Barbara Nesin
Artist's Statement

My drawings and paintings investigate many aspects of multiculturalism in an increasingly global context. The themes are based on my experience as a multi-ethnic citizen of the world who is concerned about where we are heading. It is an experience that is at once both fragmented and holistic, with many diverse parts that add up to meanings greater than the sum of the parts.

As a visual metaphor for this cultural mestissage (hybrid), I use a mixture of media, including oils, acrylics and pastels on paper, board, or canvas, often collaged with photographic images and other materials. The photographs provide a glimpse of what might be regarded as a tangible reality, often set in contrast to the more surreal appearances of the drawn and painted imagery. I am not so interested in realism as I am in conveying another reality. I invite the viewer to question the interrelationships of the various parts, perhaps to gain some new insight. The figurative forms thus provide a means to develop a narrative about contemporary cultural experience.

The personal iconography that has evolved includes both direct and indirect references to the polyglot societies of Haiti and Cuba, regions of the United States, and our significant Native and African heritage. Colonialism, post-colonialism, and neo- colonialism all are woven into the narrative, as is a world view of striving to repair the world for all people. The resulting symbolism is a fusion of the rich diversity that led Time magazine to dub the United States "The World's First Multicultural Society". In truth, such fusions have occurred all over the world for thousands of years, such that the notion of any single dominant "pure" culture is really a myth. (Myths, whether constructive or not, are kept alive by those who perceive a need for them.)

More recently, through travel, interfaith activities, and concern for our troubled cross-cultural relationships, I have begun incorporating visual elements and ideas about intersections between Muslim, Christian, and Judaic histories and traditions. I have also begun to extend my studio practice into the community by guiding students to develop and work on collaborative projects with the intention of promoting positive social change. So far, these projects have included a mural project at an after-school center designed to empower youth as contributing members of the community, and an outdoor installation project intended as a space for Americans to reflect on the human cost of war to families.

I often work on a main idea which I explore through a series of works. The twelve images depicted here are a small sampling from several of the series. Additional related images are available in most of these. Please inquire through the ArtistsRegister.com

Thank you for visiting my portfolio site!
ONE-PERSON and FEATURED EXHIBITIONS

2009 Dillard University, New Orleans, LA (Jan-Feb)
2007 Allegories: The Lwa as Mediators, Wilmer Jennings Gallery at Kenkeleba, New York, NY
2007 Return, National Museum, Accra, Ghana
2005 Art in a Time of War, Mason Murer Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
2005 Heritage, Pearl Conard Gallery, 2-person, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH
2004 Dreams of Subversion, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, Indiana
2004 Haitian Women, Hammonds House Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2003 Dreams of Subversion, 2-person, Mariani Gallery, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley
2001 Green Gallery, 2-person, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2001 Haitian Art: Worlds Together, Oceans Apart, Expressions Gallery, Fort Collins, CO
2000 Travel Sketches, Deja vu, Fort Collins, CO
1999 Creation Myths, Community College of Rhode Island, Lincoln, RI
1999 It's Not Just Black or White, 2-person, Old Town Art Gallery, Fort Collins, CO
1997 UMC Fine Arts Gallery, 2-person, University of Colorado at Boulder
1997 Avatars and Icons, 3-person, Galeria Coqui, Seattle, WA
1996 Ayiti Cherie, Le Jardin Culturel, Cambria Heights, NY
1996 Metissages, Turman Art Gallery, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
1994 Other Americans, Bare-Montgomery Gallery, ISU, Terre Haute, IN
1994 Urban Primitive, Arts Iliana, Terre Haute, IN

JURIED & INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS

2009 Instituto de Artes Plasticas de San Alejandro & Center for Experimental Visual Art, (collateral exhibition of the 19th Havana Bienal), Cuba
2008 Through Our Eyes, Gallery One Eleven, Eatonton, GA
2007 A Celebration of Caribbean Art, Organization of American States, Washington, D.C.
International Caribbean Art Fair, The Puck Building, New York, NY
African American Atelier, Greensboro Cultural Center, Greensboro, NC
Annual Masterful Mix Auction, Hammonds House Museum, Atlanta, GA
2006 Civil Rights: A 50-Year Reflection, The National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and
African American Culture at Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
Haitian Art, NAIO Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Breaking From Tradition: Contemporary Haitian Art, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Experiences and Influences: Works by Women Artists, The Wah Gallery, Gaithersburg, VA
Annual Masterful Mix Auction, Hammonds House Museum, Atlanta, GA
2004 Prevalence of Ritual, The African American Museum of Nassau County, Hempstead, NY
Visions from Within: New Images from The Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Apex Museum, Atlanta, GA
2003 -----James E. Kemp Gallery, Downtown Convention Center, Dallas, TX
-----The National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African American Culture,
Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
Members' Exhibition, National Association of Women Artists, Inc., NY, NY
After a Decade, Freedman Gallery, Albright College, Reading, PA

