Drawing Together Proposal

On the Bronx River, June 2012

In June 2012, paddling in a canoe through the heart of the Bronx, my understanding of the urban landscape was transformed (the New York Times art critic Michael Kimmelman took a similar  trip that summer.)  My trip was led by the Bronx River Alliance, an organization committed to environmental justice, ecological restoration and public access to the river. This experience ignited my desire to contribute my skills and knowledge to their mission.

Sewage overflow in the South Bronx section of the river is one of the ten biggest sources of water pollution in the New York metropolitan area. An innovative green infrastructure initiative is currently underway in the surrounding communities, where expanded green spaces will help absorb storm runoff to prevent sewage overflow. For this project to succeed, community members must participate in protecting and monitoring the new green spaces. The Bronx River Alliance is seeking innovative ways to enlist community support in this project.

My Pratt drawing students working
on a collborative cityscape.

Drawing together can bring people together, helping to alter perceptions and develop the kinds of understandings that lead to real change. Building on the Bronx River Alliance’s existing partnerships with local groups, I propose to involve community members in the drawing process to observe current conditions and envision future possibilities in the southern section of the Bronx River basin. In a series of guided workshops and field expeditions, participants will use personal sketchbooks and larger collaborative works to document and help secure the progress of a nationally significant green infrastructure initiative. 
 Through the drawing process, using close observation in personal field journals and bringing together multiple viewpoints and bits of information in larger collaborative works, participants will document the progress of the green infrastructure project as a way to develop ecological understanding, strengthen interpersonal relationships among neighborhood residents, and heighten participants’ commitment to their role in developing and defending the health of their communities, as they help protect the larger ecosystem.

 at a Bronx elementary school

I have been a socially engaged artist for my entire career. Early on, I worked with community and political organizers, producing posters and murals. More recently, my primary social engagement as an artist has been through artist residencies in high poverty New York City public schools, primarily in the Bronx, which has heightened my understanding of environmental justice issues.

A silkscreen poster that was used
 to raise funds for the Watsonvil

My identity as an artist was formed during an 18-month, ultimately successful strike of Mexicana cannery workers in 1987. On the picket lines in Watsonville, California, I drew portraits of the strikers and recorded their stories. Drawing from direct observation provided the time and opportunity to transcend language and cultural barriers, and build mutually respectful relationships. Silkscreen prints of some of the drawings were sold to raise money to help sustain the strike and have found their way into exhibitions, books, historical archives and museum collections.

2012 Thinking through
Drawing Symposium
 University of the Arts
London, UK

Since then, I have become something of an evangelist for the potential of drawing to slow down, open possibilities and forge unforeseen connections. Most recently, I have co-organized three annual international conferences on “Thinking through Drawing,” two at Columbia University, and one at the University of the Arts in London. These conferences have brought together practitioners and researchers from as far away as New Zealand and South Africa to discuss drawing as a tool for thinking, understanding, communication and transformation.




Through the proposed project, I plan to put “Thinking through Drawing” into action, building relationships, collaboration and community involvement through the drawing process.


Students at Teachers College, Columbia University, working on a collaborative drawing based on their own movements.

Resume

Teaching

2013-present

Visiting Assistant Professor, Foundations, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY

Instructor, Teachers College, Art and Art Education, Columbia University, NY.

2010-present

Student Teacher Supervisor, Art and Art Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY.

2008-present

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Graduate School, Art and Art Education, College of New Rochelle, NY.

2000-present

Teaching Artist: Studio in a School, from 2009-13 principal teaching artist in US DOE Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination project, Framing Student Success: Connecting Rigorous Visual Arts, Math and Literacy Learning.   Also a teaching artist for the Anne Frank Center, Behind the Book in NYC public schools; Westchester Arts Council, BOCES Putnam-Westchester

1993-97

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI.

1991-93

Teaching Assistant, Yale University School of Art.  Co-taught drawing and painting courses.

1990-1

Artist-in-Residence, Henry Street Settlement, New York City.

Academic Publications, Presentations, and Curating

2013

American Educational Research Association (AERA) National Convention

“Confronting Poverties of Creativity” Organized symposium and delivered conference presentation.

Foundations in Art: Theory and Education, Annual Conference

“Making a case for drawing in the 21st century, presentation with Kim Sloane and Seymour Simmons

Thinking Through Drawing: Interweavings, Teachers College, Columbia University and the Metropolitan Museum, New York, NY, supported by University of the Arts London and the Drawing Research Network.

Initiated, organized  3nd annual international symposium on drawing and cognition with Angela Brew (UAL) and Michelle Fava (LU).

“Tracing Experience” Exhibition, Macy Gallery, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY.

Curated exhibition to accompany Thinking through Drawing Conference; featuring work by Morgan O’Hara, Josette Urso, Jen Wright and Bill Sayles.

2012

Multimodal Approaches to Learning Conference, the Metroplitan Museum, NYC

“Drawing and Cognition,” conference presentation.

