Jennifer Cherniack

About

I am an artist and arts administrator living in Ottawa.

I make art about language — the common, and not-so-common ways in which we communicate information — with a particular interest in television, the internet, and humour. I use a variety of media in my work, drawing from pop culture, advertising, educational materials, online and printed matter, and just about any other tools used to convey information.

I’ve spent much of my professional life working for not-for-profit art organizations, as a curator, educator, exhibitions coordinator, grant writer, and now, at the Canada Council for the Arts as a Program Officer in the Prizes department.

I have a BFA (Western University, 2003) and an MFA (Concordia University 2013) and have lived in numerous cities including Winnipeg, Toronto, London (ON), Montreal, Syracuse, and now Ottawa. I’ve exhibited in a variety of venues; from artist-run centres, to a train car in Northern Canada, to the NY Art Book Fair.

In 2017 I became a parent. Check out my CV from 2017-2020 (spoiler alert, there is a big blank) In late 2019, I joined the 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective, a then-new collective looking at the intersection of art and motherhood. Cue the pandemic, life, ups and downs, and now we’re hitting the ground running, with a fantastic roster of artists and plenty of activities. Check us out.

You can also follow my latest project @the52in2project, where I’m making one thing a week for the entire year (52 weeks) during my kid Sybil’s TV time (2 hours) on weekends. Some of the work is good, some bad, but it’s all leading somewhere.

You can reach me through:

Email: hello@jennifercherniack.com

Instagram

Facebook

Telephone: Let’s start with email, ok?

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION

2013 Master of Fine Arts, Open Media, Concordia University. Montreal, QC. Thesis Advisor: Lynn Hughes

2003 Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts, The University of Western Ontario. London, Ontario. Graduated Cum Laude.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND PROJECTS

Upcoming Projects:

2025

  • Group exhibition at City Hall Art Gallery with 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective, Ottawa, ON, March 13 to June 1, 2025.

2024

  • Nobody sees a flower, Ottawa Art Gallery with 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective, Ottawa, ON, March 2024.

2023

  • Feature article, Ottawa Design Club – Renaissance – Zine 006 with 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective, Ottawa, ON.
  • Don’t Worry, I’ll Only Show You the Good Parts, Urban Art Collective, with 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective, Ottawa, ON. 2023. With funds from the City of Ottawa.
  • Don’t Worry, I’ll Only Show You the Small Parts, Ottawa Miniature Gallery, with 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective, Ottawa, ON. 2023. With funds from the City of Ottawa.

2022

  • Inaugural exhibition, Ottawa Miniature Gallery, Ottawa, ON. 2022. Curated by Jennifer Anne Kelly, with support from the City of Ottawa and Third Way Creative.

2020-2021

2017-2019

  • Sybil Edith Cherniack-Williamson, born, raised into toddlerhood.

2016

  • My work ‘The History of Art According to my Archives’ was used in a Greek Art Magazine: Link
  • Contributor, Spiffy Moves Magazine, Issue 2, Montreal, QC, Link
  • The Ones in their Own Universe, Other Possible Worlds (According to Situation Comedies). Window Installation for Possible Worlds, Ottawa, ON.
  • Artist Talk, Shoufen, Jackpine Creative Counsel, Ottawa, ON, June 17, 2016.

2015

  • Video Store Night Light (Movie Village), Functioning Night Light, ed. 10. For Photorama, Gallery TPW, Toronto, ON.

2014

  • Contributor, Kapsula Magazine, Special Ed. Poster Series in collaboration with Matthew Williamson, Toronto, ON. Link
  • Installation of Art Condescensions (featured in Kapsula Magazine) at Fail Again, Fake Better Symposium at York University, Toronto, ON.

2013

  • *~._.:*JENNIFER X JENNIFER*:.~, Eastern Bloc, Montreal, Canada (two-person with Jennifer Chan)
  • Best of the North East Masters of Fine Arts, Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, VT (group)
  • 11th Annual Graduating Students Exhibition, FOFA Gallery, Montreal. (group)
  • Spark Video, Duty Free, Spark Contemporary Art Space, Syracuse, NY (screening, April 5)
  • CART Armory Party, Dream Baby, New York, NY (event)
  • The One with Kafka, Netscape Navigator, the Year 1994, Jordan Catalano, Douglas Coupland, Milton Berle, Prat Falls, Linguists, and Chandler Bing, MFA Gallery Concordia, Montreal, QC (solo)

2012

  • The Slight Return, TRUCK Gallery, Calgary, AB (two-person, with David LaRiviere)
  • K-Town, Rhubarb Festival, Toronto, ON Curated by Luke Painter & Meera Margaret Singh (group)
  • Spark Video: Orange, Concordia University screening, Montreal, QC (screening, February 4)

