Degrees

M.F.A. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 1982
B.F.A. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1979
 

Other Schools Attended

Haystack Mountain School of Art, Snowmass Village, Colorado, Writer's Workshop with Arlene  Raven and Sheila deBrettville, Summer, 1995
New York University, New York, New York, 1980
California College of Arts & Crafts, Oakland, California, 1976
Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina, 1976

Public Art Projects

Current

Read Between the Signs. In-progress 2002 - present. A sculptural fence made from recycled road signs that will surround and screen PennDOT's storage lot in Meadville, PA. Collaboration with PennDOT. Phase II was completed in 2003 with support from the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation's Artists and Communities Grant. Phase III will begin in June 2004, with additional support from the Mid- Atlantic Arts Foundation's Artists and Communities Grant

Market Alley. In-progress. Involves a proposal for beautification and greening of an alley in Meadville's historic downtown. Project will highlight the history of the area and will use art to create a sense of place. Phase I is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2004.

2001

Signs & Flowers. A sculptural installation of twelve large (8 - 10') flowers made from recycled road signs. Project involved landscaping a 315' x 80' embankment into a series of undulating mounds (made from recycled shoulder dirt), which together with the flowers evokes a post-industrial garden. Collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in Meadville.

2000

Greenroom. A 'green' community breakroom designed for the Crawford County Industrial Park. Meadville, PA. Includes a 33' x 17' mural, historical photo-essay, sculptural tables and chairs all made from recycled materials found on site.

Visiting Artist And Residency Experience

Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Mt., Artist-in-Residence, January - April, 1990; June - August, 1991.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mi., Visiting Artist, May and June, 1990.
Watershed Center For Ceramic Art, North Edgecome, Me., Artist-in-Residence, Summer, 1989.
 

Exhibitions

2002 Bowman, Penelec and Megahan Galleries, Allegheny College, Faculty Exhibit, October
Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA, Outdoor Installations, Spring

2001 Archie Bray Foundation 50th Anniversary Auction/Exhibition, Summer
Community Prayer Project. Bowman, Penelec and Megahan Galleries, Allegheny College, November

2000 Glassgrowers Gallery, Erie, Pa, Summer.

1999 Brookfield Craft Center, Connecticut, "Lowfire: Limitless Possibilities", January
Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NB, "Renedezvous '99!", March - July
Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA, Annual Spring Show, Juried Exhibit, April
Viterbo College, La Crosse, Wisc., Invitational Ceramics Exhibit, October

1998 Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, Oberlin, Ohio. February.

1997 Manchester Craftsman Guild, collaborative installation with children's program, Pittsburgh,   Pa. December.

1996 Joanne Rapp Gallery, The Hand and the Spirit, Scottsdale, Arizona, "New Ceramics",  works by Amara Geffen, Avra Leodas,  Marc Leuthold, and Tony Marsh,  October.
 Martha Gault Gallery, Slippery Rock, PA., Solo Exhibit "Nature - Artifice", January.
Clarion Regional Art Exhibition, Sanford Gallery, Clarion University, Pa, March-April

1995 Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA., Annual Spring Show, Juried Exhibit.
Heeschen Gallery, Meadville Council on the Arts, Meadville, PA., October Evenings, Juried    Regional Show, October/November.
Jose Brudis-Bida Gallery, Brentwood, California, "Exploring a Movement: Feminist Visions in  Clay", Group Invitational, November/December.
Heeschen Art Gallery, Meadville Council on the Arts, "Couples in the Arts", November/December.
Glassgrowers Gallery, Erie, PA., "Couples in the Arts", November/December.

1994 Foster Goldstrom Gallery, New York City, NY., May, "Orga-Morphic Clay", Group  Invitational.
Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN., May, "The Language of Abstraction", Group  Invitational.
Gallery IO, New Orleans, LA., "Archie Bray Foundation Invitational".
Joanne Rapp Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ., "Selected Artists From The Archie Bray Foundation".
Society For Contemporary Crafts, Pittsburgh, PA., "1991-92 Crafts Fellowship Recipients",  (Exhibit traveled for one year.)
 

