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image from the Peter McGehee fonds (1980-1991). McGehee, Peter Photographic Collection. University of Saskatchewan Archives, Saskatoon.
Bogdan Ștefan Cheța
(he / they)
Wavering without an end in sight, like an internal monologue that cruises for the interiority of its own scenes, Bogdan Cheța’s (b.1983 Ploiești, România) research contemplates possible parallels between non-linear fragmentations of Cold War histories, the phenomenology of reading, and anti-communal expressions of intimacy. Responding to the site-specificity of their contexts, his installations extend physically — as immersive atmospheres that virtualize scenes from works that initially circulate in the published form. Built like episodic continuations from each project, these paratextual infiltrations begin to morph into one another— from project to project, and across time, to give form to a kind of shelter — an imaginary space that can be picked up, reshuffled, and then spaced each time as a new thought.
Education
MFA Master of Fine Arts in Craft (MFA), Alberta University of the Arts (2016-2019)
thesis: "Thinking with You: Studio as a Tactile Queer Reading Practice"
co-supervised by Dr. Alexandra Emberley & Dr. August Klintberg
jury: Susan Cahill, August Klintberg, Alexandra Emberley and Mackenzie Kelly-Frère
areas of research: queer material culture; contemporary reception of art historical ideas and forms; craft history and theory
BFA Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Drawing, Alberta College of Art & Design (2003-2009)
Selected Exhibitions & Projects
(S = Solo exhibitions C = Collaborative G = Group Exhibitions Cu = Curatorial Projects)
23 reading is a free dream, for SWSYL, organized by Ryan Danny Owen for Truck Contemporary Art, Calgary (G)
22 Studio Camper, University of Manitoba School of Art, Winnipeg, Intervention with off-site visits from Jeanne Randolph and David Churchill
21 I can feel safe in place and queer under the vast sky, with Richard Boulet for M:ST [10], Calgary (C, Cu)
Solutions to the Problem of Staying Alive, invited by sophia bartholomew, Unit/Pitt, Vancouver
20 — a rose held gently in a manicured hand, kaffeeklatsch & M:ST, Calgary (S, permanent neon signage)
the opposite of a look is a kiss, the Backlot, public intervention with Ashley Bedet, Calgary (C, Cu)
Kaffeeklatsch Scheinpräparat, with Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed & Jessica Mccarrel, kaffeeklatsch, Calgary (C)
19/21 The Blue Light, M:ST[10], CommunityWise Resource Centre, Calgary, including Ashley Bedet, Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed,
Richard Boulet, Shyra deSouza, Jeremy Pavka and others (C, Cu, invited by Sharon Kahanoff)
Softopenning, group exhibition organized by Sean MacAlister for U’s Project Space, Calgary (G)
18 Windowlicker, organized by Ana Iwataki & Marion Vasseur Rally for Balice Hertling, Paris, FR (G)
Thinking with You: graduating MFA Thesis Exhibition, 371 Gallery, AUArts, Calgary (S)
17 Notes on how to cook with thoughts & sleep with sounds, 67 Steps, Los Angeles (S, curated by Sean MacAlister)
The Last Haircut: 1st year MFA Group Exhibition, AUArts, 379 Gallery, Calgary, including Anton cu Unjieng and Rob Froese (C, G)
16 Thinking Sculptures, textual interventions with Dr. Jeanne Randolph (Winnipeg), published online by TNG Press (C)
Trans Trans: Transgender Histories Between Germany and the United States, 1882-1966, Nickel Arts Museum,
University of Calgary (G, organized by Dr. Annette F. Timm)
BWYW 5, # unit festival, Berlin, DE (G, programmed by Coral Short for FUTURE VISIONs)
15 There, the eyes are sunrise on a broken column, The New Gallery, Calgary (part of A manifesto has come to light: 6-
month art-writing residency lead by Dr. Jeanne Randolph & Jacob Wren
Poor People must Work: The Resolute Parka, 12th Havana Biennale, Havana, CU (publication-based project, edited,
distributed and curated by sophia bartholomew)
No Place: Atlas Sighed, Calgary Biennial, Calgary (essay-based public interventions curated by Steven Cottingham)
BWYW 5, CYNETART Festival, Dresden, DE (programmed by Coral Short for FUTURE VISIONS)
14 Be what you want, but stay where you are, Stride Contemporary Art, Calgary (S, publication)
