Kathleen Shanahan

Statement

An ongoing theme in my work is the reconciliation (or not) of opposites and dualities, as in the Buddhist idea of the coexistence of good and evil.

Each work begins as an escape toward an unknown destination. Sometimes the work starts with a constructed paper collage, where I have worked out design issues of scale, size, and placement of elements which play their role in the matrix. There I have manipulated the image.

At other times, when paralysis strikes, I begin a work by committing to one visual element on the “canvas”, leaving me with a journey into uncharted territory.

I am an image maker, a figurative artist, though abstraction is often involved. I pursue the image, which begins as a visual puzzle of my own making. I am “out to solve” this puzzle, and I usually struggle with the myriad options, eventually resolving the puzzle with what I feel works.

At times the work before me becomes a three ring circus. I know there are many possible solutions to a visual puzzle, so that gives me the go ahead to try things.

It is up to the viewer to complete the “meaning” of the work. It might speak to them on many levels. Maybe “the medium is the message”. I like mixed media for all the gritty relationships possible, as in satin versus gravel, chalky versus reflective.

I like combining elements because of their associations, differences and similarities. They may have similar shapes but extremely different functions (bullhorn vs. ice cream cone).

The journey for me in launching an image is, as they say, the reward. I like to hold the various elements in an image in suspension, so that the viewer may ponder their strange bedfellow connections. Additionally, one of the pleasures for me in the pursuit of art making, is the sheer sensuousness of media manipulation (paint, pastel, plaster, whatever).

KATHLEEN SHANAHAN BIO

After a BFA from the University of Michigan (1969), and an MFA from the University of Arizona (1976), she taught in colleges and universities in Arizona, Oregon, Missouri and Kansas at Wichita State University (1983-97) as associate professor, and University of Kansas (2001-02), as lecturer in painting and drawing. She devoted one year (1976) to live and work on her art in Bisbee, AZ, and another doing grant-funded research in Japan (1981-82) based at the National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka. During her career, she has exhibited in Chicago and New York City, Paris, France, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Her work can be seen at the Rueben Saunders Gallery in Wichita KS, and Viridian Artists in New York City .

During a seven year residence in Kansas City (1997-2003), she was awarded the Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation Fine Arts Painting Grant (2000). She returned to Wichita in 2003. In recent years she has taught various classes at Mark Arts, and been commissioned by Ballet Wichita to create promotional materials for two separate seasons of the Nutcraker.

Artist residencies include Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest IL (1987), Hot Springs National Park (2018), and Riley-Strauss Printmaking Studio in Wellfleet MA.

She and her work were featured in New American Painting, Midwest Edition (1993), Forty-Four Kansas Artists, A Kansas Collection (1989), Wichita Artists in Their Studios (2016), Practical Mixed Media Printmaking, Sarah Riley, A&C Black, London (2011), and Slide Portfolio which accompanies Drawing-Space, Form ,
Expression, Wayne Enstice, Prentice Hall (1990).

Notable collections with her work include Art of Emprise (Wichita KS), Kansas Health Foundation (Wichita KS), The University of Kansas Spencer Art Museum (Lawrence KS), Kearney Regional Medical Center, Kearney NE, Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs, AR, Elizabeth Koch Foundation, Wichita, KS, Greteman Group, Wichita, KS, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS, Dr. T. Fujii, Director, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan, KMUW, National Public Radio Affiliate, Wichita KS and Southern Graphics Council, Print Archives, Statesboro, GA.

Selected Exhibitions, Grants and Awards

2015
Second Place Cash Award, National Printmaking Exhibition (juried), Wichita Center for the Arts
Remix, Two Person Show, City Arts, Wichita KS
Zig Zag Stream, Two Person Show, Fiber Studio, Wichita KS

2014
One Person Show, Hot Springs National Park Cultural Hall, culminating artist residency
One Person Show, Strecker-Nelson Gallery; Manhattan KS
Commission to create painting for promotional materials for Ballet Wichita production of The Nutcracker.

2013
Inclusion of my work in Practical Mixed Process Printmaking published by A & C Black, London U.K.
University of Michigan Alumni Exhibition, Ann Arbor MI
Wichita Center for the Arts Faculty and Student Exhibition
Printmakers Who Paint and Painters Who Printmake, City Arts, Wichita KS

2012
Juror’s Cash Award; Kansas Watercolor Society National Exhibition; Wichita Center for the Arts; Wichita, KS
Kathleen Shanahan Printmaking; Shiawassee Arts Center; Owosso, MI
Animalia; Strecker-Nelson Gallery; group invitational; Manhattan KS
Printmaking Invitational, Castle Hill Art Center; Cape Cod MA

2011
The Language of Drawing (invitational); Erman B. White Gallery; Butler County Community College; El Dorado, KS.
One Person Show, Mixed Process Printmaking; Bob Schwan Studios; Wichita KS.
Kansas Watercolor Society National Exhibition; Elizabeth Koch Patron Purchase Award; Wichita Center for the Arts; Wichita, KS.

