Over the last couple years, my art and I have been featured in various places on the internet. Instead of extending my CV , I thought that a post with some of the links might be helpful. This is a chart of links that I compiled tonight. It is by no means complete but it gives a good sense of my emerging art career.
Po, a graduate of the Queen’s University BFAH (2019) program and BEd Concurrent Education (2020) program, moved her studio from Belleville, Ontario in the fall of 2022. During the pandemic, Po created her artworks in her high rise apartment. Her painting room overlooked the picturesque Bay of Quinte. The move was a difficult one to make but three factors necessitated the move.
Having been born in Belleville, Po grew up in the woods at her family’s cottage west of Tweed Ontario. From Tweed, she bussed into Belleville from grade 7 to grade 12. It was during these years that Po became part of the Bay of Quinte visual art scene. During her final B.Ed. year, she moved with her family to Belleville Ontario while retaining her Kingston, Bagot St, apartment. When the first lockdown happened in Ontario, Po and her family were separated, some in Belleville and some in Kingston. In fact, the day before the Pandemic announcement shut things down, Po was being trained to work at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. As part of her required alternative B.Ed. placement, Po was going to work on some programing initiatives. Since this opportunity was interrupted, Po was unable to work at the Agnes. In 2022, Po was contacted by the Agnes and invited to teach / lead some art courses. Since then, Po has lead mostly youth oriented art workshops.
The pandemic resulted in Po working at her Belleville studio full time. The week after her B.Ed. graduation in August 2020, Po was hired by the Algonquin Catholic District School Board to teach in the Online Remote School. So, in the apartment, Po created a sound proof room in which to teach for the year and another room for her art studio. Working from home meant that she was able to teach, create art, and take additional qualifications courses. Although the pandemic was really difficult for so many people, Po made the best of her situation.
Between March of 2020 and August 2023, Po’s art business and popularity flourished and because she could take additional University courses to expand the breadth of her teaching qualifications, Po secured herself a full-time contract with the ALCDSB. It is worthy to note that the Principal who hired her for the Remote Online School hired her for her current contract teaching position. Po teaches in both Kingston and Picton, Ontario.
The third reason to move to Kingston was to be close to her father’s physicians. Her father’s health condition necessitated the move. If you are not familiar with the geographical area, Belleville, Picton, Kingston all triangulate / flank the Bay of Quinte. They are about 40-70 minutes apart and access many of the same medical services. Kingston being the largest of the 3 medical centres. As well, the ALCDSB and the collective art scene serve Prince Edward County, Bay of Quinte, Kingston and the communities between them.
It was a busy 3 years for Po, as it was for many other people. Life changed and dictated the requirement to be versatile. That meant that Po needed to embrace the changes and move her studio to Kingston.
Portia “Po” Chapman Becomes Agnes Etherington Art Centre Art Educator
In September 2022, I was thrilled to receive an email from the Program Coordinator, Charlotte Gagnier, at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre (commonly called Agnes), inquiring if I would be interested in leading a couple of the gallery’s Creation Stations. Creation Stations at Agnes, are free family (with children ages 2+) arts days that occur once a month. Being a very family oriented artist, who views parents/guardians fostering and encouraging arts experimentation among their children from a young age, this was an opportunity that I was excited to be a part of. At first I was signed on for 3 Creation Station sessions in October, November, and December of 2022, and have now been signed on as Art Educator for more at Agnes. I just completed leading the art segment of Agnes’ Art and Sports March Break camp (in partnership with Queen’s ARC) and the March 2023 Creation Station, and I am signed on to lead the April 2023 Creation Station as well. I could not be more thrilled about working with Agnes!
Funny thing is, a full circle scenario has taken place to get to this point! In my final year of the Concurrent Bachelor of Education program at Queen’s University, I was scheduled to complete a 3-week long practicum placement in the programming department at Agnes during March 2020. I was super excited for this opportunity and was in the placement for 1 day, until… just think about the timing for a second… the next day the Covid-19 pandemic was officially declared, and I was not able to return to the placement.
During this placement, I was going to help run the March Break camp, but of course this did not happen. I thought for about 3 years that I lost this opportunity and my time at Agnes was not going to come. Fast forward to March 2023, and I have now lead the 2023 March Break Camp! It was always meant to be, but just not at that time. I live my life putting full trust into the Creator, never looking back, and THIS is what happens.
Keep reading below to learn more about my Art Educator experience at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, in Kingston, Ontario.
For Each Creation Station I have lead thus far, I have designed activities that use various art making skills that are attainable by 2 year olds up to adults, depending on how far the participant is able to or willing to take the possibilities. For each session, I prepare 3 different activities often involving making objects out of recycled cardboard, decoupage/collage, painting, printing, paper folding/quilling and other hands on crafty projects. Some activities have included using recycled cardboard to make small treasure boxes and decorative homes, collage scenery pictures, block printing using foam, and paper folded snowflakes to name a few of the activities and are often based on a theme such as the season during which the Creation Station takes place.
The March 2023 Creation Station took place on March 19, and was inspired by Springtime. Participants enjoyed making flower wreaths by cutting out and folding paper to make leaves and flowers, paper quilled trees, and spring themed still life paintings (based on a still life scene I set up).
For the 2023 Art segment of the Agnes March Break camp, I designed a week long project; Mixed Media Diorama making. The goal for this project, was that each camper would explore a wide variety of mediums and techniques throughout the piece by making small elements each day using a different medium or technique that come together at the end of the week to make a completed and cohesive diorama.
