Resume

SUSAN LYNN DENNISTON

 

  

STUDIO/OFFICE:  Erie, PA

TELEPHONE: (505) 990-4362

WEBSITE:    www.StoneNote.com

PERSONAL:   Born in 1954, Belleville, Illinois, USA

 

EDUCATION      M.F.A. Printmaking, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA  1994

B.S. Art Education, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA  1976
(Teacher Certification K-12)

BIO

I was brought up in various parts of the United States and Europe due to my father’s career in the Air Force. My Student Teaching practicum was done in the Panama Canal Zone under the Foreign Studies Program at Pennsylvania State University.  I then graduated in 1976 and went on to work in the technical field of drafting, programming, and engineering temperature control/energy management systems all the while pursuing art in areas of ceramics, watercolor, and jewelry.

In 1989, I returned to graduate school full time and received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking along with an award for Outstanding Graduate Student in the Fine Arts Area. I am currently teaching workshops, doing studio work, commissions and exhibitions regionally and nationally as well as traveling globally to research ancient civilizations. I also work for a non-profit organization, the Center for Unified Research and Education (CURE), developing art and energy projects.

As an artist, the process of creating art allows me to act like an archeologist excavating strata for answers to age-old questions. We look at images in rock art and pieces of ancient fragments vaguely remembering flashes of memories long past. It is a connection to the spirit within, a wholeness, a sense of balance and harmony to the cosmos.

Today, we feel as though we’ve lost that connection and find ourselves living frenetic lives.  I create art to re-establish that connection and to make sense of the fragmentation in our fast past lives. Images and symbols, textures, color and layers are visually combined to bring about remembrance and the hope of dissolving the veils of the past.  I am recreating these ancient feelings and make them as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.  All the elements in my art are reformulated in a new visual language for a new time … Now!  It is my personal archeology.

AWARDS

Honorable Mention, “Printmakers ’96”, The Pittsburgh Print Group, Pittsburgh, PA, Nov 1996

Gallery Award, Printmaking, “Panorama”, Erie, PA, Jun 1996

Juror’s Choice, “Heartlands Art Festival”, Lenexa, KS, Jun 1994

First Place, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”, Oakland Community College, Womencenter, Farmington Hills, MI, May 1994

Honorable Mention, “25th Anniversary Juried Exhibition”, HUB Gallery, Penn State University, Art Alliance of Central PA, University Park, PA, Sep 1993

Honorable Mention, “Open Media National Competition”, Artel Studio, Kearney, NE, Jun 1993

 

SOLO  EXHIBITIONS

Handcast Paper Exhibition, Park Avenue Salon, Fountain Hills, AZ Current

Artists That Have Met the Challenge, Miriam Perlman Gallery, Chicago, IL, Feb 1998

STRATA, Contemporary Prints of Ancient Fragments, Cultural Clichés, and Stone Notes, Erie Art Museum, Frame Shop Gallery, Erie, PA, Aug 1997

 

NATIONAL EXHIBITIONS

Graphic Comment, Lankershim Arts Center Gallery, LA Printmaking Society, North Hollywood, CA, Jan 2001

Printmakers ’96, University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery, The Pittsburgh Print Group, Pittsburgh, PA, Nov 1996

Small Print & Drawing Exhibition, West Chaco Gallery, Aztec, NM,  Sep 1996

Lots of Little Art, Artlink, Fort Wayne, IN, May 1996

Small Works Exhibit, Eclectic Gallery, Tucson, AZ, Jan 1996

Tenth Mini Print International Exhibition, Traveling Exhibition, Studio School and Art Gallery, Bingham, NY, Nov 1995 to Dec 1996

Bag, Sac, Pouch, Purse, Gallery of Artifacts and Treasures, Daytona Beach, FL, Nov 1994

Eighth Mini Print International Exhibition, Traveling Exhibition, Studio School and Art

Gallery, Bingham, NY, Nov 1993 to Dec 1994

Heartlands Art Festival, Outdoor Gallery, Lenexa, KS, Jun 1994

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, Oakland Community College, Womencenter, Farmington Hills, MI, May 1994

Figurative Exhibition, Artel, Detroit, MI, May 1994

CAJE ‘94:  America’s Cultural Diversity, The Center of Contemporary Arts, University Park, MO, Mar 1994

Visual Voices/The Female, University of West Florida Art Gallery, Untitled II, Pensacola, FL, Feb 1994

Making Their Mark:  Women in the Arts, Rear Window Gallery, Winchester, VA, Feb 1994

Showcase ‘93, Cascade Plaza, Beaverton Arts Commission, Beaverton, OR, Nov 1993

Hoyt National Art Show, The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, New Castle, PA, Oct 1993

My Country Tis…, Invitational, Artel Studio, Kearney, Antiquarian Gallery, Omaha, NE, Sep & Oct 1993

Counterpoint ‘93 National Exhibition, Duncan-McAshan Visual Arts Center, Hill Country Arts Association, Ingram, TX, Aug 1993

…On A Flatrock, Invitational, Artist’s Cooperative Gallery, Artel Studio, North Platte, NE, Aug 1993

 

PUBLICATIONS & VIDEOS

Somerset Studio Publications, “Stone Age Books” artwork of the artist Susan Denniston, May/June 2004 issue

Forum For Science & Art Video, Artist Views on Their Work, Los Alamos, NM Sep 2001

 

COLLECTIONS

Bigsby & Kruthers, Chicago, IL, Mar 1996

Saint Vincent Medical Center, Erie, PA, Feb 1996

Rush Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago, IL, Dec 1995

Ford Motor Corporation, Chicago, IL, Oct 1995

Edinboro University, Bruce Gallery, Edinboro, PA, Permanent Collection, 1995

… and various private collections

 

GALLERY AFFLIATIONS

Crystal Dove, Albuquerque, NM

Willow, An Artisan’s Marketplace, Littleton, CO

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Workshops in Handmade Paper  May 2002  I instructed individual workshops on handmade paper making including sheet forming and hand casting.   Santa Fe, NM

Volunteer Literacy Tutor Jul 1997 – Jan 1998   I tutored students in English as a Second Language, illiterate adults from work programs with their companies and also students pursuing their GED.  Adult Education Program, Erie School District, Erie, PA.

