Biography
Roberta Murray was born January 20, 1964 in Calgary, Alberta. Growing up, she spent as many of her weekends and holidays as was possible in the ranching areas of southwestern Alberta, noticing the remarkable contrast between urban and rural living. She thrived on tales of the old west, feeling a spiritual connection to the people who helped shape the land. Art was a major part of her life during this time, and it was rare to see her without a sketchbook or camera.
Roberta has had a lifelong passion for photography, and spent her teenage years working in camera stores and developing labs trying to learn as much as possible about the craft. In 1989 she completed the New York Institute of Photography’s certificate program. As well, Roberta is an accomplished fibre artist with a Master Spinners certificate from Olds College. She has worked closely with Olds College to redesign this same program and organize their yearly Fibre Week event. She lives on the edge of wilderness in west central Alberta where art is a daily part of her life.
Education
- 2007: Master Spinners Certificate with distinction, Olds College, Olds, Alberta
- 1989: Professional Photography Certificate, New York Institute of Photography
Awards & Grants
- 2007: Diversity 2007 VAAA Show: Amity’s Grove 3rd place People’s Choice award.
- 2006: Focus On Fibre Arts Show Alberta Art Gallery: Meerie Dancers Shawl – 1st place in hand knitting category.
- 2004: Focus On Shetland NASSA Show Olds College: Meerie Dancers Shawl – Grand Prize.
- 2004: HWSDA Juried Show Lethbridge College: Meerie Dancers Shawl – People’s Choice award.
- 2003: Highland International Spin In Bothwell, Tasmania: Finest Thread Competition – 1st in Canada, 8th in world.
- 1982 – Springbank Fall Fair 1st place Photography
Exhibitions
- 2008: Western Showcase Juried Show Calgary Exhibition & Stampede, Calgary, Alberta
- 2008: The Works Art & Design Festival Juried Show VAAA Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
- 2008: VAAA Gallery Juried Show Harcourt House, Edmonton, Alberta
- 2008: Visions Of Light Group show, Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Red Deer, Alberta
- 2008: Spring Fling Show & Sale, Group Show Red Deer Museum & Art Gallery, Red Deer, Alberta
- 2007: Tamarack Motor Inn Art Show Group show, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
- 2007: Medicine Hills Arts Festival. Juried group show at the Bentley Ag Center, Bentley, Alberta
- 2007: Diversity 2007 Juried group show at the VAAA Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
- 2007: We Are All Photographers Now Group show at the Musée de l'Elysée, Lausanne, Switzerland
- 2006: Tamarack Motor Inn Art Show Group show, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
- 2006: Focus On Fibre Art Juried group show at the Alberta Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
- 2004: Focus On Shetland Group show at Olds College, Olds, Alberta
- 2004: HWSDA Juried Show Juried group show at Lethbridge College, Lethbridge, Alberta
- 2003: Spun Group show at the VAAA Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
- 2003: Fibre Works Group show at the VAAA Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
- 2003: Highland International Spin-In Bothwell, Tasmania
Publications
- 2008: PhotoEd featured photographer & article by Felix Russo. Spring 2008
- 2007: Land Of Possibility printed portfolio of photography.
- Spring 2007: Get Your Hackles Up published by Spin Off (Interweave Press)
- 2006/2007: Olds College Master Spinners – Program Content Writer Level III
- July 2006: Unleashing Your Creativity published by Spinners Quarterly
- November 2004: Shetland Sheep: Beyond The Islands published by American Livestock Breeds Conservancy News
- October 2004: Shetland Watch Cap & Mittens published by Handspinners.com
- July 2004: Spinners Palette: The Non-Dyers Guide to Color published by Handspinners.com
- November 2002: Spinning Fine Lace Yarn published by Cashmirror Newsletter
- Summer 2000: Shetland Sheep: Beyond The Islands published in Spin-Off by Interweave Press.
- 1998/1999: NASSA (North American Shetland Sheepbreeders Assoc.) News published several articles.
- 1996 – 1998: AMPA (Alberta Mohair Producers Assoc.) published several articles.
Professional Experience
- 2008: Master Spinners Instructor Level 3 - Olds College
- 2008: Instructor Skills Workshop Olds College
- 2006/2007: Olds College Master Spinners wrote level 3 course materials
- Spring 2005: Deep Cove Spinners & Weavers Guild presented Spinners Palette and Spinning Fine Shetland Lace workshops
- Spring 2005: Salt Spring Island Fibre Arts Guild presented Got Your Goat workshop and Shetland Wool lecture
- September 2004: Edmonton Weavers Guild presented Spinning Fine Lace Yarns workshop
- July 2004: Salt Spring Island Fibre Festival presented Spinning Fine Lace Yarns workshop
- July 2004: Olds College Fibre Week presented Spinning Fine Shetland Yarns workshop
- April 2004: Fibrefest International presented Spinning Fine Lace Yarns and Spinners Palette workshop
- 2001: Rocky Parks & Recreation presented Horsehair Braiding workshop
- 1992: Rocky Parks & Recreation presented 5 day Photography workshop
Affiliations
- Canadian Artists Representation - Carfac
- Visual Arts Alberta Association - VAAA
- Alberta Society of Artists - ASA
- Society of Northern Alberta Print Artists - Snap
