Maria  Arango

http://www.1000woodcuts.com

January 2006

 

I.          PERSONAL DATA

 

Current Residence:                                  Telephone:

                                                      Home (702) 798-8430 Cell (702) 328-2443

Las Vegas, Nevada USA                          E-mail: maria@mariarango.com

 

II.        EDUCATION

M.S., May 1992    University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Major:  Exercise Physiology

B.A., May 1990     University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Major: Psychology.

Additional Course Work in Art: Emphasis Drawing & Printmaking

 

III.       ARTIST STATEMENT

I am currently dedicated to making woodcut and wood engraving prints. I strive to let the wood, ink, and paper speak their own voice and add their own imprint to the resulting work to emphasize the laborious process. The process of printmaking fascinates me; I want to show the scars of the process: the embossed paper, chunky inks, chisel marks, block dents. Figurative work interests me as much as the desert and all its fruitful offerings, the two being principal subjects, often intertwined, in my current work. I am interested in the surprising likeness of the two natures, wood and human, as well as in exploring the metaphor of the importance of wood in human existence, especially important to the woodcut printmaking artist working on paper. The human figure recurs again and again, being a principal element in most of my work, often in a surreal but credible natural setting. Rather than methodically working on certain imagery, it is the image that appears in my head inspired by an overheard word or a passing thought. I simply print the ones that stick.

 

IV.       AFFILIATIONS / CREDITS

Affiliations:

·         Contemporary Arts Collective of Las Vegas - Active member 1995

·         Las Vegas Art Museum - Active member 1997

·         Nevada Arts Council - Active member 1998

·         Nevada Institute for Contemporary Art - Active member 1998

·         Baren, Woodblock Printmakers - Active member/Council Member 1998

·         WEN Wood Engraver’s Network - Active member 1999

·         SWE Society of Wood Engraver’s U.K. – Active member 2000

·         American Print Alliance - Active member 1999

·         Boulder City Arts Guild, - Active member 2002

·         The Print Consortium, Kansas City, MO – Member 2003

·         City Lights Artist’s Gallery – Member 2003

 

Selected Exhibitions:

1998-99

·        Donna Beam Gallery, 1997 Juried Student Show

·         Jesse Metcalf Gallery, 1998 Different Looks III Invitational Show

·         CAC=s Gobbledegook, Gateway Arts and Music Experience, 1998

·         Las Vegas Art Museum, 1998 Fall Art Roundup Juried Exhibition. Shown December 1998-January 1999

·         CAC=s Duality Juried Exhibition, 1999

·         Charlevoix Art Gallery: Juried Print Exhibition 1999 - Awarded Group (7-artist) Show

2000

·         Brand Library and Art Center, BRAND XXIX, Juried Exhibition Works on Paper 12/12/1999-1/8/2000

·         Prints USA 1999, National Competitive Exhibition, Springfield Museum of Art, Springfield, MO Feb 2000

·         Las Vegas Art Museum, November 1999-January 2000, Las Vegas Art Roundup

·         Skokie Library and Art Center, Skokie, Illinois - March/April 2000

·         Junin-Toiro – Ten People, Ten Colors, National Gallery: Nomo Gallery, Kampala, Uganda - June 2000

·         3^rd New Horizons Art Show, Las Vegas, Nevada, October/November 2000

·         Beit-Gavriel International Print Exhibit, Jordan Valley, Israel - November/ December 2000

·         Sacred Tree: From Myth to Interpretation:  Veliko Turnovo Municipality Art Gallery, Bulgaria and as a part of International Ecofestival Veliko Turnovo 2000 From the 6^th to 29^th of October

·         Printmakers Mint Exchange Exhibit, Visual Arts Tour Art Walk, Spokane, WA, October 2000

·         Brand Library and Art Center, BRAND XXX, Los Angeles, California -Works on Paper, December 2000-January 2001

2001

·         WoodcutPrints.com, Yad leBanim Gallery, Tiberias, Israel – Jan/Feb 2001

·         Printmaker=s Association of Perth - Where I Live, Impressions Gallery, Perth W.Australia, April/May 2001

·         Parkside National Small Print Exhibition - U. of Wisconsin, Parkside, Kenosha WI - Jan/Feb 2001
Quad Gallery, Sussex, WI – March 10-30, 2001

·         Baren International Exchange #6 Exhibition, Kent State University, Geauga Campus, Burton OH – Jan/Feb 2001

·         Baren Print Exhibit II, Skokie Public Library, Skokie, IL – May/June 2001

·         Endangered Species, Artists Unlimited, Florida Printmakers Society, Tampa, FL – August 2001

·         Endangered Species, Meyer’s Nature Center, Big Creek Geauga Cty, Chardon OH – July/Aug 2002

·         PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA EXHIBITION OF "WHERE I LIVE": 21 April - 5 May 2001 At the Printmakers Association Gallery, Impressions Gallery, 6 Roe St, Perth (next to the Perth Art Gallery).

