Sharon Alward

"I have always been interested in art as a healing agent and believe through performance, ritual and witnessing we have the opportunity to tell our stories and initiate healing. Performing ritual allows us the opportunity to transcend suffering and dehumanizing experiences, open ourselves up for healing and journey towards wholeness."

Sharon Alward is a Canadian video and performance artist. Cited as one of the 100 most influential and innovative Canadians in MacLean’s magazine for her work as a Canadian artist, her creative works reference performance, installation and ritual as potential sites for creativity and transformation. Actively involved in both art and social justice issues in the Winnipeg Community since 1986, Alward retired as a Full Professor at the University of Manitoba, School of Art. Prof. Alward is also a Senior Fellow (retired) of St. John’s College and served as Curator of the College for over a decade as well serving as an Administrant for the Chapel.

After a teaching, and service career than spanned over 34 years Alward retired from the School of Art. In 2024 Prof. Alward was given the distinct honour of being appointed Professor Emerita of the University of Manitoba. Alward’s creative works have been exhibited throughout Canada, the U.S., U.K., France, Spain and the Netherlands, including the Liverpool Tracey Biennial, LACE in Los Angeles, the American Film Institute, Western Front, and the National Screen Institute, La Maison Rouge and the Musée International des Arts Modestes, France and the National Arts Centre. She was nominated for an Art Pace Fellowship and a Blizzard Award for best Experimental Film. Alward served on numerous Video and Film Juries for the Manitoba Arts Council, the Winnipeg Arts Council, and The Canada Council. She has served a Director on several boards including the Manitoba Arts Council Film and Video Advisory Board, The Canada Council Steering Committee for Performance Art and Interdisciplinary Grants Review. Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art, Video Pool Ace Art, and Adhere and Deny

Actively involved in both art and social justice issues in the Winnipeg Community since 1986, as part of her Magdalene Project SSHRC Grant she implemented a volunteer art program at a drop-in /medical centre for women and girls (P.O.W.E.R) at risk from prostitution. Alward also created a position and was the first Artist-in-Residence and teacher/mentor at TERF (Training and Employment Resources for Females) for 15-17 year old girls transitioning from life on the streets and prostitution. She was also the Executive Director and founding member of the New Delta Artists Foundation (N-DAF): a registered non-profit organization to assist artists financially at inopportune periods during their career when due to unforeseen or unforeseeable circumstances they were unable to support themselves and/or procure art materials. As well, Prof. Alward has served as a mentor for the Foundation Mentorship program at Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art (MAWA). Prof. Alward Chaired the University of Manitoba Senate Appeals Committee for over a decade and was a member of the University of Manitoba Senate Committee on Academic Freedom. She also served asTreasurer of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), President of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association, and an Executive Vice President for the Manitoba Federation of Labour.

• M.F.A University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA, 1985
• B.F.A. Honours. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Double Honours, Painting and Photography, 1983
• Residency, Painting Fellowship, Yale University, Connecticut, USA, 1982
• Algonquin College, Faculty of Art & Film, Ottawa, Canada, 1978
• B.A. University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Physiological Psychology, Visual Perception, 1975