2011

  • Spark Video: Tabernac, Spark Contemporary Art Space, Syracuse, NY (screening, December 3)
  • K-Town Ed Video, Guelph, ON. Curated by Luke Painter & Meera Margaret Singh (group)
  • K-Town Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON. Curated by Luke Painter & Meera Margaret Singh (group)
  • K-Town Angell Gallery, Toronto, ON. Curated by Luke Painter & Meera Margaret Singh (group)
  • IGNITION, Leonard & Bina Ellen Gallery, Montreal, QC (group)
  • It takes everyone to know no one, Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Hart House, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. Curated by Ana Barajas (group)
  • LIVE / AFTERLIVES, La Centrale Powerhouse, Montreal, QC. Curated by Lisa Vinebaum (group)

2010

  • Suggested Topics of Conversation for Art Openings, Gallery Tours, and Other
  • Art Related Events, Button Multiples Commission, Leonard & Bina Ellen Gallery, Montreal, QC
  • The Typology and Topography of Repetition, Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON. Curated by Deborah Wang
  • [insert title here], FOFA Gallery, Montreal, QC
  • Foire d’art Alternatif de Sudbury, Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario, Sudbury, ON
  • The Hive, Concordia Annual MFA Exhibition, Montreal, QC

2008

  • Otherworld, Red Bull 381 Projects, Toronto, ON
  • Still Motions, Contact Festival, The Lower Ossington Gallery, Toronto, ON. Curated by Mark Pennock and Karen Kraven

2007

  • FeatherWeight, Spark Video Canada, London, ON (screening, November 15)
  • The Slow Gaze, Gallery 44, Toronto, ON
  • Le Regard Lent, Centre VU, Quebec City, QC
  • Over and Over Again, Alley Jaunt, Toronto, ON
  • 42 Days in 18 Ways, 250 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB (collaboration)
  • Private Viewing, Sleepwalker Projects, Toronto, ON

2006

  • Making Room, 224 Wallace Ave Warehouse, Toronto, ON
  • Just a Second, National Film Board of Canada, Toronto, ON

2003

  • Breech, BFA graduating exhibition, London, ON
  • Annual Juried Show, ArtLab, University of Western Ontario, London, ON (awarded top four)

SELECTED FUNDRAISERS, AUCTIONS, ETC

2013

  • K-town, MOCCA, Toronto, Canada, Curated by Luke Painter & Meera Margaret Singh

2012

  • Photorama, Gallery TPW, Toronto, ON

2011

  • PIN UP Poster Sale and Exhibition, Mercer Union, Toronto, ON
  • Photorama, Gallery TPW, Toronto, ON

2010

  • Photorama, Gallery TPW, Toronto, ON
  • Photopia, Gallery 44, Toronto, ON

2008

  • Photorama, Gallery TPW, Toronto, ON (fundraising exhibition)
  • Apparition, Gallery 44, Toronto, ON (fundraising exhibition)

PRESENTATIONS AND RESIDENCIES

2014

  • Presenter “Sitcoms and Jewish Identities from the Goldbergs to the Goldbergs”, Soloway JCC, Ottawa, ON. October 5.

2013

  • Presenter “Sitcoms and Jewish Identities from the Goldbergs to the Goldbergs”, LE MOOD, Montreal, QC, November 3.
  • Selected Participant, NU Montreal, Media Innovation Initiative, Montreal, QC, March 17-19.

2012

  • Artist Talk, IMCA 330, Performative Practices, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, October 25.
  • Artist Talk and Professional Development Workshop, ARTX 480 Advanced Interdisciplinary Studio Class, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, October 30.
  • Resident, New Adventures in Sound Art, Trans-X, New Adventures in Sound Art, Toronto, ON, February-May.
  • Performer, Trans-X Symposium, New Adventures in Sound Art, Toronto, ON, May 25-27.
  • Artist Talk, Truck Gallery, Calgary, AB, with LaRiviere, April 28.
  • Artist Talk, On the Edge: Taking Risks in Art Education, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, March 23

2011

  • Roundtable on the future of art institutions, Hart House, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • Artist Talk and Proposal Workshop, Artx 480 Class, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, January
  • Presenter, Revisiting Ephemera Graduate Conference, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, January 15

2010

  • Artist Talk, Canadian Art Foundation High School Hop, Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON, October
  • Artist Tour, Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON, October
  • Artist Talk, FOFA Gallery, FOFA Gallery, Montreal, QC, September
  • Workshop co-facilitator, [insert title here] Vinyl and Text Art Workshop, FOFA Gallery, Montreal, QC, September. Sponsored by FASA Concordia
  • Presenter, The Archive and Everyday Life Conference, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, May

2009

  • Moderator, After School Special Panel Discussion, Xpace, Toronto, ON

2008

  • Moderator, Juicy Couture Panel Discussion, InterAccess, Toronto, ON

PUBLICATIONS

2012

  • The One with All the Posters, No Kings Artist Book Press, Editor, James Whitman (upcoming September 2012 at the NY Art Book Fair)

2011

  • Revisiting Ephemera, Ahlia Moussa, Simon Bentley editors, (McIntosh Gallery Curatorial Study Centre)

2010

  • Collaborate This!, Academic Artist Rehab Collective, Whale Bone Press (contributor)

