Christine Long
Christine Long was born in Ottawa, Ontario but moved several times before she took up an MA in Greek archaeology in the UK. She met her husband to be, an ice-age specialist. Her work experience includes the museum field, business, and not-for-profit worlds. She has been fortunate to have lived and travelled extensively throughout North America, the UK and Europe, with her husband and son. These opportunities exposed her to diverse cultures and life experiences which later enriched her art.
In 2004 she experienced a sudden and severe attack of Multiple Sclerosis. It was life changing. At that time, she was the director of an agency helping families cope with issues related to childbirth. Her career stopped immediately. She was paralyzed on her right side, unable to see, stand, walk, or talk well. Years of rehab were in front of her.
Christine began painting in 2006, turning to art as a hopeful way to rewire her brain never dreaming it would change her life in profound ways. Her illness caused her to lose most of her fine and gross motor skills. However, she knew that the brain was plastic and could be rewired. While she had never done any art before, she knew being creative and learning new skills could grow new pathways around areas of the brain that had been damaged.
She comes from a long line of artists and had always loved the work of Jackson Pollack, Georgia O’Keeffe, Riopelle, and others. Christine had always wanted to “throw paint.” Now was her chance! In her own artwork she found that the colour, shapes, movement, and passion of abstract expressionism was the best way to explore and reveal her delight in being alive. Art also allowed her to tell a powerful story of the day-to-day journey of her new way of being.
In 2016 she cofounded ArtTrendZ: an Artist Collective, an inclusive group of artists from different countries, faiths and expressing their joy of art through a full range of mediums. Christine now leads a vibrant creative life happily involved with the art community in Mississauga. She is an established artist, founder of the Erin Mills Arts Festival, community organizer, and public speaker about the value of the arts in healing from trauma.
In 2023, Christine felt a nudge to return to school. She is in her third and final year to become a Spiritual Director. This is something she is thoroughly enjoying as she is companioning others as they journey through the challenges of life.
You may see her artwork at: www.christine-long-art.ca
Instagram: @christinelong6620; Facebook: ArtTrendZ: An Artists’ Collective,
Art Exhibitions
2019-2025: Group shows, ArtTrendZ Annual Neighborhood Art Festival, Erin Mills, Mississauga. Art by the Yard, then Fall into Art.
2025: ArtTrendZ Mississauga Arts Council SAH: The Lunch at the Unitarian Church, Mississauga
2025: Artists of Halton and Peel Juried Show, Joshua Farm Gallery
2025: The Colours Within Art Exhibition, hosted by Tanzina Amin at Neilson Park Creative Centre, Toronto, Ontario
2024: Group Show “Holiday Treasures” with Munson & Friends, Georgetown ON
2023: ArtTrendZ: an Artist Collective, partner with Sharon Matthew: Gifts from The Heart at Churchill Meadows Community Centre, Mississauga,
2021: Visual Arts Mississauga, Third Chapter, Mississauga.
2021: Guest Artist, online 2-day festival presented by the Artists and Artisans Development Network: Inclusive Arts Festival. Can be seen on YouTube. Did a live painting.
2020: Art by the Yard for ArtTrendZ, Mississauga with sponsorship from the MAC
2019: ArtTrendZ Exhibition Central Library, City of Mississauga.
2019: Curated ArtTrendZ 2-day event at Mississauga Waterfront Festival in Port Credit, Ontario.
2018: ArtTrendZ presents Creative Conversions with Lila Lewis Irving
2018: Group show sponsored by Mississauga Arts Council Members Show, Heritage Mississauga Foundation, Mississauga
2018: Group Show “Calcutta to Canada”, by ArtTrendZ at Artusiasm Gallery, Toronto
2018: Group Show “Creative Conversions” ArtTrendZ with Lila Lewis Irving, Mississauga
2018: Artusiasm Gallery, Toronto, ArtTrendZ Group Show, Calcutta to Canada, Curated show
2018: “Art: Is It?”, Pixie Blue Gallery, Mississauga
2018: Visual Arts Mississauga Annual Members Show, Riverwood, Mississauga
2018: Permanent Collection, Clarkson Community Church, Mississauga
2017: ArtTrendZ Group Show, VAM, Mississauga, Muse-150, Curated show
2017: Friends of Joshua Creek Art Centre Show (Juried), Oakville
2017: Group Show by ArtTrendZ, Artusiasm Gallery, Toronto
2017: VAM Annual Members Show and Sale, Mississauga, Juried Show
2016: Group Show “Winter Interlude”, Visual Arts Mississauga, Riverwood, Mississauga
2016: Artists of Halton and Peel, Juried Show, Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre, Oakville, Curated Show
2015: Artists of Halton and Peel, Juried Show, Joshua Creek and Heritage Centre, Oakville
2015: Annual Members Show and Sale, VAM Mississauga. Curated show
2014: Sybil’s Choice Exhibition, Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre, Oakville. Curated Show
2013: Artists of Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre Juried show, Oakville, Ontario. Curated Show
2012: Joshua Creek Heritage Arts Centre Members Juried Show, Curated show
2011: Friends of Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre, Oakville. Curated Show
2010: ArtTrax Gallery, Mississauga.
Art Public Presentations
2018: Guest Panelist: Art in Everyday Life-Mental Well-Being Symposium, Mississauga
2017: Guest Artist: Live Painting, Chartwell Baptist Church Clarkson, Mississauga
Art Grants
2019: Community Grant, Mississauga Waterfront Festival for Art TrendZ: An Artists’ Collective
Guest Curator
2015: Co-curator for show: Amice Calverly: A Life and Legacy, Joshua Creek Heritage and Art Centre, Oakville Ontario
2012: Co-curator, Joshua Creek Heritage and Arts Members Annual Juried Show
2009-2010: Co-curator for Artist Café at Chartwell Baptist Church, Clarkson, Mississauga
Community Projects
2019-25: ArtTrendZ: an Artist Collective: Annual Neighborhood Arts Festival. Organizer, Exhibitor
2025: ArtTrendZ: an Artist Collective and the NeoVoce Chinese Choir of Mississauga, Co-partner, Artistry Day, Living Arts Centre, Mississauga
2019: Port Credit Waterfront Festival: organizer of ArtTrendZ community project to create interactive mural with public.
2018: Clarkson Community Church. Provided live painting during Christmas Eve service. Paintings became part of permanent collection at the church.
Memberships
Art TrendZ: An Artists’ Collective (co-founder)
Arts on the Credit
Mississauga Arts Council
Visual Arts Mississauga
Nominations
2019: Marty Award for Emerged Artist, Mississauga, ON
2002: Halton Woman of the Year, Oakville, ON
2000: Mary Neville Award, Mississauga, ON
Panelist and Guest Artist
2021: Mass Culture for Arts 4 Mental Health Data Party, MAC. Went across Canada from Coast to Coast to Coast.
2021: Tap Talk: Art and Wellness Conversations on Mental Health, by Artist in Momentum on Zoom. Conference broadcast into different cities throughout India to healthcare professionals, and artists.
2018: Art in Everyday Life, Mental Well Being Symposium, Mississauga. Sponsored by Artists in Momentum.
Awards
2024: September: Presented a Certificate of Appreciation for ArtTrendZ by MP Iqra Khalid from the Federal Government for hosting and running our community and volunteer run art show.