DEBORAH
SEARS
HELLO I'M DEBORAH
I'm a Psychology Ph.D. Candidate
ABOUT ME
DISTANT Past
RECENT Past
PRESENT
I was a practicing registered psychologist in clinical psychology, research psychology, and counseling psychology in Alberta, for twenty-two years, working with adults, the elderly,
the dying, and their families.
I began my career as a social worker with a desire to work with the elderly, and later, I became registered in Alberta specializing in community development, program evaluation, and social research.
I was always an artist, but after studying art for 3 years at high school, I gave up art to pursue a career "with a future".
After retiring from the practice of psychology, I reacquainted myself with my inner artist.
Ten years ago, I returned to university, this time, to study fine art.
I have now completed a bachelor of fine art, a bachelor of arts in visual arts, and a
master of arts in fine art.
Today, I am a Ph.D. candidate in psychology at York University. I am intent on completing this degree that I left "incomplete" 35 years ago.
This time, I wish to combine my love for conducting social and psychological research, with my love of fine art,
specifically, 20th century Modern art.
I am intrigued by research and critical thinking in psychology and research and critical studies in fine art.
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PORTFOLIO
DEBORAH SEARS
Biographical Sketch
Deborah Sears. Female. Canadian. Currently working on a doctorate in psychology at York University, on the subject of mattering and anti-mattering; supervisor, Gordon L. Flett. Artist and social scientist in the field of adult development and aging. Recipient, E.J. Hughes Award of Excellence for Painting and Drawing (2015); Art & Design Award of Excellence in Watercolour Painting (2009). Author/presenter, over forty scholarly research papers and numerous artist talks including, Art Research Methods: The Artist Interview. Author, five art publications including, Blanket Statement, Canadian Quilter Magazine. Over twenty-five solo exhibitions in Canada and England including, Good Fences Make Good Neighbours (2015-17) Women’s Art Museum of Canada. Numerous group exhibitions in Canada, The Netherlands, Germany, and England including, The World Of Portraits, Priestman Gallery, curated by Eric Bainbridge and James Hutchison. Represented in many private and public collections in Canada, United States, England, Germany, and The Netherlands, including, Loaves and Fishes (2017) Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria BC. Written about in catalogues, newspapers and online publications, and interviewed on television.
Art works generally follow the genre of abstract levels of creativity and depict the social psychological development of adults - intimacy, generativity, integrity/wisdom (Erik Erickson, psychologist/psychoanalyst); the spiritual, nonmaterial things such as creativity in the visual arts (Benjamin Spock, pediatrician/psychiatrist); or the universal, wherein the largest fraction of the overall mass of the universe, is invisible (Vera Rubin, observational astronomer).
Education
2017-Present Doctorate of Philosophy in Psychology, York University, Toronto ON.
2016 Master of Arts (Merit) in Fine Art, University of Sunderland, England.
2015 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Visual Arts, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC.
2011 Bachelor of Fine Art, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Courtney & Vancouver BC
2009 Diploma (Honours) in Fine Arts, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo BC.
1979 Master of Science in Research Psychology, University of Calgary, Alberta.
1977-78 Special Post-Graduate Student in Psychology, Bedford College, University of London, England.
