Artist Statement

As a printmaker working in my home, I’m committed to a nontoxic (or less toxic) art practice, which is safer for myself, my family, and the environment.  My quest for artist-quality, nontoxic materials and techniques has involved a lot of trial and error.  I discovered that this process of experimentation—working with an idea in mind, but ultimately responding to the materials—is what truly makes printmaking a passion for me.  I am now working with two types of professional-quality, water-based inks that I love—Akua Kolor, which contain honey, and Akua Intaglio, which contain soybean oil.  My recent works are woodcuts and gelatin monotypes (one-of-a-kind prints using gelatin as a printing surface).   

Considering the relationship between humans and the earth has led me to work with organic images.  Working from nature offers endless beauty and complexity to explore, showcases themes that are important to me, and ultimately creates a unified connection between my materials and subject matter.  Currently, I am working with the theme of “Forest through the Trees,” repeating and layering a few tree shapes to show the look of a forest.  I am drawn to the formal elements—the interplay between organic shapes, the way the overlapping and transparency create pattern and new shapes—but also the symbolic meaning of the theme itself—considering how seemingly small, everyday choices affect the world.

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EDUCATION

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, Master of Arts in Museum Studies, 2003
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, Minor in English and Textual Studies, 2001, Graduated with Honors, Summa Cum Laude
Pont Aven School of Art Brittany, France, Foreign Study, June 2000

EXHIBITION RECORD

Howard Community College Faculty Exhibit. 2008. The Rouse Company Foundation Gallery, Columbia, MD
Space & Place. 2007.  Cade Fine Arts Gallery, Arnold, MD
The Art of Breastfeeding. 2007.  Coastal Communities Cultural Center, Lincoln City, OR
Janus: Looking Forward, Looking Back. 2006-2007.  Greenbelt Community Center, Greenbelt, MD
The Art of Horror. 2006.  Altered Esthetics, Minneapolis, MD 
Form Follows Forethought. 2006.  Cade Fine Arts Gallery, Arnold, MD
Howard Community College Faculty Exhibit. 2006. The Rouse Company Foundation Gallery, Columbia, MD
Anne Arundel Community College Visual Arts Faculty Show. 2005.Cade Fine Arts Gallery, Arnold, MD
Community Prints: Community Pride. 2005. Greenbelt Community Center, Greenbelt, MD
15th Annual Labor Day Art Show. 2005. Greenbelt Community Center, Greenbelt, MD
Out of Order (art benefit). 2007; 2005; 2003. Maryland Art Place, Baltimore, MD
Lotta Art (invitational art benefit). 2005; 2003. School 33 Art Center, Baltimore, MD
Drawing Lives! 2005. Lowe Art Gallery, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Wine Arts Tasting (invitational art benefit). 2004. Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, MD
One-off. 2003. School 33 Art Center, Baltimore, MD
Lately:  Recent Works by Amanda Gordon (solo). 2002. Storch Gallery, Syracuse Stage, Syracuse, NY
Impressions of Brittany. 2001. French Institute Alliance Française, New York, NY
Life In Fiction (solo, senior honors thesis). 2001. Shaffer Art Gallery, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Let’s Be Things. 2000. Spark Contemporary Art Space, Syracuse, NY
Vernissage. 2000. Salle Gauguin, Pont Aven, Brittany, France
Paintings and Prints by Amanda Gordon (solo). 2000. The Drawing Room, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY           
Works on Paper (traveling exhibition). 1999-2000. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY; Transylvania University, Lexington, KY

HONORS and AWARDS
Creative Baltimore Fund Individual Artist Grant, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, 2008
Second Place, The Art of Breastfeeding. Coastal Communities Cultural Center, Lincoln City, OR, 2007
Cipriano Award for “Americans at Work,” 15th Annual Labor Day Art Show, Greenbelt Community Center, 2005
First Place in Graphics, 15th Annual Labor Day Art Show, Greenbelt Community Center, 2005
Augusta Hazard Award for Senior Painting, Syracuse University, 2001
Honors Thesis and University Honors Programs, Syracuse University, 1997-2001
Rosewell Hill Junior Painting Award, Syracuse University, 2000

TEACHING
Adjunct, Art Appreciation and 2D Design, Howard Community College, Columbia, MD. 2005-Present
Adjunct, Basic Drawing and 2D Design, Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD.  2005-Present
Youth and Adult Instructor for Art Classes, Greenbelt Community Center, Greenbelt, MD, 2005-Present
Bookmaking Workshop, American Institute of Graphic Arts fundraiser at American Visionary Art Museum, 2006
Painterly Prints: Gelatin Monotypes Workshop, Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD, 2006 
Teacher for Youth and Adult Arts Workshops, National Museum of Women in the Arts, 2002-2006
Youth Instructor, Printmaking and Technical Drawing Classes, School 33 Art Center, 2003
Docent-training Instructor, Series on Painting Materials, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY, 2002
Teaching Assistant, Drawing 1, Intro. Printmaking, Art History, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 2000-2002

PUBLICATIONS
Article “Painterly Prints: Monotypes from a Gelatin Plate,” InPrint. Maryland Printmakers: September 2006.