Over the past nine years Annette Foster have been creating multimedia solo performance pieces. She has many diverse forms of expression, performance,live art, video, sound, installation, dance, writing, costume design, painting, drawing, and object making.

Annette has a B.A. in fine Arts fro Montana State University and a MFA in Multimedia performance from Arizona State University. In July 2002 She was awarded a Forward Thinking Artistic Fellowship, which has allowed her to move to Nottingham from Seattle, Washington USA and has given her the freedom to experiment with her artistic ideas and challenge herself in new ways.

From September 2003- Feburary 2005 Annette created ‘A Trilogy of Intimacy’; a series of one-one performances: ‘Destiny’, ‘High Tea’ and ‘Desire’. This series of performances and costumes are influenced by the history of dolls concerned with issues of Victorian representation, desire, voyeurism, sexuality, and fairytale.This trilogy was supported by the Arts Council of England in collaboration with costume designer Nadia Malik and Sculptor Ottis Strumey . Desire exploring the history of hysteria,sexuality and the hidden tensions of social interactions. Desire muses about the swoon and the lives of the hysteric women in the black and white photographic iconography of Salpêtrière asylum. ‘High Tea’ a performance based on the English obsession with serving Tea and includes a giant tea trolley with an entire tea set hidden underneath her dress and when she lifts her skirt to reveal her secrets the intrigue begins. And ‘Destiny’, a flirtous performance that draws you into a strange world of 19th century decadence, flirtation, obsession and fairytale.

“Annette Foster’s work draws on the imagery of fairy tales, Victoriana, de Sade and the history of pornography. In performances that are theatrical, intimate and unsettling, she explores sexuality, memory, voyeurism and the hidden tensions of social interaction. Costumes are used to create characters that suggest particular archetypes, values or emotional states. The performing character, often exotic in appearance, acts as a channel for the revelation of secrets and memories.”

Tim Harrison
Performance and Live Art Co-ordinator- Arnofini, Bristol, UK

As a new artist to Nottingham and the UK she has looked for ways to build an artistic community around herself, to learn new things that will help her with her professional career as an artist and to meet other artist in the region. From Dec. 2002 to May 2004 she curatied, organized. and regularly perform in ‘Show Room’, a bi-monthly platform for emerging artists in conjunction with Dance4. Annette is now curating a Showroom II: Bi-annual National Showroom which programs Live Artist for a week long festival at Bonington Gallery the last week of November and the first week of December.

 

Annette Foster

Education

  
1996-2000 MFA Multimedia Performance Art and Painting, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA
Sum. 1998

