In my artwork, I make use of my technical skill to explore women’s societal roles and stereotypes throughout history. I take on an age-old subject, speculating about what it means to live out one’s life in a female body. Although my work has taken various forms, from small iconic squares--evocative of reliquaries, made with enamel, paint, and charcoal--to large-scale drawings on wallpapered surfaces, the female figure has been the primary character. Onto some pieces I have burnt patterns and designs with a wood-burning tool, tracing in some ways, the paths of human beings, and/or Celtic designs evocative of interlocking structures. The little gouache paintings in the series Body Renderings describe how women occupy space and time. They deal with the over-extension of women in domestic and exterior spaces, nature as false comfort, and the investigation of self—the distortion of the notion of “femaleness” and the subsequent objectification and manipulation of this image. Many of my figure drawings of less-than-idealized women’s bodies show a transparency so that we can “see through” to the structures beneath, the skeletal “permanence,” and our dependence and reliance upon this physical structure. So much of our existence depends upon our physical form.

EDUCATION:

M. A. L. S. Currently working on my Masters in Liberal Studies at
Duquesne University, with a focus on Women’s Studies

B. F. A. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1982--1987
Major: Drawing and Painting
Graduated with University High Honors

B. S. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Major: Secondary Education, English/Language Arts

Other: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1968-1970; 1984-1987;
Post-graduate study in English and Art History

Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate: Secondary English Education: Literature and Language Arts


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES/FACULTY AFFILIATIONS:

2004—2007 Carnegie Mellon University
Adjunct: School of Drama
Instructor of 2D Media/Studiocraft

2003—2004 Carnegie Mellon University
Adjunct Lecturer: School of Art
Instructor of 2D Media

2002—Present Duquesne University
Adjunct Lecturer: Department of Art


1996—2000 University of Pittsburgh, Generations Together Program
Artist Resource Program Instructor and Education Consultant

1987--2007 Carnegie Mellon University
Adjunct Lecturer: 2D Media
Pre-College Faculty: Summer Studies and Saturday Program

1991--1993
Present Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
Instructor of Drawing
Visiting Artist: The Talented Young Art Scholar's Program, funded by The Andy Warhol Foundation
Instructor of Drawing and Printmaking
Spartan Program with Pittsburgh Public Schools: Artist Consultant/Teacher

1987--1988 The Winchester Thurston School, Pittsburgh, Pa., Art Instructor

1966—1970 Teacher of 9th and 11th grade English, West Mifflin Area High School
South High and Lebanon Junior High


PROFESSIONAL EXHIBITIONS:

“Made Out of the Ordinary,” National Members Show, A. I. R. Gallery, 511 West 25th St., NYC., New York. January/February, 2007.

New Work. The Digging Pitt Gallery, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, Pa. Solo show of “Little Black Dress Series,” combining poetry and art. April, 2006.

Secrets, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA and Gallery 10, Washington, D. C. November 13 through January 25, 2005. Group show with psychological underpinnings, juried by William Cornell, psychotherapist.

Bodies in Context, A. I. R. Gallery, September 20, 2005. 511 West 25th St., NYC, New York.

Cluster. A. I. R. Gallery, Group members’ show. February 8—March 5, 2005. 511 West 25th Street, NYC, New York.

Anatomy/Autonomy. Solo Exhibit at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. January 9—March 14. 2004.
Pittsburgh, PA.

Connotation/Denotation. Group A at The Brew House, Space 101, October, 2003.

Brew House Members’ Exhibition: The Brew House Space 101. 2100 Mary Street, Pittsburgh. March, 2003.

Heart and Soul: Seton Hill College. February, 2002.

AAP at The Warhol, August, 2002

Group A at Foreland Street. September, 2002.

Group Show Invitational at A. I. R. 2002. New York.

Heart and Soul: Artists that use the Human Heart as Metaphor, Jewish Healthcare Foundation and American Jewish Museum, Center City Tower, Suite 2550 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, April 1-June 30, 2001.

Year of Ireland: Nine Women Respond to the Poetry of Medbh McGuckian at Chatham College Gallery, Woodland Art Center, Pittsburgh, PA, January 8--February 2, 2001.

Ex Libris: An Exhibition of Artists' Books, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Gallery, 937 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, November through December, 2000.

