Avy Claire
Avy Claire received a degree in Painting with honours from Carnegie-Mellon University and went on to study photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work is conceptual, cerebral, methodical and sometimes delicate, and she works in many different media including acrylic, pencil and ink on mylar, paper and canvas. For the Marking Time series of work, Avy Claire notes that "as long as I can remember, I have noted moments in time. When I buy a new book, the first thing I do is put that date on the front page. I have a system for titling my artwork that acts as a chronological code. And, when I am in my studio "marking time" I often date each piece, even if unused and put away in drawers. I feel I am both marking a moment in time, and, marking the passing of time.
At first glance, Avy Claire's work appear as a surface, abstract and with calligraphic elements; yet the viewer is invited in to uncover multiple layers. She explores a metaphor, one of visual landscape and another, that of fragments as reassembled messages.
Her work is represented in private and corporate collections in the US, and abroad.
Education
1978 BFA • Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, Painting, cum laude. Photography, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Residencies and Grants
2010-11 Artist-in-Residence, Newforest Institute, Firehouse, Jersey City, NY 2008 Waterfall Arts, Belfast, ME 2006 Topaz Arts, Inc., Queens, NY 2000 Ucross Foundation, Clearmont, Wyoming
1995 Artists in Community, Transformational Energetic Arts, Inc., NYC 1978-79 Ford Foundation Grant, Carnegie-Mellon University - to develop Interdisciplinary Program
Solo Exhibitions
2012 The Hostetter Art Center Gallery, The Pingry School Martensville, NJ 2009 Topaz Arts • Queens, NY 2008 Waterfall Arts • Belfast, ME 2006 Topaz Arts • Queens, NY 2005 Kellerher Fine Art • San Francisco, CA 2003 Elan Fine Art • Rockland, ME 2002 Pentimenti Gallery • Philadelphia, PA Leighton Gallery • Blue Hill, ME 2000 Barton/Ryan • Boston, MA 2001 Watson Gallery • Stonington, ME 1999 Leighton Gallery • Blue Hill, ME Clark House Gallery • Bangor, ME 1993 S.L. Kinney Gallery • Blue Hill, ME Wingspread Gallery • Northeast Harbor, ME 1992 Gallery House • Nobleboro, ME 1991 Southwest Harbor Galleries • Southwest Harbor, ME Leighton Gallery • Blue Hill, ME 1990 Concept Art Gallery • Pittsburgh, PA Leighton Gallery • Blue Hill, ME 1989 Wingspread Gallery • Northeast Harbor, ME 1987 The Knitting Factory • NYC MoMing Gallery • Chicago, IL
Selected Exhibitions
2011 Portland Museum of Art Biennial, Portland, ME 2010 Shifting Terrain, Woodstock Byrdcliff Guild, Woodstock, NY Arboreal: 4 Artists, Arsenal Gallery, Central Park, NYC 2009 H2O Film on Water Redux, Cynthia Reeves Gallery, NYC H2O Film on Water, Great River Arts, The Newport Mill, Newport, NHFirst Traces, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME Natural Routes, Aucosisco Gallery, Portland, ME 2006 Landscapes Reassembled, Omni Gallery, Uniondale, NY 2006 Expanse, Studio 12N, NYC 2005 Study in Squares, Shaw Gallery, Northeast Harbor, ME In The Garden, Firehouse Gallery, Damariscotta, ME 2002 Plugged In, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME 2001 Introductions, Pentimenti Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Matrix, Clark University, Worcester, MA 2000 The Abstract Show, Clark House Gallery, Bangor, ME 1998 Seasons of Change: Maine Women Artists and Nature, Westbrook College, Portland, ME 1995 Maine Abstract Art, 1995, Danforth Gallery, Portland, ME 1993 Sacred Spaces, Icon Gallery, Brunswick, ME Paint!, Jewitt Gallery, The University of Maine, Augusta, ME On The Edge: 40 Years of Painting in Maine, Portland Museum of Art, Portland,ME 1992 The Belly Project, Frick Gallery, Belfast, ME Celebrating Our Earth, Wingspread Gallery, Northeast Harbor, ME 1991 Seascapes, Maine Coast Artists, Rockport, ME 17 Maine Women Artists, Gallery House, Nobleboro, ME Spruce Point III, Spruce Point, Boothbay Harbor, ME Endangered Spaces, Cry of the Loon Gallery, Sebago, ME 1990 Invitational Exhibition, Central Maine Power, Augusta, ME 1987 Carnegie-Mellon Alumni Show, Forbes Street Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA 1986 Old and New Photographs, Stooker Stikker Gallery, NYC
