Shawne Major's Mixed-Media

Artist Statement

I am interested in how the perception of reality is colored by dreams, memory, superstition, religion, bias, prejudice, and fear. My mixed-media works, in general, refer to the overlay of belief systems created by the individual to piece together their personal paradigm.

My vocabulary—a combination of kitsch, ersatz and craft materials, junk and personal objects—is re-aesthetisized into accumulated forms that serve as metaphors for the build-up, organization and assimilation of information. The personal objects are evidences of pain, happiness, loss, guilt, shame—all the material detritus of the everyday human experience.

The vernacular (as a language of objects indigenous to my class and culture) is used here to subvert the hierarchy of high art. The kitsch of popular culture is transformed—through collage and intense manual labor—into the elite fine-art object. By evoking the elitism inherent to the idea of the hand-crafted object, these mass-produced articles become the raw materials that are employed in the "hand-crafting" of the art piece.

I choose particular materials for their visceral qualities, as well as their symbology and real-world references. The power of the fetish object intrigues me. The methods by which disparate elements are connected are as integral as the objects themselves. All materials, as words in a paragraph, are treated in a more-or-less equal manner and bring their own bits of signification and narrative to the visual "story."

—Shawne Major

Biography

Born in New Iberia, Louisiana—December 25, 1968

Solo & Two Person Exhibitions

2012	Shawne Major: Fetish—Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, GA, Jan-Feb Shawne Major—Hilliard Art Museum, Lafayette, LA, Sep-Dec Shawne Major-Title TBA—Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL, Apr-Jun, solo
2010	Tickle: New Works by Shawne Major—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA, May, solo
2009	Shawne Major: Love Calls Us to the Things of This World—Irvine Contemporary, Washington, DC, Apr, solo
2008	The Sacred Space of Shawne Major—Opelousas Museum of Art, Opelousas, LA, Feb-Apr, solo
2007	Recent Fiber Works by Shawne Major & Christine Tedesco—Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, Jan-Mar
2006	Apogee—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, May-Jun, solo Intrinsic Value: Works by Shawne Major—Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA, Apr-May, solo
2005	Coffee Milk—Fine Arts Gallery, University of New Orleans Lakefront, New Orleans, Jan-Feb, solo
2004	Portal to Portal—Architects & Artists Space, Lafayette, LA, Nov, solo
2003	Hegemony Pajamas—Galerie Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, Apr-May, solo Bricolage/Montage: Shawne Major/Linda Frese—NOCCA Riverfront, New Orleans, Feb-Mar

Selected Group Exhibitions

2012	RAW—Homespace Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Jan
2011	Texas Contemporary Art Fair—Texas Gallery, Houston, TX, Oct Old Methods, New Visions: Three Louisiana Artists—LA Art & Science Museum, Baton Rouge, LA Aug-Oct Artists Tribute I—Irvine Contemporary, Washington, DC, Jun-Jul Fresh—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Jun Visiting Artist Exhibition—On the Edge Gallery, NOCCA Institute, New Orleans, LA, Jan-Feb
2010	Here, There, and Everywhere—Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX, Sep-Oct Tradition/Innovation—Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Baton Rouge, LA . Jul-Sep 40—Texas Gallery, Houston TX, Jun-Jul
2009	Scope Art Fair—Irvine Contemporary, Miami, FL, Dec Aspect:Ratio2—Irvine Contemporary, Washington, DC, Jan Muses—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Jan
2008	Scope Art Fair—Irvine Contemporary, Miami, FL, Dec Futurity—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Nov Louisiana Women—River Oaks Art Center, Alexandria, LA Oct-Nov 40 days & 40 Nights—Louisiana State Archive, Baton Rouge, LA, Jul-Sep Prospect 1. New Orleans Biennial—Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, Nov-Jan Innovation/Tradition—NEA/Southern Arts Federation traveling exhibition beginning at Atlanta History Center, 08-12
2007	Southern Open—Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA, May-Jul National Association of Women Artists: New Members Exhibition—NAWA Gallery, NYC, Mar Selections—Jack the Pelican Presents, Brooklyn, NY Jan-Feb
2006	Grendel Miami(during Miami Basel)—Jack the Pelican Presents, Miami, FL, Dec Louisiana Gallery Artists Group Exhibition—Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, Dec Contact/ Gulf Coast Exhibit—Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, NY, Oct-Nov Sustained Winds: Before-During-After—Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA, Jan-Mar Exit 101—Abercrombie Gallery, Lake Charles, LA, Jan-Feb
2005	Legacy: Recent Acquisitions—Paul & Lulu Hilliard Museum, Lafayette, LA, Dec-Apr Recent Acquisitions: Paintings and Sculpture—Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, Aug-Nov Spirit of Place: Art of Acadiana—Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, May-Sep Art With a Southern Drawl—University of Mobile, Mobile, AL, Apr Nouveaux Artistes d'Acadiana—Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, New Orleans, Jan-Mar
2004	The Governor's Mansion 2005 Art Exhibition—Baton Rouge, LA, Nov 04-Apr 06 Spirit of Place: Art of Acadiana—Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA, Oct-Jan Threaded Notions—Galerie Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, Apr-May
2003	Domestic Rituals—Kirkland Art Center, Clinton, NY, Jul-Sep FestForAll Visual Arts Invitational—Old State Capital, Baton Rouge, LA, May Fresh Spaces - Fresh Faces—Architects & Artists Space, Lafayette, LA, Jan-Feb
2002	Many Happy Returns—Artists Alliance, Lafayette, LA, Jul-Aug Herstory—ManhattanArts.com (online exhibition), May-Jul Workspace Exhibition—Dieu Donne Papermill, NYC, Jan-Feb
2001	Artists Talk on Art, Curator's Choice—Denise Bibro Fine Art, NYC, Sep-Oct Abstraction 2001—New Century Artists, NYC, Jun Über Quilts—Longwood Arts Gallery, Bronx, NY, Mar-Apr Window on Jamaica—Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, Jamaica, NY, Feb-Apr 3rd Inaugural Exhibit—Millennium Arts Center, Washington, DC, Jan-Feb
2000	Cross Currents—Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Ocean Springs, MS, Aug-Sep In the Hands of an Artist—Wilmer Jennings Gallery, NYC, Jul-Aug Celebrating Yaddo Artists—Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY, Jun-Jul St. Mark's 2000—St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, NYC, Mar-Apr

