Kidist Paulos Asrat has an extensive background in the arts. She has studied film and photography at Ryerson University (Toronto) under Bruce Elder, an experimental filmmaker, and Don Snyder, a photographer. She has presented her films, photographs and paintings in Canada, the United Sates, and Europe. Her contribution to the arts community includes as Board of Director for Trinity Square Video, a non-profit video art organization.
Her visual arts background also covers two years of drawing and painting classes under Toronto artist Michael Jenzen, and with botanical artist Leslie Staple. She has also spent two years studying textile design at the Ontario College of Art and Design.Her other artistic achievements include ballet training as a young girl, winning a regional prize, and more recently, as a performing member in several dance groups, including a modern dance ensemble. She has studied the piano starting at the age of six, and has given many public performances.
Her professional activity combines the graphic and textile arts. Her textile designs incorporate many of her photographs, drawings and paintings.
She has a broad theoretical and historical knowledge of the arts. Her vision of trying to understand and build upon this art history and theory has enabled her to write many articles on art, society and culture.
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Education
Primary Education: Ethiopia, France and England
The English School: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Prizes Awarded: General Knowledge Prize - Awarded Laura Ingalls' Little House on the Prairie
Artistic Participation:
- Piano performances
- Theatrical performances
- "Visual" poem published in the annual English School yearbook: The Raggle Taggle Snake
Betteshanger School: Kent, England
- Head Girl
- Prizes Awarded:
--- French, Music, Divinity (Scripture), and Ballet (3rd place in regional competition)
Artistic Participation:
- Piano performances
- Theatrical performances (including Potiphar's wife in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and the Strawberry Seller in the musical Oliver)
Sports Participation
- Netball and Field Hockey teams
- Ballet group
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Secondary Education: England
Dover College, Dover, England -
- Astor Scholar
- Prizes Awarded: Music and Poetry Prizes
Awarded:
--- Mozart's Complete Piano Sonatas Volumes 1 and 2
--- Book on the Impressionist Painters
Artistic Participation:
- Editor for the Dover College Student Newsletter: with published poem
- Member of the Dover College Choir, with various solo performances, and as part of the choir's touring member to renowned cathedrals, including St. Paul's Cathedral in London, and in Wurzburg, Germany
- Actress: as Mme Smith in La Cantatrice Chauve (The Bald Soprano) by Eugene Ionesco
Sports Participation
- Netball and Field Hockey teams
Social work;
- Weekly visits to an elderly lady, Mabel, with limited visual ability (later corrected through cataract surgery), who would prepare for me tea and biscuits. She gave me her ring, a gold ring, with her initial "M" as a gift, which I still have.
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University Education: United States and Canada
Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA, USA
B.A. Natural Sciences
- Four-year scholarship - Tuition Waiver
- Prize Awarded: International Students Club Appreciation Plaque
Artistic Participation:
- Performances:
-- Solo piano performances of Grieg, Mozart, Handel and Debussy music at various venues and events
-- Soloist and member of Lock Haven University's Choir, of a variety of classical, modern, and contemporary music, including as a touring choir member
-- Organizer and member of the International Students' singing group, performing in local churches, especially during Christmas, where we sang carols in five to six languages, including Amharic
-- Participant in the Lock Haven Black Students' Gospel Choir
-- Lock Haven University's American Square Dance group
-- Founding member, and participant, in the Annual Lock Haven International Students' Festival, where we performed ethnic dances and theaters, and put together an International Dinner
-- Founding member, and participant, in the International Students' Festival Panel Discussion Group, where we tackled political and social issues, often with colorful, and controversial discussions
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
M.S. Applied Nutrition/Nutrition Education
M.S. Applied Nutrition/Nutrition Education
Artistic participation:
- New Brunswick (NJ) community choir performances, of Mozart's and Faure's Requiem
- Performer in a local New Brunswick African Dance group
- Performer in a local New Brunswick African Dance group
Cultural enrichment:
- Regular audience member at the Rutgers Film Society
- Frequent travels to New York City (only an hour away), visiting museums, galleries, and especially free rehearsal concerts at Lincoln Center for their classical music, orchestral repertoire