• RUINS, University of Edinburgh, ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST (Receiving), Edinburgh, UK, Online Exhibition, 2021
• S.P.A.N.E. (Screening of Performance Art in the Natural Environment): Fire AUGUST, Performance and Moving Image, Dunlop Art Gallery and RPL Film Theatre, Canada, Online Exhibition, 2021
• S.P.A.N.E. (Screening of Performance Art in the Natural Environment): Water, ZUMA, Performance and Moving Image, Dunlop Art Gallery and RPL Film Theatre, Canada, Online Exhibition, 2021
• SPARKS, Performance, aceartinc, Winnipeg, Canada, 2019
• AUGUST, Isolated Landscapes, Dunlop Gallery, Regina, 2018
• ACTS OF TRANSFER: Women’s Performance in the Western Front Archive, Western Front, Vancouver, Canada, 2018
• Catalina Film Festival Top 20, PERSEPHONE’S SUMMER (screenplay) Sharon Alward and Gwen Armstrong, 2018
• ISOLATED LANDSCAPES: Video by Prairie Women (1984–2009), Platform Centre for Photographic + Digital Arts, Winnipeg, Canada, 2017
• ISOLATED LANDSCAPES, VUCAVU, Video Pool, Winnipeg, Canada, 2017
• WOMEN’S PICTURE, WOMEN’S LIVES, MOVING IMAGES, Gallery 1C03, Winnipeg, 2017
• EXILED MOTHERS, Cinematheque, Winnipeg, Canada, 2016
• FEMME WAVE, Calgary, Canada, 2015
• EXILED MOTHERS, Humanities Research Unit, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, 2015
• VUCAVU, Coalition of Canadian Independent Media Art Distributors (CCIMAD), 2015
• EXILED MOTHERS, OISE, Social Justice and Education, Toronto, Canada, 2015
• THE FINAL SUPPER (in collaboration with Michael Dudeck and Brigitte Kahl), Union Theological Seminary, Institute for Art, Religion and Social Justice, New York, NY, USA, 2015
• RADIOGLAZ, Theatre for the Ears, Rachael Brown Theatre, Winnipeg, Canada, 2015
• ZUMA, Gallery 1.1.1. ARTLab, Winnipeg, Canada, 2015
• RITUALS of HEALING: The Performance Work of Sharon Alward, Cinematheque, Winnipeg, Canada, 2013
• FEMALE IMPERSONATORS, Gallery 1C03, Winnipeg, Canada, 2013
• Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, 2013
• Musee International des Arts Modestes (MIAM), Sete, France, 2012
• La Maison Rouge, Paris, France, 2011
• WINTER KEPT US WARM, Plug In, National Arts Centre, Ottawa, Canada, 2011

• University of Manitoba Teaching Excellence Award, 2017
• Canadian Association of University Teachers Research Grant, 2014
• Canada Council Film and Video Production Grant, 2011
• University of Manitoba Teaching Excellence Award, 2011
• Manitoba Arts Council Deep Bay Artist Residency Grant, 2009
• University of Manitoba Creative Works Grant, 2008
• Strategic Development Initiative Fund, University of Manitoba, 2008
• Manitoba Arts Council Major Film and Video Production Grant, 2007
• University of Manitoba Teaching Excellence Award, 2007
• Manitoba Arts Council Major Film and Video Production Grant, 2005
• Senior Fellowship, St. John’s College, 2002
• Canada Council Inter Media Art Grant for Performance Art, 2001
• Blizzard Nomination, Manitoba Motion Picture Industry, Christian Woman of Virtue (Best Experimental Film/Video), 2001
• Manitoba Arts Council Major Video Production Grant, 2000
• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Arts & Culture Grant, 1999
• Canada Council Travel Project/Grant, 1999
• Manitoba Arts Council Video Production Grant, 1999
• University of Manitoba Teaching Excellence Award, 1999
• Canada Council Interdisciplinary Work and Performance Art Creation and Touring Grant, 1997
• Manitoba Arts Council Short Term Project Grant, 1997
• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Arts & Culture Grant, 1997
• Nominated for Art Pace Fellowship by Dr. Thomas McEvilley, 1997
• University of Manitoba Program Development Grant, Non-Linear Editing for Video, 1996
• University of Manitoba SSHRC Grant, Magdalene Project, 1995
• University of Manitoba Program Development Grant, Culture and Technology Seminar, 1995
• “Ideas & Inspiration” Contemporary Canadian Art Saskatchewan Education Curriculum & Heartland Motion Pictures, one of 100 artists selected from across Canada for international award-winning CD-ROM on Canadian Artists, 1995
• Travel Grant, American Film Institute, Los Angeles (award winner), 1993
• Manitoba Arts Council Visual "A" Grant, 1993
• Canada Council Travel Grant, Performance Art, 1992
• Canada Council Project Grant, Performance Art, 1991
• University of Manitoba Merit Award for Teaching (Humanities), 1991
• Manitoba Arts Council Visual Arts Grant, 1990
• Manitoba Arts Council Project Grant, 1989
• UCLA Art Council Merit Award, University of California, Los Angeles, USA, 1985
• UCLA Art Council Merit Award, University of California, Los Angeles, USA, 1984
• Clifton Webb Award, UCLA, 1984
• National Art Association Scholarship, USA, 1984
• Manitoba Arts Council Travel Grant, Manitoba, Canada, 1982
• Yale University Painting & Drawing Fellowship, Connecticut, USA, 1982

