Biography
Susanne Swibold is an artist, explorer, teacher and naturalist. She has collaborated with renowned paleontologists, choreographers and biologists on films, books and dance productions. She earned a B.F.A. at the Chicago Art Institute and the University of Chicago, and a M.F.A. from the University of Michigan. As a practising artist, photographer and film-maker, Susanne has travelled the world, often living on wild, remote islands for long periods of time. Her life was forever changed by two months she spent camping on the Galapagos Islands in the early 1970s, before they became a wildlife mecca. Later, she spent decades with the Unangan (Aleut) people of the Pribilof Islands, Alaska and Commander Islands, Russia. Susanne was adopted into extended families and schooled by Aleut matriarchs. She produced four documentary films about the Pribilofs and is today, a revered elder with the Wisdom Weavers of the World. She has taught art for 60 years, in universities and, colleges and from her studio in Canmore, Alberta. Visit AMIQ.ORG to learn more about her work conservation work in the Bering Sea. 
Degrees Earned:
Susanne's has been multidisciplinary in art and science. She received 52 grants since l970, for photography, film, and science research.
Grants:
BFA/Chicago Art Institute, l962; MFA/University of Michigan Majored in drawing, painting, printmaking and photography.
• 5 – Canada Council grants: l980; 1974; 1973 (Sr. Arts); 1972; 1970
• 4 – Alberta Culture grants: 2003; 1984; 1982; 1978
• Minister of Culture: 1986
• 2 – Government of Canada Supply & Services: 1989; 1988
• 2 – Department of External Affairs: 1984; 1983
• UNESCO Canada: 1986 and Department of Indian Affairs: 1974
• Chas. Ivey Foundation: 1989
• Arctic Institute of North America: 1990
• 2 – Muttart Foundation: 1987; 1982
• Donner Canadian Foundation: 1987
• Winspear Foundation: 1983
• Boreal Institute for North Studies: 1986
• Clifford E. Lee Foundation: 1983; 1982; 1981
• 2 National Science Foundation: 1999; 1998 (US)
• NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service: 1997 (US)
• Eurasia Foundation: 1996 (US)
• Cetacean Institute of Japan: 1994 (Japan)
• David Rockefeller SailAlaska Fund: 1995 (US)
• World Wildlife Fund: 1989 (US)
• National Endowment for the Humanities: 1984 (US)
• Alaska Humanities Forum: 1984 (US)
Exhibitions: dates since 1971
• Whyte Gallery of the Canadian Rockies: Group Shows: 1992; 1985; 1982; 1978
• Déjà vu Gallery, Toronto: 1980
• Alberta College of Art, Calgary: (Group) 1979
• Galerie Lucas Atelier, Montreal: (Group) 1979
• Lee Collins Gallery, Regina: (Group) 1979
• Dance in Canada Conference, Montreal: 1979
• University of Calgary (Nickle art gallery) solo exhibition: 1978
• Harborfront Gallery, Toronto: (Group) 1978
• National Exhibition, Canada/England: (Group) 1978
• Banff Center, Alberta: (Group) 1976
• Culture Arts Center, St. John's Newfoundland: (Solo-Film & Photography) 1976
• National Museums, Ottawa: (Solo-Film) 1976
• Sir George Williams University, Montreal: 1973 (Solo Program, Film & Photography)
• Performing Arts Center, Ottawa: 1973 (film, photog & dance)
• Vancouver Art Gallery: (Group) 1972
• Perception Gallery: (Group) 1972
• Musee d'art Contemporain: 1971 (Solo)
Films
• Four award-winning films on the Pribilof Islands: National Educational Film and TV Festival: 1998;
• 17th Alberta Film and TV Awards: 1990;
• Roveniemi Anthropology film festival, Finland: 1985;
• Alberta Access TV commissioned broadcast: 1986.
Films have been shown on educational TV in England, Europe's Discovery Channel and Singapore Television and for a five year window on Alberta Access TV: all in the early 1990's.
Commissions as Photographer and filmmaker
• 1982-1978: National Research Council, Ottawa
• 1979: Regina Modern Dance Works
• 1979-78: Alberta Provincial Museum, Paleontology division (expedition photographer)
• 1978: Parks Canada
• 1975-1973: Public Works projects, Canadian Government
• 1975-1974: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Montreal
• 1974-72: Le Groupe de La Place Royale, Montreal (dance sets in film & photography & art)
• 1973-1971: National Museums of Canada
• 1971-1968: National Film Board of Canada, Montreal (10 photographic contracts)
Published Books
• A VANISHED WORLD; DINOSAURS OF WESTERN CANADA 1977 National Museums of Canada. By D. Russell; S. Swibold; E. Kisch
• WILDLIFE CINEMATOGRAPHY IN SUPER 8 1979; 9-page colour monograph published by Bell & Howell Co., Chicago
• Photos have appeared in Scenic Wonders of Canada; Atlas of Canada, Drive Canada (all Reader's Digest books); Thread of Life: Smithsonian Books; Extinction's: Scientific American Books, etc.
Reviews
• American Anthropologist, Vol. 8 1986
• Movie Maker (U.K.) August 1985; Profile & Review
• Cinema Canada, May 1985; Profile
• The Independent Producer (US) June l984; Profile
• Alaska Native News, January 1984; Feature Article
• Macleans Magazine, April 26,1982
• Interface (Calgary) January, 1982 Profile
• Alberta Report; May 1 1981 Review
• Cinema Canada, August, 1978 and August 1979 Reviews
• Artmagazine, November/December 1979 Review
• Dance Canada, fall, 1979, Review
• Super 8 Filmmaker (US) Oct. 1978 Review
• Canadian Geographical Journal, June/July, 1978 Review
• Motion, Vol.6, No. 3 Review
• Art Magazine May/June 1977 Review
• Arts Canada; spring, 1972 Profile
• LaPress, March 13, 1971
• Montreal Star, March 20, 1971
• The Gazette, (Montreal) March 27, 1971