Workshop in Handmade Paper  Jun 1997  I instructed a two day workshop on handmade paper making including sheet forming and hand casting.   Textures Gallery, Erie, PA

Instructor for Control Systems  Nov 1981 – May 1996  Through out my career with Johnson Controls, I trained customers on their temperature control systems operation and maintenance as well as basic computer skills.  Johnson Controls, Inc., Erie, PA

Silkscreening Demonstrator  Feb 1994   During graduate work, I demonstrated the screenprinting process to Middle and High School Students during High School Art Days.  Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA

 

WORK EXPERIENCE 

    May 1996  – Present   Professional Artist/Web Designer    SELF-EMPLOYED, NM, AZ & PA

Creating hand-pulled screenprints and handmade paper collages for exhibitions and commissions.  Through  my own company, I am currently creating / designing original artwork for clients in the areas of interior design, fashion accessories, wearable art, and greeting cards.  I exhibit my screenprints nationally and internationally and have been honored by receiving several awards. I travel to research images from ancient cultures for incorporation into my artwork.  I  also give demonstrations and workshops on handmade paper and printmaking. I have performed consulting management for artists and galleries and have been communications chairperson of a professional artists association. As a Web Designer, I create, publish & print graphics for small businesses and individuals to further their success.

    Aug 2000  – May 2001    Network Assistant   UPTIME INSTITUTE, Santa Fe, NM  

Assisted the Uptime Network Meeting Manager  in group Network meetings.  During this time, I assisted in the preparation of meeting agendas, registrations, client contact, and client databases for 3 national network groups. I also attended the meetings, took minutes, assisted lecturers and prepared the physical space for the meetings that met in various places around the country twice a year.

    Nov 1999  – May 2000    Project Manager     PEYOTE BIRD DESIGNS, Santa Fe, NM  

Managed wholesale jewelry catalog accounts and expedited customer merchandise.  In a fast paced environment, I was responsible for supervising the prepping and quality checking, packaging, invoicing, and shipping in a timely fashion of the jewelry for nine separate catalog customer accounts.  Our customers included Sundance, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and J. Jill as well as others.  I also maintained customer account databases and updated vendor routing instructions for shipping
procedures.  Additionally, I designed barcoding labels for several accounts and organized and managed backstock supplies for other accounts providing for an easier flow of business during critical shipping seasons.

    Sept 1994 – May 1996    Application Engineer II JOHNSON CONTROLS, Erie, PA

Engineered and programmed temperature control systems for commercial buildings.   In this position, I engineered control systems using JCI AutoCadd, wrote software programs using Johnson Controls specific digital and graphic control programming languages (JCI GPL, JCI DDC, JCI CAL). I assisted on-site installation of hardware and software systems.  I trained customers on their control systems and frequently
had customers request me to work on their systems.  Additionally, I programmed the office IBM PCs and other PCs for job-site use as well as providing technical support for sales proposals.  I completed my engineering/programming usually at or below the estimated proposal man-hours saving the branch money.

    Aug 1989 – Sept 1994    Software Consultant SELF-EMPLOYED, Erie, PA  

Programmed temperature control systems for commercial buildings.  I engineered and programmed HVAC temperature control systems for several branch offices of Johnson Controls.  I traveled to customer sites to install hardware and software programs.   I was responsible in one branch office for installing a new computerized inventory system and helping to initiate customer service parts call-in.  I performed all consulting work while completing my graduate degree.

    Nov 1981 – Aug 1989 Building Application Engineer III   JOHNSON CONTROLS, Pittsburgh, PA

Engineered and programmed temperature control systems for commercial buildings.  I engineered, wrote, installed, and troubleshot microprocessor based temperature control systems. I was also responsible for customer training, software documentation of computer systems and programming of IBM PC’s for office and job use.  I traveled to assist the Northeast and Mid?Atlantic Regional offices in software programming, troubleshooting and graphics generation in various branch offices.
In 1982, I was chosen to take part in a national seminar for goal setting for ‘Building Automation Future Products’. Additionally, I have received my company’s national ‘Idea of the Month’ Award for software documentation and have assisted in establishing procedures for technical services while serving as an interim System Rep. Supervisor.  I gained additional programming and engineering experience by completing college coursework in BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, Pascal & Mechanical Engineering Systems.

    Mar 1978 – Sept 1981    Software Engineer   HONEYWELL, INC., Phoenix, AZ  

Drafted and programmed temperature control systems for commercial buildings.  My responsibilities were to write and install software application programs for fire, security, and energy management control systems. Other areas of experience included hardware design layout, customer training, and handling and storage of tapes, disks, and software technical records. I also drafted pneumatic, electric, and electronic schematics, made equipment submittals, and designed and laid out artwork
for sales presentations.