BIO
Rashida Ua Bakari Ferdinand lived with art throughout her life, inspired by her father's paintings, artist mentors in her family and community, and her own physical and conceptual explorations as a child. During junior high school, Ferdinand studied with Clifton Webb in the Talented in the Arts Program of New Orleans Public Schools, and continued her artistic studies as a college undergraduate at Xavier University with John Scott. A desire to further her educational experience led Ferdinand to study at Howard University in Washington DC, where she began her work with clay under the tutelage of Winnie Owens-Hart, from whom she learned an Ipetumodu Nigerian coiling technique. With clay as her foundation, Ferdinand began to create anthropomorphic ceramic vessel forms as representations of spaces for spiritual containment. During the summer of 2005, she apprenticed with Yvonne Tucker in Tallahassee Florida and studied Tucker's conceptual spirit vessel forms, as they were an inspiration to Ferdinand's artistic development. She learned the craft of traditional Italian mosaic with Felice Nitollo at Penland Glass School in Seattle, Washington later that year. During 2006, Ferdinand studied with Syd Carpenter at Haystack School of Crafts in Deer Isle Maine and learned terra sigillata and handbuilding techniques. During her graduate studies at Syracuse University, Ferdinand worked with David MacDonald and was inspired by Carrie Mae Weems to continue her explorations of installation through sculpted forms of trees and roots as representative spaces of renewal. Her works are reflections of her thoughts on the cyclic continuity of life and recognition of the legacies she follows. Rashida lives and works as a visual artist in New Orleans.
RESUME
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EDUCATION
1998-2001 - Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
Master of Fine Arts  Concentration: Ceramics
1993-1996 - Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia
Bachelor of Fine Arts Concentration: Ceramics, African American Art History, African Art History
1995- Apprenticeship with Yvonne Tucker, Tallahassee, Florida
1991-1993 - Xavier University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana
Concentration: Visual Arts
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WORKSHOPS and RESIDENCIES
2006 - Djerassi Resident Artist Program, Woodside, California
1996 - Haystack School of Crafts, Maine
1995 - Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, Washington
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
current - Marianites of Holy Cross Elders Ceramics Program, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Teach a handbuilding ceramics workshop to senior elders; Projects include hancfrafted functional pottery, sculpture, and relief tiles.
2007 - Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School Ceramics Workshop, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Instructed ceramics to students at Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School, during which they explored various ceramic handbuilding techniques
2006 - Assistant Professor of Art, Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Instructed three dimensional concepts and sculpture techniques to Xavier University students
2005 - Ceramic Plate Project Instructor, KidSmart, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Directed ceramic plate-making workshop for students K-12; stimulated creativity by introducing varied techniques
2002-2003 - Adult Basic Education Instructor, YMCA Educational Services, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Instructed literacy to adults who read at a 2nd to 6th grade level, inclusive of evaluation of students and curriculum development.
2002 - Artist in Residence, Jefferson Parish Very Special Arts Program, Harvey, Louisiana
- Taught art classes to special education students' grades 4-8 at Wagman Elementary School and Marrero Middle School.
2001-2002 - Ceramics Instructor, Xavier University, Department of Art, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Instructed ceramic wheel throwing to undergraduate students of Xavier University.
2000-2001 - Teaching Assistant, Syracuse University, Department of African American Studies, Syracuse, New York
- Instructed recitation courses for 20th Century African American Literature, with curriculum development and student evaluation.
2000 - Outreach Program Art Instructor, Penland Crafts School, North Carolina
- Taught ceramics to high school students from the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild of Pittsburgh, PA at Penland Crafts School.
1999-2000 - Program Coordinator and Art Instructor, Community Folk Art Gallery, Syracuse, New York
- Coordinated summer arts programming, developed curriculum for workshops, and instructed participants in ceramic class.
- Provided a variety of visual arts activities and creative instruction for students related to the Harlem Renaissance.
1999-2000 - Ceramics Instructor, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
- Instructed a handbuilding ceramics course to Syracuse University students.
