JoAnna Commandaros

Studio Arts Department

University of Pittsburgh

118 Frick Fine Arts Bldg.

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

412/648-0248

Education:

Master of Fine Art

Graduate Teaching Fellowship; Sculpture

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 1992

Fellowship; Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine, 1991

Bachelor of Fine Art

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1986

Appointments:

Selected

2004-PresentAssistant Instructor, Sculpture, Studio Arts Department, University of Pittsburgh

2001-04Visiting Lecturer, Sculpture-Studio Arts Dept, University of Pittsburgh

2001-02Felt-Making Instructor, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA

1996-00CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts High School) Instructor

1994Lecturer: Carnegie Mellon University, 3D Media Studio

Exhibitions

Group

2008 In the Making: 250/250 Artist, Fe gallery, Pittsburgh PA

2008 Flowers Exhibition; Fein Art Gallery, Pittsburgh PA

2008 Pinky Swear – A Political Exhibition Addressing Promises; Juror: Vicky Clark; FE Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA

2008 Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2008; The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg PA

2008 Twist, Tie, Multiply: Hands in action; Community interactive collaboration with Karen Page and Anna Divinsky, “Contained”; Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh PA

2008 Erie Art Museums 85th Annual Spring Show, Juror: Dave Hickey, Erie State Art Museum, Erie PA

2008 Thread: From Body to Soul, Borelli –Edwards Gallery, Pittsburgh PA

2008Wild Thing, Fibre Art Exhibition, Sponsored by Focus on Fibre Art Association, Showings;

Alberta Craft Council, ED, Canada, Multicultural Heritage Centre, Stony Plain, Canada, Donalda Gallery for the Arts, Donalda AB, Canada

2007Vessel Exhibition; Space 101 Brew House, Pittsburgh PA

2006 University of Pittsburgh Studio Arts Faculty Exhibition; Frick Fine Arts Gallery, Pittsburgh PA

2005Society of Sculptor’s Faculty/Student Sculptural Exhibition; PPG Winter Garden, The Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh PA

2004Definition/Connotation; Juror: David Wilkin; Space 101, Brew House,Pittsburgh PA

2003Dinomite Days Public Art Exhibition; Carnegie Natural History Museum; Station Square, Pittsburgh PA

2003Embedded; Juror: Patricia Bellen-Gillen; The Pittsburgh Center for The Arts, Pittsburgh PA

2003University of Pittsburgh Studio Arts Faculty Exhibition; Frick Fine Art Gallery, Pittsburgh PA

1998Soft, Hard, & LoudInstallation; Collaboration with Dennis Childers & Karen Page; Hewlett Gallery, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA

1997Three Artist Exhibition; McDoughnna Museum, Youngstown OH

1997Xayamaca Exhibition & Residency; Richmond Great House, Kingston, Jamaica

1995Group A ( ig zib’ it ); Curator: Petra Falloux; The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA

1995DAD: Group Exhibition; Curator: Rebecca Fortnum; Gasworks Gallery, London UK

1995The Pittsburgh Biennial; Curators: Eleanor Heartney, Jessica Stockholder; The Pittsburgh Center For The Arts, Pittsburgh PA

1995Trappings Exhibition; Dedicated Space Gallery, Brooklyn NY

1995 Exhibition 280 Works on Walls; Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington WV

1995Mid-Atlantic Exhibition; Curator: Michael Monroe; Towson State University MD

1995Pittsburgh Regional Crafts Exhibition; Curator: Diane Douglas; Wood Street Gallery, Pittsburgh PA

Solo Events

2002Public Art Pittsburgh, Production and Installation “Lawrenceville Life Links” Mixed media façade relief’s: Locations, 3501, 4113, 5136 & 5722, Butler Street, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh PA

1997Demestica; Mellon Grant; Curator: Murry Horne; The Pittsburgh Center for The Arts, Pittsburgh PA

1995London Goddess Installation; Sponsored by Triangle Arts Trust; Gasworks Gallery, London UK

Lectures

  • Fiberarts Guild, AIR Studios, Pittsburgh PA 2008
  • Gasworks gallery, London UK 1995
  • Norrie Toch Gallery, Scotland, UK 1996
  • Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA 1994

Grants & Awards

  • Bowman Faculty Travel Grant- University of Pittsburgh, 2004
  • Public Arts Design - DinoMite Days, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 2002, Pittsburgh PA
  • City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning- Public Arts Council Grant; 2000 Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh PA
  • Micro Grant- Penn Ave Arts Initiative: Spinning Plate Artreach (Felt making workshop) 2001
  • Nominee- Emerging Artist, Creative Achievement Award, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust- 1996
  • Sponsorship: Triangle Arts Trust -Artist in Residence, Gasworks Studios, London, U.K. 1995
  • A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust Grant 1996
  • Travel Grant-Zamagias Corporation Workshop Sponsorship 1995
  • Purchase Award, Westinghouse Corporation, 1995

