Grace Channer facts for kids

Grace Channer (born 1959) is a talented African-Canadian painter and artist who works with many different types of art. She creates visual art using various media.

Grace Channer's Education

Grace Channer was born in Britain in 1959. She moved to Canada and studied art at Queen's University in 1978. Later, she also earned a special diploma in Animation Filmmaking from Sheridan College. This means she learned how to create animated movies.

Grace Channer's Artistic Journey

In 1987, Grace Channer worked with other artists like Lynne Fernie, Cyndra MacDowall, and Marg Moores. They created an art show called Sight Specific: Artists and Representation. This show explored how artists express their personal stories and relationships through their work.

That same year, Grace Channer was chosen for a special mural project called Women On Site. Her mural, named "Black Women Working," was painted at the Parkdale Library in Toronto.

Grace Channer is also a part of the Diasporic African Women’s Art Collective (DAWA). This is a group of artists of African descent who work together. In 1989, she helped organize a traveling art show called Black Wimmin: When and Where We Enter with another artist, Buseje Bailey.

In 1993, a documentary film called Long Time Comin' was made about Grace Channer and artist Faith Nolan. The film shows how both artists use their art to speak up about important issues and bring about change. You can watch this movie on the ONF website.

In 1998, Grace Channer took part in Taking It to the Streets. This was a series of public art projects in the Toronto area. She helped create posters for the Street Art Postering Project. Some of her posters included messages like It takes Courage to Imagine Peace and Human Rights for All People. She worked with other artists on these projects.

In 2005, Grace Channer's art was shown in an exhibition called Tribute: The Art of African Canadians. For this show, she shared her painting Intolerance (1982). This large oil painting explores themes of power and society, much like old medieval paintings.

In 2009, Grace Channer's short film But Some Are Brave won an award at a film festival in Paris. She also won the Audience Award for the same film.

Grace Channer is a member of the W5ART Collective. This is a group of artists formed in 2011. In 2012, she helped paint a huge mural in Toronto called KIA: Unified Movement of Power. This mural celebrates the strength of women in visual arts and martial arts.

Exhibitions

Grace Channer's art has been shown in several important exhibitions:

• "Who Will Fight For Our Liberation," Power Plant Gallery, 1992.
• "Tribute: The Art of African Canadians," Art Gallery of Peel & Art Gallery of Mississauga, 2005.

Awards

Grace Channer has received awards for her work:

• In 2009, she won third place for her film But Some Are Brave at the Africa World Documentary Film Festival.
• Also in 2009, she won the Audience Award for But Some Are Brave at a film festival in Paris.