1975 Bachelor of Social Work in Community Development, University of Calgary, Alberta.
DEBORAH SEARS
Ph.D. Candidate in Psychology
Artist: Painter and Printmaker
Experience
2017-2018
- Teaching Assistantship, Critical Thinking in Psychology, York University, Toronto ON
- Executive Committee, Psychology Graduate Students' Association(PGSA), York University, Toronto ON
- PGSA Representative to the Council of Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University, Toronto ON
2017
- Artist talk, Good Fences Make Good Neighbours, Women’s Art Museum of Canada
- Artist talk, Art Research Methods: The Artist Interview, VIU CREATE 2017, Celebration of Research Excellence and Transfer Event, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo BC
- Attended to the gallery and worked in the studio, Atelier Kloozterziel for 10 days during the artist/owner’s absence, Utrecht NL
- Lived and worked for 8 weeks with chatelaine, M. Kroese, at the Fundatie van deVrijvrouwe van Renswoude te Utrecht NL
- Study travel, one week in Northeast England. Visited medieval sites, museums, and art galleries from Hadrian’s Wall to Lindisfarne/Holy Island to Durham Cathedral and Castle
- Art Careers and Curation, directed study with Justin McGrail, Ph.D. 14 weeks, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo BC
2016
- Artist talk, Abstract, Not Accident, One White Wall Project, Elevation Gallery, Canmore AB
- Artist talk, Art Research Methods: The Artist Interview, Education and Society Postgraduate Research Group Conference, Critical Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches To Research, David Goldman Informatics Centre, Sunderland University, Sunderland UK
- Managed the preview hospitality committee and monitored exhibition interpretation rotations, for the MA final exhibition, Launch, Priestman Building, Sunderland University, UK
- Study travel, one year in Northeast England
- En Plein Air, a joint project with the Town of Canmore and the City of Calgary, Canmore AB
2015
- Artist talk, What Do I Care? VIU CREATE 2015, Celebration of Research Excellence and Transfer Event, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo BC
- Curated, Sourcing Happiness, artist, Artist Alison Tang, VIU Malaspina Campus, Nanaimo BC
- Student Curatorial Assistant, Progressions 2015, curators Gregory Ball and Jason Gress, Nanaimo Art Gallery (VIU Campus) Nanaimo BC
- Graduating student’s curatorial team, Explorations 2015, curator Jane Cole, Nanaimo Art Gallery (VIU Campus) Nanaimo BC
- Study travel, one week, Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Vancouver Island University Field Study, one week in New York City, New York USA
- Study travel, Tate Modern, London, England, Agnes Martin: A Retrospective
- Studies In Museology, directed study with Justin McGrail, Ph.D. 14 weeks, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo BC
2014
- Artist talk, When Did You First Notice? VIU CREATE 2014, Celebration of Research Excellence and Transfer Event, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo BC
- Artist talk, When Does It Count As Art? VIU CREATE 2014, Celebration of Research Excellence and Transfer Event, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo BC
- Published article, Blanket Statement, The Canadian Quilter Magazine, Autumn 2014 p. 80
- Published article, A Look At The Canadian Recruit in Snapshot of Nanaimo: 1914, A Fragmentary Look At A City In Conflict, Nanaimo Archives, pp. 26-38, Nanaimo BC
- Published article, Blanket Statement: No Shame In Patches, S.H.E. Sharing Her Experience edited by Kristine van Eyk, W.A.M. Volume 1, Issue 1, pp. 22-23
- Published article, My ‘Do-Over’ Career In Art, S.H.E. Sharing Her Experience, Art and photographs by Deborah Sears, edited by Kristine van Eyk, W.A.M. Volume 1, Issue 1, pp. 15-16
- Curated, Blanket Statement: No Shame In Patches, artist Gloria S. Daly, Concert Gallery, McMillan Arts Centre, Parksville BC
- Study travel, Copenhagen, Denmark, one week focusing on post-WWII artists
- Papierfabriek de Middelste Molen, Work/study in artist papermaking with miller, Piet Zegers, and paper artist, Claudia Eikendal, Loenen NL
2013
- Artist talk, When Does It Count As Art? Empact at Studio C Prospect, Calgary AB
- Artist talk, When Does This Count As Art? Art Central Loop, Calgary AB
- Artist talk, Palimpsest: Disappearing Landscapes, Canmore Art Guild Gallery, Canmore AB
