BETH
CARRUTHERS
contact
RESEARCH
INTERESTS
• Ecophenomenology, Aesthetics & Ethics
• Merleau-Ponty’s ontology
• Theories of Embodiment
• Arts Practice-based Learning and Research Methodologies
• Biomimesis in Design
CURRENT
RESEARCH PROJECTS
• Philosophies of Place, Dwelling & Ecosystem Communities in
Art and Design Practices
• Human–Non-human relations and ethics
CURRENT PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• International Association for Environmental Philosophy (since
2007)
• IVSA – International Visual Sociology Association (since
2007)
• International Curatorial Team, Centre for Contemporary Art and
the Natural World, Devon, UK (since 2007)
• Ecoart Network International (since 2005)
• Environmental Studies Association of Canada (since 2005)
EDUCATION
• MA – Values and the Environment (2006)
Institute for Environment, Philosophy & Public Policy - Lancaster
University, UK.
Dissertation focus: Ethics and Aesthetics in Contemporary EcoART Practices
• Graduate research (2002 thru 2004)
- Ecological Identity: Environment, Aesthetics and Place – Centre
for Cross Faculty Inquiry in Education, University of British Columbia,
Canada
- Sensing Home: Embodiment in Telepresence Art – SIAT (previously
TechBC)
Simon Fraser University, Canada
• B.F.A. 5 year (1992)
BCOU, with Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design (by special arrangement)
• Diploma (4 year), Fine Arts (1992)
Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, Canada
Interdisciplinary Studies and Photo-based Processes
• Traditional Fine Arts, Art History and Creative Writing
(international scholarship)
Printmaking, French Language & Cultural Studies
- Art History with Mark Gisbourne (Courtauld Institute, Slade, University
of London, etc.)
- Sculpture with Master Stonecarver Yasuo Mizui
- Photographic tutelage with Denis Brihat
- Creative Writing with Gustaf Sobin, Provençal Poet and Novelist
Lacoste School of the Arts, Lacoste, France
• Computed Arts Intensive (interactive installation projects)
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Canada
• General Arts (BFA completion) – including
Film, French studies and Ocean Sciences
University of British Columbia, Canada
• 2 and 3 D Media and Design, Art History
Kwantlen University College, Canada
ACADEMIC AWARDS
• Graduate Fellowship – School of Interactive Arts
& Technology 2003
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
• Graduate Bursary 2003
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
• Scholarship Grant to study Interactive Media 1996
ArtsFACT, Vancouver, Canada
• Professional Arts Development Grant 1995
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Canada
• Senior Arts Scholarship Grant 1991/92
British Columbia Arts Council
• International Scholarship Grant (Bernard Phriem) 1991
for study at the Lacoste School of the Arts, Lacoste, France
• Senior Arts Scholarship Grant 1990/91
British Columbia Arts Council
ARTS
AWARDS
Canada Council InterARTS – Travel Grant 2007
Canada Council InterARTS – Travel Grant 2006
Canada Council InterARTS – Travel Grant 2003
Canada Council InterARTS – Travel Grant 2001
Canada Council InterARTS – Collaborative Creation Grant with Savage
Media 1998
CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION & PRESENTATIONS
• 2007 – Presenter – Nature
Matters, Materiality and the More-than-Human in Cultural Studies of the
Environment – Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto
Canada
• 2007 Plenary Presentation – Desire
Lines - Arts & Ecology at Dartington
Dartington Arts and Schumacher College, Devon, England
• 2007 (Spring and Fall) – Participant –
Biosphere Conversations – An invitational series of conversations
among a group of philosophers held at the Clayoquot Field Station, Tofino,
focusing on ethics, place and land-use policy in the Clayoquot UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve
