selected performances and exhibitions

2012
The Raging Spoon Cafe, Toronto, ON, Curator, “The Artists’ Soup Kitchen”
Studio 303, Montreal, QC, Performance, “The Lactation Station Breast Milk Bar”
2011
Fado Performance Art Centre, Toronto, ON, Curator, “Commitment Issues”
Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON, Guest Curator, 2011-2012 HATCH Season
2010
Experimentica Festival, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, UK, Performance, “Everything I’ve Got”
HATCH, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Everything I’ve Got”
The Rhubarb Festival, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Everything I’ve Got”
Edgy Women Festival, Montreal, QC, Performance, “Everything I’ve Got”
PSi Conference, Toronto, ON, Performance, “It’s Not Easy Being Green”
2009
Dixon Place, New York, NY, Performance, “Everything I’ve Got”
Performance Mix Festival, New York, NY, Performance, “Mirror Ball”
Studio 303, Montreal, QC, Performance, “Mirror Ball”
Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, ON, Performance, “I Love You/(I Love You) Too”
2008
ScrABrrRrraaNNG Futurist Performance, Studio Theatre, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Testing”
The Power Plant, Power Ball 10: Decadance, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Mirror Ball”
The Rhubarb Festival, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Everything I’ve Got”
2007
INTIMACY: Across Visceral and Digital Performance, London, UK, Performance, “Fee for Service”
Hysteria: A Festival of Women, Toronto, ON, Curator, “NYC Invasion”
Assn. for Research On Mothering Conference, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Requiem for Leisure Time”
The Box Salon, Curated by Louise Bak, Toronto, ON, Performance/Installation, “Seven Windows”
The Other Gallery, Banff Centre of the Arts, Performance, Untitled (Ear Piece)
Performance Mix Festival, New York, NY, Performance, “Afterbirth”
2006
Nieuwpoorttheater, Emporium XX Festival, Gent, Belgium, Performance, “Fee for Service”
ScotiaBank Nuit Blanche, WARC Gallery, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Fee for Service”
Fado/OCAD Professional Gallery, Toronto, ON, Performance, “The Lactation Station Breast Milk Bar”
Summerworks Festival, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Emergency Exits”
Studio 303, Montreal, QC, Performance, “Restored”
Rhubarb! Festival, Toronto, ON, Performance, “The 10 Obstructions”
California College of the Arts, Group Gallery Exhibition, “Unexpected Developments”
2005
Toronto International Art Fair, Interactive 05, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Attending”
2004
Nightwood Theatre Groundswell Festival, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Emergency Exits”
65 Hope Street Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, Installation, “Marry Me”
The Kitchen, New York, NY, Performance, “Attending”
Dixon Place, New York, NY, Performance, “Emergency Exits”
Hysteria: A Festival of Women, Toronto, ON, Performance, “The Confessional”
We’re Funny That Way Festival, Toronto, ON, Performance, “All I Can Eat”
WOW Cafe Theatre, New York, NY, Performance, “Carnal Carnival”
2003
The Kitchen, New York, NY, Performance, “An Ontario Bride Seeks American Wives”
Cleveland Performance Art Festival, Cleveland, OH, Performance, “Three Vignettes”
Studio 303, Montreal, QC, Performance, “Edgy Women Series”
Rhubarb! Festival, Toronto, ON, Performance, “From the Waist Up and Down”
Hysteria: A Festival of Women, Toronto, ON, Performance, “Attending”
2001
Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY, “A Sharing”
The Kitchen Street Festival, New York, NY, Performance, “Talk to Me”
The Jack Tilton Gallery, New York, NY, Performance/Installation, “The Mad Chef”
La Salle Rossa, Montreal, QC, Performance, “My Best Red Dress”
Public School 3, New York, NY, Installation, “Fountains of Youth”
Touring: NY, RI, MA, QC, Performance, “Utopia Roaming: New Works”
2000
P.S.122, New York, NY, Performance, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”
LaMama Etc., New York, NY, Performance, “My First Christmas”
Dixon Place, New York, NY, Performance, “One Night Only”
WOW Cafe, New York, NY, Performance, “NickMsg”
Public Performance on Subway Car, New York, NY, “The Other Subway Series”
Empire State Building, New York, NY, Performance/Installation, “Women’s Restroom Project"
Touring: NY, MI, TN, IL, TX, OK, Performance, “Utopia Roaming: New Works”
1999
P.S.122, New York, NY, Performance, “Haman on the Land”
CBGB’s, New York, NY, Performance, “New Work”
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, Performance, “Madison Queer Garden”
Touring: NY, NJ, PA, CA, Performance, “Utopia Roaming: New Works”
1998
P.S.122, New York, NY, Performance, “Avant-Garde-Arama”
The Brecht Forum, New York, NY, Performance, “The Scientist Inside Me”
Gallery at CBGB’s, New York, NY, Performance, “Futuristic Superhero”
Out on the Edge Performance Festival, New York, NY, Performance, “Utopia Roaming”
OCAD Gallery, Toronto, ON, Group Gallery Exhibition, “Troubling Customs” Touring: 12 Cities throughout New York State, Performance, “Utopia Roaming”
1997
WOW Cafe, New York, NY, Performance, “The Lesbian Afterlife Carnival Extravaganza”
Westbeth Gallery, New York, NY, Group Gallery Exhibition
Parsons School of Design Gallery, New York, NY, Group Gallery Exhibition
Hunter College, New York, NY, Group Gallery Exhibition
Civic Square Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, Solo Gallery Exhibition, “Evidence of an Afterlife”
1996
The Knitting Factory, New York, NY, Video Screening, “Fugitive Dyads”
WOW Cafe, New York, NY, Performance, “Eat Out: A Lesbian Dinner Theatre Extravaganza”
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, Performance, “What the Flux?”
Civic Square Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, Video Screening, “Fugitive Dyads”
Gallery of South Orange, South Orange, NJ, Group Gallery Exhibition, “In Flux”