Art for Aids: a juried fundraiser at The Carnegie, architectural hall, 2000.

First Person Singular, a juried exhibition at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA,, March, April, 2000.

Illuminata: A collaborative Installation, A. I. R. Gallery, New York, NY, April 25--May 13, 2000

Conversations, a group exhibition of women's professional critique group at The Mendelson Gallery highlighting recent work by Heinrich, Stark, Masley, Weidner, Morris, Charlson, McClean, and Barefoot. Activities around exhibit included Book Arts Collaborative project and poetry readings, January 6--30, 2000, Pittsburgh, PA.

Figurative Language:Image and Metaphor, a group exhibition including recent work by Adrienne Heinrich, Constance Merriman, Donna Hollen Bolmgren, Emma Masley, Mary Weidner, and Patricia Barefoot, Associated Artists Gallery, 937 Liberty Avenue, Downtown, September 10--October 22, 1999

Fragments of Time: A Group A Exhibition, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA, July 31--August 29, 1999.

Unity of Spirit, Spirit of Unity, a traveling exhibition in conjunction with Partnership 2000, a project started in 1995 by the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Council of Jewish Federations, Berger Gallery of the American Jewish Museum, Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh, April 1--May 31, 1999, then traveling to Baltimore, and then Israel, Cultural Arts Center of Karmiel.

Art for Aids, a juried fund-raiser exhibition at The Carnegie Museum, architectural hall, May, 1999.

Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 88th Annual Exhibition (Special Exhibition by Five Artists), September 25--October 21, 1998, The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In This Place, a one-person exhibition at Chatham College, Woodland Art Gallery, March 2--26, 1998.

Group A at The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts: Influences, June, 1997.
Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 87th Annual Exhibition, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 12--October 2, 1997.

The Art of Womancare: An exhibition of eight women artists who have been selected to be highlighted by Magee Hospital in their Annual Report, 1996. LaFond Galleries, E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., February 26--March 10. 1997.

CHROME/OSOME: Art--Design--Technology--1945--2000. An exhibition examining the evolving relationship between art, design, and technology since 1945 in Pittsburgh, March 1--April 19, 1997, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Gallery 937, 937 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222.

Zeitgeist, An exhibit of work by Group A, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, February 21-March 30, 1997.

86th Annual Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Exhibition, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 22--January 2, 1997.

Group A: Boxes, Hewlett Gallery, College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa., November 4--24, 1996.

The Contemporary World of Art and Medicine, International Images, Ltd., 524 Beaver Street, Sewickley, Pa., an international exhibition featuring works of artists who blend science and art in their imagery, March 29--May 20, 1996.

Celebration of Rachel Carson, Earth Patterns and Reconstruction, Ten Women Interpret the
Theme, Woodland Art Center, Chatham College, April, 1996.

Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Juried Group Show, March 7--29, 1996, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Fifth and Shady Ave..

Group A: Drawing and Beyond: an exploration of the process of making marks, February 23--March 29, 1996, Gallery in the Square, 5850 Ellsworth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Marriage Project: A University and Community-wide project exploring traditional and nontraditional relationships, Kipp Gallery, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Campus, February, 1996.

Mortal Passages, a three-person exhibition at The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, February 2--23, 1996, 124 E. Leasure Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.

937 Open! , group show, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 937 Liberty Ave. and Sweat Equity, group show of work by artists who contributed to the renovation of Gallery 937, 1995.

Paper Angels, one-person exhibition, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, March 31--May 4, 1995.

First Annual National Pastel Exhibition, La Fond Galleries, Pittsburgh, Pa., March, 1995.

A Walk in the Woods, one-person exhibition, Carson Street Gallery, Pittsburgh, Pa., February 4--26, 1994.

21st Annual Regional Art Show, Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, New Castle, Pa., July 24--August 26, 1994.

LaRoche College Group Exhibit, Pittsburgh Society of Artists, March 1994.

Associated Artists 83rd Annual Exhibition, The Carnegie Museum of Art, September, 1993.

Women's Annual Invitational, A. I. R. Gallery, New York, N. Y., 1993.

Associated Artists New Member's Exhibition, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, 1992.

Rethinking Columbus, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, 1992.

Juried Group Exhibition at the Westmoreland Museum, 1992.

