Biography
Barbara Penn uses poetic, literary and everyday sources in paintings, drawings and installations, together with personal and socio/political themes. Penn and her works have traveled nationally and internationally through fellowships, artist residencies, and solo and group exhibitions. Recently Penn's work was exhibited at Rattviks Konstall and Galleri Se Konst in Sweden. Solo exhibitions include Harwood Museum Foundation Studio (Taos, NM), Gallery A (Chicago, IL), ARTEMISIA (Chicago, IL), Gallery Paule Anglim, (San Francisco, CA), Galerie Napela (Berlin, Germany) and Studio Lo-do Contemporary Arts Gallery (Phoenix, AZ).
Penn's work will be featured, as part of a statewide selection of contemporary art in the 2015 Southwestern Invitational at Yuma Arts Center and will tour statewide to five galleries through 2016. Recent highlights in Tucson were Focus-Five Women Artists, Davis Dominguez Gallery and Rearranging the Sands at the Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery. Topical and recent two/three person exhibitions include Domestic Wild, College of Idaho (Caldwell, ID), On Common Conscience, Keene State College (Keene, NH), and Ground Game, University of Colorado (Boulder, CO). Penn’s work appeared earlier in group exhibitions at the Academie of Beeldende Kunst (Gent, Belgium), Galerie Schoen + Nalepa (Berlin, Germany), Basel Miami International at Artpoint (Miami, FL), The Navy Pier (Chicago, IL), The Educational Alliance (New York, NY), The Mead Art Museum (Amherst, MA), and the Obere Galerie im Haus am Lutzowplatz (Berlin, Germany).
Barbara Penn's Emily Dickinson inspired installations were featured in Kore Press's 2011 BIG READ TUCSON, funded by the N.E.A. in partnership with Arts Midwest. In the same year Penn was invited as Artist in-Residence to Orsa Graphic Print Studio, Orsa, Sweden. Invitational artist residencies include Harwood Museum and Foundation (NM), Frans Masereel Centrum (Belgium), Organizatorzy Pleneru (Poland), Millay Colony for the Arts and Yaddo (NY). Penn also made work at four privately sponsored residencies, one in Montreuil near Paris and a second near Marrakech in Morocco in 2012.
Citations have appeared in the 'Dala-Demokraten', the 'Dalarnas Tidnigar' and in the 'MORA Tidning' (Sweden), in 'Tempo' (Taos), 'Art in America' (NY), and in 'New American Paintings' (Boston). Penn was a panelist at the Arizona International Film Festival in Tucson in 2008, and received an Arizona Commission on the Arts Grant in 2006. Early in her career, she was awarded a fellowship to Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan (NY/Maine, 1985). Barbara Penn joined the faculty of the School of Art in 1991 and teaches painting, drawing and classes about 'alternative process and material'.
More:
Degrees
- M.F.A. Painting and Drawing
- University of California, Berkeley, CA
- MFA/UCB/1987
- B.F.A. Painting and Drawing
- San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
- B.S. Art Education
- State University of New York, New Paltz, NY
Work Experience
- School of Art, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (2003 - Ongoing)
- School of Art, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (1996 - Ongoing)
- Department of Art, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (1995 - Ongoing)
- Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT (1991 - Ongoing)
- Department of Art, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (1991 - Ongoing)
- Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT (1990 - Ongoing)
- Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT (1990 - Ongoing)
- University of Vermont, Burlington, VT (1990 - Ongoing)
- San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA (1989 - Ongoing)
- Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine (1989 - Ongoing)
- Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine (1987 - Ongoing)
Awards
- Award-Nomination for application to 2015 Painters & Sculptors Grant Program, NY, NY.
- Joan Mitchell Foundation, Fall 2015
- Second Place Cash Award for painting "Assassin of a Bird"
- "AHESC: Arizona Higher Education Sustainability Art Show and Conference. Exhibition at Union Gallery, Conference at North Ballroom, Student Union, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ., Spring 2014
- Student Faculty Interactive Grant
- Student Affairs, Spring 2014
- Artist-in-Residence
- Fall 2012
- Sabbatical Awarded
- Spring 2012
- Fall 2011
- Spring 2005
- Artwork Selected for Poetry Book, Cover Design
- Fall 2011
- College of Fine Arts Small Grant
- Fall 2011
- International Artist-in-Residence
- Summer 2011
- Artist Residency
- Summer 2008
- "Beyond the Call of Duty Award"
- Fall 2007
- Creative Capital Skills Building Artist Seminar
- Fall 2007
- Fall 2006
- Gallery Representation at Schoen + Nalepa, Berlin
- Fall 2007
- Fall 2006
- International Artist Residency
- Summer 2007
- Application Approval for 2007 Artist-in-Residence
- Spring 2007
- Spring 2006
- Certificate for Presentation
- Spring 2007
- Nomination for GPSA Outstanding Faculty Member Award
- Spring 2005
- Student Mentoring Award 2004-2005, Undergraduate and Graduate
- Spring 2005
- Fall 2005 Sabbatical Awarded
- Fall 2004
- Full Professor Promotion
- Spring 2003
Interests
No activities entered.