Guest Artist and Lecturer
• University Calgary, Dept. Anthropology and Department Environmental Design
• Arctic Institute of North America
• Association for Canadian Studies Conference, Brisbane, Australia
• Alberta Society of Professional Biologists
• Leicester International Film Festival: Featured Presenter
• Film Cooperatives: York, Liverpool, England
• Canada House, Canadian High Commission, London, England
• Taller de Cine Red Film Encounter, Puerto Rico
• Alaska State Museum, Juneau (twice)
• Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts Museum, Alaska: (three times)
• Caracas International Super 8 Film Festival, Venezuela: featured presenter
• Caracas Cinematheque, Venezuela: sponsored by the Canadian Embassy
• Indigenous People's Conference On Cultural Survival, Yellowknife
• North American Association for Environmental Education Conference: Alberta
• International Ecumenical Conference, Morley, Alberta
• California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco
• Washington State University; Anthropology Department, Pullman, Wa.
• International Wildlife Film Festival, Montana: Featured Presenter (three times)
• York University, Art Department Graduate Studies
• Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, Toronto

Teaching Experience 1980-1969

• Sir George Williams Univ. (Concordia) l969-1976 Montreal drawing/painting/film
• Montreal Museum of Fine Arts School l973 Montreal design/art history
• Banff Center l976-1977 photography and design
• Univ. of Calgary Fine Arts Dept. l978-1979 photography
• Alberta College of Art, Calgary l979-1980 painting/drawing
• Grant McEwan College Fine Arts Dept., Edmonton l980-81 photography
• Emily Carr College of Art Outreach Program l978-1979 photography workshops, B.C.​​​​​​​
Awards
• 1987 Woman of Distinction, Arts & Culture, City of Calgary YMCA
↑Back to Top