Solo Performance, Deep Creek School of Art, Telluride, CO. USA
1994-1996 BA Painting, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. USA
1990-1993 Art History and General Art Studies, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. USA
Teaching  
2005 Lecturer, Fine Art Elective: Bodies on Screen, Performance and Live Art Program, Nottingham Trent University, Bonington Building, Nottingham. Lecturer of an elective for second year Art and Design courses concerning film and video theory and practical video creation workshops. Responsibilities include creation of syllabus, lectures, facilitation of weekly classes, assessment and student tutorials.
2003-04 Lecturer, Fine Art Elective: Sexual Economics, Performance and Live Art Program, Nottingham Trent University, Bonington Building, Nottingham, UK. Lecturer of an elective for second year Art and Design courses giving the students an overview of a broad range of artists dealing with the notion of gender and sexuality and looking at the history of eroticism in art and fiction. Responsibilities include creation of syllabus, lectures and practical assignments, facilitation of weekly classes, assessment and student tutorials.
2003-04 Artist in Residence, Workshop creator and Faciltiator Creative Partnerships, Seagrave Primary School, Nottingham, UK. Weekly multimedia workshops with primary school Children class 5 and 6 culminating in the creation of Digital Seasons Phrase 2: a video Installation presented at Bonington Gallery July 2004.
2003 The Field, Nottingham: Artist Workshops Facilitator and Organizer as part of Showroom, Dance4, Nottingham, UK. 10 week artist sessions
2002-03 Art Images Tutor, The Art and Education Center College St. Center, Nottingham UK
2002-03 Performance Movement Workshop Facilitator , Contemporary Arts Program, Nottingham Trent University, Victoria Studios, Nottingham, UK
2002-04 Educational Lecturer, Bonington Gallery, Bonington Building, Dryden St., Nottingham, UK
2001-02 Instructor, Digital Photography/PhotoShop 6, Green River Community College, Auburn, WA. USA. Responsibilities include creation of syllabus, lectures, facilitation of weekly classes, assessment and student tutorials. Practical classes in digital photography and Photoshop 6.
2001-02 Instructor, Beg. and Adv. Painting. Green River Community College, Auburn WA. USA. Responsibilities include creation of syllabus, lectures, facilitation of weekly classes, assessment and student tutorials. Practical classes in 2-Dimmensional Design theory and practice while learning the basics to design program Freehand 9.
2001 Instructor, Beginning Design with Freehand 9. Green River Community College, Auburn WA. USA. Responsibilities include creation of syllabus, lectures, facilitation of weekly classes, assessment and student tutorials. Practical classes in 2-Dimmensional Design theory and practice while learning the basics to design program Freehand 9.
1999 Teaching Assistant, Core Foundations, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA Instructor of record for Introduction to Color. Instructor of record for Introduction to Color. Responsibilities include creation of syllabus, lectures, facilitation of weekly classes, assessment and student tutorials. Practical classes in the artistic theories of Colour and various visual art disciplines including painting, drawing, printmaking and photography.
1997-98 Teaching Assistant, Core Foundations, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA Instructor of record for 2-Dimensional Design. Responsibilities include creation of syllabus, lectures, facilitation of weekly classes, assessment and student tutorials. Practical classes in the artistic theories of 2- Dimensional Design and various visual art disciplines including painting, drawing, printmaking and photography.
Art Experience  
2002-05 Forward Thinking Fellowship, Future Factory, Bonington Gallery,Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham UK. 32 month residency and £12,000 Bursary
Oct. 2003 Residence Artist with international performance company Reckless Sleepers, part of the Now Festival, Preset Studio, Hockley, Nottingham, UK. three week residency and 2 performances
Aug. 2001

Seattle Festival of Alternative dance and Improvisation, Five-day intensive with international artist Ishmael Houston-Jones and various movement classes over 10 days. Seattle WA. USA

2001-02

The Field, Seattle: 2 Artist Workshops involving useful critical feedback during the artistic process. Performance and Writing for performance two 10-week sessions, culminating in a showing for the public. Seattle, WA. USA
2001 The Field, Seattle: 2 Artist Workshops involving useful critical feedback during the artistic process. Performance and Writing for performance two 10-week sessions, culminating in a showing for the public. Seattle, WA. USA
2000

Internship in graphic design, Performance Studies International Conference, Institute for Studies in the Arts, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA
1999 Rachel Rosenthal Performance Workshop, Institute for Studies in the Arts, Tempe, AZ. USA
1998 Angela Ellsworth Performance Workshop, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ. USA

Art Administration Experience

  
Nov. 2004- present Education Co-ordinator, Future Factory at Bonington Gallery. Administers and assist in the development and co-ordination of all education programmes at The Bonington Gallery, that enhance and run alongside the exhibitions, performance and events programme. This involves liaising with the School and University staff as well as network with other organisations, artists and the creative industries. This involves sourcing and applying for funding for future and on-going projects, as well as monitoring and evaluating all activity within the education programme for report writing and data analysis.
Autumn 2004 Curator and Manger of The National Showroom: A Bi-Annual Artist Run Performance Platform for Emerging artist in Great Britian, at Bonignton Gallery/ Powerhouse supported by Dance4 and Bonington Gallery, Nottingham, UK
2002-04 Curator, Organizer/Manager, Show Room: A Bi-Monthly Artist Run Performance Venue, Dance Four, Preset, Hockley, Nottingham, UK

Jan.-July 2004

 Audience Development and seminar organization for Nottdance 2004, Dance 4, Hockley, Nottingham, UK
Feb.-July 2004 Playing in Public Spaces Manager, for the Performance Festival Weekend Break a collaboration with Fierce. The Public, West Bromwich, UK.
Creation and Facilitation of a Series of Workshops, Lectures and Performances for local college students to have artistic experiences with International artists such as Gob Squad, Blast Theory and Sophia Clist’s project Stretch
1996-97 Research Assistant, Undergraduate Advising, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA

Selected Solo Performances
March 2006 Desire, as part of the VISU Festival, DSN, Dieppe, France
August 2005 Desire, The Future Factory off-site projects, The Nottingham Castle, Nottingham, UK
Feb. 2005