1993 Bellevue Museum of Art, Bellevue, WA., Fall, "The Legacy of the Archie Bray Foundation".
William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA., Fall, "Clay 1993: A National Survey".
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY., Spring, 29th Ceramic National. (Exhibit travels to  Newark  Museum of Art in October.)
International Gallery, San Diego, CA., March, Archie Bray Benefit Exhibit.

1992 Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI., "Organicism Four Person Invitational".
Joanne Rapp Gallery, Scottsdale, AR., November, Two Person Exhibit.
 New Arts Forms Exposition, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL., September.
 Owen Patrick Gallery, Philadelphia Pa., Archie Bray Benefit Exhibit, February/March.

1991 Lorraine Kessler Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY., Solo Exhibit.
Special Projects Gallery, Pittsburgh Center For The Arts, Pittsburgh, Pa., Solo Exhibit.

1990 Penelec Gallery, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., Solo Exhibit.

1989 Three Rivers Festival, Indoor Sculpture Exhibit, Pittsburgh, Pa., (Best of Show Award in   Sculpture).
 "Womanvision", Tri-State Invitational (7 person exhibit), Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, New   Castle, Pa.
 "Points of View", Small Group Invitational, Westminster College Art Gallery, New   Wilmington, Pa.

1988 C.A.G.E. Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio.  "Turning", Solo Window Installation.
 Glass Growers Gallery, Erie, Pa.  "Regional Invitational Exhibit".
 October Evenings, Meadville Council on the Arts, (Jurors Award.  Juror, Nina Freudenheim,   Nina Freudenheim Gallery, Buffalo, NY).
 Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa.  "90th Anniversary Invitational".
 Three Rivers Arts Festival, Indoor Sculpture Exhibit, Pittsburgh, Pa.
 Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa.  65th Annual Spring Show, (Jurors Award and Purchase Patron   Award.  Juror, Charles Miller, Managing Ed. ArtForum).
 Chicago Center for the Ceramic Arts, Chicago, Il.  Solo Invitational Exhibition, "Spiral   Tales".
 Bowman, Penelec & Megahan Galleries, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., "Faculty   Exhibition".

1987 A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY, "National Affiliate Member's Exhibition".
 Glass Growers Gallery, Erie, Pa., "Regional Invitational Exhibition".
 Bowman, Penelec & Megahan Galleries, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., "Faculty   Exhibition".

1986 Art Gallery, University of Scranton, Scranton, Pa., "From The Wall".
 Lukenbach Mill Gallery, Bethlehem, Pa., "Counterpoint in Crafts".
 A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY, "Solo Exhibition".
 A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY, "National Affiliate Member's Exhibition".
 Bowman, Penelec & Megahan Galleries, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., "Faculty   Exhibition".

1985 Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa., "A Doodle House: Group Invitational Exhibit".
 Spaces Gallery, Cleveland, Oh., "Three Person Invitational".
 Pittsburgh Plan for Art, Pittsburgh, Pa., "Sparks: Group Invitational".
     Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa., "Clay National".
 Bowman, Penelec & Megahan Galleries, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., "Faculty   Exhibition".

 1984 Rike Center Gallery, University of Dayton, Dayton, Oh., "Solo Exhibition".
 Fox Fine Arts Center, University of Texas, El Paso, Tx., "3-Dimensions: National Sculpture   Competition".
 Clayspace Gallery, Erie, Pa., "Multi-Media Group Invitational".
 William Penn Museum, Harrisburg, Pa., "Pennsylvania Artists/Educators".
 Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa., "61st Annual Spring Exhibition".
 Bowman, Penelec & Megahan Galleries, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., "Faculty   Exhibition".

1983 Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pa., "Clay Expressions".
 Clayspace Gallery, Erie, Pa., "Clay Invitational".
 Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa., "Clay National" (traveled to Pittsburgh Center For The Arts,   Pittsburgh, Pa.).
 Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, Pa., "Women: Self Image".
 