Selected Film/Video Screenings

  • Flowers (Video / 6 min / 2012)
  • Being Green (Video / 4 min / 2011)
  • This is My Work: Compilation DVD (2003-2010)
    Vtape, Toronto, ON
  • Clown Car (Video / 3 min / 2008)
    7a-11d Performance Festival, d2d: Direct to Documentation, Toronto, ON
  • Restored (Video / 5 min / 2005)
    Studio 303, Montreal, QC
    Inside/Out Festival, Toronto, ON
    NYC MIX Festival, New York, NY;
    Swap-O-Rama-Rama, CSV Cultural Center, New York, NY
  • An Ontario Bride Seeks American Wives (Video / 5 min / 2004)
    Inside/Out Festival, Toronto, ON
    Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown, MA
  • The Bookworm (Video / 3 min / 2004)
    Mayworks Festival, Toronto, ON
    The Toronto Women’s Bookstore, Toronto, ON
    This Ain’t The Rosedale Library, Toronto, ON
  • Silent Portrait Series (Video / 5 min / 2004)
    7a-11d Performance Festival, d2d: Direct to Documentation, Toronto, ON
    Inside/Out Festival, Toronto, ON
    SPINGallery, Wegway Second Annual Juried Exhibition, Toronto, ON
    YYZ Artists’ Outlet, Toronto, ON
    Leslie Lohman Gallery, New York, NY

Selected Grants and Awards

  • 2012 Fellowship at University of Toronto Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies
  • 2012 Toronto School of Art Studio Residency
  • 2011, 2006, 2003 Toronto Arts Council Grant Award
  • 2009, 2006 Canada Council for the Arts Grant Award
  • 2010, 2007, 2004 Ontario Arts Council Grant Award
  • 2009 Harbourfront Centre HATCH residency
  • 2008 Ontario Arts Council Reserve Grant
  • 2007 Banff Centre Thematic Residency: Imaginary Places, RBC Residency Scholarship
  • 2007, 2006 Canada Council for the Arts Travel Grant Award
  • 2005 Buddies in Bad Times Theatre Ante Chamber Playwriting Unit
  • 2004 Nightwood Theatre Groundswell Playwriting Unit
  • 2004 K.M. Hunter Artist Award Nominee
  • 2002, 1997 Franklin Furnace Fund for Performance Art Grant Award
  • 2000, 1998 Astraea Foundation Grant Award