2002 -----Curfman Gallery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
-----University of Tennessee,
-----Brescia College, Kentucky.
2001 Alumni Exhibition, University Art Gallery, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
Heart and Sole, Fort Collins Museum, Fort Collins, CO
Figure and Form, Old Firehouse Art Center, Longmont, CO
ANA '29 (Juried by Lucy Lippard), Holter Museum of Art, Helena, Montana
The Dream Mill, Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood, CO
After a Decade, Weber State University, Ogden, UT
-----Casper College, Casper, WY
-----Murray State College, Oklahoma
-----University of Evansville, IN
2000 WomanSpirit, (4-person traveling exhibit, conceived & co-curated):
-----Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID
-----Montana State University, Bozeman
-----Jefferson County Community College, Watertown, NY
1999 Individual Concerns '99, The Gallery for Social & Political Art, Boston, MA
Erase Hate/Create a New World, The Puffin Foundation, Teaneck, NJ
WomanSpirit, Peninsula College, Port Angeles, WA
1998 3rd National Exhibition (juried by Jacquelyn Serwer, Chief Curator, National Museum
of American Art, Smithsonian Institute), Ceres Gallery, New York, NY
1997 Myth America, Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, Grand Rapids, MI
Visions of World Peace, Galerie Lumiere, Savannah, GA
Passover and Passed Over, Ashwell Gallery, Beverly, MA
2nd National Juried Exhibition, St. John's University, Jamaica, NY
1996 WomanSpirit, Brubeck Art Center, Carmel, IL
-----St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana
Texas National '96 (juried by Faith Ringgold),SFA Gallery, Nacogdoches, TX
Art of Diversity II (juried by Susanna Coffey), An Art Place, Chicago, IL
Art and Social Justice, Colfax Cultural Center, South Bend, IN
Alliance Rental Gallery, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN
1995 Women Waxing, Women Weaving, University Fine Art Gallery,
Indiana University, Bloomington
Alliance Rental Gallery, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN
Turman Art Gallery, Indiana State University, Terre Haute
The Edge II, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
1994 Women Waxing, Women Weaving (Peoples Choice Award),
University Fine Art Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Two Tons, 1 Ounce, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
Turman Art Gallery, Indiana State University, Terre Haute
Rockome Gardens Annual Art Exhibition, Arcola, IL

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2007 Art of the Caribbean, Wah Gallery, Gaithersburg, MD
2006 Recognize: The Spelman College Department of Art Faculty Exhibition, Atlanta, GA
Expressions and Explorations from the National Alliance of Artists, The Apex Museum,
Atlanta, GA
International Art Show, Crown Plaza Hotel, Atlanta, GA
2005 Art at Cafe Medusa, Seven Stages Theatre, Atlanta, GA
2003 NAWA 114th Annual Exhibition, New York, NY (juried membership)
Welcome to the Arts Exchange, Atlanta, GA (juried membership)
2001 Annual Faculty Exhibition, Expressions Gallery, Fort Collins, CO
Women Artists, Expressions Gallery, Fort Collins, CO
2000 Annual Faculty Exhibition, Expressions Gallery, Fort Collins, CO
1999 Group Exhibition, Folegandros de Graeske, Chora, Folegandros, Greece
Annual Faculty Exhibition, Bas Bleu Gallery, Fort Collins, CO
1998 Multicultural Conference, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO
Annual Faculty Exhibition, Old Firehouse Art Center, Longmont, CO
1997 First Annual Faculty Exhibition, One West Art Center, Fort Collins, CO
1995 Take Back the Night, Coffee Grounds, Terre Haute, IN
1994 Photos Plus, Bare-Montgomery Gallery, ISU, Terre Haute, IN

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Benson, LeGrace, "Arts of Haiti Research Project," XX International Congress of the Latin American Studies Association, Guadalajara, Mexico, April, 1997 (Ithaca, NY: Arts of Haiti Research Project).
_____. "Ketuba for Agwe: A Selection of Paintings by Barbara Nesin", paper presented at Kosanba Colloquium V, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, June, 2003.

Cullum, Jerry, "Haitian artists go deep beneath surface of the land of voodoo," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 11, 2004.

Edge II, exhibition brochure, Mississippi State University, 1995.

Foster, Jim, "Seminar shows how to teach diversity using art," Fort Collins Coloradoan, February 20, 1998: A2.
______. "Exhibit Reflects Diversity," Fort Collins Coloradoan, March 1999.

"Gallery Offers Exhibit of Art Depicting Haiti," Tribune Star, April 20,1995

Green, Megan, "Art exhibit offers variety," The Online Mirror, University of Northern Colorado: http://mirror.unco.edu/article.php?sid=1097, January 29, 2003.

Heath, Jennifer, "Multicultural Images," Boulder Planet, Boulder, CO: March 19, 1997: 4C

"Identity Issues: Artists explore cultural heritage through works," Daily Times Call, Special Section.
Longmont, CO: March 27, 1997: 6.