Thinking Through Drawing: Drawing in STEAM, University of the Arts London (UAL) Wimbledon, UK,  co-sponsored by Teachers College, New York, NY

Initiated, organized and presented 2nd annual international symposium on drawing and cognition with Angela Brew (UAL) and Michelle Fava (LU).

Drawing Research Network Conference, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.

“Drawing and Cognition” with Angela Brew and Michelle Fava, conference presentation.

Journal of Aesthetic Education, The Man behind the Curtain: What Cognitive Science Reveals about Drawing,  Spring issue.

TRACEY Journal of Drawing and Visualization Research, Drawn to Discover: a Cognitive Perspective, Drawing Knowledge issue.

National Art Education Association Convention, NYC

“Drawing and Cognition.” with Seymour Simmons, Conference Presentation

“Inspired by Anne Frank” with Maureen McNeil,. Conference Presentation.

Graphic Details Symposium, Yeshiva University, NYC.

“First We Do, Then We Understand” conference presentation with Sharon Rosensweig, the Comic Torah

“Drawing the Mind: Neural networks and the emergence of complexity” Exhibition, Osilas Gallery, Concordia College, Bronxville, NY.

Curated exhibition featuring work of Deborah Aschheim, Laura Battle, J. Fiber, James Esber, Jane Fine, Tara Geer,  William Holton, Wennie Huang, Jeesoo Lee, Michael Moore, Margaret Neill, Sumru Tekin, Virgil Wong, Jen Wright

2011

Thinking Through Drawing: Practice into Knowledge, Teachers College, New York, NY, co-sponsored with University of the Arts London (UAL) and Loughborough University (LU) UK.

Initiated, organized and presented at international symposium with Angela Brew (UAL) and Michelle Fava (LU)

National Art Education Association Convention, Seattle, WA

“What the Science of Grounded Cognition reveals about the Art of Drawing,” Conference Presentation.

“Many Faces: a middle school public art installation” with Rebecca Schwarz, Art Coordinator and art teacher, Pelham, NY. Conference Presentation.

Westchester Arts Council, White Plains, NY

Professional Development Workshop Presentation, “Keys to Sucessful Collaborations.”

“Thinking through Drawing” Exhibition, Macy Gallery, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY.

Curated exhibition to accompany Thinking through Drawing Conference; featuring work by J. Fiber, James Esber, Jane Fine, Tara Geer,  William Holton, Jeesoo Lee, Michael Moore, Margaret Neill, and Sumru Tekin

2010 

Drawing Research Network Annual Conference, Brighton University, Brighton, UK

“Drawing and Cognition,” Conference Presentation.

Claiming Creativity Symposium, sponsored by ELIA (European League of Intitutes of Art) and Columbia College, Chicago, Il.“Digging Deeper” Conference Presentation.

1996

Faculty Development Research Grant, “Visions of Home,” UW-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI.

Faculty Development Teaching Grant, “Collaborative Learning in Studio Art” UW-O, Oshkosh, WI.

Panelist, “Igniting Conceptual Processes” Panel discussion at Symposium on Studio Foundations at Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, Mass. Co-sponsored by Mass Art and FATE.

Co-Leader, Faculty Workshop on Portfolio Assessment; “Issues in Pedagogy,” University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI

Selected Exhibitions

2013

Kenise Barnes Fine Art, Gallery Artists, Larchmont, NY.

2012

Arts Westchester, “Connections” group show, White Plains, NY.

2011

Kenise Barnes Fine Art, Still Life, Larchmont, NY.

Edward Hopper House, Hopper Re-imagined, Nyack, NY.

Castle Gallery, College of New Rochelle, Faculty Show, New Rochelle, NY.

2010

Macy Gallery, Studio Practices, Teachers College, Columbia University,

Mikhail Zakin Gallery, Contemporary Still Life, Demarest, NJ

2009

Macy Gallery, Lines, Teachers College, Columbia University,

Abron Art Center, Twin Infinities, group exhibition, Henry Street Settlement, NY, NY.

2008

Kenise Barnes Fine Art, Gifts from the Studio, Larchmont, NY

Art Santa Fe, Kenise Barnes Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM.

Westchester Arts Council, Local Growing Conditions, White Plains, NY.

Pajaro Valley Arts Council, Remembering the Struggle, Watsonville, CA.

Charlestown Gallery, Food, Rhode Island

2007

Kenise Barnes Fine Art, Ravished, solo exhibition, Larchmont, NY

Flinn Gallery, Food...Glorious Food, group exhibition, Greenwich, CT.

Pelham Art Center, The Power of Portraits, group exhibition, Pelham, NY

2006

Francesca Anderson Fine Art, 23rd Annual Portrait Exhibition, Lexington, MA

Ridgefield Guild of Artists, 29th Annual Juried Exhibition, Ridgefield CT. Award of Excellence.

2005

Kenise Barnes Fine Art, AAF Contemporary Art Fair, NYC.

Kenise Barnes Fine Art, The Reality Show, Larchmont, NY.

