Artist Statement

This body of work aims to reexamine our cultural myths of identity. These are portraits of contemporary archetypes executed in pastel as mythical depictions of the human figure. Emerging from blackness akin to characters from a modern day version of Plato’s Republic they reveal the mystery of our complex cultural identity.

I chose representational images because of their accessibility to the broad public, and for the sincere potency inherent to the meaning of images that fill a cultural void. By examining images of identity through our cultural myths I work to bring into question the belief system through which “society” see the world. The re-presentation of historically familiar images is given to the viewer to challenge and critique traditional stereotypes of human identity. Mythical constructs are reborn when mythical images are tampered with or their meaning altered. These works achieve a voice that is subtle and accessible through common representation aiming to feed these questions into everyday life.

jryan789@yahoo.com

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

Recent Drawings Johnson Gallery
Beverly Farms, MA
O King, Cambridge Multicultural Center
Cambridge, MA
Identity and the Human Figure, APE Gallery
Northampton, MA
Reflections of Gender, Porter Street Gallery
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, N. Adams, MA
2002 Drawings 2002
Sacramento Street Gallery, Cambridge, MA
2002 Recent Drawings
Contemporary Artists Center, North Adams, MA
1994 Recent Drawings
Soho 20 Invitational Space, New York, NY
1994 Renovare
Bradford College, Bradford, MA
1989 Transitory Images and Reflections
Nancy Lincoln Gallery, Chestnut Hill, MA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2007 A.I.R. Gallery, Made Out Of The Ordinary
National Gallery Artist, New York, NY
Connections, Juror: Donald Kuspit, New Jersey Center
For Visual Arts, Montclair, NJ
Vital Voices, Brandise university, Waltham MA
Juror: Raphaela Platow , curator, Rose Art Museum
2005 New Media, Gallery International, Baltimore,MD
2005 Weaving of the Senses, Caladan Gallery, Beverly MA.
2005 Close To Home, Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven Ct.
Juror: Jacquelyn Days, chief curator of the Corcoran Gallery
of Art, Washington, DC
East Boston Women Artist, City Hall, Boston, MA
Members Silent Auction, Ward-Nasse Gallery, New York,
NY
2004 STAC 29th Annual Juried Exhibition, St. James, New York
Juror: Donald Kuspit
27th Annual Art on Paper Juror: Linda Simmons, Curator, Print and Drawings, Corcoran Museum
2004 The River Project, Ward-Nasse Gallery, NYC, NY
2003 Figurative Works 02î
Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, FL
Juror: Olga Viso, Curator, Hirshorn Museum, Washington, DC
2002 4th Annual Face to Face International Exhibition
Stage Gallery, Massapequa, NY
2001 Drawing II International Exhibition Period Gallery, Omaha,NE
2001 National Exhibition, Artemisia Gallery, Chicago
in conjunction with WCA 2001 National Conference
Juror: Ingrid Fassbender/Fassbender Gallery, Chicago
1999 Art on the Mountain, Willmington, VT
Juror: Ian Berry, Curator, Williams College Museum of Art
1999 Art of the Northeast
Silvermine Guild Arts Center, New Canaan, CT
Juror: Allen Stone, Allen Stone Gallery, New York, NY
1999 Convergence
Willmington Arts Center, Willmington, VT
Juror: Rachel Rosenfield Lafo,
Senior Curator, DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA
1998 Wood Memorial Biennial, South Windsor, CT
Juror: Susan Cross, Curator, Solomon Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY

AWARDS

Puffin Foundation Grant
Academic Technology Grant, Lesley University
2005 George Sugarman Foundation Grant
Lesley University, Outstanding Teaching Award
Professional Development Grant Lesley University
Faculty Development Grant, Lesley University
Who’s Who in American University Marquis 21st Edition
Mural Grant, Governors Council on Sports and Fitness,
Arts Lottery Grant, MCA, Lexington, MA
Purchase Award, Lexington Council for the Arts, Lexington,


PUBLICATIONS/LECTURES

Presenter, “Public Memory”, National Conference, Women’s Caucus for Art. 2006
Northampton Gazette, 2004
The Recorder, Greenfield MA, 2004
The Minds Eye, The Liberal Arts Journal, MCLA, 2003
Art Institute of Boston, Visiting Artist
Cambridge Chronicle, 2002
Visiting Artist, Bradford College, 1999
Artis Spectrum, 1997
Boston Globe, 1990
Hampshire Gazette, 1990

COLLECTIONS

DeCordova Museum, Corporate Collection
Fleet Bank, Boston, MA
Hampshire Regional YWCA, Springfield, MA