Reviews & Articles

American Ceramics, Winter 1992, "A New Body Language: The Primacy of Touch In Amara Geffen's  Clay  Sculptures", C. Wellman
Ceramics Monthly, May 1989 (feature article)
Dialogue, November 1985 (review)
Ceramics Monthly, March 1985 (review)
Dialogue, March 1985 (review)
The Pittsburgh Press, March 28, 1985 (review)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 16 and 30, 1985 (review)
Youngstown Vindicator, Youngstown, Oh., March 23, 1985 (review)
 

Grants, Awards, And Assistantships

Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation. Artists & Communities. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. 2003, 2004.
Humanities Teacher/Scholar, Allegheny College, 2002 - 2004

Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Visual Artists Fellowship, 1986 and 1992
Faculty Development Research Grants, Allegheny College, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1995, and 1997
Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Indiana University, 1980-82
Technical Graduate Assistantship, Indiana University, 1979-80
Ford Foundation Fellowship, Indiana University, 1979
 

Lectures

2000 "Recycled, Reclaimed, Reconstituted: Art the Re-forms Previously Used Materials" , Public Lecture in
conjunction with curated exhibit.

1999 National Council on the Education of the Ceramic Arts, Visiting Artist/Demo and Lecture

1997 Kent State University, Visiting Artist Lecture Series

1996 Slippery Rock University, "Life Cycles", Visiting Artist Lecture Series

1993 NCECA Conference, San Diego, CA., "Organic Abstraction".  Panel presentation with Joann  Schnabel, Gary Ericson and Scott Chamberlain.

1992 Clarion University, Visiting Artist Lecture Series.

1991 Holter Museum of Art, Helena Mt., Visiting Artists Lecture Series.

1990 Central Michigan University, Grand Rapids, Mi., Visiting Artists Lecture Series.

1988 Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pa., Visiting Artist Lecture Series, "An Historical Background   For Installation Art".

1987 State University of New York, College at Fredonia, Visiting Artist Lecture Series.
 NCECA Conference, Topical Discussion "The Impact of Sculpture on Ceramics".
Lectures (continued)

1987 National Sculptural Conference: Works by Women, Organizer and Leader of Four Person   Panel "The Sculptural Object vs. The Sculptural Experience: The Parameters of   Installation Art".

1986 Artworks, Erie, Pa., "Bricks & Ladders (Molding Metaphors and Drawing in Space)", Visiting   Artist  Lecture Series.

1985 NCECA Conference, St. Louis, Mo., "Emerging Talent".

1984 Hamilton College, Clinton, NY., Visiting Artist Lecture Series.

1983 Pittsburgh Center For The Arts, Pittsburgh, Pa., "A History of Recent Architectural Sculpture".

1982 Center College, Danville, Ky., Visiting Artist Lecture Series.
 

Teaching Experience

ALLEGHENY COLLEGE, Meadville, PA. 1982 - present. Professor of Art. Teaching Responsibilities: Coordination of ceramics and sculpture program. Departmental teaching includes all levels of Ceramics and Sculpture as well as Intro to Studio Art: Art & the Environment, and Junior/Senior Studio Seminars. Additional teaching responsibilities include Freshman / Sophmore Writing and Speaking Courses (Commentary on Art & Culture; The Enchantment of Vision) , Freshman Seminars (Nature & Culture: Themes for the Visual Arts; Objects & Activisim: the Role of Art at the End of the 20th Century), Liberal Studies: Envisioning Environmental Futures (team taught, interdisciplinary course in Studio Art and Environmental Studies). College Service: Art Department Chair 1997 - present; Public Events Committee 1999 - 2002 (Committee Chairperson 2001-02); Arts & Environment Initiative Project Director for CEED (Center for Economic and Environmental Development) 1997 - present; Interim Chairperson Art Department 1995 - 96; Faculty Review Committee 1993 - 1995; College Curriculum Committee 1990 - 1993 (Committee Chairperson 9/91 - 12/93); Humanities Core Curriculum Subcommittee 1988-89; Departmental Curriculum Subcommittee 1988-89; Admissions Liaison 1988-89; Humanities Division Chairperson1987; Faculty Development Committee 1987, 1989, (Chairperson, '88-89); Library Committee 1985, 1986; Alden Scholars Committee 1984, 1985; Project 101/Educational Enhancement Advisor 1983-1987.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, Visiting Assistant professor, Spring short term, 1990. Taught workshops in ceramics for majors and non-majors, and advised MFA students.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY, Visiting Assistant Professor, Summer 1987. Taught ceramics and advised MFA students in sculpture, ceramics, painting and printmaking.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY, Associate Instructor, Fundamentals of Sculpture, 1980-82. Taught 3-D design and introductory sculpture.

