Artist Statement
The iconography in my work has turned into a combination of abstract and figurative forms, both reflecting
interest in and obsession with the process of transformation from living to dying, and from dying to
regeneration as seen through my interest in nature’s creations. In my current work, I explore the
interconnectivity and further investigate where the intersection of the passage of time and the cycle of living
and dying, paying attention to the repetition and reintroduction of past events on present circumstances.
The scratched surfaces, stained paper, delineated forms, and buried imagery all work in tandem to feed this
idea. My process of painting and drawing is a sensory experience, both tactile and olfactory. The textures still
resonate with memories of the smell of the materials; the remnants of the smell of wax and coffee live on
through out the entire creative process. Images and silhouettes of plant roots and flowers overlap and lie
underneath one another suggesting the transitory nature of living along with the possibilities of being
forgotten as they slip under the memories of that which is still alive.
education
San Jose State University
M.F.A. in Pictorial Arts, 2006
B.F.A. in Spatial Arts, minor in Art History, Cum Laude, 2002
exhibition record
2008
Biennial Invitational Auction, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
underneath, Bryant Street Gallery, Solo Show, Palo Alto, CA
Sunset Magazine Idea House, featured artist with Joseph Hittinger Designs, Monterey, CA
Two Worlds, Atelier Deux Mondes, group show, Metz, France
Monotype Marathon XIII, patron sponsored group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
If these walls could talk, Reaves Gallery, group show, San Francisco, CA.
Women’s History Month 2008: Relics & Remembrances, Reflect-arts, Inc. at The Fountainhead Gallery, juried
group exhibition, New York City, NY.
Red Dot Fair, represented through Bryant Street Gallery, invitational group show, New York City, NY
Delineated, BackWater Arts Gallery, San Jose, CA
2007
Essence of Asia: eastern influence in western art, Asian Fusion Gallery of the Asian Cultural Center, juried
group exhibition, New York City, New York. Award: 2nd Place in Best of Show
Inaugural residents show, BackWater Arts Gallery, San Jose, CA
Affordable Art Fair, represented through Bryant Street Gallery, invitational group show, New York City, New
York
Arts of Silicon Valley, Triton Museum of Art, juried group show
Monotype Marathon XII, patron sponsored group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Recent Graduates, inaugural invitational group exhibition, ArtArk Gallery, San Jose, CA
Featured artist, DiModa Salon, solo exhibition, San Jose, CA
Featured artist, Ariba Corporation, solo exhibition, Mountain View, CA
Kalied, invited artist, group show exhibition through Anno Domini Art Gallery.
Spring Community at the Citadel, group open studios & exhibition, San Jose, CA
2006
Dislocations, Bryant Street Gallery, solo exhibition, Palo Alto, CA
Fall Community at the Citadel, group open studios, San Jose, CA
26th Annual Fall Auction, invitational group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Monotype Marathon XI, patron sponsored group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Lift Off! San Jose State University MFA Group Show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Flux, annual members group show, WORKS San Jose
Bryant Street Gallery, group exhibition, works on panel, November 2005– January 2006, May –July 2006
2005
Fresh Strokes, group show, Heritage Bank, San Jose, three wax & graphite on paper drawings
WORKS Annual Auction, group show, WORKS San Jose, oil & wax on panel
paper cuts (again), invitational group show, Bay Area MFA students on paper, Fetterly Gallery, Vallejo
25th Annual Fall Auction, invitational group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
Monotype Marathon X, patron sponsored group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, mo
2004
24th Annual Fall Auction, invitational group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
San Jose State University Art Museum Fundraiser, featured artist, group show, San Jose, CA
2003
Peninsula Open Studios Preview Exhibition, group show, Cogswell College Gallery, CA
Peninsula Open Studios Preview Exhibition, group show, Herbst International Exhibition Hall, The Presidio of
San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
1999
Annual Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
1998
Olympiad of Arts, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara County Fair Art Exhibition, San Jose, CA
Annual Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Gallery, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
1997
Annual Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
exhibitions towards degree
2006
dirshinsear::diroschliochtoch, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2005
sara cole / jason adkins, collaborative group show, gallery 8, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Advancement to Candidacy, group show, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
