Natalie Wood (curator)

Natalie Wood is a Trinidadian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist, curator, and educator. Her work focuses on the areas of popular culture, education, and historical research, spanning the visual and media arts, in a practice including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, video and performance. Through her politically-engaged and identity-based art she engages with issues of representation and challenging hegemonic systems, and explores black feminist, queer, and diasporic identity in historical narratives. She is also community-based queer activist.

Early life and education
Wood was born and raised in Trinidad, relocating in 1984 to Toronto, Ontario to pursue a specialist degree in Psychology, Sociology and Women's Studies from the University of Toronto. At the time, despite early interest in drawing, her family had raised her to see art as a hobby rather than a profession. She later took studio courses and obtained a degree in Studio Art from the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD) and an M.A. in Art Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

She is currently a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University and Professor in the Social Service Work Program at George Brown College.

Visual Works
Church Street Mural: Kiss & Tell (2014) - digital prints of 5 couples in silhouette, inspired by the "Kissing Doesn't Kill" poster by Gran Fury.

Videography

 * Blue (2018) 06:00 minutes, Colour, English
 * Time Will Come (2018) 06:00 minutes, Colour, English
 * Hangman (2016) 08:00 minutes, Colour, English
 * Touched by a Soucouyant (2015) 05:00 minutes, Colour, English
 * Bananagrams (2013) 27:05 minutes, Colour, English
 * Will (2012), 03:00 minutes, colour, English
 * The Bond Girl (2008) 04:45 minutes, colour, English
 * Daisy Redux: Daisy Gets a Divorce (2008) 06:00 minutes, colour, English
 * Homesick (2007) 03:14 minutes, Colour, English
 * Packing Unpacking (2007), 04:20 minutes, Colour, silent
 * The Line is Drawn (2007) 00:32 minutes, Colour, English
 * Call Me Daisy (2006) 03:00 minutes, colour, English
 * Dash Domi (2005) 01:29 minutes, Colour, English
 * The Locks Narrative (2005) 10:00 minutes, colour, English
 * Medusa's Hats (2005) 03:00 minutes, colour
 * The Dozens (2004) 07:00 minutes, Colour, English
 * Enter, Hailey (2002) 08:00 minutes, colour, English

=== Activism and Community Art ===


 * Blue Devil Live Theatre Performance at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre (2006)
 * Blue Devil Live Dance Performance at Toronto Pride (2006)
 * Blue Devil Caribana Performance at Harbourfront Centre (2011)
 * Blue Devil Performance at Toronto Caribana (2015)
 * Blue Devil Performance at Blockorama Pride (2017)

Academic presence
In addition to art-making, Wood is a professor of Social and Community Services at George Brown College, incorporating arts interventions into her research and advocacy.

She currently serves as the coordinator Black Futures Hub at the George Brown Waterfront Campus.

Curatorial Work
Shadow on the Prairie (March 2009) media show by Deanna Bowen, Images Festival & WARC Gallery,

I Represent (2006) ASpace Gallery.

The Hero Project (2005) WARC Gallery.

Iconography of Divination, and Sign of Spirit (2003) by Winsom Winsom at ASpace Gallery,

“Starting Fires” ( 2002) Lesbian Artists Group Show at ASpace Gallery,

Collections

 * Royal Bank of Canada
 * The Wedge Collection

== Awards ==
 * Explore and Create Program, Canada Council for the Arts (2020)
 * WildSeed Arts Fellow ( 2019–2022)
 * Access and Career Development Grant, Ontario Arts Council ( 2019)
 * Black Leadership Award, Black Student Success Network at GBC (2017)
 * Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance (2012)
 * Access Grant, Ontario Arts Council (2011)
 * Established Media Artist Grant, Toronto Arts Council (2007).
 * New Pioneers Award for contribution to Arts and Culture (2006).
 * K.M. Hunter Nomination for Interdisciplinary Arts (2006).
 * Ontario Arts Council Mid Career Media Arts Award (2006).
 * Audience Choice Award, Mpenzi Toronto Film and Video Festival (2006).
 * Trinidad Artist Residency, Canada Council for the Arts (2005).
 * Emerging Artist for Visual Arts, Ontario Arts Council (2004).
 * Emerging Artist for Visual Arts, Canada Council for the Arts ( 2003).
 * Emerging Artist for Visual Arts, Toronto Arts Council (2003).
 * M. NourbeSe Philip Award for d02 (2003).
 * City of York Civic Recognition Award for work within the Arts (1997).