Selected Bibliography

2011	The Advocate, (Oct 2,) "LASM Exhibit Blends Tradition, New Artist Ideas," Robin Miller The Daily Reveille, (Sep. 7,) "LA. Artists use Unconventional Materials," Joey Groner Times-Picayune, (Aug. 8,) "210 New Shelters will Keep Bus and Streetcar Riders Dry," Hannah Miet, photo Unlikelystories.org, (Jan, online,) "Mixed media Visual Art by Shawne Major," Jonathan Penton Washington City Paper, (Jun. 16,) "Reviewed: "Tribute 1" at Irvine Contemporary," Louis Jacobson
2010	Artforum.com, (May 15, online,) "Shawne Major at Heriard-Cimino Gallery," Natalie Sciortino-Rinehart Art Lies, (July, Issue 66 online,) "40," Wendy Vogel Brazzaville Art in Embassies Catalogue, Edited by Renee Drake. Art In Embassies: U.S. Dept. of State Culturemap Houston, (August 7,) "Woman Power: Texas Gallery's 40," Susie Kalil Dallas Observer, (October 7,) "Here There, & Beyond," Merritt Martin dart international, (spring summer) "Picking Cherries in Miami in December," Douglas Maxwell Gambit Weekly, (May 17,) "Shawne major's Tickle and Theresa Honewell's Fresh Threads," Eric Bookhardt Glasstire, Texas Visual Art Online, (July), "Bless Their Hearts", Kelly Klaasmeyer Houston Press, (Jun 24,) "40," Troy Schulze Inside Art New Orleans, (May 16, online,) "Major at Heriard-Cimino," Eric Bookhardt New Orleans Art Review, (Spring,) "Shawne Major: Sweet & Sour," Kathy Rodriguez
2009	Art Forum, (Jan,) "Being There, Elizabeth Schambelan" Art in America, (Feb,) "Deliverance: The Biennial," Lillie Wei Art News, (Jan,) "Prospect 1 Review," John R. Kemp Art Slant, (Jan, online,) "Old Mint, New Art," Eric Wenzel Creative Loafing, (Dec 9,) "Satellites, Sculptures and Sex at Art Basel," Veronica Pastore Gambit Weekly, (Jan 19), "Muses: Recent Work by Female Artists," Eric Bookhardt Louisiana Life Magazine, (Jul, Aug), A Tapestry of Art," John Kemp, feature New Orleans Art Review, (Mar, Apr.), "Muses:Anti-Trend", Terrington Calas NYFA Current, (Jan 29, online,) "Reflecting on Prospect 1," Nicole Caruth Panorama, (Sept. 13,) "Gallery Exhibition Stresses Relationship of Artist to Society," Jane G. Collins Salt lake City Fine Arts Examiner, (June 1), "Interview: Suzanne Fredericq," Qi Peng Shawne Major: Works, Catalogue, Edited and published by Martin Irvine and Irvine Contemporary. Washington DC Times of Acadiana (Jan,) "New Orleans Reinvented" Washington City Paper, (Apr. 15), "Shawne Major ," Maura Judkis
2008	American Craft, (Jun/Jul), "Tradition/Innovation," Sally Hansell, photo Art Daily.org, (Mar 19, online), "Prospect 1. New Orleans Announces Artists for Biennial" ArtNet.com, (Nov. 7, online), "Bleeding Heart Biennial," Walter Robinson Art News, (Oct), "Encouraging Wards," Carly Berwick Art Voices, (Dec), "Shawne Major," Eddie Langieri, feature article Bigredandshiny.com, (July 13, online), "Louisville Kentucky Art Galleries," Rita Lombardi Fiber Arts, (Nov/Dec), "Shawne Major: Spiritual Kitsch," Stephanie Nelson, feature, photo The Independent, (Mar 13, Lafayette, LA), "Acadiana Artist Chosen for International Biennial," Mary Tuttweiler, feature The Independent, (Oct 16, Lafayette, LA), "New Orleans Streetcar Shelters Get Art," Mary Tuttweiler New American Paintings, No. 76, Open Studios Press, Boston, MA NPR.org (Nov. 30,) Huge