On Canadian prairies (photo of Treaty 6 land above), in varying post-secondary institutes, I teach and lead or collaborate on research projects. I also play/improvise with local, national, and international artists and academics on sonic-based projects and events.

Teaching: As a multidisciplinary scholar, I teach in varying faculties and departments including Media, Art, and Performance (University of Regina), Faculty of Arts (General Education, Communication as well as Values, Beliefs and Identity – Mount Royal University), and Education (University of Alberta). Thus, at the moment, I am an independent academic. In all of my post-secondary classes, community, collaboration, and improvisation get us all humming. I teach courses such as: Writing About Images, Aesthetic Experience and Ideas; and, Contemplative Education.

Research: My research interests include multiliteracies, what I term ‘resonant literacy’, sound studies in education, cultural studies, contemplative education, health & wellness, and visual/textual communications. I am a research associate with the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation –  University of Guelph (IICSI) and a guest scholar at the Humanities Research Institute at the University of Regina (HRI). As a SSHRC Insight Development Grant recipient (2021-24), I am currently disseminating the research for a project titled: Toward a Sound Pedagogy: A Sonic and Performative Ethnography of ‘Sound Healers’ in Canada. The overall objective of this project is to explore and document how ‘sound healing’ as well as sonic events and experiences are currently offered in 4 provinces in Canada. Notable themes from data collection include sound and effects on communication, relationships, and the environment. Our informal moniker is Gong Across Canada. You can find us on instagram – @gongacrosscanada, and at a dedicated youtube channel with videos from each province.

Sound and Contemplative Arts: I have been learning and teaching the art of gong since 2018. I collaborate with local, national, and international artists and academics, and have performed at local and international festivals online with The Remotions (a multiplay collective; online improvisation with musicians and artists) and in person with the Earth & Ether Trio (with James Harley & Reza Yazdanpanah). I am also certified to teach meditation (and yoga). For meditative and sonic events, I draw on the work of Pauline Oliveros (‘deep listening’), Thich Nhat Hanh, and Rev. angel Kyodo williams. I also teach the philosophy and practice of gong playing to individuals and small groups. Teaching good vibes and resonant literacy – Ba-ziiing!

Contact Stacey Bliss:

blissresearch@icloud.com

she/her currently living on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, and the Northwest Métis – Region 3