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Susana Arias
Resumé
(for a PDF printable version, English or Spanish)
Santa Cruz, California
831.566-6607
Email: susanaariasarts@gmail.com www.susanaarias.com
Brief Resume
Susana Arias was born in Panama City, Panama.
She lives in Santa Cruz where she is a sculptor and painter.
In 1987 she was the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Grant for her sculpture series “Earthworks”
In 1997 she won the “Environs Enhancement Award” from Cal Trans for her public art “Finding our Past” on the Bay Ave./Porter St. Underpass For this art work she was also honored by the California Archaeological Society for “Artistic Achievement and Advancement of Archaeological Awareness”.During 2013, Susana was recognized as "Artist of the Year", by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission, with a proclamation by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.
Her work is in the collections of the Museum of the OAS in Washington D.C., Museo de Arte Contemporaneo in Panama, Rep. of Panama, Museo Bolivariano in Santa Marta, Colombia, , Museo de Arte Moderno in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Museo del Barro in Caracas, Venezuela, Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz, California, UCSC Arboretum in Santa Cruz, California, Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens in Watsonville, California.
Other public art works created by Susana are:
· “Arch at the Polo Grounds” in Aptos, for the County of Santa Cruz, Aptos, California
· “Light Time” (a working sundial), a traffic circle on King Street, Santa Cruz, California
· “Sentinel” a bas relief architectural ceramics sculpture at Aptos Jr. High, Aptos, California
· “Our City, Our Town” the bas-relief tiles around the Police department, Santa Cruz, California
· “Spring and Fall” two traffic islands on Swift Street, Santa Cruz, California
· “Small Creatures ” a traffic island on Trescone Street, Santa Cruz, California
· “D. Green Memorial Bench ” installed at the UCSC Arboretum, University of California, Santa Cruz.
· “Creatures from the Bay” - Beach Area Roundabout - Depot Park, Santa Cruz, California.
· Numerous murals at school sites: Westlake, De Laveaga, Vine Hill, Santa Cruz, California
Her work is in private collections in the United States, Europe, Canada and Latin America.
Susana’s new series of sculptures in clay, are delicate, simple forms representing nests, stylized birds and eggs placed through stacked colorful representations of abstract trees.. Her work reflects her sensitivity to materials and her control of simple elegant forms.
Full Resume
Susana Arias was born in Panama City, Panama. She lives in Santa Cruz, California since 1978.
One Person Exhibitions
· 2013 “Artist of the Year” – Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz, California
· 2011 “Sculptures and Paintings” – Galeria Habitante – Panama
· 2007 “Nidos de Oropendula, Caballos y Otros Temas” – sculptures and paintings – Galeria Habitante – Panama City, Panama
· 2003 "De Esta Vida y Otra" - sculptures & hand made paper wall works -Galeria Habitante - Panama City, Panama
§ 2000 Artist of the Year - Santa Cruz Art League - Sculptures and Paintings - Santa Cruz, California
§ 1996 Evolving Space - Sculptures - San Francisco, California
§ 1991 Galeria Arteconsult - Sculptures - Panama City, Panama
§ 1990 Galeria Habitante - Sculptures and Paintings - Panama City, Panama
§ 1989 Gallery of fine Arts - Installation “The Artist Studio, About People” - Santa Cruz, California
§ 1988 San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art - Installation “Painting the Landscape” - San Jose, California
o Brookman Gallery - Sculptures - Los Angeles, California
o Pacific Grove Art Center - Sculptures - Pacific Grove, California
o Jerome Evans Gallery - Sculptures - Sacramento, California
§ 1987 Museum of Contemporary Latin American Art - Sculptures, Paintings - OAS - Washington, DC
§ 1986 Arteconsult - “Urban References” - Sculptures, Paintings Installation - Panama City, Panama
§ 1985 Santa Cruz Government Center - Installation “What Grows out of the Art Center Case” - Santa Cruz, California
o Santa Cruz Art Center - Installation “What Grows out of the Government Center Case”- Santa Cruz, California
o Gallery 6 - Installation “An Environment” - San Jose State University - San Jose, California
o Gallery 6 - Installation/Performance “15 minutes of Performance Painting” - San Jose State University - San Jose, California
o Gallery 4 - “Folded Worlds” - Sculptures - San Jose State University - San Jose, California
§ 1984 Museum of Contemporary Art - Sculptures - Panama City, Panama
