Allyson Mitchell

Education
1998- present
  • Ph.D., Graduate Programme in Women’s Studies, York University, ABD
1996-1998
  • M.A., Women’s Studies, York University
1998-1995.A
  • Honours Double major in Women’s Studies and English, York University
Affiliations
June 1997 – January 2005
  • Pretty, Porky and Pissed Off, performance and activist group. co-founder and member
December 1996- present
  • The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto, Full member.
July 2001 – July 2003
  • Trinity Square Video, Board of Directors, Secretary, Toronto ON.
December 1999 – January 2002
  • Bucky and Fluff’s Craft Factory, community and individual arts project with Lex Vaughn.
Artist Residencies
March-May, 2004
  • Trinity Square Video, Toronto ON, “Eat”, Themed Commission Program
April 20 – June 07, 2003
  • Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff Alberta. “Big Rock Candy Mountain”
Solo Exhibitions
2005
  • “Lady Sasquatch” Paul Petro Contemporary Art, Toronto ON
  • “Big Trouble” CBC Atrium, Canadian Art Foundation, Toronto ON
2004
  • “The Fluff Stands Alone” Paul Petro Contemporary Art, Toronto ON.
Selected Collaborative Exhibitions
2005
  • “Feels Like a Natural Woman” with Whitney Lee, The Cecille R. Hunt Gallery, Webster University, St. Louis, MO
  • “Sweet Shit”with the Bossy Bitches Collective, Lennox Contemporary, Toronto ON
2004
  • “Double CHIN Picnic” with Christina Zeidler, RM Vaughan, Andrew Harwood, Katherine Mulherin Art Projects, Toronto ON
2003
  • “Halfway Across Canada” with Christina Zeidler The Other Gallery, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff AB
  • “Found and Familiar” Bucky and Fluff’s Craft Factory, Saving Grace Cafe, Toronto, ON
2002
  • “Deliverance From Disaster” Bucky and Fluff’s Craft Factory, Paul Petro Contemporary Art, Toronto, ON
  • “Flea Market Freak Out” Bucky and Fluff’s Craft Factory, 1080 Bus Gallery, Toronto, ON
  • “You are Never Alone” Bucky and Fluff’s Craft Factory, Mitzi’s Sister Craft, Toronto, ON
2001
  • “Rumpus Room” Bucky and Fluff’s Craft Factory, Bus Gallery, Toronto, ON
2000
  • “Lucky Charms” Bucky and Fluff’s Craft Factory, Bus Gallery, Toronto, ON
Selected Group Exhibitions
2005
  • “Blame Canada”, Harvey Levine Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
  • “Bedknobs and Broom Sticks”, Zsa Zsa Gallery, Toronto, ON
  • “Pot Modern” Zsa Zsa Gallery, Toronto, ON
  • “Extra/Ordinary” The Cube at Beco, Kansas City, MO
  • “Beyond/In Western New York”, Squeaky Wheel/Albright Knox Museum, Buffalo, NY
  • “Making History” The qu-Art Gallery, Toronto, ON
  • “Sweet Shit”, Lennox Gallery, Toronto ON
  • “Come Up To My Room Alternative Design Show” Gladstone Hotel, Toronto ON
  • “Stitch or Swallow” Here Gallery, Bristol UK
2004
  • “Christmas Spice” Paul Petro Contemporary Gallery, Toronto ON
  • “Propagandista” Toronto Free Gallery, Toronto ON
  • “Deep Lez Craft Den” Toronto Alternative Arts Fair International, Toronto ON
  • “Beaver Fever”, Sis Boom Bah, Toronto ON
  • “The End of The Line”, Soap Factory, Minneapolis, MN
  • “Second Base”, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON,
  • “Self Publish or Perish” Open Space Arts Society, Victoria, B C
2003
  • Canzine Independent Publication and Art Fair, Toronto, ON
  • “Come Up to my Room Alternative Design Show” Gladstone Hotel, Toronto ON
2002
  • “Crafts Crafts Crafts”, Zsa Zsa Gallery, Toronto, ON
  • Canzine Independent Publication and Art Fair, Toronto, ON
  • “Drawing Dissent”, Art System, Toronto, ON
  • “DocuLomo” Gallery TPW, Toronto, ON
  • “Cut and Paste Zine and Craft Fair”, Toronto, ON
  • “Believe in the Good of Life” West Wing Gallery, Toronto, ON
2001
  • “Thin Lezzie”, Zsa Zsa Gallery, Toronto, ON
  • “Breakfast of Champeens”, Paul Petro Gallery, Toronto, ON
1999
  • “Selfish Slaves of Zines and Animation”, A Space Gallery, Toronto, ON
Selected Film & Video Works
  • Foodie, 8 min, 35MM, with Fiona Smyth (in progress)
  • Unca Trans, 3 min, Super8/video, 2005 with C. Zeidler (in progress)
  • Free! Bake! Sale, 3 min, video, 2004 A. Mitchell
  • Big Trubs, 3 min, Super 8/video, 2004 A. Mitchell
  • If Anyone Should Happen To Get In My Way, 5 min, 16mm, 2003 A. Mitchell & C. Zeidler.
