Alexis Marie Chute: Artist of All Trades

2018 Alumni Honour Award winner, Alexis Marie Chute, channeled the loss of her child into expressions of resiliency

Erik Einsiedel - 17 September 2018

Author. Filmmaker. Painter. Photographer. Curator. Teacher.

As an artist, BFA alumna ('07) Alexis Marie Chute has cultivated an impressive body of work spanning a wide array of mediums.

In 2018, Alexis was honoured with the Alumni Horizon Award, presented to distinguished graduates of the University of Alberta, in recognition of her outstanding artistic career and the ways in which she's leveraged her talents to impact the world around her. Presented to alumni within 12 years of receiving their degree, the Horizon Award celebrates the exceptional career achievements and/or contributions to the community.

For Alexis, this includes the multi award-winning memoir Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing and Pregnancy After Loss (She Writes Press, 2017), chronicling her experiences after the passing of her second child, Zachary, at birth.

"The year after he passed away, which I call my 'Year of Distraction,' I completely stopped making art," she recalls. "I felt like creativity was this vulnerable space, and I was scared of grief and to be vulnerable, so I didn't go there. It was only when I got pregnant again that I realized if I didn't face all these things I was carrying, that I would carry them forever. That's when I got back into making art, and truly discovered what my voice was and what I had to say in the world."

Channeling that dark experience into a message of resiliency, her groundbreaking fine art photo and documentary series, The Quiet Rebuild, became an international collaboration between volunteers around the world, using art as an expression of healing. Her memoir, Expecting Sunshine, would eventually become its own feature documentary, which Alexis directed and produced, and a semi-finalist in the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards.

It's hard to imagine how Alexis managed to do all that while curating the InFocus Photography Exhibition, a nation-wide event promoting innovative Canadian photography, along with her international publicity tours and appearances as an inspirational speaker, and still find time to spend with her husband and two children.

Although a successful artist now, the road wasn't easy for her. Alexis recalls the first time she decided not to get a traditional summer job, and instead did painting commissions and photography.

"It was a summer while I was still a student at the U of A," she says. "I remember sitting at the Campus Earl's restaurant and my dad being very upset about my decision, saying 'You need to get a real job!'

"But I've always had this attitude that comes from life as an artist where you receive rejection letters non-stop, and you develop a thicker skin. Through that, and people not thinking I could do it, I developed this attitude of 'You don't think I can do it? Watch me!' It's too easy to give up. It was my 50th rejection letter where I stopped being mopey about it, and got stronger."

The strength and resiliency of the human spirit is at the heart of everything Alexis creates, and she is a firm believer in the power of storytelling. She's particularly excited about her InFocus Photography Exhibition (now going into its 5th year), and her Expecting Sunshine documentary, which uses unusual filmmaking techniques she's excited for people to see.

When asked how her life has changed since graduating from the U of A, Alexis smiles as she talks about her family.

"At the U of A, I would stay up until 4 in the morning painting. And if I didn't have classes, I would sleep until 4 in the afternoon. My lifestyle has definitely changed since having kids," she laughs. "And as much as I love my family, I want them to see how I've protected my life as an artist. I grew up having a strong mom who was career driven and an inspiration to me -- and I want my kids to see that as well."

Alexis credits the U of A for not just helping her figure out what her strengths were as an artist, but for her "education in world view."

"I didn't just learn the skills and techniques to make my art, but I learned how to communicate and why it's important to communicate. It gave me the foundation that, once I did figure out who I am and what my voice is, I'm able to share that message better because of my experience at the U of A."

Learn more about Alexis and her many artistic projects at alexismariechute.com.

Artist Life Advice from Alexis
  • "Surround yourself with people who believe in you. I wouldn't be where I am today without my parents, my husband, my kids -- people who cheer me on no matter how down I am about something."
  • "Develop a thick skin and the resilient attitude that you're going to do this no matter what. No matter if other people will believe in you or not, you have to believe in yourself."
  • "Learn business. There is an art form to being able to sustain yourself with your artistic pursuits. Never stop learning."