Desire, The National Review of Live Art, Elevator, Arches Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland,UK
Nov. 2004 Desire, work in progress Forward Thinking Fellowship showing, Bonington Gallery, Nottingham, UK
Oct. 2004 Critical Platform: Alter Egos- Destiny: Annette Foster: Performance Lecture, at Hull Time- Based Arts, Hull, UK
April 2004 High Tea, as part o f the Seen Festival , Leicester, UK
April 2004 Venus Sightings, As part of the Seen Festival, Leicester,UK
Mar. 2004 High Tea, Commissioned for the Sensitive Skin Festival, Bonington Gallery, at Galleries o Justice, Nottingham, UK
Nov. 2003 Destiny, Forward Thinking Fellowship Showing, Powerhouse, Victoria Studios, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
Oct. 2003 Destiny Dress as part of Veiled presented by Showroom, Dance 4, and presented at Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham, UK
Mar. 2003 Venus Sightings, Showroom, Dance 4 , Preset, Nottingham, UK
Feb.-Mar. 2003 Venus Sightings, Commissioned for Sensitive Skin, Bonington Gallery, in various outdoor public parks throughout Nottingham: The Castle, The Arboretum and Wollaton Park
Feb. 2003 The Venus of Willendorf ,commissioned for Sensitive Skin, Future Factory, Victoria Studios Nottingham, UK
Dec. 2002 On Pins and Needles. Forward Thinking Fellowship Launch, Powerhouse, Nottingham, UK
Dec. 2002 Juliett’s Valentine 2, Showroom, Dance 4, Preset, Nottingham, UK
May. 2002 Juliet’s Valentine, The Field Showing, R.E.D., Seattle, WA. USA
Nov. 2001 On Pins and Needles, The Field Showing, R.E.D., Seattle, WA. USA
Dec. 2000 Juliet and the Venus of Willendorf, Doggie Bag- a participatory experiential group show, Soil Gallery, Seattle WA. USA
Mar. 2000 Virgin Mary Whore, The 6th Annual Performance Studies International Conference, Memorial Union Gallery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA
Feb. 2000 Drag Woman 2, Commissioned for Valentine’s a Drag, Phoenix Art Museum, After Hours Program, Phoenix, AZ. USA
Feb. 2000 Nobody Loves A Bearded Lady (excerpts), Commissioned for, The Exotic Art Show,Alwun House, Phoenix, AZ. USA
Jan. 2000 Nobody Loves A Bearded Lady, Masters Thesis, Prism Theatre, Tempe, AZ, USA
Jan. 1999 Drag Queen , Live Art Platform Benefit, Alwun House, Phoenix, AZ. USA
Dec. 1998 Drag Woman, Drama City, Tempe, AZ. USA
Nov. 1998 The ToothFairy, Mars Art Space, Phoenix, AZ. USA
July 1998 Adventures of Paranoia Girl, from “The World Makes Me Tired” series
Deep Creek open house, Telluride, CO. USA
Mar. 1998 Corporeal Realities, New Plays Festival, Nelson Fine Arts Center,
Tempe, AZ. USA
Feb. 1998 Membrane, “Media/ Morality/ Mortality,” ASU West Gallery, Glendale, AZ
Dec. 1997 Bloodline, Icehouse, Phoenix, AZ. USA
Oct. 1997 Adventures of Organ Girl, Nelson Fine Arts Centre, Tempe, AZ. USA
Feb. 1997 

The Tic Tac Suit, and A.A.A (An Affected Appearance) for Art on the Edge of Fashion, Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, AZ. USA
Collaborative Performance  
June 2006 Shell, Commissioned performance for an Installation by Susie McMurray, Pallant House Gallery, West Sussex
May 2004 Showroom: Performance and Response, Nottdance 2004, Bonington gallery, Nottingham, UK Collaboration with 4 other artist Simone Kenyon, Tina Carter, Phillip Henderson and Mel Kirkham. Simone Kenyon and I facilitated weekly workshops for one month, where artist create time based pieces and respond to each others work in the form of time-based work.
Exhibitions  
2000 Candy, Annual Candy Festival and Convention, Chicago, IL. USA Group show
1999 Monkey, Metrophobia Art Space, Phoenix, AZ. USA Group show
1998 Annual Nathan Cummings Traveling Competition, Harry Wood Gallery, Tempe, AZ. USA Grop Show
1998 Self-Indulgent Fools, MUAB Gallery, Tempe, AZ. USA Group show
1997 Contradictions, ASU West Gallery, Glendale, AZ. USA Group show
1997 Painting is Dead, MUAB Gallery, Tempe, AZ. USA Group show
1996 New Graduates Exhibition, Harry Wood Gallery, Tempe, AZ. USA Group show
1996 I Spy with My Little Eye, Seven Doors Gallery, Bozeman, MT. USA Solo show
1996 Senior Show, Student Gallery, Bozeman, MT. USA Group show
1995 Getting over Penis Envy, Exit Gallery, Bozeman, MT. USA Solo show