recent work, Gallery 2, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2004
American Values, juried group show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
on paper: recent work from sara cole and shelby smith, group show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San
Jose, CA
Advanced Drawing Class Show, group show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
quiescence, solo show, Gallery 5, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Drawing from Six Painters, group show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
broken lines, solo show, Galley 2, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2003
symbolic interactionism: works on paper, solo show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
sleep: works on paper, solo show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2002
Bachelors of Fine Art Thesis Exhibition, waiting: an installation, solo show, San Jose State University, San
Jose, CA
awards & scholarships
2007
2nd Place Award in Best of Show, Essence of Asia at the Asian Fusion Gallery of the Asian Cultural Center, New
York, NY
2005
Catherine Urban Art Scholarship, San Jose State University, Department of Art & Design, Artistic Merit
2004
Randal Sadler Art Scholarship, San Jose State University, Department of Art & Design, Artistic Merit
2003
Dean’s Scholar Award, San Jose State University, Scholastic Achievement
2002
Viola Speddy Scholarship, San Jose State University Department of Art & Design, Artistic Merit
Dean’s Scholar Award, San Jose State University, Scholastic Achievement
2001
Elizabeth Heil Scholarship, San Jose State University Department of Art & Design, Artistic Merit
Dean’s Scholar Award, San Jose State University, Scholastic Achievement
2000
De Anza College Memorial Art Scholarship, Artistic Merit
De Anza College Art on Campus Purchase Award, Ceramic Sculpture
1999
Best of Show (Ceramic), Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Gallery, De Anza College
Teacher’s Choice Oil Painting Participant, Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Gallery, De Anza College
1998
Teacher’s Choice Award, Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College
Robert Fritz Award, Santa Clara County Fair, Ceramic Sculpture
teaching experience
Art Instructor, BackWater Arts, San Jose, CA 10/07 to 6/08
Instructor for onsite classes and workshops. Classes include beginning and advanced encaustic painting,
beginning and expressive drawing, and figure drawing.
Art Instructor, Arts in Action, Community School of Music & Art, Mountain View, CA 8/06 to 11/07
Instructor of Record for onsite and offsite courses. All courses required personal curriculum development Adult
courses include: Beginning Drawing & Encaustic Painting. Teen courses include: Summit High School arts
program with at-risk youth, 2D Design & 3D Design. Pre-School and Youth courses include: Arts in Action
Program, Fine Arts Camps, Pre-School Adventures in Art, Drawing and Painting with the Masters, Melodies and
Colors, and Draw! Paint! Sculpt!
Teaching Associate, Two Dimensional Design • School of Art & Design, San Jose State University, San Jose,
CA 8/05 to 6/06
Instructor of Record, Spring Semester, 2006.
Instructor of Record, Fall Semester, 2005.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Life Drawing • School of Art & Design, San Jose State University,
San Jose, CA 1/05 to 5/05
Assist Associate Professor Mel Adamson, Spring Semester, 2005.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Two Dimensional Design • School of Art & Design, San Jose State University, San
Jose, CA 8/04 to 12/04
Assist Associate Professor Mel Adamson, Fall Semester, 2004.
Art Teacher • After School Art, Campbell, CA 8/01 to 10/02
In charge of lesson planning and instructing groups of up to 30 children from kindergarten to 5th grade.
publications
2008
Sunset Magazine, Idea House Monterey, October.
The Wave Newspaper – BackWater Renaissance. March. San Jose, CA
2007
Channel 36 – Television interview as focus artist of the south bay area, May. Mountain View, CA
Metro Newspaper – review for the Citadel Artists Community exhibition. April. San Jose, CA
The Wave Newspaper – review for Kalied Gallery. February. San Jose, CA
San Jose Mercury News – Kalied Gallery review, business weekly. January. San Jose, CA
2006
The Wave Newspaper – No More Cockroaches! Article on being an artist in the south bay area, December. San
Jose, CA
2005
ArtWeek – paper cuts again! show review. OCT/NOV.
related work experience
Volunteer Curator/Artist in Residence, BackWater Arts Studios & Gallery, San Jose, CA 10/07 to 9/08
Art History Course Reader/Grader • San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 1/05 to 6/07
Gallery Sitter • San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA 4/05 to 11/06
Gallery Assistant & Gallery Sitter • Natalie & James Thompson Gallery, School of Art & Design - San Jose State
University, San Jose, CA 1/04 to 5/05
Project Leader • De Anza College Mural Project, Cupertino, CA 11/99 to 6/00
education & student resources
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