BIO & CV

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BIO

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Nurgul Rodriguez is an artist with an interdisciplinary practice. She has an active individual practice of disciplines and media including porcelain, installation, handmade paper, printmaking, three-dimensional pieces, and more recently socially engaged and collaborative projects. Her work is social, political and personal with a focus on issues of immigration, diasporas, borders and cultures. She explores becoming a diasporic individual during identity formation within a new culture. Nurgul settled in Calgary in 2009 after many nomadic years of living in Turkey, the United States and Spain with her family. She received a Visual Arts and New Media individual project grant from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts in 2018, Calgary Arts Development Individual Art Project and Canada Council for the Arts. She holds an MFA from the University of Calgary and she recently completed a residency program at Medalta in Medicine Hat and another at AUArts in Calgary, Calgary Allied Alberta Foundation Residency, Esplanade Artists in Residency. Her work is seen in Remai Modern, borderLINE: 2020 Biennial of Contemporary Art, and Esplanade Arts and Heritage Museum, Landed.

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 EDUCATION 

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2017 MFA Master of Fine Arts, Printmaking (combined with Sculpture) 

University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada 

Spring 2013 - Winter 2015: Open Studies Student, 

University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada 

Completed and achieved six (6) half art history courses, and two (2) full course (studio practice) 

2013 English for Academic Purpose (EAP) Program, University of Calgary, 

2001 Multimedia Studies and Graphic Design Studies Certificate Program, 

City College of San Francisco, California, U.S.A. 

1999 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramic and Glass Art and Design, Faculty of Fine Arts, 

Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey, 

1994: Ceramic Technician Degree, Professional Technical College, University of Trakya, Edirne, Turkey. 

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SOLO EXHIBITIONS 

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2020: “This Land”, cSpace, December 2020, Calgary, Alberta 

2020: “Out of Place”, large-scale and socially engaged porcelain installation art, Alberta Biennial 2020, September2020 – January 2021, Remai Modern, Sakatoon 

2020: “Words on the Walls”, the Calgary Louise Riley Library, Calgary, Alberta, during April. 

2019: “On the Wall”, The Calgary Public Library, The Central Library, November – December. 

2018: “hundreds of THEM”, site-specific and large-scale porcelain installation, Medalta’s Hive Kiln#2, Historic Clay District, Medicine Hat, Alberta, December 

2017: In a new land…Be longing, The Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary, August 11-September 24, 2017, Calgary, Alberta. 

2017: Becoming Words “I am going to die in this country as an immigrant”, The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, January 9-13, Calgary, Alberta 

2016: Becoming Words: on Process, +15 Window, University of Calgary, Arts Commons, August 1- September 30, 2016, Calgary, Alberta 

2016: DESigual, Gallery 621, University of Calgary, March 21-25, Calgary, Alberta 

2007: las Formas por la Tierra, San Lucar City Hall Art Gallery, June, Cadiz, Spain 

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PERFOMANCES 

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October 20, Placemaking: site-specific performance practices with students, Faculty of Fine Arts, Dokuz Eylül University, Turkey 

August 19, 2019, “on the wall”, one-hour durational performance at the closing reception group exhibition with a performative print work 

August 1, 2019, Placed –performance with performative porcelain object: artist’s English dictionary, Luke Lindoe Library-Academic Library, Alberta University of the Arts 

February 26-March 2, 2018: Yorgan/Quilt: Stiches and Conversations #MeToo movement in English, one-week workshop and exhibition, socially engaged performative craft, The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, 

2018: IKG LIVE 2, A LOT TO LEARN…, 30 minutes duration, socially engaged performing art, ACAD, Calgary, Alberta 

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GROUP EXHIBITIONS 

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LANDED, three-person exhibition, Esplanade Art Gallery, curated Xanthe Isbister, December 2020 - February 2021, Medicine Hat, Alberta 

Diversity and Inclusion, The Ceramic and Glass Museum, Fall, 2021 (confirmed) 

Placemaking, Thematic Summer Residency’s group of artists, Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts), Calgary, August 19 – September 9, 2019 