Biennial Puts Art All Over New Orleans, Eve Troeh New York Magazine, (Nov. 6,) Five Point Weekend Escape Plan, Prospect 1. New Orleans. Catalogue, Edited and Curated by Dan Cameron. New York: Picturebox Studio Visit Magazine, No. 1, Open Studios Press, Boston, MA Times of Acadiana, (Mar 5, Lafayette, LA), "Sacred Space Brings Tapestries to Opelousas," Brian Lafaye, feature article Times Picayune, (Oct 15, New Orleans), "RTA Canal Bus Street Shelters get Art", Susan Finch Times Picayune, (Mar 10, New Orleans, LA), "Good Prospects," Doug MacCash
2007	Gambit Weekly (Feb 20, New Orleans), "Paint Me Something Mister," Eric Bookhardt Times of Acadiana (Jul 25, Lafayette, LA), "Lost and Found," Jan Risher, feature article Times Picayune (Dec. 9, New Orleans), "Translating the Venice Biennale to New Orleans," Doug MacCash
2006	ArtInfo.com (Dec 19, online), "Art Basel Miami: Offbeat Highlights from the Fair Trail," Margery Gordon Country Roads (Nov, Baton Rouge, LA), "Trailblazers: Artists You Should Know," J. Richard Gruber Gambit Weekly (Jun 6, New Orleans), "Tiny Trinkets & Magical Tapestries," Eric Bookhardt New Orleans Art Review (Apr/May/Jun), "esthetica estheticans, natura naturans," Karl Volkmar The Advocate (Nov 12, Baton Rouge, LA), "Governor Honors Several with Arts Awards, Fellowships," Anne Price Times-Picayune (Jun 16, New Orleans), "Buried Treasure," Doug MacCash
2005	ArtNews (Feb), "Amazing Cross Fertilization," John R. Kemp, photo Art Papers (Nov/Dec), "New Orleans Review," Eric Bookhardt Gambit Weekly (Jun 7, New Orleans), "Celebrating the Senses," Eric Bookhardt Gambit Weekly (Feb 14, New Orleans, LA), "Cajuns for All Occasions," Eric Bookhardt Times-Picayune (Jul 01, New Orleans), "Contemporary Cajun," Doug MacCash, photo Times-Picayune (Jan 28, New Orleans), "Small Touches of Acadiana," Doug MacCash
2004	The Advocate (Dec 28), Baton Rouge, LA), "LA Artists Brighten Governor's Mansion" The Daily Advertiser (Oct 17, Lafayette, LA), "Newest Arts Center Draws A Crowd," Beverly Corbell
2003	Times of Acadiana (May 7, Lafayette, LA) "Major Undertaking," Patricia Gannon, feature article
2000	artnet.com (Sep 19, online), "The East Village Revisited," Calvin Reid Gallery & Studio (Sep 8), "New York Notebook"

Selected Grants & Awards

2009	Art Omi International Artists' Residency—Omi, New York
2008	Joan Mitchell Foundation Career Opportunity Grant Canal TransArt—Public Art Bus Shelter Project, New Orleans Pollock-Krasner Foundation Artist Grant
2006	Artist Fellowship—Louisiana Division of the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA
1997	Artist in Residence—Sculpture Space, Utica, NY
1996	Workspace Fellowship—Dieu Donne Papermill, NYC
1995	Artist in Residence—Corporation of Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY
1992	Artist in Residence—Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME

Selected Collections

Francis Greenburger Collection—New York, NY
Hilliard Museum of Art—Lafayette, LA
Ogden Museum of Southern Art—New Orleans, LA

Frederick Weisman Foundation—Los Angeles, CA
US Art in Embassies—Brazzaville, Congo

Education

MFA—Sculpture, 1995, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
BFA—Painting, 1991, University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, LA