Courses
2015-16 Courses
-
Contemporary Drawing
ART 301 (Spring 2016) -
Graduate Painting
ART 580 (Spring 2016) -
Internship
ART 393 (Spring 2016) -
Painting III
ART 480 (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Journals/Publications
- Penn, B. A. (2004). (Author, Barbara Penn), "Make Space for Ideas,". Distribution of 100 Creative Drawing Ideas, editor Anna Held.
- Penn, B. A. (2003). (Author, Barbara Penn), "Make Space for Ideas,". 100 Creative Drawing Ideas, editor Anna Held.
Presentations
- Penn, B. A. (2015, Spring). "Sabbatical in Paris and Morocco: Voices in Islamic Art". Faculty Meeting, February 20, 2015. School of Art, Room 243: Audience, Faculty of School of Art, invited by Director School of Art.
- Penn, B. A. (2011, Fall). "A Certain Slant of Light: Installation Art of Barbara Penn". Big Read Tucson, KORE Press and National Endowment for the Arts. Museum of Contemporary Art, Tucson, AZ.More infoIndividual Presenter
- Penn, B. A. (2011, Fall). "Poets & Artists Symposium". Big Read Tucson, KORE Press and National Endowment for the Arts. Cushing St Restaurant.More infoPanel Speaker
- Penn, B. A. (2011, Summer). "Pete and Repeat, Re-Registering Grafik", Public International Presentation. Slide Lecture. Carl Larrson House, Sandborn, Sweden.More infoIndividual Presenter
- Penn, B. A. (2011, Summer). Artist Gallery Talk. Opening at Galleri Se, "Giltig Landings". Falun, Sweden.
- Penn, B. A. (2011, Summer). Artist Museum Talk. Reception at "regn, smut, guns and ord" at Rattviks Konsthall. Rattvik, Sweden.
- Penn, B. A. (2010, Fall). "Ground Game Exhibition", Gallery Talk. Ground Game Exhibition. University Memorial Center Art Gallery, U of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
- Penn, B. A. (2010, Fall). The Critique Handbook and Studio Art Pedagogy. Visiting Artist Brunch Event related to Small Grant and Art 642 and invited guests. Graduate Studios, room 119.
- Penn, B. A. (2009, Spring). " Barbara Penn's Recent Painting and Practice". Docent Meeting UAMA. University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ.More infoIndividual Presenter
- Penn, B. A. (2008, Spring). Arts and Artists in the Movies, Too Loose Lautrec!. Arizona International Film Festival. Screening Room, Tucson, AZ.
- Penn, B. A. (2007, April 25-30, 2006). Invited Visiting Artist. Guest Artist. Keene State College, New Hampshire.
- Penn, B. A. (2007, March 16, 2006 for April 2006). In Person Interview by Chris Burawa, Literature Director of Arizona Commission on the Arts. Arizona Commission on the Arts Newsletter and Website. Artist's studio, transposed in Phoenix, AZ.
- Penn, B. A. (2007, Spring). Women in the field of Visual Arts. The Women’s Science Forum. Steward Observatory and the National Optical Astronomical ObservatoryUniversity of Arizona Tucson Arizona.More infoIndividual Presenter
- Penn, B. A. (2006, April 25-30, 2006). Invited Visiting Artist. Guest Artist. Keene State College, New Hampshire.
- Penn, B. A. (2006, March 16, 2006 for April 2006). In Person Interview by Chris Burawa, Literature Director of Arizona Commission on the Arts. Arizona Commission on the Arts Newsletter and Website. Artist's studio, transposed in Phoenix, AZ.
- Penn, B. A. (2004, March 15, 2004). "Painting and Installation: A collaboration of Materials" Lecture by Barbara Penn. University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
- Penn, B. A. (2003, May 20, 2003). "Painting and Installation: A collaboration of Materials" Lecture by Barbara Penn. "The Painterly Monotype", workshop with Melanie Yazzie. Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, May 18-25, 2003..