Selected Visiting Artist Performances, Lectures and Workshops (1998-present)

  • Amherst College, Bard College, Brandeis University, Brown University, Buffalo State University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Hampshire College, McGill University, McMaster University, New York University, The Ontario College of Art & Design, Penn State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, Rutgers University, Sheridan College, Skidmore College, State University of New York at Albany, State University of New York at Binghamton, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Swarthmore College, Syracuse University, University of California at Irvine, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University of Texas at Austin, University of Toronto, Vassar College, Yale University, York University

Selected Conferences

  • Black Box, White Box, Small Box, No Box Symposium, Presenter, Hamilton Artists Inc., Hamilton, ON, 2011.
  • Rage and Performance Roundtable, Presenter, University of Toronto Drama Centre, Toronto, ON, 2010.
  • Performance Studies International Conference, Toronto, ON, 2010.
    Paper/Presentation: “Performing Public Intimacies”
  • A Symposium on Teaching and Learning Performance Art, Presenter, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2010.
  • Free Fall Festival: Culture Congress, Harbourfront Centre and The Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON, 2008.
    Panel: “Art and Activism”
  • Converge: Creativity + Sexual Identity + Freedom, Ursula Franklin Academy, Toronto, ON, 2008.
    Workshop: “Body Language”
  • INTIMACY: Across Visceral and Digital Performance, Goldsmiths University of London, UK, 2007.
    Paper: “The Lactation Station Breast Milk Bar”
  • Association for Research on Mothering Conference, York University, Toronto, ON, 2007.
    Performance Lecture: “Performing Motherhood”
  • InterSexions: Queer Visual Culture at the Crossroads, New York, NY, 2004.
    Panel: “ReGenerations: Thirty-Something Artists Talk About Their Work”
  • College Art Association Conference, New York, NY, 2000.
    Paper: “Queer Sites/Sights: The WNBA at Madison Queer Garden”
  • Feminist Intersections into Privilege Conference, New York University, New York, NY, 2000.
    Workshop and Performance: “Autobiography and Performance”
  • Barnard Feminist Art and Art History Conference, Barnard College, New York, NY, 1999.
    Paper: “Play as a Site of Subversion and Transgression: The Utopia Roaming Project”
  • Celebrating 30 Years of LGBT at Rutgers University, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 1999.
    Lecture and Performance in conjunction with Gallery Exhibition: “The Utopia Roaming Project”
  • Women Working Within/Without the System Conference, New York University, NY, NY, 1999.
    Workshop and Performance: “Taking it to the Streets: Art and Social Change”
  • Matrilineage and Feminism Conference, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 1999.
    Lecture and Performance: “On the Road: The Utopia Roaming Performance Art Project”

Publications

  • ‘Performing with Mother’s Milk: The Lactation Station Breast Milk Bar’ by Jess Dobkin, Intimacy: Across Visceral and Digital Performance, Rachel Zerihan and Maria Chatzichristodoulou, ed. (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012). forthcoming.
  • ‘Everything I’ve Got’ (publication of performance script),
    Canadian Theatre Review, ed. Moynan King, Winter 2012.
  • ‘Giving us ‘Everything She’s Got’: Processing the Script-as-Archive in Jess Dobkin’s Queer Performance Art’ by Benjamin Gillespie, Canadian Theatre Review, ed. Moynan King, Winter 2012.
  • ‘Vintage Breast Milk: Exploring the Discursive Limits of Feminine Fluids’ by Penny Van Esterik, Taking Food Public: Redefining Foodways in a Changing World, Eds, Psyche Williams-Forson and Carole Counihan. New York: Routledge Press, 2012.
  • ‘Jess Dobkin: mom, dyke, frog’, Reconciling Art and Motherhood, Rachel Epp Buller, ed. (Surrey: Ashgate, 2011). forthcoming.
  • ‘The Lactation Station and A Feminist Pedagogy of Touch,’ by Stephanie Springgay, n.paradoxa, Vol. 26, 2010.
  • ‘Study Room Guide on One to One Performances,’ ed. Rachel Zerihan, Live Art Development Agency, London, UK, Fall, 2009.
  • Emergency Exits, “Monologue #2” Playwrights Canada Press ed. Susan G. Cole, Fall 2009.
  • ‘The Kindness of Human Milk: Jess Dobkin’s Lactation Station Breast Milk Bar,’ by Charles Reeve, Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture, University of California Press, Winter 2009.
  • ‘Vintage Breast Milk: Exploring the Discursive Limits of Feminine Fluids’ by Penny Van Esterik, Canadian Theatre Review, Performance Art, ed. Laura Levin, Winter 2009.