Distant Touch, M:ST [7] Performance Art Festival, Calgary (S, performance)
BWYW 5, Zero Future: Les HTMlles 11 Festival, Montreal (programmed by Coral Short for FUTURE VISIONS)
Carte Blanche, DNA Artspace, London, ONT (G, invited by Thea Yabut)
13 E N D, Union Cemetery, Calgary (performance, curated by Sharon Stevens for Equinox Vigil, catalogue)
Wreck City, Eightohnine Gallery, Calgary, including Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed, Jill Armstrong and Alexander M. Steinitz (C, Cu)
Paper Trail, Avalanche! ICA, Calgary (G, programmed by Nate McLeod)
The Last Text, EMMEDIA in partnership with M:ST [6] Calgary (curated by Richard Martel)
12 I like it here, Don’t you?, Avalanche! ICA, Calgary (S, curated by Nate McLeod)
Island Night # 2, Choose Yer Own Festival, Calgary (G, programmed by Dana Schloss)
Island Night # 1, programmed as part of Particle + Wave Festival: Luminaries Series, EMMEDIA, Calgary, including Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed,
Alexander M. Steinitz and Carmina Trsic (C, Cu)
Bump/Shift, Untitled Art Society, Calgary (G, curated by Sally Raab)
11 Hair Grows The Way It Wants, Pith Gallery, Calgary, including Jill Armstrong and Wednesday Lupypciw (G, curated by Jennifer Chrighton)
Sleepover, Untitled Art Society in partnership with Choose Yer Own Festival, Calgary (programmed by Laura Leif)
08 Rabbit Hole, Truck Contemporary Art +15, Calgary (S, curated by Caitlin Thompson)
06 Paul Butler's Collage Party, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, invited by Paul Butler, with Richard Boulet (G, C, curated by Wayne Baerwaldt)
Essays, Scripts & other Paratextual Drifts
23 Travel Bag, a suite of experimental poems commissioned by ISSAY! online (upcoming)
Clingy Fags, poem and reading action for Teresa Tam’s Good Job Arcade, Truck Contemporary Art, Calgary
21 The scene of the closet & the haptic perception of queer pastness, virtual essay environment, Calgary: M:ST Festival online archive
The Blue Light, edited by Cristina Grigore, Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Tuș Zine Editia 1
Student Conference, collaboratively authored gay erotic short story, with Rocky Wallbaum. nifty.org (Nifty Archive)
19 Thinking with You, MFA Graduate Thesis, Alberta University of the Arts
18 an image, a sound & a place, curated and published by Sharon Stevens, Calgary: Equinox Vigil in Union Cemetery
17 notes on how to cook with thoughts, Los Angeles: 67 Steps online project archive; https://67steps.info/
16 There, the eyes are Sunlight on a broken column, with textual interventions by Dr. Jeanne Randolph + Jacob Wren, including
Jillian Fleck and J.D Mersault, edited by Ashley Bedet, Calgary: TNG Press
The horniness of the unmoored thought, edited by Lindsay Sorell, Calgary: LUMA Quarterly, Issue 05, Volume II
15 There is no Place, public textual interventions programmed by Steven Cottingham: 2nd Calgary Biennial
More than Enough, with Unlearning Weekenders (Zoë Kreye + Catherine Grau), including Luke Parnell, Toronto: Artscape Gibraltar Point
Faces & Figures, edited & distributed by Alexander M. Steinitz, Calgary: Issue 2, Volume IV
14 Long way from home, essay commissioned by Sandra Vida, Calgary: Elephant Artist Relief, UVAC conference
Distant Touch, edited by Dr. Douglas Gosse, chapter in Out Proud: Stories of Pride, Courage, and Social Justice, Toronto: Breakwater Books
13 St. Patrick’s Island and Local Queer Spirits, edited by Eric Moschopedis + Mia Rushton, chapter in Knock on Any Door,
Art and Social Engagement in Calgary, 1912-2012, Calgary: Department of Forgotten Histories
12 Island Night, artist book & project essay for Particle + Wave Festival, Calgary: EMMEDIA Bars & Tone Scholarship
11 Community and Coming of Age in Calgary, edited by Jennifer McVeigh, chapter in Grain, Anthology of critical texts, Calgary: EMMEDIA
Public Readings, Lectures & other Solo / Collaborative Actions
22 Drift, curation & preparation of solo exhibition, Margo (Jill) Armstrong, Kaffeeklatsch, Calgary (Cu)
Queer Migrants, research interview and workshop with WeiHsi Hu, Storychor, Berlin, DE https://www.weihsihu.com/
Remedy Toxic Energies: Summoning Circle, invited guest, lead by Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed, curated by Alana Bartol, Calgary (C)