2010
Invitational, Fibre Studio; Wichita, KS;

2009
Kansas Masters Invitational; Strecker-Nelson Gallery; Manhattan, KS
Guest Artist Exhibition, Notched Tondos, Gallery XII, Wichita, KS

2008
KMUW Radio Artists Exhibition; Start Thinking; Wichita, KS

2007
Governor’s Inaugural Exhibition (invitational); Topeka, KS
Flexion Friezes, One Person Show; PI Gallery; Kansas City, MO
Kansas Masters Invitational; Strecker-Nelson Gallery; Manhattan, KS

2005
Mergers and Acquisitions, One Person Show; Fibre Studio; Wichita, KS
Watercolor Now!; Water Color USA Honor Society Exhibition; Springfield, MO

2003
Painting and Drawings, Three-Person Exhibition; Shiawassee Arts Center; Owosso, MI

2000
Fine Arts in Painting Grant ($5,000), Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation, Kansas City, MO.
Kansas Water Color Society Honor Show; Wichita Center for the Arts; Wichita, KS
Watercolor USA Honor Exhibition; Huntsville Museum, Huntsville, AL

1999
Human/Humane; Two Person Show; Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO.

1997
Drawing Power, Cedar Rapids Art Museum, Cedar Rapids, IA.

1996
Kansas Water Color Society 7 State Exhibition, Purchase Award and Cash Award, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS.
Watercolor USA, Cash Award and 2 Purchase Awards, Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO
Rutgers National Works on Paper, Camden, NJ.

1995 Rocky Mountain National Water Media Exhibition, Golden, CO.

1994, 1988 One Person Show, Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, IL.

1993 Men: Moods and Metier, One Person Show, Artists en Masse, Lawrence, KS.

1990 Lawrence Collaboration in Lithography Grant, Lawrence Art Center, Lawrence, KS.

1987 Artist Residency Scholarship, Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, IL.

1986 Drills and Ceremonies, One Person Show, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS.

1981-82 Columbia College Faculty Development Grant for year’s research in Japan,
“Folk Art and Modern Manifestations of the Japanese Aesthetic”, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan.

1981-82 Visiting Scholar , National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan.

1982 Karasu Ten (Crow Point), Two Person Show, Amano Gallery, Osaka, Japan.

Selected Publications, Citations & Reviews

2015 Selected to be profiled in upcoming book entitled Artists in their Studios, Wichita KS

2011 Inclusion of work and artist profile in Practical Mixed Media Printmaking, Sarah Riley, A&C Black, London.

1995, 1987, 1985 New Art Examiner, review of show, Chicago, IL.

1995 New American Paintings, Open Studios Competition, Midwest Edition, Open Studios Press, reproduction of work and artist profile.

1990 Reproduction: Slide Portfolio which accompanies Drawing-Space, Form , Expression, Wayne Enstice, Prentice Hall.

1989 Reproduction and artist profile, Forty-Four Kansas Artists, A Kansas Collection,a printed edition of books.

1981 Shanahan: Drawings, “Minpaku”, monthly publication, National Museum of Ethnology Osaka, Japan.

Selected Collections

Backwoods, Wichita KS
Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs, AR
Elizabeth Koch Foundation, Wichita, KS
Spencer Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Southern Graphics Council, Print Archives, Statesboro, GA
Emprise Bank, Wichita, KS
Kansas Health Foundation, Wichita, KS.
Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS.
Dr. T. Fujii, Director, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan.

Selected Academic Experience

2011-15 Faculty, Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS.
2001-02 Lecturer, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
1983-97 Associate and Assistant Professor, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
1978-83 Assistant Professor, Columbia College, Columbia, MO.
1977-78 Instructor, Lane Community College, Eugene, OR.
1977 Adjunct faculty, Cochise College, Douglas, AZ.
1974-76 Instructor, Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher, AZ.

Education

MFA University of Arizona
BFA University of Michigan

Gallery Representation

Viridian Artists; NY, NY
Strecker Nelson Gallery, Manhattan KS