  • Glitter, 1 min, 16mm, 2003 A. Mitchell & C. Zeidler.
  • Hideous Monster, 1 min, Super8/video, 2003, A. Mitchell.
  • Sicker Lover, 1 min, 16mm, 2003, A. Mitchell.
  • Precious Little Tiny Love, 3 min, Super 8/video, 2003, A. Mitchell.
  • Mayo Jar, 3 min, Super 8/Video, experimental, 2003 Allyson Mitchell..
  • The Big To-Do, 16mm, animation, 2003. Allyson Mitchell and Lex Vaughn.
  • Believe, 1 min, Super 8/Video, 2002. Allyson Mitchell and Lex Vaughn.
  • Frisbee Ya Ya. video installation, 2002. Allyson Mitchell.
  • Inside Out Trailer, festival trailer, Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film Festival of Toronto, 2002
  • Pink-Eyed Pet, animation, 3 min, Super8/Video, 2002. Allyson Mitchell and Lex Vaughn.
  • Bon Bon. animation, 4 min, 16mm, 2001. Allyson Mitchell and Lex Vaughn.
  • Video Killed the Rodeo Star. video installation, 2001.
  • My Life in 5 Minutes. 4 min. computer animation, 2000. Director, writer, producer, Allyson
  • Candy Kisses. Animation, 2.5 min, 16mm, 1999, Allyson Mitchell. Best Animation Award at Planet Out’s Queer Short Film Awards.
  • T.V. Did This To Me. Animation, 2.5 min, 16mm, colour, 1999, Allyson Mitchell
  • Cupcake. Animation, 2.5 min, Super 8/video, 1998, Allyson Mitchell.
  • Don’t Bug Me. Animation,1min,16mm,colour,1997. Allyson Mitchell.
  • Chow Down. , 3 min, Super8/video, 1997. Allyson Mitchell.
Selected Screenings
Gallery
  • A Space Gallery
  • Andy Warhol Museum
  • Neutral Ground
  • qu-Art Centre
  • Spin Gallery
  • Walker Art Centre
Film Fests.
  • Splice This! Super 8 Film Festival
  • Rendevous with Madness Film Festival
  • Images Festival of Independent Film and Video
  • Rehab Film Festival
  • Planet In Focus Environmental Film Festival
  • Brampton Indie Arts Festival
  • Hysteria Women Arts Festival
  • Freunde Der Deutschen Kinemathek E.V.
Queer Film Fests.
  • Calgary
  • Kingston
  • Montreal
  • Regina
  • Toronto
  • Vancouver
  • Winnipeg
  • Austin
  • Boise
  • Boston
  • Denver
  • Honolulu
  • Los Angeles
  • New York
  • Philadelphia
  • Portland OR
  • Rochester
  • San Antonio
  • San Francisco
  • Washington D.C
  • Auckland
  • Barcelona
  • Berlin
  • Bologna
  • Brazil
  • Brisbane
  • Dublin
  • Finland
  • Freiberg
  • Hamburg
  • London
  • Madrid
  • Melbourne
  • Milan
  • New Zealand
  • Tokyo
  • Vienna
  • Western Australia
Special Screenings
  • Pleasure Dome New Toronto Works Show
  • Buffalo Media Resource Centre
  • Cinecycle
  • Strange Sisters
  • Centre for Art Tapes Halifax
  • Gerte Institute
  • Cineworks
  • Video Pool
  • Super 8 CINE club
  • LIFT
Web
  • 120seconds.com
  • CBCRadio3.com
  • ZedTV.com
Institutions
  • Mac Master University
  • Ontario College of Art and Design
  • Trent University
  • York University
  • Waterloo University
  • University of Toledo
  • University of Illinois
  • Northwestern University
  • Washington University
  • Southern Oregon University
  • Macalester College
Tours
  • Satan McNugget Roadshow
  • Queer city Cinema
  • Women In the Director’s Chair (9th annual, Les/Bi film)
  • Images Festival Educational Tour
Retrospectives
2003
  • Freeshow Seymour New Works, Film Screening: Pleasure Dome, Toronto, ON
2002
  • The Allyson Mitchell Power Hour, Video Screening: Lady Fest, Toronto
Selected Performance
2004
  • “Canadiana Dolly” 7a11d fundraiser, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto ON. August 15, 2004.
