Susan Clinard Clinard Sculpture Studio 14 Gilbert St., Unit M207 West Haven, CT 06516-1639 USA Phone: + 1 (203) 435-7304 Email: susan@clinard.org

Susan Clinard began her sculptural studies as an apprentice to Tony Frudakis at the age of nineteen. She continued her fine arts education at the University of Michigan where she also pursued her interest in Cultural Anthropology. Her strong interest in the social sciences brought her to Chicago in 1994 where she began her career as a social worker with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. She worked exclusively in child and family welfare. During these emotionally trying years, Susan kept sculpting intensively. She collaborated with various fine art studios throughout Chicago, worked on several monuments and established strong working relationships with fine art foundries. It is at this time that Susan first understood that sculpture was the unquestionable voice, which would allow her to be true to herself while also giving back to her community.

Clinard's sculptures express her strong affinity with Nature and her genuine love for humanity. Whether she is sculpting from models or using memories from her diverse background, she uses Nature's raw forms to narrate the struggles and joys of her subjects. Susan often finds beauty and truth in life's most challenging times. Her passionate observation of the human body and of its distortion by life has given her a profound knowledge of human nature. Together with her extensive sculpting skills, it enables her to capture the individuality of her subjects and to create sculptures that express strong and vital emotions.

In addition to her figurative work for which she has been awarded scores of commissions, Susan Clinard began experimenting with waxes, found wood, and textile ten years ago. Inspired from her puppetry theatre work, she incorporated mixed media to her ceramic and wood sculptures. The strongest work evolving from this discovery period are her found wood and ceramic sculptures. Susan finds weathered wood with organic flowing curves and sees the human form within it. The ceramic heads and hands are added to the wood, illustrating the metamorphosis from one organic life form to another. She also uses clear and brown waxes to soften contours and add fluidity to the form. The wax's transparency glows and mutes the sculptural surface, giving the figures an almost dream-like quality.

She taught stone carving at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and figurative sculpture at the Palette and Chisel Academy and at Gallery 37 (an award winning arts education organization). She has conducted demonstrations and workshops at the Musée Pierre Gianadda in Switzerland, The Art Institute of Chicago Museum, Lizzadro Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

After twelve years in Chicago she has relocated her studio to West Haven, Connecticut.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Whether I am sculpting from life in clay, bending wire, or carving wood, I strive to reveal nature’s truths – the duality of chaos against perfect symmetry. My inspiration is often in life cycles. The ongoing tearing down and rebuilding as seen in both the physical world as well as in the human psyche. Over the past decade, I have moved from sculpting figures for the figure’s sake to experimentation with a wider range of materials; primarily found natural objects. This integration has simplified my forms and figurative elements. The resulting sculpture is open to the intuitive and interpretive response of an audience, rather than the single narrative intention of the artist. The work draws on and layers nature’s puzzles with personal and political themes of inherently deep emotion.