• 2006 Delegate – No
Way Back? Conference on Arts & Ecology
London, UK
• 2006 Presenter – Arts in Ecology: A Think-Tank
on Arts and Sustainability
Convened by The Canada Council for the Arts, the Canadian Commission for
UNESCO, the Vancouver Foundation and the Royal Society for the Encouragement
of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (London UK), Vancouver BC
• 2005 Participant – Desire
Lines - Arts & Ecology at Dartington
Dartington Arts and Schumacher College, Devon, England
• 2005 Participant – Earth Rites; Imagination
and Practice in Sci-Arts Eco-Cultures
Seattle, Washington
• 2005 Keynote presenter – EcoArtsFest, School
of Community and Regional Planning
University of British Columbia, Canada
• 2004 Delegate – Roundtable on Community
Art
Vancouver, Canada
• 2003 Delegate – ECO-TECH
InterChange
Colchester, UK
• 2001 Delegate – Art & the Environment
Roundtable
Vancouver, Canada
• 2001 Presenter – 3rd International Conference
of Art Culture Nature
Northern Arizona University
• 2001 Delegate – Spring Forward: Sowing
the Seeds of Arts Advocacy
Vancouver, Canada
• 2000 Presenter - Between Nature: Explorations
in Performance & Ecology
Lancaster University, England
• 2000 Presenter - INTER2000: Redefining Interdisciplinary
Arts Practice
Montreal, Canada
TEACHING/ADVISING/LECTURES/WORKSHOPS
• 2007 Guest Lecture (Arts & Ecology) Faculty
of Education, University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada
• 2007 Instructor (Photographic Installations)
Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Vancouver, Canada
• 2006 Graduate Workshop (Embodying Ethics &
Place Relations in Art & Design Practises)
Manchester Institute for Research and Innovation in Art and Design (MIRIAD)
Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
• 2006 Guest Lecture (Arts & Ecology) Manchester
Institute for Research and Innovation in Art and Design (MIRIAD) Manchester
Metropolitan University, UK
• 2006 Guest Lecture (Philosophy/Liberal Studies),
Malaspina University Nanaimo BC
• 2002 Sessional Instructor (Drawing (studio) &
Critical Theory; Digital Interfaces)
School of Interactive Arts & Technology (SIAT), Simon Fraser University,
BC, Canada
• 2003 Teaching Assistant (Interactive Installation
– studio/theory)
School of Interactive Arts & Technology (SIAT), Simon Fraser University,
BC, Canada
• 2002 Teaching Assistant (Drawing – studio
& Critical Theory)
School of Interactive Arts & Technology (SIAT), Simon Fraser University,
BC, Canada
• 2001 Guest Lecture (Arts & Ecology in Practice)
Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada
• 2000 Guest Lecturer (Photographic Practice)
Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, Vancouver, Canada
• 1997 Guest Lecture (History of Art) Centre for
Digital Imaging and Sound, Burnaby, Canada
• 1994 Development & Instruction – Workshops,
Alternative Photographic Processes Photofusion Gallery/Centre, London,
England
PUBLICATIONS
• “Intimate Strife: the unbearable intimacy of human-animal
relations” in Leonardo’s Choice (forthcoming) Gigliotti, Carol
(ed). Springer Netherlands
• “Art, Sweet Art” in Alternatives Journal Special Issue
“Creative Communities”
(Dec 06/Jan 07) http://www.culturalcurrency.ca/Carruthers4file.pdf
• Mapping the Terrain of Contemporary Eco-ART Practice and Collaboration
a research report commissioned by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO for
Arts in Ecology – A Think-Tank on Arts and Sustainability. Published
online by UNESCO. 2006
http://www.unesco.ca/en/activity/sciences/documents/BethCarruthersArtinEcologyResearchReportEnglish.pdf
• Photographs - Welcoming Wildlife to the Garden
published by Hartley and Marks, Vancouver Canada 2004
• Garden City Vancouver - The Ultimate Guide to Everything Green
in Vancouver
by Marg Meikle & Dannie McArthur. Published by Polestar Books 1999
the SongBird project - pages 47 through 51
