Artist Emilia Arana

Emilia Arana - Artist Statement

These paintings come into being through a process of layering, destruction and rebuilding, bringing the painting surface to a requisite complexity, though maintaining an appearance of ease. It is a process of paintings abandoned, then recovered . . . over periods of weeks or many months, bringing the surface into a balance that breathes resolution and completion.

There have been two important threads in my life. Twenty-five years of classical piano studies transitioned into an affinity for abstract painting. I need to find the lyricism of music in the movement and spirit of the painting. Secondly, as an Arizona native I have a deep connection to the terrain and skies of the West. Without conscious direction, my work is often imbued with a sense of place. The painting process is a type of alchemy; ultimately my intent is to create work that invites multiple interpretations and repeated examination.

Biography

Tucson artist Emilia Arana is an art historian and pianist who had an unexpected encounter with abstract painting eight years ago. Since that time, the practice of painting has become a daily necessity, both as a way of taking risks, and of exploring metaphor and stories.

She was the recipient of several grants, including a Rockefeller Foundation travel grant, while doing research for a master’s thesis in colonial Mexican art history. After receiving an M.A. from the University of Arizona in 1997, she taught art history as an adjunct instructor at UA and Pima College. She currently teaches abstract painting at The Drawing Studio in Tucson.

Resume

Education

1997 MA Art History, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

1978 BS Accounting and MIS, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Exhibitions

Solo

Group

2012 Harrington Brown Gallery, Memphis, TN
2011 Small Works Invitational, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson
2010 The Drawing Studio Faculty Exhibition, Tucson, AZ
2010 Small Works Invitational, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson
2009 Per Square Foot, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2009 Small Works Invitational, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson
2009 The Drawing Studio Faculty Exhibition, Tucson, AZ
2008 Momentum and Melody, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2008 Small Works Invitational, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson Faculty Exhibit, The Drawing Studio, Tucson, AZ
2008 Artspace Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2007 Small Works Invitational, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson
2007 Hilltop Gallery, Nogales, AZ
2007 Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2006 Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild Annual Show
2005-06 Contents Interiors, Tucson, AZ
2005 Tucson Jewish Community Center, Tucson, AZ
2005 410 Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2004-05 Tubac Center for the Arts, Tubac, AZ
2004 Eller School of Business at The University of Arizona

Collections

Lewis and Roca, LLC, Tucson collection
Center for Neurosciences, Tucson
The University of Arizona College of Architecture
Cornsbruck & Sanders Architects, Auburn, CA
Private collections nationwide and internationally

Professional Experience

Instructor, The Drawing Studio, abstract painting, 2008 to present
Adjunct Instructor, Art history, The University of Arizona and Pima College. 1997-2000. Taught undergraduate courses in medieval art, survey of Mexican art, and modern art.
Lecturer in art and art history at The Drawing Studio, various Tucson elementary schools, and arts organizations. Topics include painting, exhibition, critiques, and design.

Publications

“Stylemakers”, Luxe Interiors and Design, Fall 2009
“Conrad Wilde Gallery: Contemporary Calling”, The Desert Leaf, October 2008
Art of the 4 Corners, Spring 2008
“Little Art”, by Margaret Regan, The Tucson Weekly, June 28, 2007
"Tucson and Tubac" by David A. Fryxell, The Artist's Magazine, July/August 2007
The Arizona Wildcat, interview April 27, 2006

Grants

Rockefeller Foundation Travel Grant, 1995
The University of Arizona Columbus Quincentenary Small Grants Program, for study of Columbus sculptures in Mexico City, 1992
University of Arizona Latin American Area Center field grant for research in Mexico City archives, 1992


