Cathryn was born in Toronto, Canada in 1950, and grew up in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Calgary. She studied Fine Art at the University of Toronto, trained in Commercial Art in Ottawa, and studied Honours English at Carleton University. She then worked as a geological draughtsman; a microfossil picker; a subsurface geological technician; and as a designer, cutter, and seamstress in professional theatre.
Self-taught as a weaver, she established her studio in Grasswood in 1974. She exhibited her work in one-person and group shows throughout Saskatchewan and across Canada. Her fibre works were included in provincial and national collections, and in the permanent collection of the Hokkaido Textile Association in Japan. She had textile pieces included in the Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival Juried Exhibition (now Dimensions) eleven times. The Premier’s Prize (1983) was among her six awards as a weaver.
Cathryn turned full-time to papermaking in 1996. Increasing stocks of paper and a life-long obsession with books led naturally to the design and production of hand-bound blank books and limited edition artist’s books issued by the Lilliputian publishing house Byopia Press, which Cathryn operates with her husband David. Paper and book works from Byopia Press have been shown in more than sixty exhibitions: local, national, and international. Cathryn has twice won the Clara Baldwin Award for best Functional/Production Work at Dimensions. She has also won a Merit Award, and the Jane Turnbull Evans Award for Innovation. When she won the Premier’s Prize For The Outstanding Entry in 2011 she became the only individual ever to receive this award for work in two different media. She won the Premier’s Prize for a third time in 2015.
EXHIBITIONS:
2017
Dimensions 2017, juried group exhibition, Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
Paper, Clay & Canvas, four person exhibition, Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Reader’s Art: Control/Alt/Shift, juried group exhibition, Cowles Literary Commons, Minneapolis, MN
2016
The Persistence of Hope (test installation), Gallery on the Green, Saskatoon, SK
Bookish, Gallery on the Green, Saskatoon, SK
Pop-Up Now II, (juried), 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR
dot / dash 2016, (juried, online) weloveyourbooks http://rejectamenta.com/wlyb/dot-dash-2016/
Dimensions 2015, (juried), Godfrey Dean Art Gallery, Yorkton, SK
Artists Book Cornucopia VII, (juried), Abecedarian Gallery, Denver, CO
Dimensions 2015, (juried), Chapel Gallery, North Battleford, SK
Working Title, (invitational, group), Typology Gallery, Toronto, ON
2015
Dimensions 2015, (juried), Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
Personal Histories, (group) Academy Library, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia
Dimensions 2015, Yukon Arts Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon
Of The Hand, (group), Handwave Gallery, Meacham, SK
ebb and flow 2015, (juried, online) weloveyourbooks, http://rejectamenta.com/wlyb/ebb-and-flow-2015/
Dimensions 2015, (juried, biennial, SCC), Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK Premier’s Prize for the Outstanding Entry
Reader’s Art: Concealed, Confined and Collected, (juried, group), Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Sequential, (2 person), St. Thomas More Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
The Absolute Way of Things, RBC Artists by Artists, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
100book, (group), Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland, Queensland, Australia
Dimensions 2013, Manitoba Craft Council, Winnipeg, MB
2014
Elemental/ Book Works by Cathryn Miller, (solo), Typology, Toronto, ON
Imaginary Architects, (curated, group), Saskatchewan Craft Council, Saskatoon
home 2014, (juried, online) weloveyourbooks, http://rejectamenta.com/resources/home-2014/
Book Power Redux, (juried), University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington
Dimensions 2013, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, ON
Book Power Redux, (juried), 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR
Dimensions 2013, University of Lethbridge Gallery, Lethbridge, AB
Judge a book by its cover: the physicality of the book, Link Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Fluxjob, (juried), Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN
HUNGER, (curated, online), http://crafthaus.ning.com/group/HUNGER
2013
Word View, (solo, installation), Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
(Images online at http://www.saskcraftcouncil.org/gallery/2013/word-view.php)
Dangling Carrots, (two collaborative book works with Monique Martin), Void Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
POINT 2013, (juried, online) weloveyourbooks, http://rejectamenta.com/resources/point-2013/
Dimensions 2013, (juried, biennial) Saskatchewan Craft Council touring exhibition, SK
The Jury’s Out, (group), Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
The Illustrated Accordion, (curated), Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Kalamazoo, MI
FLIP-OFF! (group), Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN
STELLAR, (juried), Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Continuum, (invitational), Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
An Inventory of Al-Mutanabbi Street, (touring, group), assorted locations in England and the U.S.A.
