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Deborah
Blackwell

Artist
51885809_2357288057837226_39196840402018
Artist Statement

Artist Statement

My work can vary depending on what medium I use, however, one thing that is consistent is my viewpoint of a subject or object.  My work is emotionally charged, whether it is a painting, a sculpture or photograph. With my work in painting, there is a feeling or emotional response to something that becomes an abstraction of colors and marks. In my sculptures I look also for the subject matter that evokes deep emotionally charged responses in myself, often using found objects, self created objects and text that give the viewer a glimpse into the charged subject matter.

Bio

Bio

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UW-Whitewater 2008, BFA in sculpture, Arts Management Minor, graduated summa cum laude

Founder and Director of Studio 84, Inc. a non profit community art studio and gallery located in Whitewater, Wisconsin.  www.studio84inc.org

Exhibits


1982-May, Delavan Chamber of Commerce-Solo Show

1985-Mar, Delavan Chamber of Commerce-GTI Show

1985-Mar, UW Rock Gallery-Woven Images

1985-Sep, Delavan Chamber of Commerce-Solo Show

1993-Oct, WRAA Regional, Elkhorn, Judge: Max Taylor *State Award for “Rhythmist I, II, III”

1993-Sep, WRAA State Show-Madison

1994-Oct, WRAA Regional, Elkhorn, Judge: Jane Gates *Honorable Mention for “Unfinished Frost”

1995-Oct, WRAA Regional Show, Judge: Bob Mertens *Honorable Mention for “Passionate Overtures”

1995-Nov, Center Gallery, Whitewater, World Hunger Show

1995-Dec, West Bend Art Museum

1996-Mar, WRAA Regional, Elkhorn

1995-98, Dec, Gallery on Main, Fort Atkinson

1996-Apr, WRAA Regional, Waukesha, Judge: Lorin Willey *State Award for “Energy Emitted From An Orange Face”

1996-Aug, Oct-Rockford Art Museum, Stateline & Vicinity Annual Juried Show”

1996-Sep, WRAA State Show, Madison, Wisconsin Center *Waukesha Creative Arts League Award for “Energy Emitted From An Orange Face”

1996-97, Nov-Jan, Shorehaven Nursing Home, Oconomowoc, WI Five University Women Artists

1996-Unviversity Center on Permanent Display, Whitewater, WI “Threads of Community” Hand made paper, Percent for Art Collaborative Piece, Guest Artist—Sally Duback

1997-Jan-Feb, Walker’s Point Annual Membership Show, Milwaukee, WI

1997-Apr, Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI Annual juried show, all three pieces in “Soul Mates --#1” Acrylic, “Untitled”, Charcoal, “Soul Vessels”, Raku, *Best of Ceramics Award

1997-May, WRAA Regional, Waukesha, WI *State Award for “Soul Vessels #3”

1998-May, WRAA Regional, Elkhorn, WI *State Award for “The Garden Lays Waiting”

1998-Ap, Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI Annual juried show, all three pieces in “Untitled Figure”,

Acrylic, “The Collector”, Mixed Media Chair, “Soul Vessels #5”, Raku *Honorable Mention for Raku

1998-Oct, Porter Butts Gallery, Union Center in Madison, WI WRAA State Show *Kennenth Kummerlein Award for “The Garden Lays Waiting”

1998-Nov, East Troy High School Exhibit. East Troy WI for month.

1999-Apr, WRAA Regional Show, Elkhorn, State Award for “Closet Door”

1999-Apr, Crossman Gallery Student Show-Special Award for Returning Woman Student for “Stone Closet”-Ceramic

1999-Jul-Aug, Arts Chateau & Butte Branch Montana Institute of the Arts “Montana Interpretations” Juror: Rudy Autio “Quixotic Waters” Ceramic

1999-May-Jun, Walkers Point Membership Show, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI

2002-04 Walkers Point Membership Show, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI

2006-Metals Reflections, Center Gallery, UW Whitewater

2006-March, Young Auditorium Juried Student Exhibition, Honorable Mention, “Absurdities Container” Young Auditorium, UW Whitewater.

2007-April, Annual Student Juried Exhibition, UW-Whitewater, Crossman Gallery

2008-May, BFA Senior Exhibition, UW-Whitewater, Crossman Gallery

 

 

Awards

1993-Oct, State Award, “Rhythmist I, II, III” WRAA Show

1994-Oct, Honorable Mention, “Unfinished Frost” WRAA Show

1995-Oct, Honorable Mention, “Passionate Overtures” WRAA Show

1996-Mar, Honorable Mention, “Trees On a Hill” Crossman 

1996-Apr, State Award, “Energy Emitted From An Orange Face” WRAA Show

1996-Sept, Waukesha Creative Arts League Award, “Energy Emitted From An Orange Face” WRAA State Show

