THOMAS SCOON    STATEMENT + CV

 

Download PDF catalog here

Resides:  New Hampshire

 

My sculpture focuses exclusively on the human figure.  While abstracting the form, I am able to emphasize the essence of gesture, gender of other human characteristics.  The pieces vary from small scale figures to my recent life-size sculptures.  By pairing or grouping the figures, I attempt to explore familial and generational relationships, which I hope speak to the viewer as both personal narrative and universal construct.

I begin by choosing stones, often found in natural habitats.  I frequently visit the same sites over a period of years, as the pieces evolve.  I also visit several quarries where I am able to sift through the rubble for stones.  I try to gather both the head and the torso stone from the same site for consistency of color and texture.

With the use of wax molds, I am able to cast glass to fit the stones.  The glass shapes the rest of the figure, in a very organic sense, much like ice.  The translucent quality of the glass is activated best by natural sunlight and in this way the figures are given their spirit or soul.  I believe the pieces are contemporary and timeless in the same moment. -THOMAS SCOON

 

Professional Experience

1991-2008      Independent Studio Artist

2003             University of New Hampshire, Adjunct Instructor, Sculpture Dept.

1989-90         Massachusetts College of Art, Adjunct Instructor, Sculptural Glass Casting

1984             Pilchuck Glass School, Teaching Assistant, Glass Blowing

 

Education

Masters of Fine Art - Massachusetts College of Art, 1990

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Illinois State University, 1988

 

Grants + Awards

Finalist for New Hampshire Legacy Fund for Old Man on the Mountian Commission

New Hampshire Artist Fellowship/ NEA Sculpture: 1999

Whirlpool Figurative Sculpture Award: 1988

 

Solo Exhibitions

2006             “Glass to Stone, Bronze to Bees,”  Marx-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL

2004             “Sculpture of Trovia, Scoon, Knapp, Metal,Glass and Light,” Skot Foreman Gallery, Atlanta, GA

2003             “Entwined,” Marx-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL

2002             “New Work,” Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto Ontario, Canada

2001             “Stone Souls”/ Absolute Vision, Marx-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL

“Portals,”  Hodgell Gallery, Sarasota, FL

2000             “Interiors,”  Habatat Gallery, Pontiac, MI

1999             “Geologic Logic,” Marx-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL

1998             “Ancestors,” Highline Gallery, Aspen, CO

1997             “Absolute Visions: Fifteen Solo Exhibitions,”  Marx-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL

1996             “Origins,” Creiger-Dane Gallery, Boston, MA

1994             “Genealogies,” Marx-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL

“Recent Sculpture,” Miller Gallery, New York, NY

1993             “Seeking the Self,” Dorothy McRae Gallery, Atlanta, GA

“Figurative Glass,” Miller Gallery, New York, NY

1992             “Sculpture of Scoon,” Habatat Gallery, Farmington Hills, MI

1990             “New Sculpture,” Habatat Gallery, Farmington Hills, MI

 

Museum & University Exhibitions

2001             “Celebration in Glass,” Bachman Gallery, Northern Indiana University

2000             “Millennium Glass: An International Survey,” Kentucky Art & Craft Foundation, Louisville, KY

1999             “The Art of Glass,” Kleen Gallery, Elgin College, Elgin, IL

1998             “A Passion for Glass,” Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit, MI

1997             “Blowing Hot, Cutting Cold: 35th Anniversary of the Studio Glass Movement,”, Lakeview Museum of Arts, Peoria, IL

                   “Glorious Glass: American & European Art Glass, Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, Owensboro, KY

1996             “Nine Artist / Nine Visions,” Decordova Museum & Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA

1993             “Glassforms,” Fuller Museum of Art, Brockton, MA

1992             “Contemporary Glass of Massachusetts College of Art,” Sandwich Glass Museum, Sandwich, MA

1991             “Studio Glass: Selections from the Chordokoff Collection,” Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit, MI

1987             “Young Glass International,” Glasmuseum, Ebeltoff, Denmark

                   “Whirlpool Foundation Sculpture Exhibition,” Krasel Art Center, St Joseph, MO

 

Selected Group Exhibitions

2007             “Chicago Comtempory & Classic,” Marx-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL

2006             “Art in the Park Modern Art Fair,” Marx- Saunders Gallery, Chicago IL

2005             “Selby-Fleetwood Gallery Grand Opening”, Santa Fe, NM

2000-2008     “Art Palm Beach Modern Art Fair,” Marx-Saunders Gallery

1996-2008     “Sculpture,Object, and Functional Art Fair,” Marx-Saunders Gallery, Chicago IL

2000-2004     “Toronto International Art Fair,” Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1989-2008     “International Invitational,” Habatat Gallery, Farmington Hills, MI

1999-2008     “Sculpture,Object, and Functional Art Fair, Marx-Saunders Gallery, New York

2003             “Friesen Gallery” Pilchuck Glass Tour, Seattle, WA

                   “Sun Valley Art,” Friesen Gallery, Sun Valley, ID

2002-2004     “Southwest,” Scherer Gallery, Sedona, AZ

2002-2003     “Outdoor Sculpture,” Leighton Gallery, Blue Hills, ME

2002             “Art Miami Art Fair,” Skot Foreman Fine Arts, Miami, FL

2001             “Texas International Art Fair,” Skot Foreman Fine Arts, Dallas, TX

                   “Art Miami Art Fair,” Marx-Saunders Gallery, Miami, FL

                   “Santa Fe Art Fair,” Skot Foreman Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM

1997-2008     “Gallery Artist,” Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto,Ontario, Canada

1997-2003     “Art Walk,” Riley Hawk Gallery, Cleveland, OH

1993-1999     “Gallery Artist,” Imago Architectural Art Gllery, Palm Springs, CA

1994-1997     “Sculpture,” Habatat Gallery, Aspen, CO

1996             “Art at the Prudential,” Prudential Center, Boston MA

1995             “Stockbridge Glass Invitational,” Holsten Gallery, Stockbridge, MA

                   “Sculpture, Object and Functional Art, Habatat Gallery, Chicago, IL

1994             “Third Masterworks of Contemporary Glass,” New York Experimental Glass Workshop, New York, NY

1993             “Glass Weekend,” Creative Glass Center, Miller Gallery, Millville, NJ

1992-1994     “International Figurative Invitational,” Miller Gallery, New York, NY

1990             “Sculpture for the Nineties,” Federal Reserve Bank Gallery, Boston, MA

1988             “Figurative Translations,” Habatat Gallery, Chicago, IL

 

Publications

“Absolutely Visionary”  Where Chicago Magazine: July 2001

“Sculpting a Name for Himself”  Concord Monitor: April 1999

“Marx-Saunders Features Scoon Sculpture”  Daily Herald: July 1997 

“Review”  Pittsburgh Post Gazette:  5/ 31/ 97

“Portfolio” American Craft Magazine: November Issue 1995

“Vital Connections”  Gay Chicago Magazine: August Issue 1994

“Review”  The New Art Examiner:  October Issue 1994

“Glass Motif”  The Villager: 4/14/ 93

“Review”  Glass Magazine: Spring Issue 1992

“Review”  The Boston Globe: 7 /19/ 90

“Corning New Glass Review” #6, #9 & #10

 

Collections

Northwater Capital Management Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Talisker Corporation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

NewQuant Capital, New York, N Y

Rose Corporation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Art in the Embassy Program, US State Department, DC

Keyport Insurance Co. Boston, MA

Detroit Institute of Arts, Chordorkoff Collection, Detroit, MI

Glassmuseum, Ebeltoft, Denmark

Detroit Institute of Arts, Robinson Collection, Detroit, MI