I was born in the East End of “Old Toronto” (pre amalgamation) but heeded the cry “Go west young woman, go west”.  So out west I went, hitchhiking across Canada and down the West Coast of the United States, eventually settling in Vancouver, B.C.  I studied Art History at Vancouver Community College, along with fine arts classes that led to studies at Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Vancouver, (Diploma of Fine Arts) B.C. 

I continued my art education with classes, notably Printmaking with Jamie Everard at Malaspina Printmakers, and Color Theory with Tom Hudson at Emily Carr College of Art and Design.  My artwork from that period was exhibited in the Vancouver Community College Student Show, Emily Carr College of Art Summer Institute Show, Arts Whistler Group Show, Whistler B.C., Six of One Gallery, Vancouver, and two solo shows of prints at the Naam Restaurant Gallery, Vancouver, B.C., and the WECC Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.

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Next came another detour to implement an Indigenous school library in Alert Bay, B.C. where I lived for five years, followed by a brief stint at The Art Gallery of Kamloops, B.C. to develop and catalogue the collection for a new library.  During my time in Kamloops I spent one season working as a costume assistant for Western Canada Theatre Company.  Another detour to Alberta working at the Grand Prairie College Library and volunteering as lead costume designer at Grand Prairie Little Theatre, notably for the shows “The Miracle Worker”, “Sylvia” and “The Importance of Being Earnest”.

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And now back in Toronto I have enjoyed many years of extensive travel through Europe, North Africa and Central America, to name a few. I have been a member of the Don Valley Arts Club and continue with printmaking and painting, as well as creative writing.  My work has shown at Todmorden Mills Gallery with the Don Valley Arts Club, as well as 3 online shows, the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation, the Art for Cancer Foundation Show in 2017, 2018, Altruism Gallery in 2019, a solo show at the Oakwood Public Library and Arts Centre and at the UCC Neighborhood Gallery North, Toronto, and Gerrard Art Space (GAS) Drawing & Printmaking Shows in 2020, 2021.  Reproductions of two of my paintings were made into cards for sale at a Scarborough Bluffs Food Bank fundraiser.  My artwork has also been used as illustrations in a poetry collection "Journey: Poems" by Helene Clouttier, Montreal, and in the online Arts & Literary journal "Beyond Words" Issue No.6 September 2020 p.37:  https://www.flipsnack.com/bwmag/beyond-words-magazine-issue-6-september-2020.html 

 

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My art is influenced by music and mood, foreign travel, nature’s patterns and rhythms. From observing and enjoying the natural world I have come to believe in Animism (from the Latin anima, “breath, spirit, life”), a belief that all objects, places and creatures possess a distinct spiritual essence.

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Christine Luna 2020