Throughout the week, campers learned new art terminology, used the creative process by creating a detailed plan with theme before beginning “the making” of their artwork, and explored diorama construction, watercolour techniques, paper mâché, paper quilling, clay sculpting, block printing, acrylic painting, scratchboard creation, and a 3D tissue paper craft. Campers enjoyed using a variety of mediums and techniques and leaving at the end of the week with completed dioramas.
On the last day of camp, most campers proudly stood in front of the group to present their completed dioramas, each with their own storyline and theme.
This was such a fun, memorable, and enjoyable program to lead!
2 weeks after completing my Bachelor of Education in August 2020 (Secondary School Teacher of Visual Art and First Nations, Metis and Inuit Studies) I secured my first teaching position.
I was planning on creating a new collection of woodcut prints inspired by the illustrations I did for Queen’s University, but my teaching position and Additional Teaching Qualification courses occupied my time.
In order to focus more on my artwork, I am teaching less this year (2021/22). As so many of us have found our lives altered by Covid-19, I have found a new breath of creative energy.
If there ever was a time to create, now is that time!
I will be posting more of my art process and documentation. Please continue to check in.
I have 3 projects that I have begun. Well, some of the materials have arrived. I’m really excited about this year.
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
portia@loveartbypo.ca
613-779-7975
Yay! I have finally completed my 5 year long Concurrent – Bachelor of Education (Artist in Community Education Concentration) program at Queen’s University! I have earned my two Intermediate – Senior teachable subjects in Visual Arts and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies. I have grown a lot since my start in the program in 2015. I was so happy to spend the final year of the program with my sister Jasmine (BEd – Communications Technology). Not many sisters get to do their BEd together. Many call us the “Sisters in Education!”
I am so grateful for my practical and theoretical knowledge gained over this degree journey. I can’t wait to start teaching this fall!
Po
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
portia@loveartbypo.ca
613-779-7975
This winter, as part of the Artist in Community Education Concentration at the Queen’s University Faculty of Education, we had the opportunity to host “Artings” in Duncan McArthur Hall. I chose to do a scratchboard event.
Basically, an arting is a brief art workshop, often only one night and for one art project. Our scratchboard arting was 45 minutes. Participants were able to start and finish their art pieces in this brief time together. It was so nice to see so many happy faces as participants left with their own finished artworks in hand.
Before participants left to mount their artworks at home, each participant received a certificate of completion. I can’t wait to host more artings this fall.
I would like to thank my supportive sister Jasmine Chapman (BEd CommTech) for photographing this event for me. Not many sisters get to do their BEd together – but we did!
I would like to thank my ACE professor Aynne Johnston for integrating this fun arting opportunity into our concentration. Artings are so fun, productive, and only take a short time to do. If we all took an hour to create each week/month, just imagine how we could beautify our world together.
Po
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
portia@loveartbypo.ca
613-779-7975
When it comes to being a performance artist, one needs to let life happen. I find it thrilling when the audience become the actors. To me, performance art reveals life in real time. What happens around the artist is just as important to the craft as the artist herself.
For Christmas a couple years ago I thought: “Hmmm… The star is going to be the turkey at Nanny’s Christmas supper.”
So I set up the camera on a tripod and videoed our family helping themselves during our meal. When I viewed the footage, I felt really sorry for the turkey so I wrote a song to honour it. Coming from a very musical family, it was so much fun bringing the new song, “Turkey,” to life. The song is so catchy, every now and then, we suddenly start singing or humming it. How funny is that?!
Portia Chapman’s Performance Art Video: “Turkey”
I submitted “Turkey” to the Union Gallery video gala but it was not chosen. I think that they would have really enjoyed it because if you have ever eaten a holiday turkey, you can relate to this real experience. Although this video was not chosen, another performance art video of mine was featured at the show.
Portia Chapman’s Performance Art Video: “Rolling on Campus: An Odyssey of Courage”
Rolling on Campus was a hit. It features me rolling around on the ground and steps at Queen’s University. The camera was hidden the entire time. It is a very emotional performance art. It illustrates how a person can be overlooked in a crowd. When I set out that day to roll, I had no idea how the students would react to me on the ground. From this experience, I learned that there are times in life when we must find strength and get up because there won’t be someone there to help you. I found a strength I never thought I had.
Keep looking out for more performance art!
Po
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
portia@loveartbypo.ca
613-779-7975
The following screenshot is from the Indigenous Initiatives Website.
Hi! I was really excited to notice that my artwork has been published on the new Queen’s University Office of Indigenous Initiatives Website! Portia Chapman Illustrations Page on Queen’s University Office of Indigenous Initiatives Website
It was a really rewarding and enjoyable project. I began the process in August 2019. As a visual artist with Indigenous ancestry on both sides of my family, it was an honour to develop these illustrations that feature traditions across Canada. I began the process with the 7 Grandfather Teachings and then continued from there forward.
I look forward to new art commissions. If you are seeking an artistic illustrator, I can be contacted at loveartbypo@gmail dot com .
Po
Update: On July 14, 2020, the Queen’s University Faculty of Education newsletter featured my illustrations from the Indigenous Initiatives website. I hope that this exposure brings more attention to the Queen’s University Indigenous Initiatives website.
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
portia@loveartbypo.ca
613-779-7975
Love Art by Po 