John Sloan's Blog

Announcement Card for Solo Exhibition at Gallery 070

2008-06-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

Newspace Catalog Published

2008-06-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

Click the image above to see the work that I have in the catalog. You can order your own copyhere.

Category Award Winner in Bellingham Photo Competition

2008-06-26T09:59:00.000-07:00

For more information about the "Essence of Bellingham" competition gohere.

Newspace Announcement Card

2008-06-19T21:23:00.001-07:00

Statement about the 2008 juried exhibition from Newspace:

Juror TJ Norris has finalized his selection for this year's juried exhibition. Many strong portfolios were submitted this year, making it a particularly difficult selection process. From over 300 entrants, Norris has selected 37 finalists. An eclectic group of voices, perspectives, and visions, the 2008 Juried Exhibition winners will be shown in the Newspace gallery July 3rd - 27th. The opening reception will be held on the second Friday, July 11th at 7pm.

A catalog is being produced for this exhibition and is available here.

Recipient of Western Washington University Art Department's "Excellence in Studio Art" Award

2008-06-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

Western Front article by Carolyn Copstead

2008-06-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

Manifest Gallery's 4th Annual Rites of Passage Exhibition, Photos by Jason Franz

2008-06-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

Click on the image above to see photos by Jason Franz of the opening and exhibition at Manifest Gallery's Fourth Annual Rites of Passage Exhibition. Here is a pdf version of the catalog for the exhibition.

Semi-Finalist in 2008 Adobe Design Achievement Awards

2008-06-07T15:20:00.001-07:00

Click on the above image for screenshot of the Semi-Finalist page for the 2008 Adobe Design Achievement Awards. To check out the work of the semi-finalists go here.

Australian VIGEX Catalog, Cerificate, and Report Card

2008-06-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

Click on the above image for a slideshow of stuff VIGEX sent me. Unfortunately I didn't have any images that were published in the catalog, but they did mention me under the list of accepted images in the Australian Biennial. One of the interesting things about this international competition is the fact that they give you the juror's score in the form of a report card. You can find out more about VIGEX here.

Rites of Passage Catalog Published

2008-06-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

Click on the image above to see the tear sheets of my art that appeared in Manifest Gallery'sFourth Annual Rites of Passage Exhibition. You can also find the pdf version of the entire catalog here.

byproducts exhibition at Mindport

2008-06-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Click on the above image for a slideshow of the exhibition at Mindport. Thanks to AnMorgan Curry and all the people at Mindport that made this exhibition possible. Special thanks to Seiko Atsuta Purdue for arranging the exhibition.

Jeopardy Magazine 2008

2008-05-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

Click on the image to see the tear sheets of my art that appeared in Jeopardy Magazine's 2008 edition.

Ceres Gallery 8th National Juried Exhibition

2008-05-23T22:43:00.000-07:00

Press Release Ceres National Juried Show 2008.

To whom it may concern,

Ceres Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of its Eighth National Juried Exhibition. The show includes paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture by 37 artists selected nationwide from states as close as New York and as far as California. The exhibit is on view from May 20 through June 14, 2008.
The juror Magdelena Dabrowski, special consultant, Modern & Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, chose pieces representative of the major genres and styles encompassing a variety of artistic expressions. The chosen work reflects the eclectic nature of the art world today. It supports Ceres’s belief that, “We serve as a supportive base for a diversity of artistic and political views.” All ideas were acceptable from the most quotidian to the most esoteric.
Several artists were inspired by European art, anthropological, and architectural history and others by cross cultural references. Sheila Ernst-Bifano, for example, drew her images from the majesty and spirituality of Stonehenge. She states, “Stonehenge touches so many people. It has great mystery and magnetism. I have tried to capture that essence with the light colors on canvas, the orbs randomly scattered throughout the piece…” Rene Murray in her piece titled, “Clay Painting - The Staircase” writes, “My clay painting is meant to reveal the monumental beauty of the architecture of Tuscany by representing it on a scale which grants an intimacy not ordinarily accessible in real life.” Barbarie Rothstein in her statement describes her work as, “the thread that ties all of her work together is her concern with the tension between enclosing forms and recessed spaces” that has emerged from “her interest in the in the imagery of shelter which has taken the form of cathedrals, primitive dwellings, and the archetypal house form”.

Priscilla Proudwoman Stadler, initiates the list of the many artists who explored the language of spirituality, faith, our inner selves, and areas of mystery and metaphysics. She states, “Notions of faith and consciousness have been a recurring vein throughout my work, surfacing what I term the visual language of belief or the geology of spirit.” In her statement Carole P. Kunstadt remarks that her piece “heightens the contrast of the tangible with the ephemeral.” ”Knocked Up” a piece by Meagen Svendsen “is a metaphorical exploration of the dialectical tension between science and religion, inspired by the vast discoveries in neuroscience and genetic research.” Renee Fladen-Kamm tells us that her “paintings are literal maps and diaries of states of being”

Inspired by nostalgia, memories, internal dialogue and the universal angst of all human beings, Dare Boles exemplifies a humanitarian approach to art. She says: “The need to connect with our past is a human condition. Though time, distance, and cultural differences separate us; reaching out, sharing our thoughts and feelings bind us together.” Roslyn Rose also mines a rich visual bank of memory and fondness for the past. She tries to connect the past with the present in her work by, “Integrating old portraits with contemporary images that reveal intimate moments in time and place.”