• EXILED MOTHERS (98:00), 2015
• ZUMA (12:26), 2012
• RELINQUISH (10:18), Co-producer with Gwen Armstrong, 2008
• INTENTION (6:00), 2006
• AUGUST (6:15), Selected by National Screen Institute, 2001
• CONTRE BANDE (17:00), Part of Ugly but Not Inferior Trilogy, performed in Los Angeles, USA at LACE (Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions), 2001
• COVENANT (11:06), Commissioned by Videon Public Broadcasting and Blender TV, created from Covenant Performance (1996), 2001
• RECEIVING (19:00), Created from performance of St. John the Baptist performed at Ace Art, Winnipeg (1998), 2001
• MUTTERWITZ (8:34), Selected for distribution by Philadelphia Public Television for the Public Television Network and by the American Film Institute for Honourable Mention at the 12th International Video Festival (created in 1994 and performed as Part Two of Ugly but Not Inferior Trilogy performed in Los Angeles, USA at LACE), 2001
• CHRISTIAN WOMAN OF VIRTUE (43:00), Created from performance of Christian Woman of Virtue, Liverpool Biennial, Tracey Exhibition (1999), Nominated for Best Experimental Film/Video, 2000
• St John the Baptist Documentary (7:00), 1999
• TOTENTANZ (Dance of Death) (5:53), Purchased by Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1991
• LOVES YOU SO MUCH IT HURTS (11:00), Documentary, Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1990