Video Festivals

  
2002 I am not your bunny OMSK video festival, London,UK
2002 I am not your bunny RootX performance and Video Festival, Interactive Cable Television, Hull Time Based Art, Hull ,UK
Collections  

Public

Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. USA An image of this painting was also placed on a T-shirts and sold as a mascot of the BioFilm department.

  

Private

C.C. Devor, Orano, MT . USA

  
Raffi and Serena Goslanian, McKinney, TX. USA  

Jay and Sharon Hyma, Bozeman, MT. USA

  

Rudolf W. Dietrich, Bozeman, MT. USA

  
John L. Hooton & Dee Mast, Bozeman, MT. USA  
Awards
2005 Arts Council of England Funding for Desire, as individual artist, £5,000
2004 Arts Council of England Funding for High Tea and Nettypage.org, as individual artist, £5,000 grant
2003 Arts Council of England Funding for Destiny Dress, as individual artist, £2,200 grant.
2001-04 Forward Thinking Fellowship, 12,000 Bursary, Bonington Gallery, Nottingham Trent University, UK
2000 Graduate Tuition Scholarship, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA
1996-2000 Regents Academic Scholarship, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA
1996-2000 Graduate Scholar’s Award, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA
1996 The Golden Pencil Award, Outstanding Achievement in Painting, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. USA
1996 Membership, Scholastic Achievement, The Gamma Beta Phi Society
1992 Juried Art Scholarship, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
Public Lectures and Workshops  
October 2004 Critical Platform: Alter Egos: Brian Routh and Annette Foster: Performance Lecture Hull Time- Based Arts, Hull, UK

Janrary 2004

 Artist Workshop “Character and Costume: Who have You always wanted to be.” Bonington Gallery, Nottingham, UK
Spring 2002 Guest Lecturer, Contemporary Arts Program, Victoria Studios, Nottingham Trent University
Winter 2002 Have you Seen Me? an interview television series, by Jorgem Morgensten and Mac & Cheez Films, Seattle, WA. USA Interviewed about my life and work. (Channel 77)
Spring 2000 Commissioned Guest Lecturer and Workshop Facilitator for Photo Fabrications, Photography Department, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA
Spring 1998 Guest Lecturer and Workshop Facilitator for Photo Fabrications, Photography Department, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA
Fall 1998 Guest Workshop Facilitator for Solo Performance, Theater Department, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA
Spring 1997

Guest Lecturer, Introduction to Intermedia, Intermedia Department, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. USA
Skills  
VIDEO: 9 years experience Non-linear digital systems: Avid, Final Cut Pro, Premiere 6 and Vegas Video Linear Analog system: Video Toaster and ¾ decks
High-8 and Mini Digital Video Camera
SOUND: 9 years experience Mini Disk Recorder, DAT, Tascam Analog 8 track system and Sound Edit 16 v.2
GRAPHIC , WEB and DVD DESIGN: Program applications used: Freehand 9, PhotoShop 6, PageMaker 6.1, Dream Weaver 4, Fireworks,Adobe InDesign and Encore.
References  
1. Ayla Suveren, Live Art and Performance Programmer, The Public, Unit 1a Overend St. West Bromwich , UK B70 6EY. aylasuveren@hotmail.com
2. Andrew Brown, Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University,Fine Art Department,. The Bonngton Building, Dryden St. Nottingham, UK NG1 4FX, andrew.brown@ntu.ac.uk
3. Stella Couloutbanis, Gallery Director, Nottingham Trent University, The Bonington gallery, Bonington Building Dryden St, Nottingham, UK NG1 4FX. stella.couloutbanis@ntu.ac.uk