Political and contemporary themes are the basis for a number of the artists chosen for this show. Our troubled contentious times have elicited statements like the following by Sandy Tramel an assemblage artist, “each of my dioramas is a metaphor for the predatory events that are enacted in creating a “new world order.” Emily Vines states unequivocally, “In these turbulent, cursedly interesting times, sculpting players on the world stage is my way of documenting history”. Philosophically, Leo Theinert tells us his art is an “expression of the beauty, the tragedy, and the complexity of the human condition.” Influenced by the horrors of war and 9/11 reportage, the topical has intuitively flooded the work of Susan Bennett. She says “a symbol of carnage had infiltrated my creative process,” in her metal piece called “Knot Bombs”. Humor and the news are the motivating forces behind the work of Isabella Natale and Dennis Quinn. Ms. Natale writes, “Because I believe that humor can be very effective in the communication of ideas in addressing various political or social issues, my paintings often employ imagery that is comical or whimsical.” Mr. Quinn describes his piece “Wa$hington” as follows:“The Gilbert Stuart portrait on the dollar bill served as the model in this painting. Over the years the portrait of our first president on the dollar bill has morphed into a modern symbol of success or failure, manifesting greed and envy for all economic classes.”

The woman’s perspective, gender stereotypes and the human form are the focus in the works of Audrey Shachnow, Elke Albrecht, Nancy Parry, Sima Furman, Liza Botkin, and John Sloan. Ms. Shachnow expresses her ideas; “My thought is to reexamine beauty; to suggest to our collective consciousness its richness and to embrace a larger vision of what we perceive as beautiful.” While John Sloan states, “The images in this series have evolved into an exploration of the manufactured culture of stereotypes and desire found in children’s toys.”

This theme emerges again when Nancy Parry hopes, that her “piece evokes comparisons with the very different and pervasive messages seen in many current doll images.” Liza Botkin takes “black and white street photography, documenting ordinary activities in our daily lives, shooting subjects that I find strangely or humorously interacting.” Among a group of tourists she was photographing she found “two little girls with star shaped sunglasses who were also posing. How could I resist?” Elke Albrecht finds, “The human form is the most compelling source of my inspiration, particularly because of its endless possibilities for abstraction.”
Finally, Ms. Dabrowski chose works that reflect artists’ concerns for the natural world and the environment. Some of the artists in this category use everyday materials in new and surprising ways and some make statements about the beauty of nature. Still others reflect the conflict between nature and mankind. Won Kyoung Lee believes that art “becomes a conversation we have with our environment that negotiates our personal and social realities.” “She plays with everyday materials and uses them in her art work and transforms them into something unique.” Rob Rutherford says about his piece, “White Collar”; “The work is grounded in the paradoxical relationships that derive from these juxtapositions. These ‘collisions’ suggest the contradictions between the human and the natural.” Margaret Whiting states , “Through my art I make reference to the need for recognizing the laws of nature and the total interconnectedness of all living things on this earth.” The magnificent scenery of Sedona inspired Sangita Phadke to create “Sunset in Sedona.” She describes it as follows: “Sunset in Sedona” is a painting that combines my obsession with detail with my curiosity for Nature.”

Included in the show are: Karen Adelaar, Elke Albrecht, Lynne Baggett, Susan Bennett, Sheila Ernst-Bifano, Liza Botkin, Dare Boles, Pam Cooper, Judy Cooperman, Leslie Cornell, Jamie Diamond, Renee Fladen-Kamm, Priscilla Fowler, Sima Furman, Ahn Jun, Carole Kundstadt, Won Kyoung Lee, Andrew Liccardo, Swaantje Miller, Rene Murray, Isabella Natale, Alexandera Ostroff, Nancy Parry, Sangita Phadke, Dennis Quinn, Roslyn Rose, Barbarie Rothstein, Rob Rutherford, Audrey Shachnow, John Sloan, Priscilla Proudwoman Stadler, Meagan Svendsen, Leo Theinert, Sandy Tramel, Jim Turbert, Emily Vines, and Margaret Whiting.
In closing, this is a show not to be missed. The wide range of styles, media, and ideas gives a sense of the breadth and depth of the present and very vibrant American art scene.

For further information please call Liz Cohen 201-656-1348 or Asma Shikoh at 347-730-3156.

Beyond Borders: 13th Annual International Art Competition

2008-05-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

Click on the image above to see a slide show of the Beyond Borders exhibition.

Two of my images, "Sophia's Drama," Acts I & II, were selected by the jurors for the 13th Annual Beyond Borders exhibition. For more information about the exhibition click here.