·         “Surreal Realms” Agora Gallery, Soho, New York, March 12 – April 5, 2001

·         WATERMARK 2001 , Southeastern CC, Whiteville NC – April 23 – May 11, 2001

·         45^th National Print Exhibition 2001, Hunterdon Museum of Art, Clinton NJ – June 10 – July 22, 2001

·         National Prints, Drawings and Pastels, St. Louis Artist’s Guild, St. Louis MO – June 10 – July 21, 2001

·         National Works on Paper Exhibition, CORE New Art Space, Denver CO – June 22 – July 10, 2001

·         “Where I Live” Print South West Summer Exhibition, Crowecombe Church House, Taunton Somerset UK, May 2001

·         “Where I Live” Print South West, Somerset County Museum, Taunton, Somerset, UK – April 2001

2002

·         The Baren Portfolios, Friesen Art Galleries, Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, ID – January 7-25, 2002

·         Westworks 2002, Robert A. Peck Arts Center, Central Wyoming College – Dec 4, 2001 – Jan 8 2002

·         International Prints, Gallery of the Quebec Printmakers Council – Montreal, Quebec Canada – Nov 20, 2001 – Jan 15, 2002

·         Remembering the Firemen of the World Trade Center – Irvington Library Gallery, Irvington New York – February 12-28 2002

·         September 11 Portfolio Traveling Exhibit – American Print Alliance – February 2002

·         North West Print Council Baren Exhibition – NW Print Council Gallery, Portland Oregon – June 2002

·         Selected Prints: Baren Exhibit – Beaverton City Hall, Portland Oregon – August 2002

·         5^th American Print Biennial –  Juror: Richard S. Field, Curator Emeritus of Prints and Drawings, Yale University Art Gallery – Marsh Art Gallery, University of Richmond Museums – March/ June, 2002

·         Works on Paper: Recent drawings, Prints, and Photographs 2002– LSU Union Art Gallery, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA – April – May, 2002

·         Palatine Firefighters Prints, Palatine, Illinois, -- Feb-March 2002

·         Northwest Print Council, Baren: Contemporary Woodblock Prints – August 1-31

·         Baren Exhibit Beaverton, Beaverton City Hall, Oregon – August 2002

·         Lines Into Shapes – Art Center of Estes Park, Estes Park, Colorado – September 27^th – October 13^th, 2002

·         Celebrating Spirituality – Robert A. Peck Arts Center, Central Wyoming College, Riverton, Wyoming – September/October 2002

·         September 11 Memorial – Whittier City Hall, Whittier, California – September 2002

·         Covina Chamber of Commerce, Honoring Police and Firefighters – Covina, California – September 2002

·         Works on Paper 2002 – Brand Gallery and Art Center – Glendale, California – December 2002

 

2003

·         Valley of Fire State Park – July Featured Artist Solo Show, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada – July 1-31, 2003

·         “Inspired by Japan” – Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence, Kansas – April 19 – June 29, 2003

·         “Woodblock Retrospective” –Skokie Library –Skokie, IL – June/July 2003

·         “Remembering 911” – West Covina Library – West Covina, Los Angeles, CA –September 2003

·         “Baren Forum Ten” –Akita People’s Print Biannual, Akita Prefectual Art Museum, Akita, Japan –August 15-September 15 2003

• American Print Alliance 9-11 Memorial Portfolio --September of 2003, Print Arts Northwest Gallery, Portland, Oregon

 

2004

• City Lights Artists’ Gallery – May Featured Artist – Selected woodcuts and woodblocks, Henderson, Nevada
• City of Henderson City Hall Exhibit – Invitational Exhibit, City Hall, Henderson, Nevada
• Van-Go- Clark County Van-Go Project – Just Walk With Me shown in CC Cultural Transportation Vans Through 2005
• CAT Buses – Out Early shown in CAT buses through 2005
• "Surimono : The four Elements" printmakers – Circulating Exhibitions in Lincolnshire, England, UK
• The Relief Print – The Print Consortium Exhibition, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa March 23-May 23 2004

 

2005

• One-woman Show – Henderson Multi- Cultural Gallery, Scheduled for August/September 2005
• 16^th Annual CAC Show – Contemporary Arts Collective, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 19^th through April 9^th
• WisbyEducational Centre, Lincoln Ingland, UK – Selected prints through 2005
• What is Baren - Donnell Library Center, W. 53 St , Manhattan, July 16-29. Exhibit includes the prints of 44 Baren participants
• Surimono (#21), Tribute to an influential printmaker (#23 ) Baren exchanges displayed at Head Teachers at the Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Lincoln, UK
• Pets Real or Fantastic – William Reinier Harper College, Palatine Illinois