Iryshe, Brandi, "Southern Belles: Pree, Turner, Nesin," Valentine New York The Magazine, Brooklyn, NY: June, 2005: 31-37.

Jegede, dele, Encyclopedia of African-American Artists: Artists of the American Mosaic, FORTHCOMING IN 2008.

Mathews, David, "Afterword," Higher Education Exchange. Dayton, OH: The Kettering Foundation, 2007: 69-69.

McAuliffe, Shena, "Culture Collage: Collector and Artist Join in Pasting Worlds Together," Rocky Mountain Bullhorn, Fort Collins, CO: April, 2001: 16.

Minsky, Tequila. "Narrative Collages by Multicultural Artist on Exhibit," Caribbean Life, Brooklyn, NY: December 13, 2007: 49. (Also see: http://heritagekonpas.com/hkhome.htm)

"Multiculturalism Emphasized in "Ayiti Cherie" Exhibit," Caribbean Life, Brooklyn, NY: August 27, 1996.

"A Multimedia Look at a Multicultural World," Newsday, Queens, NY: Sept. 1,1996.

Nesin, Barbara, "World Art Expands CAA Membership Disciplines," CAA News (New York, NY: College Art Association): vol. 32, no. 4 (July 2007), 31-41.
______. "An Artist's Approach to Civic Engagement," Higher Education Exchange (Dayton, OH: The Kettering Foundation): Spring, 2007.
______. "The Cultural Content of Haitian Art," Anales del Caribe, 14-15. (Havana: Centro de Estudios del Caribe/Casa de las Americas, 1995): 259-266.
______. "The Influence of Native American and African Encounters on Haitian Art," Journal of Haitian Studies, The Center for Black Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, Fall, 2005.
______. "Haiti," in Barbara Vinick, ed. Esther's Legacy: Celebrating Purim Around the World. Haddassah International Research Institute on Jewish Women at Brandeis University, 2002: 45.
______. "Coming of Age," in Barbara Vinick, ed. Coming of Age Around the World, Waltham, MA: The Haddasah-Brandeis Institute, 2003.
______. Study Wizard, to accompany ArtForms, 6th edition. Frank, Patrick, Duane Preble and Sarah Preble. NY: Addison Wesley Longman, 1998.
______. "Haiti does not lack for resources," (editorial), Fort Collins Coloradoan, Jan. 14, 1997.
______. "Teaching Diversity Through Art," Collage. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado Art Education Association, Spring 1998.
______. All My People. Book manuscript in progress, about my work.

Reid, Graeme, "Exhibit Draws on Turbulent Heritage," Tribune Star, Feb. 5, 1995: B3.

Texas National '96, exhibition catalogue, SFA Gallery, Nacogdoches, TX, 1996.

Wilson, Brucene, "Bringing Haiti Home," Fort Collins Coloradoan, Fort Collins, CO: December 30, 1996: C1.

Who's Who in America, 2004--; Who's Who in American Women, 1996--; Who's Who in American Education, 1995--; Who's Who in Finance and Industry, 1986; New Providence, NJ: Marquis Publications.

"Women Artists featured in SMWC Exhibit," Tribune Star, Terre Haute, IN: Sept. 8, 1996: B8.

"WomanSpirit," in Exhibit Touring Services exhibition catalogue. Pullman , WA: Eastern Washington University, 1998.

EDUCATION

1996 Master of Fine Arts in Drawing, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
1984 Master of Business Administration, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
1975 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
1999-2001 Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, program of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Certificate In Jewish Studies

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Beginning August, 2009: Department Head of Foundations, The Art Institute of Atlanta, Georgia

2002-2009 Associate Professor, Department of Art, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
(Chair, 2002-05)
1996-02 Associate Professor and Visual Arts Program Director, Front Range Community College,
Fort Collins, CO
1995 Intern, Cross Cultural Literacy Curriculum, Department of Education and Public
Programs, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY
1991-93 Drawing Instructor, Skagit Valley College, Oak Harbor, WA
1988-90 Art History Instructor, New Hampshire College, Brunswick NAS, ME
1988-91 Art Specialist (Pre K-8), Maine Public School System

MEMBERSHIPS

African-Americans for the Arts (A-AFTA); Alternate R.O.O.T.S.; Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition; College Art Association (CAA); Foundations in Art: Theory and Education (FATE); Haitian Art Education and Appraisal Society (HAEAS); Fulton County Public Art Program Artists Registry; Haitian Studies Association (H.S.A.); National Alliance of Artists from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (NAAHBCU); National Association of Women Artists, Inc. (NAWA).

Services Offered
Teaching: adults
Media/Subjects: drawing, painting, art as social action, portfolio criticism
Certification: BFA/MFA/MBA; Advanced Placement Studio Art reader; NCORE Institute on Curriculum Transformation
Years of Experience: 21
Illustration
Other:
Lectures about my work, Haitian art, teaching diversity through art, interfaith dialogues through art, art as social action