  • “Down Slim Road Show” NOLOSE conference, Cherry Hill, NJ, July 09, 2004
  • “Big Judy” Girl Friday Crashes Glass Ceiling, Mayworks Cabaret, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, To ON, May 07, 04.
  • “Big Judy” Feminist Studies Symposium, York University, April 23, 2004
  • “Big Judy” Mayworks in the Schools, George Brown, Casa Loma, March 25, 04
2003
  • “Super Size Night” Thornloe University Theatre, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON. November 30, 2003
  • “Pizza Box Projectiles”, Pleasure Dome, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON, Oct 25, 2003
  • “Well Well Well” Fem Cab, Theatre Passe Murraille, Toronto, ON. March 23, 2003
2002
  • “Double Double” Mix Festival of Underground Lesbian and Gay Film and Video, New York City, November 23, 2002.
  • “Double Double” Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, ON, November 09, 2002
  • “Wide Load” , Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, ON. June 28, 2002
  • “Visions in White” Strange Sisters, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, ON. June 21, 2002
  • “Variety Show” Inside Out Festival of Lesbian and Gay Film and Video, Traxx, Toronto, ON. May 20 2002
  • “Chunky Cheerleaders” Clit Lit: May Works, The Red Room, Toronto, ON. May 06, 2002
  • “Move It Fatty” March of Dames, The Second City, Toronto, ON. March 23, 2002
  • “Move It Fatty” Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto, ON. March 10, 2002
2001
  • “Wide Side Story” The Second City, Toronto, ON. Dececber 12, 2001
  • “Wide Side Story” Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, ON. Sept 26 2001
  • “Wide Side Story” Anatomic Caf_, Festival of Film and Dance, Rivoli, Toronto, ON. Sept 26, 01
  • “Livin’ La Vida Porka!”, Chubbalicious, 360 Club, Toronto, ON. June 13, 2001
  • “Baby Elephant Walk”, Nightwood Theatre’s Fem Cab, St. Lawerence Centre for the Arts, Toronto ON, March 04, 2001.
  • “Baby Elephant Walk”, Blubber, River Run Centre, Guelph ON, February 05, 2001.
2000
  • “Roller Princess”, Strange Sisters, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, ON. June 16 2000
1999
  • “We Get Hungry Too” Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, ON. March 26 1999
1998
  • “Wide Load” Strange Sisters, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, ON. October 12 1998
Employment History
2005-2006
  • Course Director WMST 4508.06 “Young Feminisms: Gender and Generationin Contemporary Feminist Activism” York University, Toronto ON
  • Course Director HUMA 3980 6.0 “Popular Culture in the 20th Century”, York University, Toronto, ON
  • Course Director WMST 3505.03 “Gender in the City”, York University, Toronto ON
2004-2005
  • Course Director WMST 3537.06 “Feminist Action: Strategies for Social Change”, York University, Toronto, ON
  • Tutor 1, WMST 2600.60 “Introduction to Critical Sexualities”, York University, Toronto, ON
  • Course Director HUMA 3980 6.0 “Popular Culture in the 20th Century”, York University, Toronto, ON
2002- 2004
  • Course Director. WMST 4508 6.0 “Gender and Generation: Young Feminisms” York University, Toronto, ON
2001- 2002
  • Tutor 1. WMST 2510.9.0 “On Women: An Introduction to Women’s Studies”, York University, Toronto, ON
1998 – 2001
  • Tutor 1. AS/SOSC 1185.9.0 "Women and Society" York University, Toronto, ON
1997-1998
  • Graduate Assistant to the Graduate Women’s Studies Student Association, York University, Toronto, ON
  • Graduate Assistant to Professor Susan Ehrlich, Chair, School of Women’s Studies, York University, Toronto, ON
1996 -1997
  • Graduate Assistant, Centre for Feminist Research, York University, Toronto, ON
Academic Scholarships
2000-2002
  • Doctoral Fellowship Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada
1997-1999
  • Dean of Graduate Studies’ Academic Excellence Scholarship, York University
1998-1999
  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship Ontario Ministry of Education and Training, Student Affairs.