- Published book, House, Tree, Person. Drawings and photographs by Deborah Sears. Design by Mandana Namdarpour. Printed by Arc Printers, Nanaimo BC
- Elected Vice-President, Oceanside Community Arts Council and McMillan Arts Centre, Interim Board of Directors (2013-14) Nanaimo BC
- Artist in Residence, Calgary Allied Arts Council, St[art] @ Art Central, Calgary AB. 7 weeks, Paid, Exhibition Grant, Artist Award, Solo Exhibition, Artist Talk
- Study travel Berlin, Germany, one week focusing on the spiritual in the art of Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, and Hilma af Klint
- Studio on Looierstraat, Utrecht NL
- Study travel, Chicago, Illinois, one week focusing on American Contemporary artists
- Silkscreen Printmaking, directed study with masterprinter John Hooley, 14 weeks, North Island College Print Studio, Courtney BC
2012
- Artist talk, Driven To Abstraction, McMillan Arts Centre, Parksville BC
- Artist talk, Great Green Gobs: Painting Abstractionalistically, Banff Public Library Art Gallery, Banff AB
- Managed, Wednesday Artist-In Residence Program, McMillan Arts Centre (2012-2013)
- Artist in Residence, McMillan Arts Centre, 12 weeks, Parksville BC
2011
- Artist talk, Contemporary Abstraction, Canmore Artists and Artisans Guild Gallery
- Artist talk, White-On-White: Painting Without Paint, Comox Valley Art Gallery
- Assisted curator, Dodog Soeseno, H-ART voor Japan, Hal Van Het Stadhuis Utrecht
- Grafisch Atelier Utrecht, 8 weeks working with masterprintmakers Herman van der Weert and Dodog Soeseno and Utrecht NL
- Masterclass: Non-Toxic Techniques in Etching, Marnix Everaert (Academie Beeldende Kunsten, Gent, Belgium), Centrum Beeldende Kunst Utrecht, Utrecht NL
2010
- Study travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, one week focused on CoBrA artists
- Lyrical Abstract with Paper in 2D, Frans Polman, CODA Museum, Apeldoorn NL
- Lyrical Abstract with Paper in 3D, Frans Polman, CODA Museum, Apeldoorn NL
2009
- Study travel to Berlin, Germany, one week focused on Bauhaus artists
- Vancouver Island University Field Study to New York City, one week focused on American Expressionists.
2008
- Watercolour Painting at the Whyte Museum With Robert Sinclair, Banff AB
2007-09
- Treasurer, Art & Design Student Club. Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo BC
2007- Present
- Formal, academic art studies Canada and England
2006
- Canmore Artists and Artisans Guild Fall Retreat, Elizabeth Parker Hut, Lake O’Hara BC
2005-17
- Eight to thirteen weeks independent study travel to European exhibitions of 20th century modern and 21st century contemporary art, based out of Utrecht NL
2005-10
- Agnietenstraat studio, Utrecht NL
2005-08
- Pilgrimage of Churches, Utrecht NL
2005
- Study travel to London, England, one week focused on Celtic and early Christian art
2004
- Celtic Pilgrimage, 4 weeks touring Celtic sites in England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland including one week on Iona, Scotland
1992-97
- Served as Founding Vice-president, President, and Past President, Mountain Cabin Quilters Guild, Canmore
1982-2004
- Professional practice in clinical, research, and counseling psychology; and social work practice in social research, program evaluation, and social policy analysis. Registered in Alberta.
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Training and Skills
- Research: descriptive statistics, research methods & statistics, social policy analysis, univariate & multivariate analysis, program evaluation, nonparametric & parametric research, educational research design, advanced research design & statistical analysis, interpretive research, psychological scaling, research ethics, psychological measurement & assessment, medical & health care ethics, and scientific orientation to social research & practice.
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- Tools: Practice skills in psychology - DSM clinical diagnosis, administration of psychometric measures of intelligence, memory/dementia, depression and etc. Computer skills in behavioral science - SPSS, SAS.
- Tools: Practice skills in fine art - carpentry shop power tools and power saws; print shop printing presses, etching processes, silkscreen methods. Computer skills in fine art - digital photography, photoshop, powerpoint.
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