University of Connecticut, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Storrs, CT, USA
PhD (ABD) Nutritional Sciences
- Teaching Assistantship - Full tuition waiver with salaried teaching post teaching fundamental nutrition courses to undergraduate students
In collaboration with: the Mexican National Institute of Health Sciences and Nutrition - Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, and the Research Center of the Solis Valley - Centro de Estudios Rurales del Valle de Solís, Mexico City and Solís, Mexico
- Research Assistantship - Field and Clinical Research - Salaried projects conducting field, clinical and laboratory work
- Blood plasma analyses for Vitamin B12 and related tests, short-term salaried position at the Glenn Tisman Hematology/Oncology Laboratory, Whittier, CA, USA
Artistic Participation:
University of Connecticut - Community Dance Program, Storrs, CT, USA
- Modern dance program, with dance instructor and performer Marcia Heath
- Performed in various public events
Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Certificate in New Media - Film/Photography/Digital Arts
Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Advanced Studies in New Media - Film/Photography/Digital Arts
Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Advanced Studies in New Media - Film/Photography/Digital Arts
Yearly grants towards tuition and material costs
Artistic Participation:
- Film and video screenings in the Ryerson Gallery, Toronto, Trinity Square Video, Toronto
and in various venues in Toronto, France and Europe
- Photography exhibitions in the Ryerson Gallery, and in various venues in Toronto
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, Canada
- Textile Surface Design
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- Textile Surface Design
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Training
Institut Catholique de Paris Institut de Langue et de Culture Française, Paris, France
- Certificat de Langue Française (French Language Certificate)
Institut National de la Santé et de Recherche Médical (INSERM), Paris, France
- Interviews and discussions with INSERM nutritionists
Centro de Enseñanza para Extranjeros (CEPE): National Autonomous University, Mexico City, Mexico
- Advanced Diploma in Spanish Language
- Advanced Diploma in Spanish Language
- Performed with CEPE's Mexican Folklore dance group
Mexico City, Mexico
- Film production workshop, with Mexican film director Sergio Arturo Garcia Michel
Mexico City, Mexico
- Film production workshop, with Mexican film director Sergio Arturo Garcia Michel
International Communicative Languages Service, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language
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Work Experience
Present: Cultural Analyst - Study, describe and analyze contemporary art and culture in both written and image form
2013
Cabbagetown Regent Park Community Museum, Toronto, ON
- Docent
2007
2004-Present
1998-2004
Toronto District School Board, Toronto, ON
Catholic School Board, Toronto, ON
Bleecker Street Co-op, Toronto, ON
2016: Presentation: Strength in Beauty
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals conference
Commission on the Status of Women
United Nations, New York
2017: Presentation: Urban Development through Small Businesses
Presentations and Conferences
March 2017: United Nations Committee on the Status of Women Conference
New York, NY
Language Proficiency
- English: Excellent speaking, reading and writing
2007
Botanical Artists of Canada Newsletter, Toronto, ON
- Writer
Trinity Square Video Newsletter, Toronto, ON
- Writer
- Writer
Among other publications
2004-Present
2004-Present
Well-Patterned, Toronto, ON/Mississauga, ON
- Textile and Decor Designer
--- Hand craft and design textile prints for patterned fabrics
--- Hand craft and design decorative objects for homes and offices
2004-Present
Well-Patterned, Toronto, ON/Mississauga, ON
--- Hand craft and design decorative objects for homes and offices
2004-Present
Well-Patterned, Toronto, ON/Mississauga, ON
- Graphic Designer
--- Design promotional materials for cultural organizations
2004-Present
Kidist Paulos Asrat Photographs, Toronto, ON/Mississauga, ON
- Photograph and install images for websites
- Photograph special events/conferences
2000-2001
- Photograph special events/conferences
2000-2001
Ryerson University, Toronto, ON
- Film research assistant for filmmaker Bruce Elder
- Film research assistant for filmmaker Bruce Elder
1998-2004
Toronto District School Board, Toronto, ON
Catholic School Board, Toronto, ON
Bleecker Street Co-op, Toronto, ON
- English Language Instructor and Computer Graphics Instructor
1998-2000
Trinity Square Video, Toronto, ON
1998-2000
Trinity Square Video, Toronto, ON
- Board of Director, Secretary
1994-1998
COSTI-Immigrant Services, Toronto, ON
1994-1998
COSTI-Immigrant Services, Toronto, ON
- Counselor and Interpreter/Translator
1993-1994
1993-1994
Field to Table, Toronto, ON
- Assisted in developing and distributing a nutritious and
