Margarita Alex Flores
Artscape Wychwood Barns
601 Christie St. Studio - Gallery 153 | Toronto, ON | M6G 4C7
t: 416 902 0325   e: alexarte@sympatico.ca
www.alexarte.com

Summary:

• Visual Artist for more than 15 years.
• Furniture design, cabinetry, carpentry and home renovations since 1990.
• Multimedia production including five years of experience as Independent Filmmaker, including documentary video production and web design.
• Over 12 years of experience in special needs education and counseling.
• Bachelor of Arts Degree in physical education and human development
• Fluent in Spanish and English and experienced in cross-cultural communication

ART

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2007   Green City, Xtra Gallery, Toronto
2005   Xtra Gallery, Toronto
2004   Encantada Gallery of Fine Art, San Francisco
           Day of the Dead, Harbourfront, Toronto
           City & Nature, Toronto
2003   Timothy’s Café, Toronto
           Encantada Gallery, San Francisco
2002   Heart Gallery, Flesherton, Ontario
2002   Sacred Spaces, Harbourfront, Toronto
           Dia de los Muertos Altar Installation, Lula Lounge, Toronto
2001   Brannag Gallery, Toronto
1998   Tile and Wood, Addison Street Windows, Berkeley, California
           Only Furniture, Galeria Teodosia, San Francisco
           Made by Hand Sticks Gallery, Berkeley, California
           Hecho a Mano, Encantada Galería of Fine Art, San Francisco
1997   Mi Casa es Su Casa Installation for El Día De Los Muertos, Encantada Galería San Francisco
           Of Home and Hearth, Off Center Gallery, Berkeley, California
1996   En El Nombre de la Diosa, Brick Hut Café Gallery, Berkeley, California
            Furniture & Design, Cooperativa Popular Teodosia, San Francisco
1995    Dolce Vita Gallery Café, El Paso, Texas
            Milagros Linea Gallery, El Paso, Texas
1994    Luz y Sombra, Gathering Tribes Gallery, Albany, California
1993    Hope Without Borders, Gathering Tribes, Albany, California
1992    The Brick Hut Café, Berkeley, California
1991    Mama Bear’s, Berkeley, California

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2007     A Century of Women and Work, a project by Ontario Federation of Labour, Hamilton, Ontario
2005     Coyolxhauqui Daughters, Oakland, California
2003     Dykeversity, Spin gallery, Toronto
2003     Mayworks group exhibition, Metro Hall, Toronto
1998     A Mexican Presence and Desert Cliché: Israel Now Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco
1997     Day of the Dead Group Show, La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley, California
             Cuerpo de Memoria, Hambre, Amor y Milagro Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco
1993     Talleres Sin Fronteras La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley, California
1992     Exhibition of Latino/a Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Artists, Mission Cultural Center, San Francisc
             500 Years of Resistance Through Women’s Eyes Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco

COMMISSIONS

2007      Cover Art and Poster for A Century of Women and Work, Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario
2006      Cover Art for Women and Environments Magazine, 30 Year Anniversary Issue, Toronto
2004      Cover Art for Women and Environments Magazine, Toronto
2003      Cover Art and Featured Artist, The Activist Magazine, Winter Issue, Toronto
              Cover Art and Featured Artist, Sirens Magazine, September Issue, Toronto
              Poster Art for Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival, Toronto
              Poster Art for Red Sky Native Organization, Toronto
1999      Studio Design for Anna Halprin Tamalpais Studio, Kentfield, California
              Awards, Honoring Women of Courage and Action, The Women’s Building, San Francisco
1998      Awards, Equal Rights Advocate (ERA) for Sports Bridge, San Francisco
              Awards, Lyric Champions, San Francisco
              Awards, Honoring Women of Courage and Action, The Women’s Building, San Francisco
1997      Awards, Honrando a Las Nuestras, ELLAS En Acción Annual Awards, San Francisco
              Awards, Women’s Building Annual Awards, San Francisco
1996      Art Studio Design for HIV+ Patients, Ferguson Clinic, San Francisco
1995      Studio Design for Anna Halprin Tamalpais Studio, Kentfield, California
1993      Mural, ¡Ay Chihuahua! Restaurant, Berkeley, California
1992      Mexican Design for Campo Santo Restaurant, San Francisco

SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Eve Weinberg & David Veldhuizen, Toronto
Community Midwives of Toronto
Michel Frojmovic, Ottawa
Tom and Diane Hart, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Michael and Martha Carter, El Paso, Texas
Judi and Mel Goldberg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Anna Halprin, Kentfield, California
Deborah Kaley, El Paso, Texas
Felicia Marcus, Emeryville, California
Rita Minjares, El Cerrito, California
Vicki Noble, Santa Cruz, California