o Artconsult International - Sculptures – Boston, Massachusetts
o Dancing Man Gallery - Sculptures - Santa Cruz, California
o Local Works Gallery - Sculptures, Paintings/Installation - Santa Cruz, California
§ 1982 Arteconsult - Sculptures - Panama, City, Panama
§ 1977 Panarte - Sculptures - Panama City, Panama
Group Exhibitions
§ 2013 “Perceptive Strokes: Women Artists of Panama" – OAS Gallery - Washington, DC
o “A Figurative Affair" – R. Blitzer Gallery – Santa Cruz, California
o “Sculpture Is 2013” - Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens – Watsonville, California
o “Santa Cruz County Artists of the Year” Pajaro Valley Arts Council – Watsonville, California
o “Ceramics Annual of America” – Civic Center – San Francisco, California
§ 2012 “Art 4 Art” – . Blitzer Gallery – Santa Cruz, California
o “Crocker Kingsley Exhibit” – Blue Line Gallery – Roseville, California
o “EDGE” Art on the Westside – R. Blitzer Gallery – Santa Cruz, California
§ 2011 “Figuratively Speaking” – Davenport Gallery - Davenport, California
o ““EDGE” Art on the Westside – R. Blitzer Gallery – Santa Cruz, California
o ““Sculpture Is 2011″ – Sierra Azul Nursery & Gardens – Watsonville, California
§ 2010 “It’s in the Pulp”: The art of Papermaking in Santa Cruz – Museum of Art & History – Santa Cruz, California
o “Clay” – Davenport Gallery – Davenport, California
o “Art for Art” – 415 River Street – Santa Cruz, California
o “California – Cabrillo Gallery – Aptos, California
o “Abstractions” – Davenport Gallery – Davenport, California
o “Go Figure” – Art League Gallery – Santa Cruz, California
o “Sculpture IS ‘10” – Sierra Azul - Watsonville, California
o “50/50 Show II” – Sanchez Art Center – Pacifica, California
§ 2009 “Sculpture Is ‘09” – Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens – Watsonville, California
o “Figures & Faces” – Pacific Art League – Palo Alto, California
o “Future: Santa Cruz Studio Ceramics” - Museum of Art and History – Santa Cruz, California
o “Assemblage + Collage + Construction” - Museum of Art and History – Santa Cruz, California
o “Au Naturel” The Nude in the 21st Century – The Art Center Gallery – Astoria, Oregon
o “Local Essence” – Santa Cruz Art League – Santa Cruz, California
o “Altogether: Collage/Assemblage” Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, California
§ 2008 “Art for Art” – Mill Gallery – Santa Cruz, California
o “The Unbreakables” – Cabrillo Gallery – Aptos, California
o “Experiments in Print” – Mountains Art Center – Ben Lomond, California
o “Clay at the Cow” – Dead Cow Gallery – Santa Cruz, California
o “Form &Function” – Mountains Art Center – Ben Lomond, California
o “Los Gatos Art Association Exhibit ‘08” – Los Gatos Museum of Art – Los Gatos, California
o “3rd Dimension” Contemporary Sculpture at O’Hanlon Center – Mill Valley California
o “Sculpture IS ‘08” – Sierra Azul - Watsonville, California
§ 2007 “The Fiber Art Exhibit” – Santa Cruz Art League – Santa Cruz, California
o “Sculpture Is” – Sierra Azul Nursery Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit – Watsonville, California
o “Market in Motion” – Pajaro Art Gallery – Watsonville, California
o “Los Gatos Art Association Exhibit ‘07” – Los Gatos Museum of Art – Los Gatos, Ca. – 1ST Place
o “Outdoor Sculptures” – Arboretum, University of California, Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz, California
§ 2006 “On and Off the Wall” – Mountains Art Center, Ben Lomond, California
§ 2004 “Form & Function”, SC Mountains Art Center, Ben Lomond, California - Best of Show
§ 2002 “Exemplary Contempor’y”- Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery University of California –Santa Cruz, California
§ 1998 “Works on Paper” - Koret Gallery - Palo alto, Ca. Honorable Mention
§ 1996 “Form & Function ‘96” - Evolving Space - San Francisco, California
§ 1995 II Bienal “Barro en la Americas” - Centro de Arte de Maracaibo Lía Bermudez - Maracaibo, Venezuela
o “Exhibit” - Gallery of Functional Art - Santa Monica, California
o “Exhibit” - Evolving Space - San Francisco, California
o “91st National Open” - Long Beach Arts - Long Beach, California
o “Chaminade Artist series 22” - Santa Cruz, California
§ 1994 “Fletcher Challenge Ceramics Award Exhibit” - Auckland, New Zealand
§ 1992 “Barro en las Americas” - Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Caracas - Caracas, Venezuela
§ 1991 “Artists of Today” - Raymond Gallery - Panama City, Panama
§ 1990 “Exemplary Contempor’y”- Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery University of California - Santa Cruz, California
o “Exhibit” - Raymond Gallery - Panama City, Panama
o “On Exhibit” - TABA Inc. - Bethesda, Md.