2008

  • Beatrice’s Centre for Student Affairs, or, How I learned my mother was right about making art in a prairie town during the rise and fall of grunge music, InterAccess publications, 2008

GRANTS AND AWARDS

2021

  • 2021 Arts funding program, Project Funding, City of Ottawa (with 44.4 Mothers/Artists Collective)

2013

  • Shortlist, Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Fellowship in Contemporary Art, Concordia University (winner announced May)
  • Finalist, The Pitch, Nu Montreal, Montreal, QC (with teammates Ryan Schwartz and Alyssa Leibner)

2010

  • OAAG Education Award for Gallery 44’s Outreach Programme, Toronto, ON
  • SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), Canada
  • Concordia University Small Grant Programme, Concordia University

2009-11

  • Faculty of Fine Arts Fellowship, Concordia University

2009

  • Media Arts – Emerging, Ontario Arts Council

2008

  • Exhibition Assistance, Ontario Arts Council

2003

  • Western’s 125 Award for Innovation, University of Western Ontario
  • Highest Average in graduating class, BFA, University of Western Ontario

SELECTED WORK EXPERIENCE

2013-present

  • Program Officer, Visual Arts Section (to 2016), Prizes Section (current position), Canada Council for the Arts, Ottawa, ON

2012

  • Instructor, Artx 280 Winter Term, Concordia University, Montreal, QC

2011

  • Instructor, IMCA 230 Performance Art, Concordia University, Montreal, QC

2010-11

  • Teaching Assistant, Artx 280, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec

2009-10

  • Teaching Assistant, Sculpture 210, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec

2005-10

  • Photography Instructor, Gallery 44 Outreach Programme, Toronto, Ontario

2007-9

  • Assistant Curator/Public Programmes Manager, InterAccess Electronic Media Arts Centre, Toronto, Ontario

2005-7

  • Membership Coordinator/Administrative Assistant, InterAccess Electronic Media Arts Centre, Toronto, Ontario

2004-7

  • Photography Instructor, Regent Park Focus Media Arts Center, Toronto, Ontario

2004-6

  • Workshop Facilitator, National Film Board of Canada, Toronto, Ontario

2004

  • Internship, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy

2003

  • Teaching Assistant, Studio Arts 020, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario

2000-2003

  • Head Workshop Monitor, Sculpture Workshop, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
  • Art Gallery Technician, ArtLab Gallery, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario

CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE

2010

  • Oath of the Homunculi, co-curated with Alex Snukal, InterAccess Electronic Media Arts Centre, Toronto, Ontario

2008

  • Beatrice’s Centre for Student Affairs, or, How I learned my mother was right about making art in a prairie town during the rise and fall of grunge music, InterAccess Electronic Media Arts Centre, Toronto, Ontario
  • Jeu de Mémoire, Le Laboratoire, Toronto, Ontario

2007

  • beta series, InterAccess Electronic Media Arts Centre, Toronto, Ontario
  • Childish, Board of Trade/Right to Play, Toronto, Ontario

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2013

  • Saelan Twerdy’s Top 3 of 2013: New Views, Saelan Twerdy, C Magazine (online) 2013. Link
  • The Best of Canadian Art 2013, Sky Gooden, BLOUIN ARTINFO, 2013. Link
  • Interview, XX Files, CKUT Radio, Ricki-Lea Owens, Interviewer. May 29. 

2012

  • The Organization of art, Liz Crompton, Concordia University, Studio Arts, Link.

2011

  • Hot Jobs The Digital Art School, Special Section— Canadian Art Magazine, Winter 2010/11

2010

  • Five Notes: Five Fun Finds at the N.Y. Art Book Fair Bill Clarke, Magenta Magazine Online, Winter 2011, Volume 2, No. 1. 
  • A dizzying reminder of the fate of words in the e-book age R.M. Vaughn, The Globe and Mail, Review of Oath of the Homunculi Link. December 10, 2010
  • The Typography and Topology of Repetition, Michelle Bitran, Off the Map Webzine, November 4, 2010
  • Radio Canada, as part of an interview for the Foire d’art Alternatif de Sudbury, May 7, 2010 (en Français)

2008

  • Barrow, Tapper and Balcaen: Picture of a School — Art Exhibition, Canadian Art Online audio interview with Leah Sandals, Link, December 11, 2008
  • Free Range Radio Friday: TGIFR, UMFM radio interview with Michael Elves, for Beatrice’s Centre for Student Affairs, November 14, 2008
  • Akimblog, review by Terrence Dyck, November 13, 2008
  • Galley Going: Other World at Redbull 381 Projects, The Globe and Mail review by Gary Michael Dault, October 25, 2008

2007

  • Free Range Radio Friday: TGIFR, UMFM radio interview with Michael Elves, for 42 Days in 18 Ways, May 31, 2007
  • Art and Watercraft, Winnipeg Free Press, article by Morley Walker, June 7, 2007
  • Arts Visuels- Le Regard Lent, Television interview on TVA Quebec, November 16, 2007 (en Français)