Francesca Anderson Fine Art, Group Exhibition, Lexington, MA

2004

Faculty Show, Pelham Art Center, Pelham, NY.

2003

Project room 88, Group Invitational, New York City, NY

2002

Art Center of Northern New Jersey, National Juried Exhibition, New Milford, NJ. Merit Award.

Project Room 88, Group Invitational, New York City, NY.

2001

Project Room 88, one-person show, New York City, NY.

1997

Wisconsin Academy of Arts And Sciences, one-person show, Madison, WI.

Cardinal Stritch College, “Place: Wisconsin” Award, Milwaukee, WI.

1996

Wustum Museum, “1996 Watercolor Wisconsin,” Award of Excellence, Racine, WI.

Gallery Alexy “Contemporary Realism „96” Philadelphia, PA

Gallery del Conte, “Color”, Milwaukee, WI

Gallery del Conte, “Summer Show,” Milwaukee, WI.

San Damiano Gallery, “Nine Milwaukee Artists,” Milwaukee, WI.

Gallery del Conte, “Color and Light” Milwaukee, WI.

Wright Museum of Art, Beloit College, “39th Annual Beloit and Vicinity Exhibition,” Beloit, WI.

1995

Wustum Museum, “1995 Watercolor Wisconsin,” Racine, WI. Award of Honor.

Gallery del Conte, three-person show, Milwaukee, WI.

Neville Public Museum, “The Self and Others,” Green Bay, WI. Merit Award.

University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, “Faculty and Alumni Show,” Oshkosh, WI.

Gallery del Conte, “paintings” Milwaukee, WI.

Cardinal Stritch College, “Place: Wisconsin” Award, Milwaukee, WI.

1994

Wustum Museum, “1994 Watercolor Wisconsin,” Award of Excellence, Racine, WI.

Gallery del Conte, “Group Invitational, ” Milwaukee, WI.

“Celebrating the Jewish Presence in Wisconsin,” Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI

Lorenzo Rodriguez Gallery, “Moving the Body Forward,” Chicago, IL.

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Union Art Gallery, “Narratives,” Milwaukee, WI.

Gallery del Conte, “The Figure, ” Milwaukee, WI.

Columbia College, “Paper in Particular,” Columbia, MO.

1993

University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, “New Faculty Show,” Oshkosh, WI.

The Sculpture Center, “Willie Birch‟s Spirit House, ” New York City.

Creative Arts Workshop, faculty show, New Haven, CT.

Yale University Art and Architecture Gallery, MFA Thesis show, New Haven, CT.

1992

Max Fish, ‟Tondo” group show, New York City.

1991

Henry Street Settlement Gallery, Resident Artists‟ Show, New York City.

1990

Henry Street Settlement Gallery, ‟Subterranean Subjects," group show, New York City.

1989

Epoche Gallery, group show, Brooklyn, NY.

Max Fish, "10 on 8"group show, New York City.

Minor Injury Gallery, ‟Homeland,” group show, Brooklyn, NY.

Ten on Eight, ‟Subway Views,”one-person show, public art exhibition windows, NYC.

1988

Ridge Street Gallery, ‟The Fall of Civilization,” group show. New York City.

1987

San Francisco State University Art Gallery, three-person show. San Francisco, CA.

La Pena Cultural Center, ‟Images of Watsonville ” one-person show. Berkeley, CA.

Art Reviews and Publications

2009

“Twin Infinities” By James J. Williams, Bomblog, June 22

Included in AGITATE! EDUCATE! ORGANIZE! : American Labor Posters, Lincoln Cushing; Timothy W. Drescher, Cornell University Press.

2007

“Fruits of an Artist‟s Labor” Greenwich Time, October 22

“Have a Healthy Serving of Art” Journal News, November 9.

Included in Visions of Peace & Justice: Thirty years of political posters, Inkworks Press.

“Andrea Kantrowitz Exhibit Opening in Larchmont” The Pelham Weekly, October 19.

Amber Lotus Publishing, "Posters for Peace and Justice"2008 Wall Calendar, Portland, Oregon.

2005

"In Bronxville, art tradition continues" The Journal News, White Plains, NY.

2003

"Preserving Memories," Shoreline Publications, Pelham, NY.

" The Portrait Artist of Manor Park," Larchmont Gazette (website) Larchmont, NY.

1996

"Painting a familiar place" Shepard Express, Milwaukee, WI.

" Jewish art defies easy categorization" Milwaukee Journal, Milwaukee, WI.

"Watercolor Wisconsin" makes a splash at Wustum" Milwaukee Journal, Milwaukee, WI.

1988

Publications and interviews related to the mural "Solidarity,"

Interview, German Public Television, in documentary on IP strike in Jay, ME.

"14-month-old strike at JayÔs IP mill portrayed by visiting artist"

Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME.

Mural for Strikers,"Portland Journal, Portland, ME.

'Mural Pays Tribute to Striking IP workers" Lewiston Sun, Lewiston, ME.

1986

'Images of Watsonville" Interview, KPFA Radio, Berkeley, CA.