Birmingham Lofts--Violence/Visual Pleasure, 1991.

Carnegie Mellon Faculty Exhibition, Pre-College Art Program, Forbes Art Gallery, Carnegie Mellon University Campus, 1989.

Professional Awards and Successes:

2000 First Person Singular, Juror's Award, Juror, Herbert Olds, Professor of Art, Carnegie Mellon University.

2000 My poem "Dr. Gachet's Lament," a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh was selected by The Book Arts Collective and an artist's book was made, using it as a source.

1999 Chosen to read my poetry at The Pittsburgh Quarterly's Annual Fund-raiser
and Picnic.

Special Exhibition: Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 88th annual Exhibition:
one of five artist chosen by Curator of Contemporary Art, High Museum, Atlanta, Georgia.


1998 Pittsburgh Society of Artists Group Exhibition, Butler Institute of American Art,
Juror's Award, Juror, Robert Kurtz, Curator of Special Exhibits, Butler Institute of American Art

1998 Annual Exhibition at The 3rd. Street Gallery,
Juror's Award, Juror, Leslie Golomb Hartman, Director of the Visual Arts Center,
Jewish Community Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1997 Associated Artists of Piitsburgh 87th Annual Exhibition,
LeWinter Moulding Award; Juror, Madeleine Grynsztejn,
Curator of Contemporary Art, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1996 Pittsburgh Society of Artists Annual at the Third Street Gallery,
Juror's Award: Juror, Dr. Maureen Visatt, Art Dept. Chairperson, Seton
Hill College, Pennsylvania.

1996 Pittsburgh Society of Artists Miniature Exhibition
Juror's Award: Juror, Mark Mentzer, Professor of Art, Department of Design, Carnegie Mellon University.

1994 Society of Artists Annual Group Exhibit
Juror's Award: Juror, Thaddeus Mosley, Sculptor

Pittsburgh Society of Artists Annual at PPG
Juror's Award: Juror, Dr. Sheena Wagstaff, Curator of The Frick Fine Art
Museum

1993 Sweetwater Art Exhibition, PSA Annual
Juror's Award: Jurors, Dr. Walter Groer and Dona Groer, former Carnegie
former Carnegie Mellon University Assistant Art Department Chair and
painter.

Pittsburgh Society of Artists Annual
Juror's Award: Juror, Dr. Louis Zona, Curator, Butler Institute of Fine Art
Youngstown, Ohio.

1992 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Rethinking Columbus
Juror's Award: Juror, Don Harvey, sculptor and writer.

Pittsburgh Society of Artists Annual, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts,
Juror's Award: Juror, Professor Mary Weidner, Carnegie Mellon Univ.

Pittsburgh Society of Artists at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
Juror's Award: Juror, James Nelson, Prof. of Painting, Chatham College.

1991 Annual Exhibition at the Westmoreland Museum
Juror's Award, Gary Jurysta, Juror


Pittsburgh Society of Artists Annual Exhibition
Juror's Award, Juror, Douglas Pickering, Professor of Sculpture and
Design, Carnegie Mellon University.

Publications:

Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Putti/Cardiogram on promotional greeting cards for Heart as Metaphor show; promotional catalog for same organization to promote heart awareness for women.

UCSUR Annual Report, July 1997-June 1998, University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh.

The Art of Womancare, Magee-Women's Hospital Annual Report, 1996.

Sistersong, cover illustration and inside art work.

New Voices, chapbook publication by Lorin Oberweger and Gail Thornton, 1999, 2 poems.

Dr. Gachet's Lament, a poem for my Van Gogh Series, an artist's book, illustrated by Kitty Spangler.


Professional Affiliations:

Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Board of Directors, 1996
Member Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Exhibition Committee 1997
Resource Artist for Associated Artists of Pittsburgh VACOP program
Pittsburgh Society of Artists, Board of Directors, 1991--1999
Group A, Exhibition Chairman
Former Gallery Affiliation: Carson Street Gallery, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Current Gallery Affiliation: International Images, Sewickley, Pa.
A. I. R. Gallery. Chelsea, New York.
Co-Facilitator Lunchtime Lecture Series, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 937 Liberty Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh.
Leon Arkus Scholarship Committee
Member The Brew House Association
Affiliate of The Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange