Sharon Smith

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Sharon Smith - Artist, Hong Kong

Sharon Smith - in her studio!!

Biography

After completing her undergraduate studies in Great Britain Sharon Smith moved to the United States of America and was awarded graduate degrees from Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh and the University of Maryland. She has taught art studio and methods courses at the tertiary level in Great Britain, USA and Hong Kong. Her work, which explores the mystical Asian landscapes, has been selected for exhibitions in Great Britain, USA and Hong Kong. Smith held her Hong Kong debut exhibition, ‘Inner and Outer Landscapes’, in 1999 and, in this, she addressed the question; ‘is the computer an artists tool?’ Smith was the architect and curator of the international group exhibition ‘Under the Bed’ held in Hong Kong in 2000. In this she challenged invited artists to present archival works and so reveal their significance. Sharon Smith is the innovator and curator of Lost and Found.


Objective

To work as an independent visual artist open to all in coming stimuli and to be able to respond in a visual format that may offer answers or pose questions as a form of education to others.


Education

  • 1994    Advanced Graduate Specialist Degree, Art Education University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
  • 1992    Masters Degree, Humanities Education, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
  • 1987    Masters Degree, Art Education, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
  • 1984    Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Art & Design), Brighton Polytechnic, Brighton, England.
  • 1980    Bachelor of Arts Degree, Art & Design with Honours, Portsmouth Polytechnic, Portsmouth, England.

Exhibitions

CURATORSHIP AND EXHIBITIONS IN PREPARATION

  • Curator and Participating Artist, ‘Lost and Found’, International Group of Artists, The Fringe, Hong Kong, 2002.

  • Curator and Participating Artist, ‘Editions’, International Group of Artists, Hong Kong, 2002.     

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • ‘Inner and Outer Landscapes’, Agfa Gallery, The Fringe, Hong Kong, 1999.

  • ‘Unity of Form, Diversity of Application’ University of Maryland, MD, USA, 1994.

  • ‘Ocean Wave’ University of Maryland, MD, USA, 1994.

  • ‘Organic Forms’ University of Maryland MD, USA, 1993.

  • ‘Thesis Show’ Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA, 1987.

  • ‘Thesis Show Portsmouth Polytechnic’ Portsmouth UK, 1980.

 CURATOR AND PARTICIPATING ARTIST

  • ‘A-rtists 3’, Bookworm, Hong Kong, 2001.

  • ‘Forward + Rewind = Art’, Meli Melo, Hong Kong, 2001.

  • ‘Reflections’, City Hall, Hong Kong, 2000.

  • ‘Under the Bed’, International Group of Artists, Montblanc Gallery, The Fringe, Hong Kong, 2000.

  • ‘Ours Are Not Still Lives’, Visual Art Centre, Hong Kong, 1999.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • Selected: ‘Printmakers Council’ Buckenham Galleries, UK, 2002.

  • Selected: ‘Salon d’hiver’ Galerie Martini, Hong Kong, 2001.

  • Participating Artist, 7th Annual Artist Abroad Exhibition, City Hall, Hong Kong, 2001.

  • ‘The Journey of the Shoe’, Earth Art Project, Hong Kong, 2001.

  • ‘Forward + Rewind = Art’, Meli Melo, Hong Kong, 2001.

  • Selected: ‘Blue is Blue’, City Festival, City Hall, Hong Kong, 2001.

  • Selected: ‘Salon d’hiver’, Galerie Martini, Hong Kong, 2000.

  • ‘Reflections’, City Hall, Hong Kong, 2000.

  • Selected: ‘Making Boob’s’, Hong Kong Cancer Awarness Fund, Hong Kong Arts Center, 2000.

  • ‘Under the Bed’, International Group of Artists, Hong Kong, 2000.

  • ‘The Artists Response – Cultural Landscapes’, Kwang Hwa Cultural Center, Hong Kong, 1999.

  •  ‘Ours Are Not Still Lives’, Visual Art Center, Hong Kong, 1999.

  • Selected: ‘Electronic Gallery’ NAEA National Convention Washington DC, USA, 1999.

  • Selected: ‘Printmakers Council’ Buckenham Galleries, UK, 1999.

  • Selected: ‘Printmakers Council’ Falmouth Art Centre, UK, 1999.

  • ‘Art for Arts Sake’ Visual Art Center, Hong Kong, 1998.

  • Selected: ‘19 Contemporary Women Artists’ NAEA National Convention Chicago, USA, 1998.

  • Selected: ‘Where Creativity Meets a Celebration in Art’ Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, 1997.

  • Selected: ‘One Country; 2 Systems’ Le Mistral Galleria, Hong Kong, 1997.

  • Selected ‘Salon d’hiver’ Galerie Martini, Hong Kong, 1997.                                                                

  • Selected: ‘Presidential Inaugural Ball’ Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA, 1993.

  • ‘Students of Pittsburgh’ Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 1992.

  • Selected: ‘Pittsburgh Print Group’ Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 1992.

  • ‘Graduating Students’ UP Gallery Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 1992.

  • ‘Landforms’ Butler Community College PA, USA, 1992.

  • ‘Pittsburgh Centre for the Arts Faculty’ PA, USA, 1991.

  • Selected: ‘Pittsburgh Society of Artists’ PA, USA, 1990.    


Installations

  • ‘Changing Forms’, Living, Hong Kong 2002.


Artists Handmade Books 

  • ‘Lost and Found’, Artists Books & Multiples, The School of Arts, Brisbane, Australia, 2001.


Commissions

  • Commission to exhibit work in a newly established business premises, Hong Kong 2000.

