Susan Clinard Clinard Sculpture Studio 920 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT 06517 USA Phone: + 1 (203) 435-7304 Email: susan@clinard.org

Susan first touched clay at the age of 19 when she took a sculpture class in college. She can recall the immediate sensory connection she made with the material; the smell, its texture and shadows. Her love for art did not begin there; she remembers always drawing and making "things" as a child and throughout her youth. To this day, Susan will argue that her formal training as an art student was only part of what made her a creative spirit. Living a life immersed in the diverse people and environments around her is what gave her the insight, ideas, and the inspiration she now possesses.

Susan received her degree in Sculpture and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Michigan in 1995. After college she moved to Chicago to live with her sister Wendy Clinard, a professional dancer/choreographer/painter. Her strong bond with her sister helped her grow immensely as a visual artist. Their mutual respect and admiration of one another's work has led to several collaborations.

Another important influence during this period was Susan's experience working as a caseworker for foster children in Chicago. Working on the front lines in the community, schools, hospitals, and justice systems allowed her to see humanity in a way nothing else before it had. She began sculpting the things she saw, people she knew; as if keeping a journal. She was moved by the stories of inequality, fear, compassion, and courage. At this time Susan realized that sculpture was the unquestionable voice that would allow her to be true to herself while giving back to her community.

She collaborated with various Chicago art foundries, began exhibiting in local galleries and starting teaching at the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art and later at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During the next eight years Susan also taught with Gallery 37 (an award winning arts education program). To this day, teaching remains a vital part of Susan's identity as an artist.

Susan met her husband, Thierry in 1999 and they had their first son, Olivier in 2004. Motherhood brought with it an entirely new dimension into Susan's work. Introspective themes exploring inner growth and questions of life's balance were found throughout.

In 2007 Susan and her family moved from Chicago to New Haven, Connecticut where her husband took a job teaching at Yale. The move was yet another experience that helped Susan delve into parts of herself that was uncomfortable. She discovered that Change was not only good but vital for creative growth. And from this a new body of work evolved. Susan also collaborated with IRIS, a refugee resettlement agency in New Haven. From which Susan has meet life long mentors: refugees who fill her ears with stories of humanity; testimonies that find their way to her fingertips.

In 2009, Susan gave birth to her second son Léo Augustín.

Susan Clinard exhibits widely and has worked on scores of commissions. Her sculptures can be found in galleries, in public parks, and in collections worldwide.

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, Hamden, CT. Monumental, figurative, and portrait commissions. Stone, Clay, Bronze, and Wood Creative Arts Workshop. Sculptor Instructor Eli Whitney Museum, Artist in Residence and 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
2000-2011		Yale Center for British Art, New Haven CT, 2011 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 City of Bridgeport, James O'Rourke Statue, Bridgeport, CT LaSalle Bank Mural Building. Gallery 37, Chicago, IL Peter and Sandy Axilrod, New York, NY The Rehabilitation Institute, Chicago,IL James Kasler Statue, Momence, IL Clio Statue Memorial, Lyme, CT 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 Giuseppe Festa, Caserta, Italy 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, Chicago, IL Rick & Bic Callahan, Evanston, IL Edwin Apricio, Washington DC James Tracy,Wabin, Ma Ronald Bacaras, Chicago, IL
EXHIBITIONS
2012		A-Space Gallery, Westcove. West Haven, CT Rye Arts Center, Rye, New York Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT
2011		Chicago Art Matrix Gallery, Chicago IL Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT
2010		Seton Gallery, University of New Haven, CT Kehler Liddell Gallery, New Haven, CT
2009		Chicago Matrix Gallery, Chicago, IL 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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