MARIE THERESA CRICK MA, MRES
Biography
Marie Theresa Crick works with transnational feminisms and breath as ‘performance’. Her practice and research explore, Embodied, Filmic and Collective Practice in dialogue with the philosopher, Luce Irigaray.
Marie Theresa is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, researcher and facilitator (b. Croydon and of Irish descent, which she says with a smile). She is a PhD researcher in Visual Cultures at Goldsmiths University, fellow of Advanced Practices PhD and members of collectives including the research and practice collective Counterfield, and feminist artistic collective Feminist Breath Collective.
Her practice deals with suspended breath, how we share air, and the gift of future breath. It seeks reorientations of the Irish Catholic maternal, in the mother and daughter relation and asks how we can collectively attend without judgement to the triggering of shame in the bodily, psychic, relational and political.
Her body acts as compass as it ‘returns’ to spaces of the Virgin Mary (physical, archival, personal), moving from witnessing her family’s histories to full attention of her embodied shame. Her body/psyche inhabit the double dislocation of shame, activated from the physic death of a familial trace of leaving Ireland pregnant out of wedlock, to get married in ‘secret’ in London, and the rupturing in the maternal relation. Marie Theresa ‘revisits’ familial ‘performances’ activated by conditions of being Irish Catholic in London from the late 1950s, amplified by the Irish Chaplaincy Scheme.
Dementia has become the unexpected relation in the practice, as she moves with an unfolding choreography with her mother, over the dining room table, navigating the loss of bodily/psychic shame in her mother’s side, whilst she still breathes with the rituals of transgenerational embodied shame. The dance holds grief and laughter in the same breath.
Formed of breath as ‘performances’, in ‘private’ air, ‘public’ air, filmic breath and communal air, breath moves from her body to her mother’s, to collective bodies. By bringing consciousness to our breath, we gesture to the other, commune and return to the self.
She has over twenty years of facilitating experimental horizontal teaching at all levels (Key Stage 1 to 5, and Higher Education,Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels in photography, film, philosophy, fine art and contemporary art theory). Facilitation permeates all her practices to open multi-directional participatory spaces, that put in play atmospheres to share air together without fear, that are rooted in the ‘feminine-to-come’, the within but not yet, to collectively seek relations anew.
Links accessible on PDF CVs sent with applications
Further details on professional experience and internships below
Professional Experience
GOLDSMITHS UNIVERSITY OF LONDON | London
SEPT 2023 – PRESENT
VISITING TUTOR IN VISUAL CULTURES
Leading embodied research and film workshops in Ocean as Archive (special subject of the Masters in Contemporary Art Theory)
Visiting tutor - BA module in Feminist and Queer Technoscience (2nd year BA, Visual Cultures)
Visiting tutor - Graduate Diploma Core Course Histories of Art LAB
Open workshops for all Undergrad, Masters, PhD students and communities
Leading PhD Seminars in the scholarship of philosopher, Luce Irigaray with Killian O’ Dwyer
WESTMINSTER SCHOOL | London | Website
SEPT 2022 – AUGUST 2024
ART FACILITATOR PART-TIME / WORKSHOP LEADER
Delivering film and media studies lessons and workshops
Advanced technical support in Fine Arts and Contemporary Art Theory
Oversee department administration, including budget management
Plan and curate year-round exhibitions and a large-scale summer show
MTC DIGITAL CREATIVE | London/Surrey| Website
MAY 2019 – PRESENT
PHOTOGRAPHER, VIDEOGRAPHER, EDUCATOR AND FACILIATOR (PART – TIME)
Founded and built creative service, creating content and teaching for charities, corporate brands, schools and individuals. Commissions include curating and delivering creative corporate and community courses, event photography, marketing films and advising on online marketing channels.
Provides tutoring for private clients, from children to senior learners on contemporary art theory, critical theory, philosophy, technical skills and theory in Adobe, Photography and Film.
‘Thinking With’ seminars – Venice Biennale, Documenta Fifteen, Frieze London
Tailor-made courses for companies – Visual Storytelling, Writing, Photography (Beginners/Advanced) and Film
GCSE and A Level, Foundation, Undergraduate and Postgraduate Teaching – Group and 1 to 1
Event photography and film for schools (including Notting Hill Prep), corporate companies (including Deutsche Bank), charities (including Delight) and private clients. Full list
Social Media management for clients
CATERHAM SCHOOL | Surrey | Website
JUL 2006 – MAY 2019
IMAGE AND DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER / TEACHING | Mar 2018 – May 2019
Management and development of digital marketing through implementing social media strategy, safeguarding guidelines, paid and organic plans, website growth and usability, supervision and support of social media teams and awareness of Google Analytics and SEO. Educated children and young adults in digital media and Adobe programmes.
Curriculum and co-curricular sessions from concept to delivery for Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior Pupils in Film, Photography, Fine Art and Graphic Design
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER / TEACHING | Jul 2012 – Mar 2018 (Sep 2012 – Jul 2016 Designer)
Created engaging marketing films, digital content and graphic design from concept to completion for the website, social media channels, print and other platforms, such as an Apple iBook, which supported the school in becoming Apple Accredited.
Initiated and built local community partnerships culminating in planning and leadership of a Film Festival attended by 300 people, which included the school and wider community, and film professionals from Channel 4 to documentary filmmakers for ITV and Sky
Tailored teaching expertise to offer inspiring 1-1, group teaching and courses in digital media, including the running of an annual school-wide BBC News Report
RESIDENT DEPUTY HEAD OF GIRLS’ BOARDING / WORKSHOP LEADER | Dec 2012 – Nov 2014
Extensive experience in residential care of senior schoolgirls and managing staff and logistics to ensure the smooth running of a boarding house. Supported the pastoral care of girls and boys aged from 11-18.
Facilitated evening and weekend fine art workshops
Contemporary Art and Theory lectures for Senior boarders
ART AND DESIGN TECHNICIAN AND PHOTOGRAPHER / TEACHING | Jul 2006 – Jul 2012 (Photographer from Jan 2010)
Delivered creative support to teachers and pupils through expert knowledge of Fine Art. Oversaw department administration, including budget management.
Planned and curated year-round exhibitions and a large-scale summer show
Curated and led film clubs, workshops, seminars and holiday schools
Seminar sessions in contemporary art for staff and parents
Internships
Press & Marketing, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London | 2011 - 2012
Event & Marketing, Zoo Art Enterprises, London | 2009
Gallery Management, Sebastian + Barquet, London | 2009