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BA, MA

Art History Coordinator, Instructor
School of Social Sciences
Women's & Gender Studies
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - Art History

604.986.1911 ext. 2288
Fir Building, room FR406A
sseekins@capilanou.ca

Education

ABD, University of Michigan, 2001

MA, University of British Columbia, 1995

BA, University of British Columbia, 1991

"My role is to facilitate an awareness of the significant impact art has on our understanding of cultures and in our daily lives. Creativity enhances, enriches,and guarantees our humanity."

Bio

Sandra Seekins (MA, British Columbia, 1995) was trained as a social art historian and her specialty areas are 19th and 20th century art. Her research interests include art and trauma, art and technology, art and activism, the art of graphic novels and memoirs, and the physical and mental benefits of creative practices such as mark-making, whether the practitioners are artists or not. 

Seekins did further graduate work at the University of Michigan (ABD) where she co-curated three exhibitions: Seeing is Healing? The Visual Arts of Medicine University of Michigan Museum of Art (Oct-Dec 2000),The Body Fair Rackham Galleries, University of Michigan, with the Rackham Summer Interdisciplinary Institute (Jan-Feb 2000), andThe Body (Un)Veiled: Boundaries of the Figure in Early Modern Europe, University of Michigan Museum of Art (Sept-Oct 1997).

Prior to coming to Capilano University, Seekins taught at the University of the Fraser Valley, the University of Michigan, and for UBC Continuing Education. She has given numerous public talks at conferences and for local communities, such as her series of talks for the Ferry Building Gallery in West Vancouver.

Seekins is the Coordinator of the Art History, and has also coordinated the History and Philosophy departments. She was Chair of the School of Humanities from 2009-2011.

One of her passions is curriculum development and since 2001 when she was first hired at Capilano University, she has developed over ten courses.

She does this because she believes the study of art greatly adds to our understanding of culture and society; art can solicit empathy, shift our moral compass towards social justice, and encourage us to be participants in social change.

Often art pushes us to think in different ways, to question our assumptions and the status quo, as well as deepening our responses to the world.

Sandra Seekins' areas of scholarly interest include 19th and 20th century art, art and trauma, art and gender issues, art and activism, the art of graphic novels and memoirs, and the benefits of drawing for non-artists.

Seekins, Sandra. Making a Mark! Drawing as a Form of Thinking for Non-ArtistsSKiP (Sketching in Practice) Symposium, Digital Media Centre, Great Northern Way Campus, Vancouver, 2018. 

Seekins, Sandra. Lets Heal the Divide Vancouver Biennale Panel Participant for discussion of Toni Latours lets heal the divide (neon art installation), Vancouver Community College, 2015. 

Seekins, Sandra. The Wounded Metropolis: Depictions of W.W.I Veterans by Otto Dix and George Grosz, Capilano Universe presentation. Parkgate Branch of the North Vancouver District Library, 2014.

Seekins, Sandra. Magnus Hirschfeld's Images of Diversity and Weimar Visual Culture. Simon Fraser University Medicalization of Sex Conference, 2011. 

Seekins, Sandra. The Promises and Perils of Bio-Tech Art, Capilano Universe presentation. Capilano Branch of the North Vancouver District Library, 2011. 

Seekins, Sandra. Bristle. The Capilano Review 3.1 & 2, 2007.

Seekins, Sandra. Of Molecules and Matter: The Promises and Perils of Biotech Art. The Capilano Review 2.50, 2006.

Seekins, Sandra. Flesh, The Senses, and Augmented Bodies: The Future (?) of the Human Symposium (Un)Common Senses. Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, 2000. 

Seekins, Sandra. Magnus Hirschfeld, the First Institute for Sexual Science, and Visual Culture in Weimar Germany Symposium, Enacting Sexual Bodies. University of Michigan, 1999. 

Seekins, Sandra. The Body (Un)Veiled: Boundaries of the Figure in Early Modern Europe. Entries in Exhibition Catalogue Michigan: Ann Arbor, 1997.

Co-author. Rumblings from the Belly of the Monster: an E-Dialogue with Monster Central. MIXMagazine Aug, 1996.

Andrew W. Mellon Dissertation Fellowship, University of Michigan, 2000-2001

Henry P. Tappan Teaching Award, University of Michigan, 1999

Andrew W. Mellon Candidacy Fellowship, University of Michigan, 1999

Rackham Summer Interdisciplinary Institute Fellowship, University of Michigan, 1999

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Doctoral Research Fellowship, 1998-2000

Summer Research Funding, University of Michigan, 1998

Florence Fellowship Funds for Summer Research, University of Michigan, 1997

Alexander Fellowship, University of Michigan, 1996-97