Site Commissions

  • Street Lamp Series (outdoor): Irene and Bill Stewart, Private Residence
  • Site Sculpture (outdoor): Bee and John Mouganis, Private Residence
  • Architectural Installation: Spinning Plate entry way Artist Lofts, funded through Artist & Cities
  • Site Sculptural Environment-Indoor & Outdoor Railings & Castings, Valhalla Restaurant, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Site Artwork & Bar Design– Big Burrito Corp. Pittsburgh, PA

Residencies

2005The Sparta Institute, Sparta Greece

1996Xayamaca Artists’ Workshop, Jamaica West Indies

1995Gasworks Studios, London, UK,

Collections

  • City of Pittsburgh, Public Art, Pittsburgh PA
  • Stazie McPherson, Private collection, Portland, Oregon
  • Bea and John Mouganis, Private collection, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Dr. Timothy and Martha Adams, El Dorado Hills, CA
  • Luke and Alexandra Bergstrom, Redwood City, CA
  • Iman B., Sausalito CA
  • Ilene And Bill Stewart, Private collection, Pittsburgh PA
  • Laura Hamilton, Private collection, London UK
  • Zamagias Properties, Pittsburgh PA
  • Annable Keatly, Private collection, Granada, Spain
  • Willem van der Vorm, Private collection, Marint Monaco
  • Vorres Museum, Ian Vorres, Private collection, Athens Greece
  • Westinghouse Corporation, Pittsburgh PA

Bibliography

Reviews

2008Guz, Savannah, Art and politics mix powerfully in Fe Gallery’s Pinky Swear, Pittsburgh City Paper, 7.17.08

2008Shaw, Kurt, The medium is in the message, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 7.10. 08

2008Thomas, Mary; Kudos to festival for thinking outside the box, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette Magazine; Web: post-gazette.com/lifestyle, 6.25.08

2008Guz, Savannah, The Three Rivers Arts Festival gets the most out of its containers-cum-galleries, Pittsburgh City Paper, 6.19.08

2008Shaw, Kurt; Art guild member's bare souls in ‘Thread’ exhibit; Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 4.17.08;

2005Shaw, Kurt; Society of sculptors exhibition includes student artworks; Tribune-Review, 6.12.05

2005Thomas, Mary; Art review: Sculpture exhibition showcases faculty & students,Pittsburgh Post – Gazette, 6.15.05

2005Pitt Chronicle, Prayer for Truth, (photographs), 7.5.05

2003Megalios, George, The Mom Factor and Dinomite Days, Pulp, 7/8 .03

2003Diehl, Dawn The Pitt News’ Fresh’ (photographs & review) 2.03.03,Vol. XCVII # 101

2003DinoMite Days Gala - Upcoming Event; Carnegie Magazine (photograph), 3-04.03.

2002Batez, Bob; Lawrenceville public art project a real charm Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 6.13.02

2002The Bulletin, Lawrenceville Life Links, 8.02 Vol. 27, No. 8. p. 13

2002Abels, Caroline, Public Exhibition, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2.20.02 p. E-2, 3

1997Pilewski, Lisa, Lawrenceville Life Links, Event Brochure, 6.19, 02

1996Potter Chris, Site: ( JoAnna Commandaros) In Pittsburgh,(Vol. 11 No.42 p.39,) 5.30.96

(Photograph & review)

1996Potter, Chris, Site: Brewhouse Group A (ig zib’ it) In Pittsburgh, (Vol, 12, No. 43, p. 17) 3. 21-27.96

(Photograph & review)

1996Shearing, Graham, Radical ‘group making its mark, The Tribune Review, p.6, 2. 22.96

1996Norman, Tony; Pop Culture Writer,Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 10.10.96

1995Campbell, Charles, The 1995 Xayamaca Workshop, The Gleaner, p.10, 8.23.95

1995Lillington, David; “DAD” Time Out, 12.25.95

1995Taylor, Nicky; Inner Times, 11.12.95

1994Miller, Donald; Center Spread, Pittsburgh Post–Gazette, p. 4. 9.9.94 (photograph& review)

1993Crombie, Kara, Metalorgy, The Pitt News, 10.09.93

Publications

  • Fortnum, Rebecca; Gasworks Studios Catalogue (color Plate p.6) 1995
  • Heather Austin and Matt Phillips; “Dinosaurs of Distinction” (color Plate p.104); A Carnegie Museum of Natural History publication, 2003
  • Pittsburgh Regional Crafts Exhibition Catalogue, p. 6, 1993
  • Kissick, John; “JoAnna Commandaros” Pittsburgh Biennial Exhibition Catalogue, Pittsburgh Center for the Art, p. 10 (color Plate p.11) 1994
  • Exhibition 280: Works on Walls Catalogue 1994

Professional Affiliations

  • Society of Sculptors
  • Group A
  • The Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh
  • Associated Artists of Pittsburgh

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