Finalist Photographer's Forum Magazine 28th Annual College Photography

2008-05-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

"Plastica Erotica: Circa 1999" is scheduled to be published in the annual book that includes all the finalists and winners of this competition. I'll include the link once it is available.

2008 New York Photo Award Nominee

2008-05-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

New York Photo Awards – Evening Ceremony, May 16th, 2008
This spring, the inaugural NYPHA ceremony will take place during the New York Photo Festival. Located in the St. Ann's Theater space in DUMBO and designed to accommodate 500 persons, this hosted event will feature guest speakers, a/v projections of winning works, presentation of awards and subsequent acceptance speeches. Sixteen category Winners and thirty-two Honorable Mentions, selected by the Jury of the NYPHA, will have their works projected and be publicly recognized before an audience of peers and industry luminaries.

Located in the St. Ann’s Theater, designed to accommodate 500 persons, the ceremony will feature guest speakers, a/v projections of winning works, presentation of the awards and subsequent acceptance speeches. Award Presenters include: Tim Barber (tinyvices.com and New York Photo Festival curator), Michelle Bogre (Parsons New School for Design), David Friend (Vanity Fair), photographer Lauren Greenfield, Bill Hunt (Hasted Hunt Gallery), Meagan Keane (PhotoShelter), Charlie Melcher (Melcher Media), Alison Morley (International Center of Photography), Jules Naudet (Hachette Filipacchi), Evan Nisselson (Digital Railroad), Jody Quon (New York magazine), David Schonauer (American Photo), Mary Virginia Swanson (Marketing Consultant and Educator), Lauren Wendle (PDN), and the festival founders and co-chairmen, Frank Evers of VII Photo Agency and Daniel Power of powerHouse Books.

Click the image above for more details.

Honorable Mention in PX3 2008 Competition

2008-05-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

Click on the image above to go to the PX3 website. You'll find my image under the "2008 Honorable Mentions" category.

Seattle Weekly Review of Tainted Dream

2008-05-02T20:47:00.001-07:00

Image featured on Jeopardy Magazine Poster

2008-05-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

Solo Exhibition at Shift Collaborative Studio

2008-04-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

Here is the information from the press release:

Tainted Dream
New Work by John Sloan

May 1 thru 31, 2008
First Thursday Opening Reception: May 1, 2008 5-8pm
Shift Hours: Friday & Saturday 12-5pm
Or by Appointment: info@shiftstudio.org

Shift Collaborative Studio is proud to present Tainted Dream, a new body of work by John Sloan. Tainted Dream is a photographic exploration into the manufactured culture of stereotypes and desire found in children’s toys.

The works in this current series of photographs are a tribute as well as a study of his major artistic influences. Within this context, Sloan has adapted themes from previous eras in an attempt to question the strange world in which we still find ourselves.

The artist will be in attendance each Saturday during the show. Shift Studio is located at 306 S. Washington St, #105 in the Tashiro Kaplan Building in Pioneer Square. Regular gallery hours are Friday and Saturday 12pm-5pm.

Shift is a collaborative artistʼs studio that opened in the fall of 2004 in the renovated Tashiro Kaplan Arts Complex. Shift was established as an artist-run space with the primary goal of supporting emergent, practicing, Northwest artists.

You can find out more about Shift Collaborative Studio click here.

4th Annual RITES OF PASSAGE Exhibition

2008-04-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

Here is some info about the exhibition:

Conceived and initiated in 2005, The Rites of Passage exhibits were developed in order to support student excellence by offering a public venue for the display of advanced ‘creative research’; to promote young artists as they transition into their professional careers; and to bring the positive creative energies of regional institutions together in one place.

With this fourth annual installment of the Rites series, Manifest now offers a $300 best of show award to encourage and support excellence at this career level. Rites is open to students graduating or expecting to graduate in 2007, 2008, or 2009.

Over 360 submissions were received from 47 students from 25 colleges. The final selection includes 22 works by eleven artists from nine college programs.

The artists are:

Jen Adrion, Columbus College of Art and Design

Liz Beard, Miami University

Amanda Foran, Auburn University

Hei B. Ahn, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Joanna Lord, Miami University

Michael Meadors, East Carolina University

Jahaziel Minor, Art Academy of Cincinnati

Whitney Sage, Miami University

John Sloan, Western Washington University

Ruth Wartman, Art Academy of Cincinnati

Stephen Williams, Bowling Green State University

You can find out more about Manifest Gallery here.

Mindport BFA Exhibition Announcement Card & Poster

2008-04-16T23:00:00.000-07:00

Nominated

2008-04-10T00:17:00.000-07:00

Cover of Creative Quarterly No. 10

2008-03-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

This is the first photograph that I've had on a magazine cover.

Creative Quarterly (formerly Creative Convocation)is a student art magazine; it debuted in 2005 geared specifically towards college art and design students.

Here is a list of news stands and bookstores that carry Creative Quarterly if you'd like to pick up your own copy.

Gallery One Exhibition "Play: Artists Look At Childhood"

2008-03-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

Click the image above for a slide show of the Gallery One exhibition reception for "Play: Artists Look At Childhood."