  • Commission to exhibit work in a newly established business premises, Hong Kong 1999.


Grants

  • “Exhibition Grant” awarded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Hong Kong, 2001.

  • "Publication and Exhibition Grant" awarded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Hong Kong, 1999.

  • "Exhibition Grant" awarded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Hong Kong, 1999.


Research and Publications in Preparation

  • Lost and Found, Book to be published, Hong Kong 2002, will be written to complement the international exhibition of the same name.


Research and Publications

  • ‘Under the Bed’, Book published, Hong Kong, 2000.Written to compliment the international exhibition of the same name.

  • ‘Past and Present Printmaking’, Research article for "The Artist " Vol. 114 no. 10 Issue 823, October 1999. Formal paper examining the relationship between the traditional and digital printmaking process.

  • ‘Mandelbrot Set Project’, Collaborative project Dr McWhinnie, University of Maryland, MD, USA, 1999. Internet exchanges and presentation of a paper at the 1999 NAEA EMIG conference USA.

  • ‘Computers and Art’, Collaborative project Dr. McWhinnie, University of Maryland, MD, USA, 1998. Internet exchanges and publication of visual and verbal findings of artistic interaction with computers.

  • ‘Asia’s Influence Upon My Art’, Art Department, University of Maryland, MD, USA, 1998. Invited speaker to share with faculty and students the results of my work in Asia.

  • ‘Art for Teachers’, Collaborative project Dr. Hendricks, University of Maryland, MD, USA, 1997. Internet exchanges and course implementation of a program introducing pre-certified art teachers to the computer in the art room.

  • "Framing the Art Curriculum’, The Journal of the National Art Education Association, USA, 1997. Contribution to an internet forum and publication of approaches toward the computer in the art room.


Professional Appointments

  • Committee Member, Hong Kong Open Printshop, Hong Kong, 2001 – present.

  • Instructor, Hong Kong Open Printshop, Hong Kong, 2000 – present.

  • Freelance Art Curator, Hong Kong, 1999-present.

  • Visiting Lecturer, Design Department, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 1995–1999.

  • Assessor, Advanced Level – Art, Hong Kong Examinations Authority, Hong Kong, 1998.

  • Instructor, Hong Kong Art Museum and Arts Centre, Hong Kong, 1996 and 1997.

  • Visiting Lecturer, Design Department, Vocational Training College, Tsi Yi, Hong Kong, 1995–1997.

  • Graduate Assistant, Art Department, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA, 1993–1994.

  • Art Gallery Assistant, In Time Gallery, Washington, DC, USA, 1992-1994.

  • Visiting Lecturer, Art Department, Butler County Community College, PA, USA, 1991–1992.

  • Visiting Lecturer, Art Department, Allegheny Community College, PA, USA, 1991–1992.

  • Art Gallery Assistant, Frame Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, 1989-1990.

  • Graduate Assistant, Art Department, Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA, 1985–1988.

  • Art Teacher, Porta Via Middle & Secondary School, Bournemouth, England, 1980–1982.


Lost and  Found  -  Sharon Smith

I see this as a journey, a time of transition. I see myself as a traveller moving from lost to found.

I cannot see myself going instantly from one to the other but rather moving along a path full of unexpected sights and emotions as I transit between the two.

As an artist lost and found often arrives in my life at times when I decide to make changes in my image exploration and interpretation. For as soon as I decide to make these changes I become lost. I make a conscious decision to change to move on but then an unknowing enters my thoughts as I ask myself 'how', 'where', 'why' and 'is this a good choice ?'. It is as if I am a traveller who has come upon a junction where many paths meet, which one should I choose or should I explore several?

At my work place my familiar brushes sit dormant, my usual array of papers lies in waiting and ready to make dancing marks are my paints and inks. But the questions still remain "how do I find a new way to see my landscapes to express my own identity through my work?" and "how do I find a new way to use my tools?"

I have not only lost my way but I am also experiencing a loss for me this is an inner emotional state and a void hangs heavy in my soul.

When I am in this state I go to an open place. I become lost in this place. It is as if am in natures cathedral and I have found a place for my spirit to be replenished. I call this place my secret space. Of course it is not mine I am only allowed to go there when the waves give me room to walk, the winds give me time to breath and the sun gives me light keeping her heat for another day.

After the extremes of loss there is a move to a more accepting phase, I come to terms with the loss - there is a darkness but it is a known darkness and because it is known it is less terrifying and so peace comes to me as I accept the darkness.

After enough time has passed for acceptance I am able to move to a more energetic phase of seeking and searching for looking and for seeing. To acknowledge that which has been lost but to reach beyond it, to channel all of my strength in the quest of finding the new.

My secret space overflows with more colours than would fill a painter's palette and shapes that inspire with their ever-changing forms. It is here I find my art supplies brought to me by waves driven by the winds, coloured by the sun and washed clean by the rains. Glorious objects that fit comfortably into my hands, charge my eyes with radiant colours and whose forms jump into my imagination, dance there, leading my thoughts to a new place in my dreams .

Finding for me is a state of seeking and searching; I remain the hunter and gatherer. Finding is the act of gathering information; it is only when finding is complete that there is time to reflect back over the information. After careful consideration the essence of the work appears and it is only when the essence appears that I can reach the state of 'found'. Found for me is absolute knowing, it is a time of being sure, I feel confident and transformed to a higher state in which I would have more knowledge, be more aware, see further and have grown to be a new whole. To have the ability to take my artwork to another level.

Sharon Smith
[email protected]

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