CLAY LAND, Emerging Artists’ group exhibition, EXPOSURE Alberta’s Photography Festival, February 2019 

DIASPORA, The Fish Creek Library, Calgary, November 2017 

Faculty Exhibition, The Little Gallery, University of Calgary, September 2017 

Beauty of Printmaking. The Little Gallery, Calgary, November 2015 

"Looking for a New Land". The Little Gallery, Calgary. Contributors: MFA First Year Students Group Exhibition, October 2015 

Between Two Worlds, two-persona exhibition. The Little Gallery, Calgary, May 2015 

“The lost girl” PUSH, Calgary, March 2015 

“Colours on Canvas” Acrylic painting, Ostberg Art Gallery, Calgary, Canada, May 2010 “San Francisco” Water-colored, Diego Rivera Art Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA, June 2009 

“Raku-fired,” The Coffee Gallery of Fort Mason Campus, City College San Francisco, CA, May 15 – August 27 2009 

“Ties,” Diego Rivera Art Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA , January 2009 “Couple,” Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA, August 2008 

“Pottery” Patio de la Victoria Cultural Center, Solo Exhibition, Cadiz, Spain, May 2007 “Red and Blue,” Café Doñana, Cadiz, Spain, September 2006 

“Plates,” Patio de la Victoria Cultural Center, Solo Exhibition, Cadiz, Spain, June 2006 

“The True Colours with Ceramic” Akademi Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey, May 2004

“The Tall Bowl” Jewelry and Metal Art Department Exhibition, City College of San Francisco, 

San Francisco, CA, USA, December 2001 

“Alone,” The State Art and Sculpture Museum of Izmir, Izmir, Turkey, May 2000 

“In Fire”, Raku firing technique workshop and exhibition, VITRA Ceramic Arts Studio, 1999 “Anatolia” and “Flowers,” AKCIA, Bratislava, Slovakia, September 1999 

“Final Project Exhibition,” Ceramic Department Art Gallery, Faculty of Fine Arts, Dokuz Eylül University, May 1999 

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GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND AWARDS 

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2020: Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) Explore and Create grant for Remediation Room, by Alana Barthol, Project Coordinator ($3,600)

2020: Calgary Arts Development, 2020 Project Grant Program - Individuals & Collectives $10,000) 

2020: ArtSearch, Calgary Arts Development, Calgary Investment ($ 3500) 

2018: Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) Visual Arts and New Media Individual Project Grant ($ 10,900) 

2017: Queen Elizabeth II (Master’s) Scholarship ($10,800) 

2017: Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship 

2016: Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship ($3,600) 

2016: University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association Travel Grant ($1000) 

2015: Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship/Study Grant, Department of Art/MFA Program, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada ($ 13,000) 

1994-1999: Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education Scholarship, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey 

1992-1994: Awarded Bachelor of Fine Art Degree in Ceramic and Glass Department Republic of Turkey Ministry of Youth and Sport Scholarship 

1994: Awarded Ceramic Technician two-year degree program students grant 

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RESIDENCIES 

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2021: RBC Emerging Visual Artist Program and Ledge Gallery, March-April-May (exhibition and residency) 

2021: Medalta, Historic Clay District, Flex Artist in Residency Schedule, Medicine Hat, Alberta, January-February 

2020: Medalta, Historic Clay District, Flex Artist in Residency Schedule, Medicine Hat, Alberta, November 

2020: Calgary Allied Arts Foundation, CAAF Residency, a non-profit organization @cSpace, September - October 

2019: Medalta, Historic Clay District, Flex Artist in Residency Schedule, Medicine Hat, Alberta, December 

2019: Thematic Summer Residency: Placemaking, Alberta University of the Arts, July 24-August 19 

2018-2019: Medalta, Historic Clay District, Flex Artist in Residency Schedule, five months: September 2018-January 2019, Medicine Hat, Alberta 

2003: VITRA Ceramic Arts Studio Artist in Residence, Istanbul, Turkey 

1999: AKCIA, Two-month Residency, attending workshops as a student and teaching as well. Bratislava, Slovakia. 