  • York Scholarship Senate Committee on Scholarships and Student Assistance and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Non-Academic Grants and Awards
2005
  • Artist Film and Video, Toronto Arts Council, with Fiona Smyth
  • Artist Film and Video, Ontario Arts Council, with Fiona Smyth
2004
  • L.I.F.T (The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto) Film Production Grant
  • Chalmers Fellowship Award, with Fiona Smyth
  • Theatre Grant, Toronto Arts Council, with Pretty Porky and Pissed Off
2003
  • Creation Program Grant, Canada Council for the Arts, with Pretty Porky and Pissed Off
2002
  • Cultural Production Grant, The Lesbian And Gay Community Appeal of Toronto.
  • L.I.F.T. (The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto), Film Production Grant
2000
  • Planet Out Short Film Awards, Best Animation
1999
  • L.I.F.T. (The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto), Film Production Grant.
1998
  • Trinity Square Youth Video Initiative, with Kensington Youth Theater and Employment Services
  • Cultural Production Grant, The Lesbian And Gay Community Appeal of Toront
Selected Publications
  • Mitchell, A. 2005, “Recovered Heart” Success and Recovery, Instant Coffee: 20.
  • Mitchell, A 2004 “Porky” D. Kulick & A. Meneley (Eds) Fat: The Anthropology of an Obsession (New York: Penguin)
  • Mitchell, A & L. Karaian 2004 “Young Feminisims” N. Mandell (Ed), Feminist Issues 3rd Edition, (Toronto: Pearson Education).
  • Mitchell, A 2002 “Cellulite” & “Always Hungry” (Illustrations) C. Brushwood Rose & A.Camilleri (Eds) Brazen Femme: Queering
  • Femininity (Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press).
  • Mitchell, A & A Slone 2002 “Fat and Femme: or Squeezing a Whole Lot of Identity into One Pair of Control Top Nylons”, C.
  • Brushwood Rose & A.Camilleri (Eds) Brazen Femme: Queering Femininity (Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press).
  • Mitchell, A & L. Rundle, L. Karaian, Eds. 2001 Turbo Chicks: Talking Young Feminisms (Toronto: Sumach Press).
  • Mitchell, A 2001“The Writing’s On the Wall: Feminist and Lesbian Graffiti as Cultural Production ”, A. Mitchell, L. Rundle & L. Karaian (Eds) Turbo Chicks: Talking Young Feminisms (Toronto: Sumach Press).
  • Mitchell, A. 2001 “They Notice When Little Sister is Sticking It to Big Brother”, Canadian Woman Studies. 20/21 (4/1): 61-62.
  • Mitchell, A. 2000 “Fat Teen Diary”, Fireweed: A feminist quarterly of writing, politics, art & culture. 67 (1): 13-17.
  • Mitchell, A 2000 (Ed.) L.I.F.T (Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto) Newsletter Animation Issue: 20 (2): March/April.
  • Mitchell, A. 1999. “Animation is For Everyone”, LIFT (Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto) Newsletter. 19 (2): 10-11.
Selected Conference Presentations
2002
  • “Young Women and Feminist Activism”* Key Note Address, Mount St. Vincent University Halifax, NS.
2001
  • “After The Glamour Fades: Grass Roots Activism”*Persistent Vision Conference, Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA.
  • “Corporeographies of Chub: Fat Women in Tiny Places”, McGill University, Montreal, PQ.
  • “Taking it to the Streets: A Legacy of Young Women’s Activism”, , Universit_ Laval, Quebec City, PQ.
  • “Busting At the Seams: Big Women Performing Fat Bodies” Universit_ Laval, Quebec City, PQ.
1999
  • "Graffiti Girls Making Queer Culture Under the Radar", New York University, New York City.
  • "Lesbian graffiti and sub-cultural anxiety attacks: reading, spraying, methodology," Leicester University, England.
Consultations & In-Service Workshops
2002
  • Workshop: “Fighting Negative Body Image”, Young Women’s Conference. Toronto District School Board. Ontario Institute For Studies in Education, April 23-25.
  • “Fat Activism and Size Acceptance” National Eating Disorder Information Centre panel for National Eating Disorder Awareness Day, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Toronto, ON, February 05.