• Songbirds in the City – A Celebration
published by The Institute of Urban Ecology at Douglas College 1999
*the SongBird project initiatives”, pages 13 through 42
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
• Atelier & Galerie Helenice Alves, Friedberg, Germany 1997
• Red Gate Gallery, Gabriola Island, Canada 1998
• Waverley Gallery, Melbourne, Australia 1996
3rd Annual Photo Arts & Technology Exhibition
• Quaker Gallery, London, England 1995
2nd Annual Photo Arts & Technology Exhibition
• Odin’s Eye Gallery, Vancouver, BC Canada 1994
benefit for Little Sisters Legal Defence Fund
• Exposure Gallery, Vancouver, BC Canada 1994
• Exposure Gallery, Vancouver, BC Canada 1993
• Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC, Canada 1989
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
• Roundhouse Arts and Community Centre, Vancouver, Canada 1999
• Photofusion Gallery, London, England 1994
• Exposure Gallery, Vancouver, BC Canada 1994
• Galerie K, Prague, Czech Republic 1994
• Galerie Na Hrade, Olomouc, Czech Republic 1994
SELECTED
REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS
• Public Art Review - Earth Sensitive Fall/Winter 2000
Article by John K. Grande
• Encompass Magazine - The SongBird Oratorio Jan/Feb 2000
• The Next City Magazine - Creating A City That Sings Winter
98/99
• First Nations Drum - Strengthening Bonds Between Humans
& Nature May ’99
• Canadian Living Magazine - Saving Canada’s Songbirds
May ’99
• The Georgia Straight - The SongBird Project Takes Flight
Sept 3 - 10 ‘98
Interview by Alex Varty
• The Globe and Mail - A City’s Recall of the Wild
Sept. 7th ‘98
• B.C. Environmental Report - The Songbird Project Fall
‘98
• Blackflash Magazine – Longing and Belonging Fall/winter
1994
Review/interview by Paula Gustafson
• Le Soleil de Columbie - Eros, ou le Desir est Capturé
February 1993
Review/interview by Claire Bédat
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
• Video post-production
Video In, Vancouver, Canada
• Interactive Communications Design, Video Production
Institute of Communication Arts/Centre for Digital Imaging and Sound,
Burnaby, BC
• Computed Arts Intensive (interactive installation projects)
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Canada
• Phototherapy Intensive Workshop
Phototherapy Centre, Vancouver, Canada
• Phototherapy & Family Systems – workshop
Justice Institute of B.C. Vancouver, Canada
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• 1996 thru 2002 - Founding & Creative Director – project
development SongBird
– Environmental Science/Arts Collaboration focussed on urban communities
Vancouver, Canada
• 2001 - Research - Environmental/Land Art projects
for Vancouver Board of Parks (re: Art & the Environment project) –
Vancouver, Canada
• 2001 - Consultant – development & strategic assistance
on a community concept plan for Art & Infrastructure project to include
a focus on sustainable design practice and community participation - proposal
for the Lower Seymour Watershed GVRD filtration plant
Vancouver, Canada
• 2000 - Research & Development for a cross disciplinary symposium
on Arts & Ecology. For Shorelines 2002 and the Living By Water project
- Vancouver, Canada
• 1999/2000 - Research & Creative consultant
Development of Savage Media’s production of the SongBird Oratorio
- Vancouver, Canada
• 1999 - Outreach, Strategic Planning & Design Committee
Vancouver Museum's Biodiversity Exhibition – Vancouver, Canada
• 1996 & 1997 - Programming & Organizing Committee/ Coordination
2nd & 3rd Annual Vancouver Electronic Arts Festival – Western
Front, Video In, Grunt Gallery Vancouver, Canada
• 1993/94 – Director
Exposure Photographic Gallery & Artist Run Centre Vancouver, Canada
• 1993/94 – President
Vancouver Association for Photographic Arts
WEBSITES
www.bethcarruthers.com
www.culturalcurrency.ca
www.songbirdproject.ca