
2014 – Je m'attache à la culture Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Public sculpture and cultural mediation project made with 1500 participants.
SELECTED WORKSHOPS AND CULTURAL MEDIATION PROJECTS
2019 – À Chacun Son Histoire, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Center des Belles-Rives
Fête du Maïs Châteauguay QC, Temporary public installation at Maison de Pailleur
Mozaik la Parade Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Artistic Direction.
2018 – Le Bonheur D'Apprendre Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Cultural Marionnettes et Mots Vaudreuil-Soulanges QC,
Corde Africaine Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Textile workshop with students at L'École Secondaire de la Cité des Jeunes
2017 – Enfiler des Mots Vaudreuil-Soulanges QC
Poulpiquet II Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
Souffle de ma Communauté Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
Les Mots sans Frontières Vaudreuil-Dorion QC,
Tandem Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
Mozaik la Parade, Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Artistic Direction.
2016 – Poulpiquet Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, In collaboration with Kinescope and Luci Bisson
Jardin de Lumières Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Community art project
Zone Monotoni Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, International Circus Festival.
Mozaik la Parade Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Artistic Direction.
Tandem Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Centre des Services Sociaux du Suroît.2015
Circuit des Epouvantails Salaberry-de-Valleyfield QC, outdoor installation.
Mozaik la Parade Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Artistic Direction.
Tandem Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Centre des Services Sociaux du Suroît.
Poupée D'Amour Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Social outreach project
Création Éco Confiance Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Carrefour jeunesse emploi
2014 – La Planète en Mouvement Vaudreuil-Dorion QC,
Eureka Marionnettes Vaudreuil-Dorion QC,
Un Sapin pour la Communauté Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
Mozaik la Parade Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Artistic Direction.
Les Quatre Saison dans le Bonheur Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Theatrical production created with the "Les Artistes de Bonheur,” adults living with developmental disabilities. Made in collaboration with Monica Brinkman and Julio Hong.
2013 – Un Sapin pour la Communauté Vaudreuil-Dorion QC
Mozaik la Parade Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Artistic Direction.
2012 – Mozaik la Parade Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Artistic Direction.
RESIDENCIES
2022 – CONTEXTILE, Portugal
2021 – ART SOUTERRAIN, CREER DES PONTS, Montreal, QC Place des Arts, research creation,
Ubutu 2020, Montreal, QC
2020 – Réseau Accès Culture, Culture Saint Laurent, Research Creation, Montreal, QC
2019 – Artist in Residence at Maison Valois Vaudreuil-Dorion QC, Research and creation
2018 – Artist in Residence at La Maison Félix Leclerc Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC,
2016 – Artist in Residence Triennale Internationale des Arts Textiles en Outaouais Val-des-Monts QC
ARTIST TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS (Selection)
2021 – BIEN BIENNALE, Invited artist, Slovenia
Conference presentation during the Colloque les Arts et la Ville
2020 – Artist talk at Mary E Black Gallery, Halifax NS.
Panel discussion on art as activism and purposeful quilting at the Studio Art Quilt Association, Toronto ON.
Conference presentation at the Festival of Arts in Salaberry de Valleyfield QC.
2019 – Conference presentation at the World Textile Art Biennial, Museo del Traje, Madrid, Spain.
Conference presentation on the development of cultural mediation projects, QC
Conference presentation during the Colloque les Arts et la Ville 2019, QC
2018 – Artist talk, Textile TALKS at the Black Box during Contextile Bienal, Portugal
2017 – Artist talk, VII international World textile art Biennale, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Artist talk at Culture Montérégie, Longueuil QC.
2016 – Artist talk at the Dollard Artist Association, Pointe-Claire QC.AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
2021 – Prix Artiste dans la communauté, 2021,
Conseil des Arts et des lettres du Québec
2020 – Présidente d'honneur du festival des Arts de Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
2019 – Finaliste Prix Charles-Biddle-2019 Culture pour tous en partenariat avec le ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) et La Fabrique culturelle de Télé-Québec 2019
The Dora and Avi Morrow fellowship for excellent achievement in visual arts, Concordia University, Montreal, QC
Project Grant, Montreal Arts Council and Le Conseil des arts et de la culture de Vaudreuil-Soulanges
Travel Grant, Conseil des Arts et des lettres du Québec, Arts Abroad Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
2018 – Research and Creation Grant, Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec
Travel Grant, Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec
2017 – Travel Grant, Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec
Honourable Mention for Unravel presented at 7th WTA Biennale of Textile Art, Montevideo, Uruguay
Regional Finalist for Montreal, Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series
Travel Grant, Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec
2015 – Prix coup de coeur du jury du mérite ovation municipale de l’Union des Municipalités du Québec (UMQ) Group exhibition Terre-Maires
2014 – Prix Hubert-Reeves for La Planète en Mouvement, community art project
2012 – Bourse coup de coeur and Bourse le artistes arrière-scène for Théâtres des sans papiers Vaudreuil-Dorion
1996 – Artist of the Year Merit Award form South African Art Society, Pretoria, South-AfricaMember of Juries (Selection)
2022 – Artiste dans la communauté, Conceal des arts et lettres du Québec
2022 – Accusation des oeuvres, collection, ville de Boucherville
2021 – Festival des Arts de Salaberry de Valleyfield
2019 – Les Artistes en Herbes, Museum regional des Vaudreuil-Soulanges
2018 – Le Vocation en Art, le carrefour jeunesse-emploi, Vaudreuil-Soulanges
MEMBERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
2022 – RAAV Professional member Regroupement des Artists en Arts visuels de Québec
2022 – Intégration des arts à l'architecture, Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, 1% (Catégorie 2D et 3D)
2015 – 2022 Culture Montérégie, Professional Member
2021 – 2022 Graduate student representative, Fine arts faculty, Concordia University.
2018 – 2022 Board member Council for Culture Montérégie (CMCC)
2018 – 2022 European Textile Art Network (ETN)
2017 – 2021 Surface design association (SDA)
2016 – 2021 Regroupement des arts Interdisciplinaires du Québec (RAIQ),
2016 – 2022 Board member Administrative Council Conseil des arts et de la culture de Vaudreuil-Soulanges