2001
  • “Size Acceptance and Body Image”, University of Toronto Women’s Centre Day Camp for Young Women, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, July 09.
2000
  • “Do-it-yourself feminism: how to promote feminism with little or no money” Trent University, Peterborough, ON, March 23.
  • Co-facilitated workshops with S.W.Y.M (Squeegee Working Youth in Motion) teaching video production. Toronto, ON.
1998
  • “Do-It-Yourself Filmmaking”. Up Your Arts, Toronto, ON, Feb 20.
Undergraduate and Non-Academic Lecturing
2005
  • Artist Talk, Dept of Visual Arts, York University, Toronto ON
  • Artist Talk, Dept of Visual Arts, Concordia University, Montreal Quebec
  • Artist Talk, Dept of Visual Arts, Wilfred Laurier University, Kitchener Ontario
  • Artist Talk, Dept of Women’s Studies and Film Studies, MacMaster University, Hamilton ON
  • Artist Talk, Dept of Women’s Studies and Cultural Studies, Trent University, Peterborough ON
  • “Pretty Porky and Pushing the Boundaries of Academic Inquiry”, Women’s Studies, Trent University Peterborough ON
2004
  • “Deep Lez”, Feminism and Contemporary Art Panel, Toronto Alternative Art Fair International Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON
2003
  • “Using Your Body to Make Social Change” Myths and Mirrors Youth Theatre Group, Sudbury
  • Panel: Morality and Art, Art in the Dark Lecture Series, Weeworks, Toronto, ON
2002
  • Lecture: “The Body as a Gateway to Politics,” Simone De Beauvoir Institute, Concordia University, Montreal PQ
  • Lecture: “Artist Talk and Queer Independent Filmmaking” Topics in National Cinemas II, McMaster University, The School of the Arts, Hamilton, ON
  • Lecture: “Artist Talk and the Politics of Craft” Textile Department, Seneca College, Toronto, ON
  • “Artist Talk and the Politics of Craft” Sketch Centre for Marginalized Youth and the Arts, Toronto ON
  • Lecture: “Young Women and Body Activism”, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON
  • Lecture: “Queer Independent Filmmaking in Canada” Comp Lit 3VV3, Topics in National Cinemas II, McMaster University, The School of the Arts, Hamilton, ON
  • Lecture: “Questioning Normal Bodies” WMST 2510 9.0 On Women, York University, Toronto, ON
2001
  • Tutor 1, WMST 2510 9.0 On Women, Division of Humanities, York University, Toronto, ON
Film and Video Teaching
2004
  • Mentor, Inside Out Queer Youth Mentoring Project, Toronto ON
2003
  • Co-facilitator, camera less animation workshop “Let’s Get Messy”, LIFT
2000
  • Assisted with the instruction and organizing of video production workshops with at-risk youth through SWYM (Squeegee Working Youth in Motion).
1999
  • Facilitation of workshops and production schedules for street involved youth working with KYTES (Kensington Youth Theatre and Employment Services).
1998
  • Animation Workshop. Instructed 6 queer youth on how to make an animated film, operate a super 8 camera, video edit their films and self-distribute to film festivals.
  • Regent Park 3 Minute Rock Star. With co-producer Jane Farrow, instructed members of the Regent Park Youth Group how to organize and actualize their film ideas and how to operate a super 8 camera.
1997
  • 3 Minute Rock Star, with co-producer Jane Farrow, instructed 40 first time filmmakers how to operate a super 8 camera and shoot a film.
Reviews
  • “Wild and Wooly” Globe and Mail, Sarah Milroy, Sept 23, 2005
  • “That’s Ms. Sasquatch to You” National Post, RM Vaughan, Sept 17, 2005
  • “Sexing the Sasquatch” Now Magazine, Kevin Temple, Sept 15-21, 2005
  • “Bright Lights” The Toronto Star Arts & Entertainment December 26, 2004
  • “Making Her Mark: Allyson Mitchell” Shameless Magazine Fall 2004
  • “Allyson Mitchell: Fun Fur Feminism” Canadian Art Summer 2004, Volume 21, Number 2
  • “Fluff: Allyson Mitchell’s Art Makes Fun Fur Fun and Sexy” Xtra: Toronto’s Gay and Lesbian Weekly No 502, January 22, 2004.
  • “Allyson Mitchell on Fear, Fat, Funk and Feminism” Good Girl Magazine Summer 2003, Issue 5.
  • “The Big Fat Revolutionary” Saturday Night Magazine February 10, 2001