1997: ASSOS, Searching and working at archeologist dig in West Turkey. Researching on Anatolian ceramic forms from the Neolithic Period. Reproducing selected ceramics forms for the private collection exhibitions at Kale Group Art Museum. 

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TEACHING and COURSES 

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2018: Sessional Instructor, University of Calgary, Narrative Ceramics, Spring/Summer 

2017: Sessional Instructor, University of Calgary, Narrative Ceramics, Spring 

2017: Teaching Assistant, University of Calgary, Art History, Winter 

2016 - 2017: Visiting Artist and Scholar Series Coordinator, Graduate Assistantship Teaching Appointment (ART 327-329: Art Now), Department of Art, University of Calgary. 

2016: Teaching Assistant, University of Calgary, 3d Digital Imagining 

2016: Teaching Assistant, University of Calgary, Art Fundamentals: 3d 

2015: Teaching Assistant, University of Calgary, 3d Digital Imagining 

2006-07: Teaching Art & Craft courses and workshops. City Hall Adult Programs. Sanlucar, Cadiz, Spain 

2002-04: Teaching Ceramic and Sculpture to secondary students. Akademi Istanbul Private Art School, Istanbul, Turkey 

1999: Assistant and Teaching Assistant, Archeology and Ceramic Studio to secondary school students. Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 

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EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING HISTORY 

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2019 – Thematic Workshop: Placemaking, Department of Ceramics and Glass Design, Fine Art Faculty, Dokuz Eylul University, October 21-25 

2019 – Fall: Lecture and Workshops: Handmade vessel forms, Art and Engineering Course Students, Department of Art, University of Calgary 

2018: Online course: Socially Engaged Art Projects: Community and Participation, Node Art Centre, Berlin May 14 - June 16

2017: Emerging Teachers Development Badge for Graduate Students, Taylor Institution for Teaching and Learning, University of Calgary 

2017: Metal shop training and practice by Senior Technician Richard Calkins, Department of Art, University of Calgary. 

2016 - 2017: Visiting Artist and Scholar Series Coordinator, Graduate Assistantship Non-Teaching Appointment (ART 327-329: Art Now), Department of Art, University of Calgary. 

2016-2017: Clay Hand-building Workshops with Graduate Studies Association, Mental Health and Wellness Group Activities for Graduate Studies Students, University of Calgary Fall 2016-Winter 2017 

2014: Community Engagement Assistant, SCIP Internship, TRUCK Contemporary Art Gallery 

2007: Stained glass making, Vitrieras Justyna, Cadiz, Spain (six months) 

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PUBLICATIONS & REVIEWS 

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2020: 2020 Biennial of Contemporary Art: borderLINES, Remai Modern, Published bythe Art Gallery of Alberta + Remai Modern, 2020 

2018: WRITING Interview with Nurgul Rodriguez (January24-25, 2018), by Anton Cu Unjieng, source link: 

http://ikg.acad.ca/ikg-live-2/ 

2013: “Fine Lines” Nickle Galleries, Exhibition catalog writing participation, Art History 303 course project 

1999: “Terra Siggilata,” Brick and Tiles International Magazine 

1999: “Thesis,” “Neolithic Period Ceramics in Anatolia” published by the Dokuz Eylul University Library 1998: “AKCIA” Symposium, Hurriyet, national newspaper, Turkey, 1998 

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CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION 

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2021: Diasporic Narratives on Sea Borders and Migration, Panel: Migration/ Geography/Tourism, 12th International IAWIS Conference, Sea and Water in Word and Image, 5-10 July at University of Luxembourg (postponed date) 

2020: Placemaking: Living in the (an)Other Language, presenter at the Panel: Interdisciplinary Pedagogies for Writing Visual Practices, chaired by Dr. Brian Rusted, UAAC-AAUC Conference 2018 Congrès, October 15-17 (online) 