Selected Bibliography

  • Akimbo – Hitlist – Jess Dobkin, Artist, Akimbo, January 12, 2012.
  • “Cozying Up to Commitment,” by David Bateman, Xtra, November 15, 2011.
  • “Women’s Art Agencies to the Rescue” by Karen Darricades, Herizons, Fall 2011.
  • “Artist Adds $0 Tags…” Ben Popken, The Consumerist, November 7, 2011.
  • Sex City, Interview by Louise Bak, 89.5FM CIUT Radio, Toronto, ON, November 5, 2011.
  • “10 Contemporary Performance Artists You Should Know” by Marina Galerina, Flavorpill, November 4, 2011.
  • “Community Notes,” by Sasha, NOW, November 12, 2011.
  • Audio Smut, Review, 90.3FM CKUT Radio, Montreal, QC, April 7, 2010.
  • XX Files, Interview, 90.3FM CKUT Radio, Montreal, QC, March 24, 2010.
  • Queer Corps, Interview, 90.3FM CKUT Radio, Montreal, QC, March 22, 2010.
  • “Rouse and Shine” by Robyn Fadden, The Montreal Hour, March 18-24, 2010.
  • “Edgy Women at 17” by Sacha Jackson, Montreal Mirror, March 18-24, 2010.
  • Dykes on Mics, Interview, 90.3FM CKUT Radio, Montreal, QC, March 8, 2010.
  • Sex City, Interview by Leanne Cusitar, 89.5FM CIUT Radio, Toronto, ON, February 20, 2010.
  • “Five Things This Weekend” The Globe and Mail, January 30, 2010.
  • “Night and Day” The Toronto Star, January 28, 2010.
  • “The Weekender,” Toronto Life, January 28, 2010.
  • “Jess Undressed” by Chandler Levack, Eye Weekly, January 28, 2010.
  • “Artistic Activism” by Stephanie Schroeder, Curve Magazine, December 2009.
  • “Body of Work: The Close and Personal Performance Art of Jess Dobkin” by piKe krpan, Shameless Magazine, Summer/Fall 2009.
  • “Performance in Toronto Art Now” by Leah Sandals, Switch 1.2, Summer 2009.
  • “Review: Wonder Bar” by Gordon Bowness, Xtra Magazine, June 24, 2009.
  • Dayna McLeod, Interview, 90.3FM CKUT Radio, Montreal, QC, March 30, 2009.
  • “Body Blows: Jess Dobkin’s Wild Performance” X-tra, January 30, 2009.
  • “Jess Dobkin” CTV SexTV Series Episode 10-18, Original Airdate June 14, 2008.
  • “Roundup” Toronto Life, March 2008.
  • “Jess Dobkin: Lactation Satation” Lilith Magazine, Winter, 2008.
  • CBC-TV, CBC News at Six, Interview, February 6, 2007.
  • “Top 10 Art Shows of 2006” NOW, December 28, 2006.
  • “The List to End All Lists” Eye Weekly, December 28, 2006.
  • “2006 Round Up: Best Performance Art” X-tra, December 21, 2006.
  • “Love Bites” Eye Weekly, December 14, 2006.
  • “Best of Toronto: Best Performance Artist Jess Dobkin” NOW, November 1, 2006.
  • Mariko Tamaki, “Nature vs. Nurture: Interview with Jess Dobkin” Kiss Machine, September, 2006.
  • CBC Radio One: SOCKET, “Family: Interview with Jess Dobkin” August 30, 2006.
  • Stephanie Rogerson, “Sense and Sensibilities” NOW, July 20, 2006.
  • Alwynne Gwilt, “Mother’s Milk: Straight Up” The Toronto Star, July 14, 2006.
  • “Belly Up to the Boob." Toronto Sun, July 14, 2006.
  • “Love Bites” Eye Weekly, July 13, 2006.
  • CBC Radio One: Ontario Today, Interview with Jess Dobkin, July 13, 2006.
  • CBC Radio One: The Contrarians with Max Paris, Interview with Jess Dobkin, July 13, 2006.
  • Anthony Reinhart, “Expressing Herself About Breast Milk” The Globe and Mail, July 13, 2006.
  • CIUT Radio, Interview with Jess Dobkin, July 1, 2006.
  • The CH 5:30 News, CHTV, Interview with Jess Dobkin: The Lactation Station. June 20, 2006.
  • MTV Canada, Interview with Jess Dobkin: The Lactation Station. June 20, 2006.
  • “Breast Milk On Tap as Performance Art.” The National Post, June 16, 2006.
  • Judy Stoffman, “Mom’s Milk Good for Baby – And You?” The Toronto Star, June 15, 2006.
  • Shane McAdams, “The Wedding Project” The Brooklyn Rail, October 2004.
  • Bethany Clarke, “The Wedding Project” Sugarzine, October, 2004.
  • Samantha Sarra, “Funny That Way” X-tra, April 1, 2004.
  • “Second Annual Juried Exhibition” Wegway: Primary Culture, No. 6, Fall, 2003.
  • “Don’t Miss” Time Out New York, September 11-18, 2003.
  • Jon Kaplan and Glenn Sumi, “Scenes: Puppet Power” NOW, February 27, 2003.
  • Chris Brisbane, “Rhubarb Festival Spawns Inspired Artists” Toronto Observer, February 15, 2003.
  • Robert Crew, “Stage Art on the Edge” The Toronto Star, February 6, 2003.
  • Scott Anderson, “Keep Your Fork, There’s More Rhubarb Pie” X-tra, February 6, 2003.
  • Sunny Lee, “Call Me Crazy…” Time Out New York, January 18, 2001.
  • Deborah Van Selt, Interview, 90.3FM CKUT Radio, Montreal, QC, March 17, 2001.
  • Charles Monroe Kane, Interview, 1240AM Public Radio, Chicago, IL, April 10, 2000.
  • Gabi Horn, “They Got Game: Lesbians for Liberty” The New York Blade, August 13, 1999.
  • Alisa Solomon, “Madison Queer Garden” The Village Voice, August 11, 1999.

