As the grandchild of a fine artist and furniture designer, I grew up understanding the personal and professional value of the arts and art education. While my academic research focus has been primarily literary, I explore the arts and visual culture in my courses, and I have also published on the politics of mural photography. I take great pleasure in mosaic work and traditional drawing media, especially charcoal and pencil portraiture, and I have exhibited my photography and prints.
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Photography
My interest in documentary photography began in Northern Ireland, inspired by my academic research into the politics and culture of that country. I expanded my interests to include a broader range of subjects, from landscape to portraiture to more conceptual images. My photographs have appeared in publications as disparate as Human Rights Dialogue (Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs) and the Lawrence Visitors Guide (Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau) in addition to within my own research.
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Printmaking
Occupying a different conceptual space are my relief prints, variously composed from woodcuts, linocuts, and letterpress. My initial appreciation of relief printing came from medieval woodcuts and early letterpress printing as well as the relief etchings of William Blake. I was also inspired by Hatch Show Print and other artists and collectives who combine text and image. I find myself drawn to the intricate labor of these processes, whether carving woodcuts, hand-pulling prints, or running text and images through the Lawrence Art Center's Vandercook press. The process is as compelling to me as the bold visual statements relief printing allows.
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Current work
After the birth of my daughter in 2007, I focused my artistic attention on art education for her and other young people, both informally and as Visual Arts Project Leader for the 4-Leaf Clover 4-H Club. I also incorporate visual analysis into the courses I teach at the University of Kansas.
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ART EDUCATION
Spencer Museum of Art
Co-curator, "Modernism, war poetry and the art of wartime," class exhibit, Spring 2010, Spring 2017
Co-curator, "That Invisible Dance: Art & Literature under the British Empire," 20/21 Gallery Conversation Wall, Feb-May 2011
Visual Arts Project Leader, 4-Leaf Clover 4-H, Douglas County, KS 2016-present
collaborated on 4-H mural with Dave Loewenstein, 2017​
guided students in hands-on arts projects in watercolor, drawing, and printmaking
arranged guided museum tour at Spencer Art Museum, 2020
PHOTOGRAPHY
Publications:
Talking Politics, The Politics Association in the UK. Winter 2006. [Magazine cover photo.]
Cats 24/7: Extraordinary Photos of Wonderful Cats. Ed. Rick Smolan and David Elliot Cohen. Chronicle Books, 2005. [Photo, Hardcover Color Photography Book.]
Joel Mathis, "Death of Record Store's Beloved Cat Touches Public," Lawrence Journal-World, Lawrence, Kansas, 15 April 2005. In print and online: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/apr/22/death_of_record/ .Republished on Lawrence.com as "Love Garden Says Goodbye to a Friend," 21 April 2005. Online: http://www.lawrence.com/blogs/mathis/2005/apr/21/cayenne/
Jon Niccum, "Ramble On: Midday Ramblers Cherish Offbeat Nature of Bluegrass Scene. Lawrence Journal-world, Lawrence, Kansas, 15 October 2004.[Main Photo Illustration for Article.] In print and online: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/oct/15/ramble_on/ .
Kansas 24/7. Ed. Rick Smolan and David Elliot Cohen. DK Publishing, 2004.[Two Photos, Hardcover Photography Book.]
Radical History Review 85, Winter 2003. Print and online: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/radical_history_review/toc/rhr85.1.html . [Photo in Cover Montage.]
Barbara J. Nelson, Linda Kaboolian, Kathryn A. Carver, The Concord Handbook:Building Social Capital across communities, UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research, 2003. Print and Online: http://concord.sppsr.ucla.edu . [Photos in Cover Montage.]
Phil Cauthon, "The Eudoras: Drinkin' Whiskey and Surfin' Kansas-Style," Lawrence.com (Lawrence Journal-World), Lawrence, Kansas, 20 May 2003. Online:http://www.lawrence.com/news/music_interviews/story/123182 . Photo Illustration for Article. Also http://calendars.lawrence.com/bands/134/. Band Photo.
Christine Bell and Mari Fitzduff, "Principle versus Pragmatism,"Human Rights Dialogue, series 2, no. 7, Winter 2002, Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs. [Main Photo Illustration for Article.]
Lawrence Visitors Guide, 2002-03, Lawrence, Kansas. [Full-page Photographic background, Table of Contents.] Also Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau Website, "Lawrence: The Art of a City," 2002-present:http://www.visitlawrence.com/visitor/visualtour.php ;[Photo in "Arts Abound" link.]
