Rose-Ann Marie Bailey, B.F.A., (Honours), B.Ed., M.Ed.

I’m a Jamaican born artist who began using photography as a medium to document alternative images of Black people than those offered by the mainstream media. I’m a graduate of York University where I completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) and an Education degree, as well as a Masters in Education. My research centres on the use of arts-based community research as health intervention for low socio-economic communities.

I interpret personal observations, the vulnerability of my subject’s body image, gender identity and sexuality, through a post-colonial identity construction and health equity lens. My discursive and figural production on the visual representation for non-conforming racialized sexual and gender identities emotionally interrupts the media’s narrow assumptions about Black men and women’s personhood.

As an accomplished photographer and artist, I have been working in a digital format for the past ten years, but instill the aesthetics of a historical photographic foundation to enhance the final production. My work is closely connected to my passion for image production of Black bodies, as this was my deliberate opportunity to capture memories, validate existence and build self-esteem, therefore, allowing the images of my subjects to become a political instrument, rewriting representation.

I bring over fifteen years experience working within several community-based AIDS Service Organizations and community health centres in Ontario. Working as a Health Educator/Promoter and a Youth Program Coordinator in two lower socio-economic communities has provided me with a holistic understanding of socio-cultural factors shaping racialized and marginalized populations’ health practices.

My skills as a sexual health educator have enabled me to develop imaginative behavioural change tools to open participant’s minds and culturally challenge assumptions around sex and sexuality. My ability to integrate educational theatre and role-playing exercises has enhanced youth’s communication and analytical skills as they pertain to peer pressure, safer sex negotiations and communication skills.

Artist CV

EDUCATION

Present Masters of Education York University – Toronto, Ontario
Research: Investigating the need for culturally relevant health education for racialized and marginalized youth residing in Priority Communities

2002 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) York University – Toronto, Ontario
Major: Visual Arts (Computer Graphic Design and Photography)

2002 Bachelor of Education York University – Toronto, Ontario
Major: Junior/Intermediate Division, Concurrent Education Program

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2016 Certificate in Digital Health Promotion Health Leadership & Learning Network, York University, Toronto, Ontario

AWARDS

2007 Ontario Arts Council, $5,000.00 Emerging Artist Grant

PUBLICATIONS

2016 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Book Project (Toronto)

2014 Jamaica Biennial 2014 Catalog, National Gallery of Jamaica (Jamaica, West Indies)

2015 Feminist Art Conference Publication, Shadeism Panel Discussion (Cambridge Scholars Publishing)

2014 Elusive Icons (Black Doll Exhibition catalog), Photographs chronicling the evolution of Black dolls

2012 Art.Recognition.Culture  (ARC) Journal, The Bittersweet Performance of Histories, Dr. Andil Gosine (Images), Issue#8 November 2013

2010 Black Families and Friends Campaign (BFF), A social marketing campaign to improve the lives of GLBTQ African and Caribbean youth and their families

2003 Women Lovin’ Women: Healthy • Sex • Life: Health guide for Lesbian and Bi-sexual women (AIDS Committee of Toronto)

1998 Anthology of African Photographers (Shades of Identity), Revue Noire (Paris)

1997 Revue Noire #25: African Canadian Photography: Journal of African Contemporary Art, Revue Noire (Paris)

1997 From the Streets: New Vision for the Millennium. CELAFI: Festival (Toronto)

1997 At the Crossroads: A Journal for Women Artists of African Descent: Issue #8 (Toronto)

1995 Black Girl Talk, Sister Vision Press (Toronto)

EXHIBITION SOLO

2014 BLK Ken & Barbie: The Dis-Identification Performance, ArtSpace/ Daniels Spectrum (Toronto)

2013 The BLK Barbie Project, BAND Gallery (Toronto)

2013 The BLK Barbie Project, Robert Langen Art Gallery, (Waterloo)

2013 The BLK Barbie Project, Artist Talk – Dr. Carol Duncan, (Wilfred Laurie University (Waterloo)

2013 The Evolution of Dancehall Culture in Toronto, Leisa Bailey, Fourth Eye Gallery, Curator: (Toronto)

2009 Femme Fatale: A Body Transformation Project, Trane Studio (Toronto)

1998 BLKMAIL Photo Exhibition, 52 Inc. Café (Toronto)

EXHIBITION GROUP

2014-15 Jamaica Biennial 2014, National Gallery of Jamaica (Jamaica, West Indies)

2014 Feminist Art Conference 2014, Group Show Beaver Hall Gallery, OCAD University (Toronto)

2014 Feminist Art Conference 2014, Panel Discussion, “Transcending Boundaries – Standing Out and Taking Up Space” OCAD University  (Toronto)

2003 “runLOMOrun” “Self Images” York Quay Centre Gallery (Toronto)

2000 Portrait Africa, A Century of Photographic Standpoints, Group Exhibition (Germany)

1998-2000 Anthology of African Photographers/Revue Noire (Traveling Exhibition)

1999 Anacostia Museum Smithsonian Institute (Washington DC)

1999 South African National Gallery (South Africa)

1998 Pinacoteca de Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil)

1998 La Maison Européenne de la Photographic (Paris)

1997 From the Streets: New Vision for the Millennium. CELAFI, A-Space Gallery (Toronto)

1995 Masala, York University, Student Centre Art Gallery (Toronto)

1994 By, About and For, CFNY Radio Galley Space (Toronto)

1994 Pride Through Our Eyes, York University, Student Centre Art Gallery (Toronto)