21 Breakfast Club, weekly queer breakfast servings at Kaffeeklatch das Café, curated by Jessica McCarrel, Calgary
20 Crossing Blue, online intervention developed by Shyra deSouza for the Blue Light, M:St [10] , filmed in Calgary + Berlin, Germany (Cu)
The Future of Touch, invited guest panelist, online discussion organized by Caitlind R. Brown, Calgary
Plant Walk, invited guest speaker, organized by Alana Bartol & Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed, Calgary
19 The Gay Science, guest lecturer, with Jessica Mccarrel at CommunityWise Resource Centre, Calgary
17 Notes on how to Cook with Thoughts, guest lecturer, Graduate Student Conference, University of Calgary
The Last Haircut, public reading performance, in collaboration with Anton Cu Unjieng, AUAarts, Calgary (C, G)
16 Gay History Walk, public reading performance in collaboration with Kevin Allen for the Gay History Project, Jane's Walk Festival, Calgary (C)
Writer’s Block, pre-recorded spoken word performance, CJSW (90.9 FM), Calgary
15 a manifesto has come to light! art-writing residency open house with Jacob Wren + Dr. Jeanne Randolph, Stride Contemporary Art, Calgary
There, the eyes are Sunlight on a broken column, public walk & talk with Jacob Wren + Dr. Jeanne Randolph, The New Gallery, Calgary
1990: L.A., The Gold Field, outdoor intervention in response to essay by Félix González-Torres, with Jenna Swift, Union Cemetery, Calgary
14 Flânerie, roving performance programmed & choreographed by Coral Short, with sophia bartholomew, M:ST [7], Lethbridge (C)
Be what you want, but stay where you are, public reading performance, Intersite Visual Arts Festival, Calgary
Umbrella Visual Arts Conference, writer in residence, Untitled Art Society, Calgary
13 BIBT, recorded live program including Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed and Margo (Jill) Armstrong, Writer’s Block, CJSW, University of Calgary (Cu, C)
NEOCraft Global: Excerpts from the Future Archive, Vol. 1, guest lecturer, lead by Marilyn Volkman, The New Gallery, Calgary (C, G)
Critical Theory Reader, guest lecturer, lead by Andrea Williamson, John Snow House, Calgary (C, G)
12 I like it here, don't you?, artist talk in conjunction with solo exhibition at Avalanche! ICA, Calgary (curated by Nate McLeod)
If you are open to everything, then everything fits in the world, public walk & talk, including Sandra Vida, EMMEDIA, Calgary
It's not too late to do something with your life / Do something before you die - series of public walks and readings programmed through
Pith Gallery, in conjunction with group exhibition White Noise, curated by Jennifer Crighton, with Wednesday Lupypciw, Calgary, (C)
The value of our (collective) work, w. LIDS, guest speaker, including Wednesday Lupypciw, Nicole Burisch, Anthea Black &
Amy Fung, JSHouse, The New Gallery, Calgary (C)
11 UAS Film Nights, facilitator of monthly screenings & theoretical readings, Untitled Art Society, Calgary (C)
Selected Residencies, Research & Grants
23 Meeting for Teas, thematic residency, The Banff Centre, Banff AB
21 Peer Review Assessor, invited by Canada Council for the Arts, Ottawa, Canada
19 Explore and Create Research Creation Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
18 Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship in Visual Art, Alberta Government Student Aid
Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Alberta University of the Arts (2016-18)
16 Special Entrance Award, MFA in Craft media, Alberta University of the Arts
Graduate Research Award, Alberta University of the Arts
15 Unlearning Practices, thematic residency lead by Zoë Kreye + Catherine Grau, Artscape Gibraltar Point, Toronto, ONT
Can Art Writing be Art?, thematic residency lead by Jeanne Randolph + Jacob Wren, The New Gallery, Calgary
14 Performative Strategies, thematic residency lead by Andrés Galeano, EMMEDIA & M:ST [6.5], Calgary
Self-directed Residency, in partnership with STRIDE Contemporary Art, Calgary
Under the Influence of the Psyche, thematic residency lead by Vasco Araújo, The Power Plant, Toronto, ONT
Self-Directed Residency, Calgary Allied Arts Foundation, downtown studio, Calgary (fully funded, publication)
Wanted Dead or Alive, workshop lead by Adrian Stimson, Truck Gallery, Calgary
13 Art Action, workshop lead by Richard Martel, M:ST[6] Festival + EMMEDIA, Calgary