1997-1998 - Elementary School Art Educator, Horace Mann Elementary School, Washington, District of Columbia
- Taught art classes to students in grades k-6.
- Developed ceramic, paper mache, and painted mural projects which followed students' social studies and science class curriculum.
1996-1997 - Garnett Patterson Middle School Mural Project, Garnett Patterson Middle School, Washington, District of Columbia
- Directed and instructed an after school ceramic tile mural workshop for middle school students during which Garnett Patterson Middle School students created a ceramic tile mural for installation in their school building.
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ADDITIONAL ARTS ADMINISTRATION EXPERIENCE
2003 to 2005 - Crafts Coordinator - Congo Square African Marketplace, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Coordinated and maintained operational systems and procedures for Congo Square Crafts , New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
2003 - Assistant Curator for Visual Arts, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Managed administrative office of Visual Arts Department, which included supervision of office assistants and development of educational programs and lectures.
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PUBLICATIONS
- Bookhart, Eric D. The Consolation of Discomfort. Gambit Weekly, July 22, 2003.
- Farrington, Lisa E. Women Devoted to Excellence. A Proud Continuum: Eight Decades of Art at Howard University. USA: Howard University Gallery of Art, 2005, p 6
- Fox, Cathy. Human Spirit with Cayenne Pepper. The Atlanta Journal Constitution, February 4, 2007.
- Harrison, Thomas B. The Surreal and the Spiritual. Mobile Register, Oct 12, 2003.
- Leonard, Pamela B. City's Spirit Captured in Diverse Media, Atlanta Journal Constitution, April 9 2006.
- Mc Lellan, Mariam. Discomfort. The New Orleans Art Review, Sep/Oct 2003.
- Mellon, Carl. Class Acts: Syracuse University Grad Students Deliver an Intriguing Exhibit. Syracuse New Times, April 2001.
- Rushworth, Katherine. Visions from SU's Graduating Artists. Stars/Syracuse Herald American, April 1, 2001.
- Shalett, Karen S. Home Again. Times Picayunne, April 29, 2006.
- Sipp, Kevin. Atlanta, Georgia, The Source, Volume 10, Issue 1, Winter 2006-2007
- Thomas, Mary. Talent of Two Groups Merge in Fresh Exhibits. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 3, 1999.
- Tunley, Laura C. New Orleans, Louisiana. Art Papers, Nov/Dec 2003.
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PRESENTATIONS
- New Orleans/Matsue Cultural Exchange, Matsue, Shimane, Japan, 2004
- Crafts Organization Development Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2004
- ARTSPEAK, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2004
- Merging at the Crossroads, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1999
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GRANTS/HONORS
- 2007 - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation Art Education Grant, New Orleans, LA
- 2006 - Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant, New York, NY
- 2005 - Pollock/Krasner Grant, New York, NY
- 2006 - The Artists' Fellowship, New York, NY
- 2004 - City of New Orleans Representative, 10 Year Anniversary of Matsue, Japan and New Orleans as Sister Cities, Matsue, Japan
- 2003 - 2nd place Award, Saltline Biennial Juried Exhibition, Mobile, Alabama
- 1998-1999 - African American Studies Fellowship, Department of African American Studies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
- 1996-1997 - Arts in Education Grant, DC Commissions for the Arts, Washington, District of Columbia
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INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS
- Brazil [Salvador, Lencois]
- Italy [Venice]
- Japan [Hiroshima, Kyoto, Matsue, Nara, Yokohama]
- Jamaica [Kingston, Montego Bay]
- Kenya [Mombasa, Nairobi]
- Martinique [Fort de France]
- Mexico [Cozumel, Juarez]
- Russia [Leningrad, Moscow]
- South Africa [Capetown, Johannesburg, Soweto]
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COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WORK
- Holy Angels Senior Living Center
- Lower 9th Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association (NENA)
- Martin Luther King Jr Charter School
- Reach 2010 at the Heart of New Orleans
- St Thomas Community Health Clinic
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