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2007     Front Page Go Tuesday Section, The Hamilton Spectator, March
2006     Front Page Xtra Newspaper, Toronto
2005     Mexican Refugee Film Review, Correo Canadiense
2004     Mexican Refugee Film Interview, Correo Canadiense
             Cover and Featured Artist, Women and Environments Magazine, April, Toronto
2003     Feature Artist, Sirens Lesbian Magazine, Toronto
2002     Interview by Andy Berry, CBC for Dia de los muertos, November, Toronto
1999     Interview, Channel 10 KTOP, California
1998     Interview, Channel 30 Mi Visión, California
1998     Article, San Francisco Bay Guardian, April 15
1997     Featured Article, Home Section, San Francisco Chronicle, November 5
1997     Arts and Letters, Berkeley Voice, October 7
1997     Article, The Contra Costa Times, October 24
1996     A Celebration of Craftswomen San Francisco Examiner, December 1
1994     Down is Up For Aaron Eagle, Vicki Noble, Harper, San Francisco

CRAFT SHOWS

2002         The Distillery Outdoor Arts and Crafts, September, Toronto
1991-98    Celebration of Craftswomen, Women’s Building, San Francisco
1996-98    KPFA Holiday Crafts Fair, San Francisco
1994          Women of Colour Craft Show, Berkeley, California
1993          Castro Street Fair, San Francisco

AWARDS

1997    Grant, Serpent Source Foundation For Women Artists, San Francisco

RELATED EXPERIENCE

1998    Children’s Arts and Crafts Coordinator, Cenzontles Mexican Art Institute, San Pablo, California. Directed             hands-on art workshops for children, ages 4-13. Coordinated cultural projects and special events.

1994    Youth Counselor, Mission Cultural Centre, San Francisco, California. Organized art classes for “at-risk”             children and youth. Provided counseling and therapy to participants and their families.

1988-89     Artistic Director, Cuarto Creciente / “Room for Growth”, Mexico City, Mexico.
Organized and facilitated art and health workshops for women and children. Facilitated group therapy and family counseling. Established self-help groups, domestic violence prevention programs, and programs to promote women’s rights. Organized fundraising, cultural activities and benefit events.

FILM & MEDIA

AWARDS

May 2005  Best Up-And-Coming Toronto Film Or Video Maker, Inside Out Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (for                   Documentary Film Mexican Refugee)
2007          Grant By The Zukurman Family Foundation

FILMOGRAPHY

The Little Madonna, 2008.
Juarez, 2007.
Carmela’s Package, 2006
Mexican Refugee, 2005
Turn off the Tap, 2005
The First Latin American Dyke March, 2004
Our America, 2004
Interview with Mexican Writer Margarita Aguilar, 2004
Digna Ochoa Memorial, 2004

All films are directed and produced by Alex Flores.

Films have screened internationally at film festivals including: Inside Out Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival; AluCine Toronto Latin@ Media Festival; Frameline San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival; Festival International de Film Lesbien & Feministe de Paris; International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival of Madrid; Annual Reelout Queer Film + Video Festival in Kingston; Torino International Film Festival; National Film Board of Canada.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2004-present      Freelance Filmmaker, Editor and Digital Camera Instructor
2004-present      Artistic Director of Las Perlas del Mar Film & Video Organization,
                           www.lasperlasdelmarfilms.com
2006                   Film & Video Training Workshop for Toronto Community Housing Corp
2005                   Film & Video Training Workshop for Toronto Community Housing Corp
2005                   Film & Video Training Workshops for Latina Women, Trinity Square Video
2003                   Project Coordinator of Human Rights in the Americas Website, design and maintenance of                            educational website (www.compacanada.org)
                       
EDUCATION

Video Editing Final Cut Pro & Camera, Trinity Square Video, Toronto Canada, April 2005
Video Editing and Production – Private Classes, Dir: Jorge Lozano, Toronto 2003
Intermediate Acting Classes – Equity Showcase Theatre – Toronto 2001
Graphic and Web Design – Center for Digital Training – Queretaro, Mexico 2000

OTHER EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Human Development, School of Higher Physical Education, Mexico City, Mexico 1984-1988

Public Education Coordinator 1999-2001
CASA / Centre for Adolescents – San Miguel Allende, Mexico
Delivered community and school-based sex education and family planning program. Coordinated support groups and counseling for gay/lesbian/bi/trans youth.

Street Outreach and HIV Educator 1993-1995
Shanti Project – San Francisco, California
Provided individual and group counseling to people recently diagnosed with HIV, as well as terminal support during the final stages of the illness.

Special Education Teacher 1989-1996
Private Employer – Berkeley, California
Designed a special-needs program for a child with Down’s syndrome. Provided speech,
physical, and cognitive therapy in the student’s home.

Preschool Physical Education Teacher 1988-1989
Ajuchitan Kindergarten – Mexico City, Mexico
Instructed children, ages 4-6. Activities included children’s games, sports, puppet theatre,
and folkloric dancing.