• “An Incomplete History of Feminist Performance Art”, Foundation Mentorship Program and (upcoming) First Friday Lecture, Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art, Winnipeg, 2018
• “Witnessing Women, The Gathering”, Isolated Landscapes, Finch Gallery, Winnipeg (paper), 2017
• “How to Talk About Art”, Foundation Mentorship Program, Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art, Winnipeg, 2017
• “Prairie Landscapes”, Sharon Alward (Artist and Educator) and Kathy Rae Huffman (Los Angeles, Curator), Eat Your Arts & Vegetables, Arts Talk Radio, Host Derek Brueckner, 2017
• “A Matter of Life/Death”, Moderator, Mosaic Conference, University of Manitoba, 2014
• “How Construction Instructs”, Female Impersonators: Women Performing Women, Gallery 1C03, University of Winnipeg (panellist), 2013
• “Zuma, Christian Woman of Virtue, Liminal Acts and Reconciliation: Rituals of Healing”, The Free Press Café, Artist Talk, Winnipeg, 2013
• “Craft IS Art”, Artist Talk & Guest Curatorial Facilitator, Manitoba Crafts Council, Cre8tery Gallery, Winnipeg, 2013
• “Sharon Alward – A Thirty Year Survey of Creative Work”, Artist Talk, MAWA, Winnipeg, 2012
• “Working With Feelings: Affect and the Practice of Everyday Life”, Feelings on Display: Video, Installation, Images, Sponsored Symposium, University of Manitoba (paper), 2010
• “Witnessing: The Art of Performance”, Lecture, Clear Lake Artist Series, sponsored by the Manitoba Arts Council, 2009
• “Sensei: The One Who Comes Before – Meditations on the Art of Teaching in the Place Without Masters”, Keynote Speaker, Inter Access Electronic Media Arts Centre, Toronto, 2008
• Visiting Artist Lecture, McEwen College, Edmonton, Alberta, 2007
• Chair, Mosaic Conference, Derrida and Art Session, 2006
• “Endless Waiting in Sacred Spaces”, University of Regina, 2005
• “Sacred Confessions: Explorations in Art and Spirituality”, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada (paper), 2002
• “Performance and Body Rhetoric”, Women and Art, School of Art, University of Manitoba, Spring Session, 2002
• “Dissonant Glory: Worship as Proclamation in the Sacred Arts”, Summer Institute of Theology, St. John’s College, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (lecture), 2002
• “Spirituality in Cinema”, Cinematheque, Winnipeg, Canada, 2001
• “Critical Practice”, Writing the Body, Department of English, University of Manitoba, 2000
• “Performing Gothic”, The Language of Flesh, A SPACE, Toronto, Canada (paper), 1999
• “Masochism, Shame, Seduction and Desire”, Northern Lites Festival Boreal, Sudbury, 1999
• “Masochism, Shame, Seduction and Desire”, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, 1999
• “Artist to Artist”, Lecture and Workshop, Main/Access Gallery, Winnipeg, 1997
• “Naming New Traditions: Intimate Art in the Ethereal Age”, Art and Intimacy in a High Tech World, National Conference on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artists, School of the Visual Arts, NYC, USA (paper), 1996
• “Saintly Postmodern Ethics: Art and Morality”, Plug In Gallery (paper), 1996
• “The Moment of Endless Waiting”, Repulsion, Seduction and Eroticism in the Performances of Sharon Alward, Faculty of Architecture Cultural Events Series, University of Manitoba (paper), 1996
• “Totentanz, Gender and Hysteria”, A-Dress States of Being, Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1996
• “Creative and Inclusive: The Postmodern Challenge”, Public Debate/Conversation on Changing the Materials and Metaphors of Worship, Assiniboia Christian Centre, Winnipeg (panellist), 1995
• “Performing Narrative: From Dracula to AIDS to the Post-Human Body”, The Law and Literature, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, 1995
• “Endurance, Rituals and Extremes: Ritual and its Manifestations”, Performance Art, Perf ’94 International Performance Art Symposium, St. Norbert Arts & Cultural Centre, Winnipeg (paper), 1994
• “Seeking Dishonour”, Sponsored by the Windsor Art Gallery, Artsite, University of Windsor, and the Canada Council Visiting Artist’s Program, Windsor, Ontario (paper), 1994
• “Performance as Text/Constructing Narrative”, The Law and Literature, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba (lecture), 1994
• “The Concept of Sin in the 21st Century”, Brave New Waves, CBC Radio, Sponsored by the Festival of Life and Learning (panellist), 1994
• “Prairie Videos from International Festivals”, Curated by Robert McKaskell, University of Manitoba, School of Art (panellist), 1993
• “Cartographies”, Exchange on Art Production Between Canadian Artists and Artists from Latin America, Winnipeg Art Gallery (panellist), 1993
• “Manitoba Video”, Artist Talk, American Film Institute, Los Angeles, 1993
• “Performance Shy: Evaluating Performance Art”, National Conference on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artists, School of Visual Arts and Atlanta Art Association, New York City (paper), 1992
• “Goddess Remembered”, Women’s Research Conference: Sharing Our Work, University of Manitoba (panellist), 1991
• “Dislocating Comfort: A Panel Discussion on Controversial Art”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, National Symposium sponsored by the Canada Council and the Saskatchewan Arts Board (panellist), 1991
• “Art, Censorship and Freedom of Expression”, Faculty of Law, Beyond the Law, University of Manitoba, 1991
• “Ritual, Performance and the Seeking of Dishonour”, Faculty of Art History, Contemporary Canadian Art, University of Winnipeg (paper), 1991
• “Ritual”, Rosemont Art Gallery and Neil Balkwill Arts Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Council Visiting Artist Program (in conjunction with exhibition of Regina Artists), 1990
• “Art and Outrage: Censorship in the Visual Arts”, Winnipeg Art Gallery Forum, International Symposium sponsored by the Winnipeg Art Gallery and funded by the Canada Council (paper), 1990

• Alward, Sharon, “Negotiating Sacred Strategies: Creating Sacred Spaces,” fifty3, Vol. 6.4, 2005
• Donatelli, Cindy and Alward, Sharon, “I Dread You: Married to the Mob in The Godfather, GoodFellas and The Sopranos,” in This Thing of Ours, David Lavery (ed.), Columbia University Press, 2002
• Alward, Sharon, “Outlaw Mythology and Postmodern Purgatory,” Critical Distance, Vol. 3, 1998
• Alward, Sharon, CONTRE BANDE, Treeline, Winter, 1997
• Alward, Sharon, “Reality, Ritual and History,” Poolside, Summer, Issue 9, 1996
• Alward, Sharon, “The Self is the Construct is the Subject,” in Projects/Practises: Multi-Media and Interdisciplinary Art, edited by Shantz, Urban, and Traer, University of Saskatoon Press, Saskatchewan, 1994
• Alward, Sharon, (De)Constructed Realities, Gallery 1.1.1 Publication, University of Manitoba, 1991
• Alward, Sharon, “Technology, Power and Flesh,” Poolside, Summer, Issue 5, 1991