Mark Levine, "Ten Things to know about terrorism,", Independent Weekly, Durham, North Carolina, 17 October 2001. [Photo Illustration for Cover Story.] Print and online: http://www.indyweek.com/durham/2001-10-17/cover.html .
Menlo Players, "Rat in the Skull," Menlo Park, California, March 2000. [Photo, Program Cover.]
Various Publications, Photos of the Midday Ramblers.
Contests:
KC/Kansas Camera Photo 2003, June-July 2003, Lawrence Art Center (LAC), Lawrence, Kansas. Honorable mention.
Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau, National Tourism Week Photo Contest, 2003. Winner:Professional Level, "City of the Arts" Category; Winner:Professional Level, "Ashes to Immortality" Category.
Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau, National Tourism Week Photo Contest, 2002. Winner:Professional Level, "Lawrence at Night" Category.
Juried shows and exhibits:
KC/Kansas Camera Photo 2003, 2 June-18 July, 2003, LAC, Lawrence, Kansas. Honorable mention.
Lawrence Art Guild (LAG) Art in the Park, 4 May 2003, South Park, Lawrence, Kansas.
LAG Holiday Art Fair, 7 December 2002, LAC, Lawrence, Kansas.
Other Exhibits:
LAC Art Auction, Spring 2005, Lawrence, Kansas.
Bizarre Bazaar, 27 November 2004, LAC, Lawrence, Kansas.
Red Balloon To-Do, Olive Gallery, October 2004, Lawrence, Kansas.
Bizarre Bazaar, 29 November 2003, LAC, Lawrence, Kansas.
LAG Members' Show, 17 February-15 March, 2003, LAC, Lawrence, Kansas.
Associations:
Lawrence Photo Alliance 2003-2012.
Lawrence Art Guild, 2002-2003.
PRINTMAKING
Contests
Lawrence Own-Your-Own Exhibit, Lawrence Committee for the Advancement of the Visual Arts, September 24-October 3, 2004, Lawrence, Kansas.Winner, Purchase Patron Award, "Devil Up a Gum Stump."
Lawrence Own-Your-Own Exhibit, Lawrence Committee for the Advancement of the Visual Arts, September 26-October 5, 2003, Lawrence, Kansas.Winner, Sterling Capital Mortgage/Barb & Chris Forbes Merit Award and Purchase Patron Award, "Chicken-Eating Preacher."
Juried shows and exhibits:
Lawrence Own-Your-Own Exhibit, Lawrence Committee for the Advancement of the Visual Arts, September 24-October 3, 2004, Lawrence, Kansas.
Lawrence Own-Your-Own Exhibit, Lawrence Committee for the Advancement of the Visual Arts, September 26-October 5, 2003, Lawrence, Kansas.
LAG Art in the Park, 4 May 2003, South Park, Lawrence, Kansas.
LAG Holiday Art Fair, 7 December 2002, LAC, Lawrence, Kansas.
Other Exhibits:
Group show, Tea on the Titanic for Two, Jackpot Saloon, October 10, Lawrence, Kansas.
JTPS Show, The Dynamics of Print Formation, Art Affair Gallery, September-October 2006, Baldwin City, Kansas.
JTPS Show, Recent Works, Lawrence Public Library, January 2006, Lawrence, Kansas.
Red Balloon To-Do, October 2005, Lawrence, Kansas.
JTPS Show, Kansas Public Radio Studios, Spring 2005, Lawrence, Kansas.
Prints Around Lawrence, Lawrence Public Library, January 2005, Lawrence, Kansas.
Bizarre Bazaar, LAC, 27 November 2004, Lawrence, Kansas.
Red Balloon To-Do, November 2005, Lawrence, Kansas.
JTPS Show, Art Affair Gallery, September-October 2004, Baldwin City, Kansas.
KTWU Art Auction, Fall 2004, Topeka, Kansas.
JTPS Show, Do's Deluxe, September 2004, Lawrence, Kansas.
LAC Art Auction, Spring 2004, Lawrence, Kansas.
Prints About Lawrence, January 2004, Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, Kansas.
Bizarre Bazaar, LAC, 29 November 2003, Lawrence, Kansas.
Printmakers Cahoot Show, Bourgeois Pig Cafe and Bar, 27 July-14 September 2003, Lawrence, Kansas.
LAG Members' Show, LAC, 17 February-15 March, 2003, Lawrence, Kansas.
Associations:
John Talleur Print Studio (JTPS), LAC, 2002-Present.
Lawrence Art Guild, 2002-2003.