12 BARS ‘N’ TONE (12 months self-directed studio residency) EMMEDIA, Calgary
11 Production Access (12 months self-directed studio residency) EMMEDIA, Calgary
Teaching experience & other related employment
21 Pop-up restaurant artist-in-residence, Kaffeeklatsch, all-ages queer project space & café, Calgary (invited by Jessica McCarrel)
18 TeachingAssistantship, Mireille Perron, School of Critical Studies, AUArts University, Calgary
TeachingAssistantship, Dr. Mark Clintberg, Department of Art History, AUArts University, Calgary
17 Teaching Assistantship, Dr. Mark Clintberg, Department of Art History, AUArts University, Calgary
14-16 Board Member, Mountain Standard Time Performative Festival, Calgary
13-16 Board Member, EAR - Elephant Artists Relief Society, Calgary
14-16 Preparator & Collections Registrar, NewZones Gallery, Calgary
09-12 Studio Monitor, Untitled Arts Society Studio Spaces (The Bows), Calgary
09-10 Interior Design assistant, IKEA, Calgary
08-09 Teaching Assistant, North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre, Calgary
Teaching Assistant, St. Timothy High, U of C Masters in Art Education (1st year), placement in Cochrane, Alberta
07-08 TeachingAssistant, Studio C/ Prospect, Calgary (internship)
Bibliography
McCarrel, Jessica. "The Blue Light/ Project Space". Exhibition didactic, Kaffeeklatsch. Calgary, 2021. https://www.kaffeeklatsch.ca/copy-of-projects
Iwataki, Anna. “Windowlicker”. Exhibition didactic, Balice Hertling. Paris, FR. 2018
Scemama, Patrick. "Boîtes, identités et doutes". La République de l'Art. Paris, FR. 2018. (exhibition review)
Randolph, Jean and Wren, Jacob. “A manifesto has come to light”. The New Gallery: Calgary, 2016
Bartholomew, Sophia. "New Membranes", 2015. http://cargocollective.com/resoluteparka/sophia-bartholomew
Clintberg, Mark. "Can Writing About Art be Art?", L U M A Quarterly, issue 002, Fall 2015 (exhibition review)
Ker, Lucas. "Coming to a neighbourhood near you, Calgary Biennial". FFWD, Dec.11, 2014
Turner, Michael. "BWYW at Stride Gallery", Preview, Guide to Galleries + Museums, 2014 (exhibition review)
Williamson, Andrea. "Bogdan Cheta: Stride Gallery", Akimbo. April 5th, 2014 (exhibition review)
Crighton, Jennifer. "Studio Visitations". Interview with the artist. https://studiovisitation.wordpress.com
Dr. Gosse, Douglas. mention in "Introduction" (p.11-17). in Out Proud: Stories of Pride, Courage & Social Justice. Toronto: Breakwater Books, 2014
Sandals, Leah. "Wreck City Makes Ruins Right". Canadian Art. Spring 2013 (exhibition review)
Kirkland, Rhiannon. "AVALANCHE! Looks Back On Its First Year". Avenue magazine. Winter 2103
Mandybura, Cadence. "Honouring our dead: Equinox Vigil". FFWD. Sept.19, 2013
Williamson, Andrea. "The Art of Politics". Knock on Any Door (A Revised History): Art and Social Engagement in Calgary. FFWD, Aug. 1 2013
Bell, Jacqueline. mention in "Introduction" (p.9-19). in Knock on Any Door. Calgary: department of forgotten histories, 2013
Averns, Dick. "Annie Martin at Pith". Akimbo online. Posted on May 28, 2013. https://akimblog1.rssing.com/chan-14631131/all_p1.html
Anderson, Haley. "An Avalanche! of Innovation". The Calgary Journal. Posted on Jan. 5, 2013
Lupypciw, Wednesday. "Weird Guiltless Beauty: Some things Bogdan Cheta found in some places that are out of the way" (p.19-27). chapter
in Resonance Anthology of Critical Texts. Calgary: Emmedia Gallery & Production Society, 2012
Averns, Dick. "Bogdan Cheta at Avalanche!". Akimbo online. Posted on Nov.16, 2012 (exhibition review)
Vida, Sandra. mention in "A Day in the Life of the Emanimenteur". Calgary: Handheld Media Arts Journal, 2012
Psutka, Rachel. "A neighborhood is the sum of its parts". Calgary Herald. Posted on Jan. 10, 2012
Crighton, Jennifer. "White Noise". Exhibition didactic, Pith Gallery. Calgary, 2012
Whitehead, Kyle. "Resonant Frequencies", Handheld Media Arts Journal, Calgary: Emmedia, 2011
Neudorf, Kim. "ACAD Grad Show". Writing Shed in the Woods, online blog. 2009 (exhibition review)
Thompson, Caitlin. "Rabbit Hole". Exhibition didactic, Truck Contemporary Art. Calgary, 2008
Butler, Paul. "Collage Party ". Calgary: Illingworth Kerr Gallery & MOCCA, 2007 (exhibition catalogue)
Languages
English (fluent), Romanian (fluent), French (basic), Italian (basic)