Artist Debra Blair

Debra Blair– Artist Statement

I see art making as a thoughtful, problem solving process that facilitates an unspoken dialogue between the artist and the viewer. The personal choices I make as an artist (color, content, materials, etc.) reflect my point of view. The work I produce is not intended to be a conclusion, but rather part of an ongoing exploration of an idea. Each viewer brings his or her own perspective to the work and builds their personal meaning for the piece. For me, the visual generation and communication of an idea is exciting. I like the fact that a viewer may interpret the artwork in a way I had not originally intended.

My art making process is generally spontaneous, where the decision-making and problem solving are often immediate. I work with several types of media. The one I select may have to do with the subject matter or intent of the piece, but may simply be that which is most appealing at the moment. When I work with encaustic I enjoy a sensory experience of warmth and the aroma of honey. The flow of the melted wax is relaxing and the process of working with hot wax drives the visual outcome of the work.

Resume

Education

Group:

2009 Disparate Colors, Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts, Pagosa Springs, CO
2009 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Durango Arts Center, Durango, CO
2008 For the Small of It, Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts, Pagosa Springs, CO
2008 Dialogues, Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts, Pagosa Springs, CO
2008 Fruit of the Soul, Specialty Produce Warehouse, San Diego, CA
2008 Gateway to Imagination: A National Juried Exhibition, Farmington Museum, Farmington, NM
2008 Paper and Clay Invitational, Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts, Pagosa Springs, CO
2007 Fruit of the Soul, Specialty Produce Warehouse, San Diego, CA

Awards

2009 Juror’s Choice for Two Dimensional Works, 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Durango Arts Center, Durango, CO
2008 Landscapes of the American West, Gateway to Imagination: A National Juried Exhibition, Farmington Museum, Farmington, NM
2008 Museum Purchase Prize, Gateway to Imagination: A National Juried Exhibition, Farmington Museum, Farmington, NM

Public Collections

The Farmington Museum at Gateway Park, Farmington, NM

Publications

2009 “’Disparate Colors’ Features Debra Blair,” Denise Coffee, The Pagosa Springs Sun, December
2009 “Veering from Tradition: Juried Exhibition Features Cutting-edge Media,” Jules Masterjohn, The Durango Telegraph, June
2008 “Explorations in Scale: Shy Rabbit opens ‘For the Small of it’ exhibit,” Jules Masterjohn, The Durango Telegraph, November
2008 “Contemporary Art Exhibit gets ’Small,’” Denise Coffee, The Pagosa Springs Daily News, November
2008 “’For the Small of It’ at Shy Rabbit, draws Large Crowds,” Denise Coffee, The Journal, November
2008 “Shy Rabbit Exhibit Held Over,’” Denise Coffee, Pagosa Springs Daily News, June

Professional Experience

2002-03 Curator, Luann Dummer Center for Women Art Collection, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
2002 Co-curator, Revealing the Invisible: Photographs by Bette Globus Goodman, Judy Olausen and Keri Pickett, Lobby Gallery, O'Shaughnessy Educational Center, St. Paul, MN
1999-01 Assistant, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
2001 Information Guide, Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Minneapolis, MN
1997 Exhibition Design, The Glenn Miller Show, Utah State University, Logan, UT
Exhibition Design, By a Clearer Light: Photographs by David Halpern, National Park Service Artist in Residence, Alliance for the Varied Arts, Logan, UT
1995-97 Assistant, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Logan, UT



	Debra Blair– Artist Statement I see art making as a thoughtful, problem solving process that facilitates an unspoken dialogue between the artist and the viewer. The personal choices I make as an artist (color, content, materials, etc.) reflect my point of view. The work I produce is not intended to be a conclusion, but rather part of an ongoing exploration of an idea. Each viewer brings his or her own perspective to the work and builds their personal meaning for the piece. For me, the visual generation and communication of an idea is exciting. I like the fact that a viewer may interpret the artwork in a way I had not originally intended. My art making process is generally spontaneous, where the decision-making and problem solving are often immediate. I work with several types of media. The one I select may have to do with the subject matter or intent of the piece, but may simply be that which is most appealing at the moment. When I work with encaustic I enjoy a sensory experience of warmth and the aroma of honey. The flow of the melted wax is relaxing and the process of working with hot wax drives the visual outcome of the work. Resume Education 2004 MA, Art History, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN 1996 BA, Liberal Arts, Utah State University, Logan, UT Exhibitions Group: 2009 Disparate Colors, Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts, Pagosa Springs, CO 2009 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Durango Arts Center, Durango, CO 2008 For the Small of It, Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts, Pagosa Springs, CO 2008 Dialogues, Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts, Pagosa Springs, CO 2008 Fruit of the Soul, Specialty Produce Warehouse, San Diego, CA 2008 Gateway to Imagination: A National Juried Exhibition, Farmington Museum, Farmington, NM 2008 Paper and Clay Invitational, Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts, Pagosa Springs, CO 2007 Fruit of the Soul, Specialty Produce Warehouse, San Diego, CA Awards 2009 Juror’s Choice for Two Dimensional Works, 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Durango Arts Center, Durango, CO 2008 Landscapes of the American West, Gateway to Imagination: A National Juried Exhibition, Farmington Museum, Farmington, NM 2008 Museum Purchase Prize, Gateway to Imagination: A National Juried Exhibition, Farmington Museum, Farmington, NM Public Collections The Farmington Museum at Gateway Park, Farmington, NM Publications 2009 “’Disparate Colors’ Features Debra Blair,” Denise Coffee, The Pagosa Springs Sun, December 2009 “Veering from Tradition: Juried Exhibition Features Cutting-edge Media,” Jules Masterjohn, The Durango Telegraph, June 2008 “Explorations in Scale: Shy Rabbit opens ‘For the Small of it’ exhibit,” Jules Masterjohn, The Durango Telegraph, November 2008 “Contemporary Art Exhibit gets ’Small,’” Denise Coffee, The Pagosa Springs Daily News, November 2008 “’For the Small of It’ at Shy Rabbit, draws Large Crowds,” Denise Coffee, The Journal, November 2008 “Shy Rabbit Exhibit Held Over,’” Denise Coffee, Pagosa Springs Daily News, June Professional Experience 2002-03 Curator, Luann Dummer Center for Women Art Collection, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN 2002 Co-curator, Revealing the Invisible: Photographs by Bette Globus Goodman, Judy Olausen and Keri Pickett, Lobby Gallery, O'Shaughnessy Educational Center, St. Paul, MN 1999-01 Assistant, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN 2001 Information Guide, Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Minneapolis, MN 1997 Exhibition Design, The Glenn Miller Show, Utah State University, Logan, UT Exhibition Design, By a Clearer Light: Photographs by David Halpern, National Park Service Artist in Residence, Alliance for the Varied Arts, Logan, UT 1995-97 Assistant, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Logan, UT





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