o “Latin American Invitational” - Virginia Miller Gallery Coral Gables, Fla.
§ 1989 “Tapestry in Talent” Invitational - Site Specific Installation - San Jose, California
§ 1988 Gallery of Fine Arts - Installation - Santa Cruz, California
§ 1987 “Primera Bienal de Pintura de Cuenca” - Cuenca, Ecuador
o “Sculptor’s Encounter” - Museum of Contemporary Art - Panama, Rep. of Panama
§ 1986 “All Ca. ‘86 on a Small Scale” - Laguna Art Museum - Laguna Hills, California
o “Sixth Annual Competitive Exhibition”- Triton Museum Santa Clara, California
o “Colectiva de Verano” - Arteconsult - Panama City, Panama
o “Segunda Bienal de la Habana” - Habana, Cuba
§ 1985 “Sculptures on Exhibit” - Barbara Singer Gallery - Cambridge, Ma.
o “Fifth Annual Competitive Exhibition” - Triton Museum of Art - Santa Clara, California
o “Central Coast Second Biannual Open Competition” - Pacific Grove Art Center - Pacific Grove, California
o “Squid Art ‘85” - Santa Cruz Art Center - Santa Cruz, California
o “16th Annual Competitive 2-D Competition” - San Jose Art League - San Jose, California
o “Central Coast 2nd Biennial Open Competition” - Pacific Grove, California
§ 1984 “California Women Artists 1984” - The Corporate Center - Sacramento, California
o “All County ‘84 Juried Exhibition” - The Art Museum of Santa Cruz County - Santa Cruz, California
o “Tandem Corporation Exhibition” - Tandem Corporation - Santa Clara, California
o “Contemporary Latin American Artists” - Artcosult International - Boston, Ma.
o “Encore” - Vida Gallery - San Francisco, California
§ 1983 “Fact and Fantasy” - Vida Gallery - San Francisco, California
o “Sculptures on exhibit” - San Jose Art League Gallery - San Jose, California
§ 1982 “The Panamanian Woman in Plastic Arts” - Galeria Etc. - Panama City, Panama
o “Sculptures on Exhibit” - Bruised Reed Gallery - Monterey, California
o “Sculptures on Exhibit” - Galeria 80 - Panama City, Panama
§ 1981 “Eleventh Annual 3-D Art Regional” - San Jose Art League - San Jose, California
o “Ninth Annual Art Show” - Menlo College Gallery - Menlo Park, California
§ 1976 “BFA Exhibit” - Newcomb College Gallery, Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana
Public Collections
§ “Racing Through the Airport” - painting - collection Santa Cruz Government Center, Santa Cruz, California
§ “Green Trees” - Ceramic Sculpture - collection Santa Cruz Government Center, Santa Cruz, California
§ “Winter Trees” - painting - collection Santa Cruz Government Center, Santa Cruz, California
§ “Red Trees with Green Leaves” collection of Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens – Watsonville, California
§ “Some Eggs Have Priority” Ceramic Sculpture – collection of MAH – Museum of Art and History - Santa Cruz, California
§ “Polo Grounds Arch” – Architectural Ceramic Sculpture – Polo Grounds State Park - Aptos, California
§ “Sentry” – Architectural ceramic sculpture – Aptos Jr. High – Aptos, California
§ “Yellow Cactus” - Pit Fired Clay and Wood - Museo del Barro - Caracas, Venezuela
§ “Cactus” - Cement and Wood sculpture on Ocean St. and River St. - Santa Cruz, California
§ “Sobrevivencia Animal” - Bronze - Compañia ASSA - Panama City, Panama
§ "Shadowed Time” - Bronze, Rammed Earth & Steel Sculpture - Mike Fox Park - Santa Cruz, California
§ “Anna’s Wall” - Cement, Coal & Wood Sculpture - Happy Valley Rd. - Santa Cruz, California
§ “Black Box” - Monotype - Coast Commercial Bank - Aptos, Ca.