Emilia Arana • Aria and Recitative • Oil on Canvas • 60x60 Emilia Arana • Arches of Memory • Acrylic on Canvas • 24x36 Emilia Arana • City of Agate • Acrylic on Canvas • 24x36 Emilia Arana • Green Mansions • Oil on Board • 24x24 Emilia Arana • Journey • Oil on Board • 24x24 Emilia Arana • Amber of this Moment • Acrylic on Canvas • 24x36 Emilia Arana • Jazz Slope • Oil on Board • 16x16 Emilia Arana • Parc • Acrylic on Canvas • 36x48 Emilia Arana • Shamash Gate • Acrylic on Canvas • 36x36
	Emilia Arana - Artist Statement These paintings come into being through a process of layering, destruction and rebuilding, bringing the painting surface to a requisite complexity, though maintaining an appearance of ease. It is a process of paintings abandoned, then recovered . . . over periods of weeks or many months, bringing the surface into a balance that breathes resolution and completion. There have been two important threads in my life. Twenty-five years of classical piano studies transitioned into an affinity for abstract painting. I need to find the lyricism of music in the movement and spirit of the painting. Secondly, as an Arizona native I have a deep connection to the terrain and skies of the West. Without conscious direction, my work is often imbued with a sense of place. The painting process is a type of alchemy; ultimately my intent is to create work that invites multiple interpretations and repeated examination. Biography Tucson artist Emilia Arana is an art historian and pianist who had an unexpected encounter with abstract painting eight years ago. Since that time, the practice of painting has become a daily necessity, both as a way of taking risks, and of exploring metaphor and stories. She was the recipient of several grants, including a Rockefeller Foundation travel grant, while doing research for a master’s thesis in colonial Mexican art history. After receiving an M.A. from the University of Arizona in 1997, she taught art history as an adjunct instructor at UA and Pima College. She currently teaches abstract painting at The Drawing Studio in Tucson. Resume Education 1997 MA Art History, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 1978 BS Accounting and MIS, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Exhibitions Solo 2010 Poetics, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2008 Lyrical Abstraction, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2007 The Colors of Home, Hilltop Gallery, Nogales, AZ 2006 Abstract Paintings: The Underlying Music, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2005 Sources and Sounds, Artist of the Month Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2005 Rhythmscape, Tucson Pima Public Library, Tucson, AZ Group 2012 Harrington Brown Gallery, Memphis, TN 2011 Small Works Invitational, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson 2010 The Drawing Studio Faculty Exhibition, Tucson, AZ 2010 Small Works Invitational, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson 2009 Per Square Foot, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2009 Small Works Invitational, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson 2009 The Drawing Studio Faculty Exhibition, Tucson, AZ 2008 Momentum and Melody, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2008 Small Works Invitational, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson Faculty Exhibit, The Drawing Studio, Tucson, AZ 2008 Artspace Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2007 Small Works Invitational, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Tucson 2007 Hilltop Gallery, Nogales, AZ 2007 Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2006 Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild Annual Show 2005-06 Contents Interiors, Tucson, AZ 2005 Tucson Jewish Community Center, Tucson, AZ 2005 410 Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2004-05 Tubac Center for the Arts, Tubac, AZ 2004 Eller School of Business at The University of Arizona Collections Lewis and Roca, LLC, Tucson collection Center for Neurosciences, Tucson The University of Arizona College of Architecture Cornsbruck & Sanders Architects, Auburn, CA Private collections nationwide and internationally Professional Experience Instructor, The Drawing Studio, abstract painting, 2008 to present Adjunct Instructor, Art history, The University of Arizona and Pima College. 1997-2000. Taught undergraduate courses in medieval art, survey of Mexican art, and modern art. Lecturer in art and art history at The Drawing Studio, various Tucson elementary schools, and arts organizations. Topics include painting, exhibition, critiques, and design. Publications “Stylemakers”, Luxe Interiors and Design, Fall 2009 “Conrad Wilde Gallery: Contemporary Calling”, The Desert Leaf, October 2008 Art of the 4 Corners, Spring 2008 “Little Art”, by Margaret Regan, The Tucson Weekly, June 28, 2007 "Tucson and Tubac" by David A. Fryxell, The Artist's Magazine, July/August 2007 The Arizona Wildcat, interview April 27, 2006 Grants Rockefeller Foundation Travel Grant, 1995 The University of Arizona Columbus Quincentenary Small Grants Program, for study of Columbus sculptures in Mexico City, 1992 University of Arizona Latin American Area Center field grant for research in Mexico City archives, 1992





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