CAREER
Present		Professional Sculptor. Clinard Sculpture Studio, West Haven, CT. Monumental, figurative, and portrait commissions. Stone, Clay, Bronze, and Wood Creative Arts Workshop. Sculptor Instructor
2002-2006		Professional Sculptor. Clinard Sculpture Studio, Chicago, IL. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Stone Carving Instructor. Palette and Chisel Academy for the Fine Arts. Sculpture instructor. Gallery 37. Art instructor.
2001-1998		Palette and Chisel Academy for the Fine Arts. Sculpture instructor Gallery 37. Award winning arts education institution. Stone carving instructor Large-scale puppet instructor City of Chicago's Halloween Parade Monument modeling and casting at Rotblatt-Amrany Studio. Redmoon Theater. Designer for All Hallow's Eve Ritual Celebration Olé Olé Puppet and Dance Theater. Co-founder / Set Designer
1997-1994		Ulich Children's Home. D.C.F.S., Chicago IL. Figurative Sculpture. Clinard Sculpture Studio, Chicago IL.
1993-1991		Sage Art Center. Two-year apprenticeship with Tony Frudakis.
EDUCATION
1995-1993		The University of Michigan. B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and Sculpture
1993-1991		Hillsdale College. Fine Arts Concentration
SELECTED DEMONSTRATIONS / WORKSHOPS
2000-2008		Foundation Pierre Gianadda, Martigny, Switzerland Trenton Artist Workshop Assoc., April, 25-27, 2008 4 Arts Galley Sculpture Workshop, Chicago June 26-29, 2008 Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, New Haven, CT 4/9/08 WGN Morning News. Channel 9. 4/28 and 5/15/2003 The Art Institute of Chicago Museum (x 4) Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Blue Note Ball (x 2) Barrington Junior Women's League National Center on Poverty Law Health and Medicine Policy Research Group Lizzaro Museum, Elmhurst, IL City of Chicago Haloween Parade Redmoon Theater, All Hallows Eve Spectacle 4Arts Inc. Gallery, Chicago, IL
SELECTED PUBLIC COMMISSIONS & PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
		Carnegie Foundation, New York, NY Randall Publishing, Tuscaloosa, AL The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, CA City of Chicago, Gompers Park Statue, Chicago, IL LaSalle Bank Mural Building. Gallery 37, Chicago, IL The Rehabilitation Institute, Chicago,IL James Kasler Statue, Momence, IL Boys Club of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO University of Illinois, Champaign, IL Maravilla Hall, Lincolnshire, IL Ele’s Place, Lansing, MI Greache Memorial. Moscow, Russia Edward Hospital Angel Memorial, Naperville, IL Hendrix Memorial, St. Simons Island, GA Vjera & Ivan Decker, Zagreb, Croatia Dr. Christian Mottet, Lausane, Switzerland Dr. Adam Jones, British Columbia, Canada Mr. & Mrs. Pierre Durchon, Paris, France Richard Zandy, New York, NY Dean Harold Koh, New Haven, CT Dr. Jilda Williams, Chicago, IL Doris Haddock “Granny D”, Dublin, NH Claudine Pignolet, Martigny, Switzerland Joanne Sweeney, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Dr. E.Kostas-Polston, West Plains, MO Christophe and Mannuel Emonet, Geneva, Switzerland Mari Cruz Gómez Reñasco, Canary Islands, Spain Robert Alsaker, Winnetka IL Patrick McCoy, Chicago, IL Francois and Laetitia Gevers, Alsemberg, Belgium Dr, Mark Connolly, River Forest, IL Dr. Harry and Karly Spell, Oregon, IL Paula Hiuser, Gilford, NH Ms. Quimsom, Los Angeles, CA Bruce Navak, FL Judee Gallagher, Chicago, IL Jeffrey Breslow, Chciago, IL Rick & Bic Callahan, Evanston, IL Edwin Apricio, Washington DC James Tracy,Wabin, Ma Ronald Bacaras, Chicago, IL
EXHIBITIONS
2009		Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT
2008		Palais de l’Europe, Menton, France Riverstreet Gallery, New Haven, CT Richard Hughes Gallery, San Antonio, TX New Haven Lawn Club Gallery, New Haven, CT
2007		Marsh Botanical Gardens at Yale University, New Haven, CT Michael Zschoche Gallery, Newport Beach, CA Johnsonese Gallery, Chicago, IL The Gallery at Hawthorne, Overland Park, KS Art on the Avenue, Greenwich, CT Small Space Gallery, New Haven, CT
2006		Madron Gallery of American Art, Chicago, IL Best of Show Award 4 Arts Gallery, Chicago, IL Parts Unknown Gallery, Chicago, IL Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago, IL Ruth Page Dance Theater, Chicago, IL Clinard Sculpture Studio, Chicago, IL Thomas Masters Gallery, Chicago, IL Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, IL
2005		BigTown Gallery, Burlington, VT Richard Mark Gallery, Lakeforest, IL ALmquist Gallery, Winnettka, IL Thomas Masters Gallery, Chicago, IL 4 Arts Gallery, Chicago, IL Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Chcaigo, IL
2004		Johnsonese Gallery, Chicago IL Phoenix Gallery, MI Acme Artist's Coop Gallery, Chicago, IL 4Arts Inc. Gallery, Chicago, IL The Cultural Center at PVB, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Centerspace Gallery, Chicago, IL Palette and Chisel Gallery, Chicago, IL Fairfax Gallery, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Springman Gallery, Chicago, IL
2003		Columbia College Dance Center, Chicago IL One Woman Show, Clinard Sculpture Studio, Chicago IL, 05/2003 Political Library, Concord, NH Hilsdale College, Hilsdale MI
2002		Art Institute of Chicago. Richard and Ellen Sander Gallery. Chicago, IL Vittum Theatre Gallery, Chicago, IL Adagio Fine Art Gallery, Oregon, IL Gallery 37 Cultural Center for the Arts, Chicago IL Dr. Scholls Gallery, Chicago,IL. Best of Show Award Collage Gallery, Chicago IL Chicago House Gallery, Chicago IL
2001		Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst IL Harold Washington Public Library, Chicago IL St. Louis Artist Guild, St. Louis, MO Palette and Chisel Academy, Chicago IL. Best of Show Award Dr. Scholls Gallery, Chicago IL 1st Place award Sanctuary Gallery, Chicago IL Bic's Gallery, Chicago IL Gallery 37, Chicago IL
2000		New Hampton Public Library, New Hampton, MS. National Monument Finalist Palette and Chisel Academy, Chicago IL Maravilla Hall, Lincolnshire IL Sanctuary Gallery, Chicago IL Settlement House Gallery, Chicago IL
1999		Monolith Fine Arts, Chicago IL Pilsen East Art Expo, Chicago IL Rotblatt-Amrany Gallery, Highland Park IL Ziggurat Studio, Chicago IL Bic's Gallery, Chicago IL Palette and Chisel Academy, Chicago IL. Harriet Brittery Show 1st Pl. Award

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© Susan Clinard 2001-2009. All rights reserved.