§ “Urban Reference” - Rammed Earth and MM Sculpture - Museum of Modern Art of Latin America - OAS – Washington, D.C.
§ “Man and Nature” - Clay and Wood Sculpture - Bolivarian
§ Museum of Contemporary Art - Santa Marta, Colombia
§ “Urban Reference #651” - Rammed Earth Sculpture - Casa de las Americas - Habana, Cuba
§ “Isla” - Cement & MM Sculpture - Museo de Arte Moderno Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
§ “Seated Man” - Bronze - Museum of Contemporary Art – Panama, City, Panama
§ “Gallina” - Bronze - Deutsch-Südamericanische Bank - Panama City, Panama
Commissions/Public Art & Grants
§ 2013 “Artist of the Year” – Appointed by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission, Santa Cruz, California
§ 2012 “2012 Project of the Year” – Beach Area Roundabout - Depot Park, Santa Cruz, California
§ 2011 “Creatures from the Bay” – on islands around Pacific Ave. and Center St. roundabout – Santa Cruz, California
o “D. Green Memorial Bench” – UCSC Arboretum _ Santa Cruz, California
§ 2005 “Sentry” – Ceramic Sculpture – Aptos Jr. High – Aptos, California
§ 2004 “Polo Grounds Arch” - Tile Arch Installation – Polo Grounds State Park, Aptos, California
§ 2002 “California Creatures” - Clay installation - Trescony St. Santa Cruz, California
o “The Sky is the Limit” - Clay and Painted Mural – De LaVeaga School - Santa Cruz, California
o “Spring to Fall” - Clay Leaf Installation on Swift St. cross walk - Santa Cruz, California
§ 2001 “Hawaii” - Mural at Westlake School - Santa Cruz, California
o “Tide Pools/Poppies tiles” Tile around Kindergarten doors - Westlake School - Santa Cruz, California
§ 2000 “Outer Edges” - Mural at Westlake School - Santa Cruz, California
o “Light Time” - Working Sundial/Traffic Circle on King St. - Santa Cruz, California
o “Artistic Achievement and Advancement of Archaeological Awareness” Honor by the California Archaeology Society – “Finding Our Past” -
§ 1999 “Our City, Our Town” - Tiles at Police Department - Santa Cruz, California
o “Rain Forest” - Mural at Westlake School - Santa Cruz, California
§ 1998 “California Mural: A Celebration of Life in the Year of El Niño” - Mural at Westlake School - Santa Cruz, California
§ 1997 ENVIRONS ENHANCEMENT AWARD for Highway 1 “Finding our Past” - California TRANNY Awards – Sacramento, California
§ 1996 “Finding our Past” - Clay and Cement Bas-relief - Bay Ave./Porter St. Underpass - Santa Cruz, California
§ 1995 “Isla” - Cement & Mixed Media Sculpture - Museo de Arte Moderno - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
§ 1993 “The Park Alive” - Clay and Painted Mural - Mesa Vista Park - Watsonville, California
§ 1990 “175 Children’s Faces” - Clay Bas-relief at Vine Hill School Scotts Valley, California
§ 1988 “NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS FELLOWSHIP” Grant
§ 1986 “Cactus” - Cement and Wood sculpture on Ocean St. and River St. - Santa Cruz, California
§ 1985 “Shadowed Time” - Bronze, Rammed Earth & Steel Sculpture - Mike Fox Park - Santa Cruz, California.
o “Anna’s Wall” - Cement, Coal & Wood Sculpture - Happy Valley Rd. - Santa Cruz, California
o “Primer Simposio Ibero- Americano de Escultura” - Museo de Arte Moderno - Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
Art Events Organized by Susana
§ 2011 “Experience Clay” – Demonstrations, workshops and exhibit of 25 ceramic artists, Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz, California
§ 2009 “Art Extravaganza” – Demonstrations and workshops by 30 artists in different disciplines in conjunction with being one of the curators of "Sculpture Is, 2009" exhibit - Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens, Watsonville, California.