2012
Infinite Possibilities: Science, Math, Book Arts, (juried), 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR
Creativity & Spirituality, (curated, group), Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
3 Facets, (group), Hand Wave Gallery, Meacham, SK
30 Years at the Hand Wave, (invitational), Hand Wave Gallery, Meacham, SK
minute 2012, (curated), Avenue Campus Foyer, University of Northampton, Northamptonshire, UK
minute 2012, (juried, online), http://rejectamenta.com/resources/minute-2012/
Artists Book Cornucopia III, (juried, group), Abecedarian Gallery, Denver, Colorado
Speaker, “Altered Books: a personal view”, ARLIS/NA 40th Annual Conference, Toronto, ON
Eyelevel Reshelving Initiative V, (juried, group), Eyelevel Gallery, Halifax, NS
2011
Mandala, (group), Hand Wave Gallery, Meacham, SK
Altered, Addled, and Alphabetical, (solo), Hand Wave Gallery, Meacham, SK
Dimensions, (juried, biennial) Saskatchewan Craft Council touring exhibition, SK Premier’s Prize For The Outstanding Entry
crop 2011, Avenue Gallery, University of Northampton, Northamptonshire, UK
crop 2011, (juried, online) http://rejectamenta.com/resources/crop-2011/
Root, Branch, Twig and Flower, (curated), Affinity Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
What in the Word, (curated), Suffolk Art Gallery, Suffolk, VA
Playing with Dimensions, (juried, touring), Snapdragon Gallery, Ottawa, ON
2010
Enlightenment, (group), Hand Wave Gallery, Meacham, SK
International Mail Art Exhibition in Honor and Memory of Judith A. Hoffberg, Susan and John Caldwell Gallery, Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA
AbotM, (group), Art Gallery of York University, Toronto, ON
Two Birds, One Stone, (group), Traditions Gallery, Regina, SK
The Art of The Book ’08 CBBAGSask adjunct exhibition, SCC at McNally Robinson, Saskatoon, SK
The Artful Scriptorium, selected artist (juror: M. Rosenberg) climate/gallery, Long Island City, NY
Eyelevel Reshelving Initiative IV, (curated), Eyelevel Gallery, Halifax, NS
Book Arts / Book Artists, Handcrafted books by Brian Borchardt, Sally Koehler, Cathryn Miller, and Andrea Steiner, (curated) Uihlein-Peters Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
2009
The Book Arts, (curated), Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program, AB
Byopia Too, (two-person), Arts on Atlantic Gallery, Calgary, AB
The Beast in You, (group), Hand Wave Gallery, Meacham, SK
BookMarked, (juried), Gallery 96 and the Stratford Public Library, Stratford, ON
Bookmarks VII: Infiltrating the Library System, University of Western England, September 2009 to February 2010, multiple international venues.
Playing with Dimensions, (juried), Saskatchewan Craft Council touring exhibition, SK
Jane Turnbull Evans Award for Innovation
Interactive, (juried), Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
Flatland Fibre: Off the Wall, (curated), Saskatchewan Craft Council, Saskatoon, SK
2008
7th Annual Bright Hill Literary Centre Juried Book Arts Exhibit, Treadwell, NY
Raising a Ruckus, Ed Hutchins’ presentation to The Moveable Book Society, Washington, DC
Des artistes du livre du Pacifique à l’Atlantique – CBBAG chez ARPRIM, Montreal, PQ
Doorways and Passageways, (group), Hand Wave Gallery, Meacham, SK
Two works included in 500 Handmade Books, Lark Books
Book Variations, (group), South Vitrines, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON
Dimensions: Growth, (juried, touring), SK
Expo ’08, (invitational), Saskatchewan Craft Council, Saskatoon, SK
Flight, (juried), Arts on Atlantic Gallery, Calgary, AB
Reader’s Art 8: handmade with care, (juried), Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Beyond Reading: Books As Art, (juried), Suffolk Museum, Suffolk, VA
2007
Byopia, (two-person), Arts on Atlantic Gallery, Calgary, AB
Art of the Book, (juried), Victoria Arts Connection, Victoria, BC
The Book Arts Showcase, (juried), Arts on Atlantic Gallery, Calgary, AB
Serious Fun: Wits, Wags, and Smart Alecks, (invitational), Bay View Book Arts Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Dimensions 2007, (juried, touring), SK
Artfully Artificial (Welcome to the Dollhouse), (invitational), Bay View Book Arts Gallery
Sense and Sensuality, (juried), 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR
2006
Prairie Books (showed with A Book Arts Mosaic) (juried), SCC Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
On The Grid, (group), Handwave Gallery, Meacham, SK
Dimensions 2006, (juried, touring), SK Merit Award
Labyrinth, (group), Botkirka Konsthall, Tumba, Sweden
2005
Mobilivre Tour (Canada/U.S.)