 

Awards:

·         Charlevoix Gallery, NM, Group Show Award

·         Las Vegas Art Museum, 2^nd Place for Drawing Category

·         Springfield Art Museum, Purchase Award

·         Brand Library & Art Center, Patron Award

·         Henderson Art Fest 2000, Best of Show in Printmaking Award

·         US Senate Certificate of Commendation for donated works

·         St. Louis Artist’s Guild, National Prints, Drawings and Pastels, Hazel and Gustav Goetsch Memorial Prize

·         Tempe Festival of the Arts 2002, Best of Show in Printmaking Award

·         Tempe Festival of the Arts 2002 Fall, Best of Show in Printmaking Award

·         Boulder City Art in the Park Festival 2002, Best of Show Overall

·         Tempe Festival of the Arts Spring 2003, Best of Show in Printmaking

·         Boulder City Fine Arts Festival 2003 – Theme Award (local scenery)

·         Boulder City Art in the Park Festival 2003 – 1^st Place, Fine Art

• ArtFest of Scottsdale Fall 2003 – Best of Show in Printmaking Award
• Tempe Festival of the Arts Winter 2004 – Best of Show in Printmaking
• Featured Artist ArtFest of Henderson 2004 –Featured Show Artist
• Nevada Governor’s Arts Awards Visual Arts Commission 2005 – Purchase Prize and Commission for 6 works

·         Boulder City Fine Arts Festival 2005 – Theme Award (local scenery)

·         Tempe Festival of the Arts Winter 2005 – Best of Show in Printmaking

 

Permanent Collections:

·         Springfield Art Museum, Purchase Award to permanent collection

·         Collection Springfield Museum of Art, Missouri

·         Collection Portland Art Museum Gilkey Center Prints Collection, Portland Oregon

·         Collection Princeton University Graphic Arts Library

·         Brand Library & Art Center, Los Angeles, CA, permanent collection

·         Museum of New Art, Detroit MI, permanent collection

·         Max Kade-Erich H. Markel Department of Graphic Arts, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

·         Boy Scouts of America, Las Vegas Chapter, Commissioned work and Purchase Award on permanent collection, Las Vegas Nevada

• The Australian Print Collection of the Wagga Wagga  -- Regional Art Gallery, NSW, Australia
• Girl Scouts of America, Las Vegas Chapter, Purchase Award of original Precious Waters on permanent collection, Las Vegas Nevada
• Nevada Arts Council Permanent Collection, one work from Nevada Governor’s Arts Awards Visual Arts Commission 2005

 

Publications:

·         InPrint, Volume 11-3, September 2000, Maryland Printmakers

·         Block and Burin, Spring 2000, Wood Engraver’s Network Journal (Cover)

·         Simple Printmaking, Lark Books, 2000

·         Block and Burin, Summer 2001, Wood Engraver’s Network Journal (Cover)

·         The Plow Reader, Fall 2002

·         Entering Spirit, May 2003, A “painted poems” book with poems by Solange, SunRason Production Company, New York/London

·         Nature Printing Society Newsletter, Volume XXV Number 2, April 2004 – Printing Woodgrain

·         EARTHLight Journal for Ecological & Spiritual Living, Volume 14 No 1 Issue 50, Spring 2004 – Just Walk With Me

·         Writer.org The Writer’s Center – Cover for Catalog 2005

·         Simply Haiku – Spring 2005 http://www.simplyhaiku.com/

·         Pilgrimage Borderlands – Vol 30, Issue 2, 2005 – Various works

 

Gallery Representations (past):

·         Adamo Gallery, Las Vegas Nevada

·         Kolob Art Gallery, Springdale, Utah

·         Artist’s Alley Studio Gallery, Las Vegas Nevada

·         Las Vegas Art Museum, Las Vegas Nevada

·         City Lights Artist’s Gallery, Las Vegas Nevada

 

Selected Fine Art Festivals

·         Boulder City Fine Arts Festival – Boulder City Nevada – 1999-2005

·         Scottsdale Festival of the Arts – The Events Group – 2002-2005

·         La Quinta Arts Festival – La Quinta Arts Foundation – 2002, 2004

·         San Francisco Fine Art Festival – 2001-2003

·         Castle Rock Fine Art Festival – 2003

·         Durango Main Street Fine Art Festival – Durango Arts Center –2001,2002

·         Tempe Festival of the Arts – 1999-2006

·         Fountain Hills Arts Festival – 2003-2006

·         Scottsdale Fine Arts Festival – Scottsdale Arts Center 2003, 2004, 2005

·         Portland Rose Festival – Portland State University, 2004

·         King’s Mountain Fine Art Festival – King’s Mountain, California, 2004, 2005

·         Southwest Art Festival – Indio California 2006