2020: Hidden Within Moments and Places, Memories as Trauma, Silence, and Trust: #MeToo, co-chaired Roundtable by Heather Leier and Nurgul Rodriguez, UAAC-AAUC Conference 2018 Congrès, October 15-17 (online) 

2018: Visualizing violence through clay, presenter at the Panel: Visualizing Violence, chaired by Dr. Anuradha Gobin, UAAC-AAUC Conference 2018 Congrès, October 25-27, Department of Fine Arts, University of Waterloo, Ontario 

2018: Narratives on Walls, Borders, and Boundaries: a creative practice, Chair of session, UAAC-AAUC Conference 2018 Congrès, October 25-27, Department of Fine Arts, University of Waterloo, Ontario. 

2017: Performative Craft: broken English, session presenter, UAAC-AAUC Conference 2017 Congrès, October 12-15, Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta 

2017: Cultural Practices and The Arts: Becoming Words in Immigration Process, 19th Metropolis National Conference, March 16-17-18, Montreal, Quebec. 

2016: Becoming Words: Practice-led Research, Joint ACAD + University of Calgary Graduate Students Presentations, November 29, Calgary, Alberta 

2016: (Ad)dressing Identity with Mixes-media Art Installation for the Transformative Identities of Immigrants: DESigual, University of Prince Edward Island-UPEI Multidisciplinary Graduate Research Conference, Charlottetown 

2015: Identity and Belonging: “Looking for a New Land”, MFA Graduate Student Conference, Calgary, Alberta 

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PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES 

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2019 - 2020: Rozsa Foundation Arts Leadership Certificate Programs: Rozsa Administration Fundamentals Training (RAFT), Rozsa Arts Management Program (RAMP), University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business. (completed) 

2019: Workshop: Cleaning the House Workshops, Fall 2019, October 13 - October 18, 2019, Marina Abramovic Institute, 

2019: Workshop: Mould Making at Medalta with Jeremy Hatch, Medicine Hat, Alberta July 15-19 

2019: Ceramic Workshop: Sarah Pike: Ceramic slab building with handmade texture, North Mount Pleasant Arts Center, Calgary April 12-14

2018: Online course: Socially Engaged Art Projects: Community and Participation, Node Art Centre, Berlin, May 14 - June 16 

2013: Setting a home-base ceramic studio in Calgary 

2011-2014: Membership of Mount Pleasant Art Centre for Ceramic Studio 

2008: Post Graduate Program, Life Drawing and Sculpture, San Francisco Art Institute, 2008-2009 Life Sculpting Workshops, City College of San Francisco, 

2003: Teacher and Art Department advisor for Akademi Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey, 

2000-2001: Multimedia Certificate Program Studies, City College of San Francisco, California 

1994-1999 Student Assistant for Ceramic Studio and Factory of Mustafa Tuncalp 

1997: Internship in Assos Excavation Site, lead Behramkale, leaded by Prof. Umit Serdaroglu 

1996: Internship in Bayrakli (Old Symrna) Excavation Site, leaded by Prof. Ekrem and Meral Akurgal. Izmir 

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND MEMBERSHIP 

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2020 – board member of Alberta Printmaking Society 

2019 – member of Alberta Craft Council 

2018 June - present, board member, COMTEMPORARY CALGARY, Calgary, Alberta 

2016 - present, member of Universities Art Association of Canada (UAAC-AAUC) 

2017 - present, member of Artists Society of Alberta 

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VOLUNTEERING 

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2018 January-February, EXPOSURE Photography Festival; installation art works, gallery attending, walking tours; Calgary, Alberta 

2016 University of Calgary, Graduate Studies Association, Ceramic Workshops for graduate students for Mental Health Support for Graduate Studies Students 

2010 - 2015 Capitol Hill Elementary School, Parent Council Meetings and in class art and craft activities, 

2015/3 - 2015/6 Community Engagement Assistant, TRUCK Contemporary Art Gallery 

2010/2 - 2010/5 Calgary Centre for Newcomers, administration and translation of immigration documents.

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LANGUAGES
 

Turkish (native), Spanish (fluent), English (fluent), German (beginner). 

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