Teaching and Professional Experience

  • Fall 2009 Sessional Lecturer, “Performance Art: Body As Material”
    OCAD University
  • 2008-2009 Sessional Lecturer, “Professional Practice”
    OCAD University
  • 2007-2008 Sessional Lecturer, “Visual Strategies”
    Department of Fine Art, University of Toronto
  • 2006 Sessional Lecturer, “Women and Art”
    Department of Fine Art, University of Toronto
  • 2001 Internship Sponsor and Supervisor (Performance Art)
    McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
  • 1999-2001 Internship Sponsor and Supervisor (Performance Art)
    New York University, New York, NY
  • 1997 Artmaking Instructor (Instructor of Record)
    Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
  • 1995-1996 Photography Instructor (Instructor of Record)
    Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
  • 1993-1995 Research Assistant to bell hooks

Education

  • 1997 M.F.A. Performance Art Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ)
  • 1992 B.A. Women’s Studies Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH)
  • 1991 Independent Study and Travel in Europe, Antioch Education Abroad

Affiliations

  • 7a*11d International Performance Festival, Co-curator (2009-present)
  • Sheridan College Art and Art History Program Advisory Committee (2009-present)
  • YYZ Artists’ Outlet, Board of Directors (2006-2010)
  • Universities Art Association of Canada (2001-present)
  • College Art Association (1992-present)
  • Queer Caucus of the College Art Association (1996-present)
  • Dance Theater Workshop (1997-2000)
  • Henson International Puppet Festival (1998)
  • WOW Cafe Theatre Collective (1994-97)
  • Art for Us Gallery (Founding Member, 1991-93)
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