Creative Works
- "Waging Recovery"; acrylic; October
- Design advise and input: work finalized by Misha Harrison, Visual Communications undergraduate student credited for design and production of University of Arizona School, Design and production of University of Arizona School of Art Faculty exhibition card; Exhibition card sent from University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ; October
- (Author, Barbara Penn), "Bringing the Mind Home: Barbara Penn, Paintings"; The University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ; October; Museum Notes
- "The Politics of Plants and Animals"; Alternative methods in print including monotype, sixteen prints completed and exchanged.; March
- Bringing the Mind Home; Painting/Drawing (acrylic on pelon and tarp, drawings on handmade and sewn paper in pencil and acrylic; March
- Sabbatical Research; Digital photography, video, webwork; March; DIGITAL SKILLS LEARNING PROJECT-Learning digital video, photography, projection and related software, image preparation and manipulation, editing; web based overview and applications; applications for promotional needs, creative area of emphasis and classroom applications. Made use of Studio, Learning Center for Faculty Research, Multi-Media Learning Center and Pima College. Arranged "Research Think Tank" with Limmell Lawson, Gary Macander and Christopher Stagg, CCIT technicians, to review the sabbatical proposal in order to investigate best equipment to purchase for project goals set.FALL 2006INDIVIDUAL:Training from VisComm graduate student J. Lansdon for photoshop, scanning and website applications.SPRING 2006 WORKSHOPS and INDIVIDUAL TRAINING: WORKSHOPS: iMovie Workshop, February, MLLiDVD Workshop, February, MLLDigital Camcorders Workshop, February, MLLINDIVIDUAL:Training from VisComm graduate student J. Lansdon for photoshop, scanning and website applications.FALL and SUMMER 2005 WORKSHOPS and INDIVIDUAL TRAINING: WORKSHOPS:The Digital Camera, September 24, (1-4pm) and October 1, (1-4pm) Pima CollegePhotoshop, October 25, 27, November 1, 3, 8, 10, 15,17, (6-9 pm) Pima CollegeDreamweaver Workshop November 30, 2005, Multimedia Learning Lab, CampusINDIVIDUAL TRAINING:Faculty Learning Technology Center, jpeg photoshop training, Summer and FallVideo help at FLTC and MLL, SummerVideo training and jpegs, R. Benoit, Summer and FallCD applications, D. Babcock, SpringVideo training, Kate Walker, Summer and Fall Projection and software and laptop application training-J. Landson, E. Healy, SummerWeb planning, FLTC, Stuart Glogoff, Fall
- Owner/Builder of Artist's Studio Project; March; In Spring of 2003, I got plans prepared for building a studio on my property, then subsequently plans were finalized and approved by the City of Tucson, and fees were paid in April of 2004. Beginning in July, the foundation and walls went up and later, an attached studio was underway which was designed to connect through the kitchen of my house in Tucson. I have rented my downtown studio for twelve years, and this project was overdue, given the seriousness of the roof problems in the rented space. Progress continued into Fall, many bids were processed and workers were hired, and in early December 2004, the studio passed the final building inspection. While there are details yet to be completed, I plan to move my gear into the space in Spring of 2005 so I can resume painting again. I considered this a serious and vital "work in progress". A studio is necessary for my creative research there were many particulars and follow through that had to be pressed in order to handle this project's completion. Refinancing followed by January 2005.
- "The Water is Rising"; Acrylic on pelon; March; Inspired by Hurricane Katrina and other related issues. Size 91" x 110" (7.5 ft. x 9 ft. approximately)This work was reworked in 2006 with digital projections.
- "Smoke Signals"; Acrylic on pelon; March; This painting dealt with issues related to the death and burial of my mother in January and July of 2005. Size 97" x 129" (8 ft. x 11 ft. approximately)This work was reworked in 2006 with digital projections.
- Penn’s artwork on CD and title given to CD.; January 2007; Design work for Publication: "Waging Recovery"; Interior and cover design of Barbara Penn's artwork-"Waging Recovery”. Design based on elements of acrylic painting by Barbara Penn. CD Produced and recorded by John Penn and Chuk Canty at Full Mix Studios South 1,2 & 3, Florida; Copyright 2006 and 2007.
- Barbara Penn, "Her Voice", 2007; School of Art Publication, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; August 2007; The University of Arizona School of Art Faculty Exhibition/ 2007; Faculty Catalogue and PDF for bi-annual Art Exhibition. The University of Arizona School of Art Faculty Exhibition/ 2007. p. 40-41. School of Art Publication, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. Aug 1, 2007. Exhibition Catalogue and On-line PDF of publication. Not Applicable. Exhibition Catalogue and PDF for bi-annual Art Exhibition includes two-page spread of Penn's work and writing.
- Sabbatical in Paris and Morocco: "Voices in Islamic Art"; PPT research presentation Faculty Meeting, February 20, 2015.