WordArt, (juried), Cincinnati Book Arts Society, Cincinnati, OH
Safe Harbour: Books in Boxes, (invitational) Bay View Book Arts Gallery, Milwaukee, MN
A Book Arts Mosaic (invitational, tour) Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild
COLLECTIONS: Cathryn’s paper and book works are held in private collections in Canada, England, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
Public Collections:
Artexte, Montreal, Québec
Art Gallery of Ontario Library and Archives, Toronto, Ontario
Art Gallery of York University, Special Collections, Toronto, Ontario
Banff Centre, Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives, Banff, Alberta
Baylor University, Crouch Art and Music Library Artist Book Collection, Waco, Texas
Baylor University, Main Libraries, Special Collections, Waco, Texas
Brown University, John Hay Library, Poetry Collection, Providence, Rhode Island
California State University, Library, Special Collections, East Bay, California
Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild Archives, Toronto, Ontario
Carnegie Mellon University, Hunt Library, Special Collections, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cleveland Institute of Art, Artist Book Collection, Cleveland, Ohio
College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, Alcuin Library, Special Collections, Collegeville, Minnesota
DePaul University, Richardson Library, Special Collections, Chicago, Illinois
Emory University, Woodruff Library, Special Collections, Atlanta, Georgia
George Mason University, Artist Book Collection, Fenwick Library, Fairfax, Virginia
IUPUI, Herron Art Library, Artist Book Collection, Indianapolis, Indiana
John Hopkins University, Eisenhower Library, Special Collections, Baltimore, Maryland
Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
MacEwan University Library, Special Collections, Edmonton, Alberta
Maine College of Art, Joanne Waxman Library, Special Collections, Portland, Maine
Marlboro College, Rice-Aron Library, Special Collections, Middle Country Library, Centereach, New York
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Godine Library, Special Collections, Boston, Massachusetts
Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Museum of Fine Arts, Hunt Memorial Library Special Collections, Boston
National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC.
New York Public Library, Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture, NYC, New York
New York Public Library, Special Collections, NYC, New York
Otis College of Art and Design, Artist Book Collection, Los Angeles, California
Ringling College of Art and Design, Kimbrough Library, Special Collections, Sarasota, Florida
Saskatchewan Arts Board Collection, Regina, Saskatchewan
Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta Library, Atlanta, Georgia
Skidmore University, Scribner Library, Special Collections, Saratoga Springs, New York
Swarthmore College, McCabe Library, Special Collections, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Telavi State University Library, Artist’s Book Collection, Telavi, Georgia
Toronto Public Library, Special Collections, Trinity College, Enders Ornithology Collection, Trinity College Library, Hartford, Connecticut
Trinity College, Watkinson Library, Hartford, Connecticut
Union College, Schaffer Library, Special Collections, Schenectady, New York
University of Alberta Library, Bruce Peel Special Collections, Edmonton, Alberta
University of Calgary Library, Special Collections, Calgary, Alberta
University of California L.A., Darling Biomedical Library, Special Collections, Los Angeles, California
University of California Santa Barbara, Judith A. Hoffberg Archive, Santa Barbara, California
University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware
University of Florida, Smathers Library, Special Collections, Gainesville, Florida
University of Iowa, Main Library, Special Collections (maps), Iowa City, Iowa
University of Pittsburgh, Frick Fine Arts Library, Artist Book Collection, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
University of North Carolina, Jackson Library, Artist Book Collection, Greensboro, North Carolina
University of North Carolina, Sloane Art Library, Special Collections, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
University of Rochester, Special Collections, Rochester, New York
University of Saskatchewan, Murray Library, Special Collections, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
University of Southern California, Doheny Library, Special Collections, Los Angeles, California
University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library, Special Collections, Tulsa, Oklahoma
University of Utah, Marriot Library, Special Collections, Salt Lake City, Utah
University of Vermont, Bailey/Howe Library, Special Collections, Burlington, Vermont
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, Seattle, Washington
Virginia Commonwealth University, Special Collections, Richmond, Virginia
Wesleyan University, Olin Library, Special Collections, Middletown, Connecticut