1997-Apr, State Award, “Soul Mates, A Journey In Search Of # 1” WRAA Show

1997-Apr, Best of Ceramics-Crossman, Gallery 1997, State Award, “Soul Vessels # 3” WRAA Show

1998-May, State Award, “The Garden Lays Waiting” WRAA Show

1998-Apr, Honorable Mention, “Soul Vessels #5” (Raku) Crossman Gallery 

1998-Oct, Kenneth Kummerlein Award, “The Garden Lays Waiting” WRAA State Show

1999-Apr, State Award, “The Closet Door” WRAA Show

1999-Apr, Amy Sprague-Schamphaus Special Award for a Returning Woman Student, Crossman Gallery, “Stone Closet”, Ceramic

2003-State Award, “Kelly’s Cross”, mixed media drawing, WRAA State Show

2006-Chancelors Purchase Award, UW-W Student Show, “In A Box”, mixed media drawing

 

Workshop & Lectures Presented

 

1998 Nov 24, “The Process of Evolution as an Artist” Slides of early work to present. How we evolve and grow and change as artist. Where my ideas come from and why I do what I do.

1999 Aug, Artist In Residence at Children’s Theatre School, Inc. Gretta Assaly, Director

1998-2004, Young Scholars Art Program for the Gifted and Talented, taught ceramics and bookmaking.
2005-07, Authentic Voices of America Camp—Art Workshop for campers with disabilities

 

Volunteer Experience

 

1982-84 Red Cross Bloodmobile coordinator

1983-85 Arts/Craft Fair coordinator for Delavan Oktoberfest

1985-97 Coach for Odyssey of the Mind teams

1995 Scene Artist/Tech Crew, Lakeland Players, “Wizard of Oz”

1995 Scene Artist/Tech Crew, Lakeland Players, “Guys & Dolls”

1995 Scene Artist/Tech Crew, The Good Company, “Oklahoma”

1996 Scene Artist/Tech Crew, Lakeland Players, “Snow White”

1996 Scene Artist/Costuming/Make-up/Actor, George Williams College, “Alice in Wonderland”

1996 Scene Artist, Lakeland Players, “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”

1996-97 Set Designer/Artist for Lake Geneva Lioness Annual Charity Fund Raiser Fashion Show

1997 Scene Artist/Set Designer/Stage Manager, Lakeland Players, “Romance, Rhythm, & Ragtime”

1997-2004, Regional Coordinator, Wisconsin Regional Art Program, 

1997 Scene Artist/Set Designer, Lakeland Players, “Peter Pan”

1998-2000, Gallery Manager, Geneva Lake Art Association

1998-99 Empty Bowls, Dane County Potters League, Fund Raiser for Food Pantries

1997-2003, Wisconsin Regional Art Program Coordinator for Elkhorn Show

2006-Note taker for Center for Students with Disabilities  

 

Education

Education

1972 Graduate of Delavan-Darien High School, Secretarial Studies

1973 Graduate of Blackhawk Technical School, Child Care Assistant

1978-83 Adult Education Class through Gateway Technical Institute, Dennis Schultz & Donna LeVine, Painting, drawing, printing, collage, pottery.  

1983-August 1-5 Portrait Painting, UW Ext. Shell lake—Pat Whyte-Lehman

1984-Oct. 12-Dec 7, Paper Making, U Rock Campus—Betsy Sibley 

1985-Jan, Tapestry, U Rock Campus, Betsy Sibley 

1985-Sept, Design, U Rock Campus, Betsy Sibley 

1986-Feb 7, Basket making, Mt. Mary College, Char Teeberst

1986-Nov, Fiber Workshop, U Rock Campus, Betsy Sibley 

1986-Nov, Pottery Workshop, Clay Loft Studio, Palmyra, Susan Alexander 

1995-Fall Sem. Advanced Painting, UW Whitewater, John Wickenberg

1996-Spring Sem. Advanced Painting, UW Whitewater, John Wickenberg

1996-Fall Sem. Ceramics II, UW Whitewater, Charlie Olson

1997-Spring Sem. Ceramics III, UW Whitewater, Karl Borgenson

1997-Fall Sem. Technical Ceramics, UW Whitewater, Charlie Olson

1997-Fall Sem. Independent in Ceramics, UW Whitewater, Charlie Olson

1998-Spring & Fall Independent in Ceramics, UW Whitewater, Charlie Olson

1999-Spring Sem. Independent in Ceramics, UW Whitewater, Charlie Olson, Participation in Wood Fire at Waukesha Field Station (2credits)

2002-Spring Sem. Wood Fire Ceramics, UW Milwaukee, Jeff Noshka

2002--Fall Sem--Milwaukee Institute Art & Design.

2003-2005 Blackhawk Tech. College, Physical Therapist Assistant studies.

2005 to 2008--UW Whitewater, BFA Emphasis in Mixed Media Sculpture

            Minor in Arts Management GPA 4.0

Contact

Contact

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blackwelldeb@gmail.com

Delavan, Wisconsin
 

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