JAY COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL, Portland, In., Artist-in-Residence, summers 1981 and 1982.
Responsibilities: Development, organization and implementation of five workshops for children.

BOHR POTTERY, Boston, Ma., Production Potter and Pottery Teacher, 1974-76. Responsibilities:Production pottery work, kiln firing and maintenance, teaching beginning and advanced handbuilding and wheel technique.

Gallery Experience

Bowman, Penelec & Megahan Galleries, Acting Gallery Director, January - June, 1989. Responsibilities: Installation of exhibits. Publicity. Management of docents. Budget preparation. Curated 1989-90 Gallery schedule. Grant writing (two grants awarded from Pa. Council on the Arts; One for an exhibit of photographs by Richard Samuel Roberts, the second for an exhibition of computer art entitled "Electronic Expressions"). Guest or co-curator for one show annually since 1993.

Meadville Council on the Arts, Gallery Director (Volunteer), 1986 - 2001. Responsibilities: Curate and organize yearly exhibition schedule of regional artists typically involving nine exhibits, including a juried competitive exhibition for artists within a 250 mile radius of Meadville.
 
 

Curatorial Experience: (Allegheny College Art Galleries)

"With and Against Materials: Art that Emphasizes or Contradicts Materials", co-curated with Robert Raczka, Gallery
Director, Fall 2001

"Recycled, Reclaimed, Reconstituted: Art the Re-forms Previously Used Materials", co-curated with Robert Raczka, Gallery
Director, Spring 2000

"Nature as Source: Contemporary Work that Transforms Nature", Fall, 1999. Shown concurrently, works by Art &
Environment students, Megahan Gallery.

"Acid Mine Drainage & Art: An Environmental Land Reclamation Project", coordinated with AMD & Art, Fall 1998.

"Figurative Expressions: New Ceramic Sculpture", Fall 1996. Included: Joe Mannino, Nancy Blum, and
Indira Freitas Johnson

"Objects Transcended", Winter, 1996. Included: Rosaire Appel, Eric Nordgulen, Maria Porges, and Tre
Arenz.

"Issues of Abstraction", Winter, 1995. Included: Jeanne Jaffe, Dennis Tobin, Nancy Bowen, and Jim
Morris.

"Art & The Environment", Fall, 1993. Included: Helen & Newton Harrison, Agnes Denes, Drea
Howenstein, Dominique Mazeaud, Karen McCoy, Susan Wink, and Bill Witherspoon.

"Narration & Metaphor in Contemporary Ceramics", Winter, 1992. Included: Chuck Aydlett, Syd
Carpenter, Matt Courtney, Jack Earl, Tony Hepburn, Joellyn Rock, and Jack Thompson. Along
with this exhibit I organized a panel discussion between artists from this show and artists from a
concurrent regional ceramics show at the Erie Art Museum.

"Site, Space, Object: Sculpture Invitational", Fall, 1991. Included: Ed Andrews, O. Evan Lewis, Stephen
Montague, Brynsley Tyrrell and Alexis Wreden. Co-curated with Robert Raczka.

"Electronic Expressions", Winter, 1990. Computer assisted or generated works. Co-curated with George
Roland.