inexpensive monthly grocery box, The Good Food Box,
for lower income multicultural Toronto residents
1990-1992
Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran,
Mexico Mexico City, and the Solis Valley rural health station in the State of Mexico
- Field and clinical research on Vitamin B12 deficiency, with cultural components
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Solo and Group Exhibitions
2001: Film: Sketches
Trinity Square Video, Toronto, ON
2001: Video installation: (Toronto) Lake Ontario Video Installation
Ryerson School of Image Arts, Toronto, ON
2002: Experimental Film: Gathering the Ripples
Le Fresnoy, Studio National des Arts Contemporains, Tourcoing, France
2002: Photographs: Neighborhood Trees
Allan Gardens Conservatory, Toronto, ON
2014: Visual Presentation: Reclaiming Beauty
The Power of Beauty Conference
Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio
2001: Film: Sketches
Trinity Square Video, Toronto, ON
2001: Video installation: (Toronto) Lake Ontario Video Installation
Ryerson School of Image Arts, Toronto, ON
2002: Experimental Film: Gathering the Ripples
Le Fresnoy, Studio National des Arts Contemporains, Tourcoing, France
2002: Photographs: Neighborhood Trees
Allan Gardens Conservatory, Toronto, ON
2014: Visual Presentation: Reclaiming Beauty
The Power of Beauty Conference
Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio
- Photographs and textile and graphic works part of the presentation
2016: Presentation: Strength in Beauty
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals conference
Commission on the Status of Women
United Nations, New York
2017: Presentation: Urban Development through Small Businesses
Kidist Foods Cookbook introduction
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals conferences
Commission on the Status of Women
United Nations, New York
May 2019: Well-Patterned: Designs and Decor
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals conferences
Commission on the Status of Women
United Nations, New York
May 2019: Well-Patterned: Designs and Decor
Mississauga Central Library, Mississauga, ON
July 2019: Ontario Views: Paintings
July 2019: Ontario Views: Paintings
Mississauga Central Library, Mississauga, ON
October 2019: The Mississauga Civic Centre: Photographs
October 2019: The Mississauga Civic Centre: Photographs
Mississauga Central Library, Mississauga, ON
August 18 - September 6, 2021: Visual Arts Mississauga
Images of Sunflowers online group exhibit
Riverwood Conservancy, Mississauga, ON
August 23 - September 23, 2022: Visual Arts Mississauga
Wildlife Exhibition [from Southern Ontario]
Riverwood Conservancy, Mississauga, ON
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Presentations and Conferences
March 2017: United Nations Committee on the Status of Women Conference
New York, NY
Parallel Event Workshop
- Paper Presented: “Cookbook project to economic sufficiency of young Ethiopian urban women.”
Sponsor: Nation to Nation Networking Limited
March 2016: United Nations Committee on the Status of Women Conference
New York, NY
- Paper Presented: “Cookbook project to economic sufficiency of young Ethiopian urban women.”
Sponsor: Nation to Nation Networking Limited
March 2016: United Nations Committee on the Status of Women Conference
New York, NY
Parallel Event Workshop
- Paper Presented: "How do We Empower Young Women in the Third World? By teaching them to understand their own beauty, and the beauty around them."
Sponsor: Nation to Nation Networking Limited
October 25, 2014: Franciscan University Power of Beauty conference
- Paper Presented: "How do We Empower Young Women in the Third World? By teaching them to understand their own beauty, and the beauty around them."
Sponsor: Nation to Nation Networking Limited
October 25, 2014: Franciscan University Power of Beauty conference
Steubenville, Ohio
- Paper presented: “Reclaiming Beauty: Winning Back Our Western Civilization”
- Paper presented: “Reclaiming Beauty: Winning Back Our Western Civilization”
Partial funding: Franciscan University
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Special Skills
- Research and research methods
- Writing and Editing
Special Skills
- Research and research methods
- Writing and Editing
- Digital photography and editing
- Digital video and editing
- Website Design
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Language Proficiency
- English: Excellent speaking, reading and writing
- Amharic: Excellent speaking, Good reading and Good writing
- French: Good speaking, reading and writing
- Spanish: Moderate speaking, reading and writing
- French: Good speaking, reading and writing
- Spanish: Moderate speaking, reading and writing
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Travels
Ethiopia, France, England, Wales, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia,
Zimbabwe, India, South Korea, The United States (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, Georgia, California), Canada (Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick)