Mark Patnode
Studio at 73 Washington Street
New London, CT 06320
Voice: 860-460-8458
email: mpatnode@ct.metrocast.net
Artist Statement As a Poet, Dad was able to influence me on a profound level and with his passing I lost a kindred spirit. My articulation of the two pines (“Two Pines – 1”) gave me a poetic connection to set about depicting what has become a series of same and similar tree combinations in varying weather and lighting conditions. Ultimately, it was the relational tree combination that profoundly reached me. The presentations introduced dialog and choreography as I realized trees in all manner of juxtapositions and relational occurrences (shoreline, fields). As I expanded the series, I created compositions of trees and depicted products from trees (fences, houses). The series took on greater meaning in that we seem to retain products from trees yet often have only memories of people. 2005 Vermont Studio Center and 2006 Griffis Foundation Residencies helped me focus on societal commentary in my work. Combined with the Trees series, my current work expands the American landscape from exploration, abstract expressionism, and pluralistic influences, to what I envision as wider thematic articulations to further engage viewers. Through an Urban Artists Initiative (UAI) grant I purchased an easel to accommodate large-scale paintings (including a 7-ft painting of Suzette Kelo’s house, that she purchased). Another UAI grant afforded me car roof racks to transport larger paintings. Recently, I fabricated a large cargo container to fit on the racks that will hold 82" x 60" canvasses. With open invitations from I-Park Artists Enclave and Art at Murray Pond to further develop work, plus my ability to transport large-scale canvasses, I enjoy limitless production capability with access to rural and urban locations. Painting large-scale is particularly satisfying because the brushwork involves my whole body vigorously in the act of creating, and because the achieved work conveys the experience of large, creative movement to the viewer. What makes these paintings unique is that they are done onsite and in the elements: below zero - fingers going numb; rain whipping around; hot summer sunshine and high humidity; low visibility on a dark night. Working quickly and with great intensity, I create the poetry of the inspired moment. Artist Resume
Following my Dad’s passing in 2007, I struggled with meaning and message in my art. A year later
I discovered two pine trees growing adjacent in a field. My Dad always admired lonesome pine trees
and collected several works I created for him in my youth.
Education
1974-78 School of Art and Design, Purchase College, NY. B.F.A.
Fellowships & Residences
2007-08 Selected by Capital Region Education Council for a Teaching Artist Residency in Cape Verde, Africa.
2005- Invited by Griffis and Orpheus Foundations to Artist Residency at Sharon House, Smolyan, Bulgaria. Silver Rose Recipient, from Bulgaria’s Preeminent
Poet, Lyubomir Levchev.
2005 Invited to Alumnus Artist Residency at I-Park Artists’ Enclave, East Haddam, CT.
2005 Selected for Alumnus Artist Residency Fellowship at VSC, Johnson, VT, sponsored by UAI.
2004 Selected for Artist Residency at I-Park Artists’ Enclave for a self-directed, project specific pursuit.
2004 Selected for an Artist Residency Fellowship at VSC, Johnson, VT, sponsored by UAI.
2002-05 Selected as Participant by statewide program, Urban Artists Initiative (UAI), Hartford, CT, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and
Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism (CCT) in partnership with the Institute for Community Research (ICR).
Grants
2010 Target Corporation funding for Salvation Army Pilot Arts in Education Program, Hartford North End Corps, Nelson Street, Hartford, CT
2009 Fisher Foundation funding for Salvation Army Pilot Arts in Education Program, The Right Place, Hartford, CT
2003-05 Six non-matching grants from Urban Artists Initiative, Hartford, CT, funded by NEA and CCT in partnership with ICR
1978 Presidents Grant, Purchase College
Solo Exhibitions
2009 Images of Cape Verde – Norwich Arts Council, Norwich, CT – January - February
2007 Scenes from Bulgaria – 3rd Rail Studio, New Rochelle, NY – February 24 - March 24
2006 Bulgarian Paintings – National Palace of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria – September 25 - 28
2006 Bulgarian Paintings – Smolyan Art Gallery, Smolya, Bulgaria – September 22 - 25
2006 Selected Works – Windham Theatre Guild, Willimantic, CT – February 20 - March 5
2006 Selected Works – Wood Memorial Library, South Windsor, CT – February 18 - March 15
2005 Unseen America – Mitchell College Library, August - September
2005 Selected Works – Gallery 121 – June 13 - July 9, Boston, MA
2003 Painting on the Beach – October 20 - November 26, Mitchell College, New London, CT
Two & Three Person Exhibitions
2007 Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery – Wesleyan University – CCY Faculty Show (Drawing).
2006 Alexey von Schlippe Gallery – University of Connecticut, Groton, CT.
2005 I-Park Series, Two Painters' Views – Mark Patnode / Peter Colquhoun, WAAC, Windham, CT.
2005 A Moment…Please – Donna Martell / Mark Patnode / Garnet Wrigley, Norwich Arts Council, Norwich, CT.
1989 Mark Patnode / Jan Royce Conant – Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London, CT.
Group Exhibitions
2010 MAC Members Exhibition – Mystic Arts Center, Mystic, CT
Sonambulo – Federico Garcia Lorca Exhibition – Expressiones Cultural Center, New London, CT
67th Annual Connecticut Artists Exhibition – The Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT, Leslie Lillien Levy, Juror.
2009 53rd Regional – Mystic Arts Center, Mystic, CT.
BULGARIA // Then + Now – Hygienic Gallery, New London, CT.
Art and Science Connections – Hygienic Gallery, New London, CT.
2008 White House Christmas Tree Ornament – Selected by Senator Joe Lieberman as his Designated Artist for Connecticut. Work resides in permanent
Smithsonian Institution collection.
Faber Birren National Color Award Show – Stamford Art Assoc. CT. Nora Rockwell Lawrence, Curatorial Assist., Museum of Modern Art, NY Juror.
Crossing the Bridge – Juried Invitational, Hygienic Gallery, New London, CT, Jeffrey Anderson, Juror.
Annual Members’ Show – Mystic Arts Center, Mystic, CT.
2007 Crossing the Bridge – Juried Invitational, Hygienic Gallery, New London, CT, Barkley L. Hendricks, Juror.
2006- CCT Arts in Public Spaces – Senator Joseph Lieberman’s Washington D.C. Office.
2006 New Haven Symphony Orchestra - Decorate Art Violin - Finalist.
2005 Latin Views – International invitational exhibit, Davis, River Galleries, Mystic Arts Center, Mystic, CT.
Crossing the Bridge – Juried Invitational, Hygienic Gallery, Ronald L. Crusan, Dir Lyman Allyn Art Museum, Juror.
2005 Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society – Lyme Art Association, Lyme, CT.
2005 ALVA Gallery – Silent Auction for ISAAC School, New London, CT
2004 Fragment – Mystic Arts Center, Mystic, CT, Keith L. Reynolds, Juror, Honorable Mention (Drawing).
2003 Spring Show – Corporate Gallery Collection, Boston Art, Boston, MA.
2002 Focus on Two – Urban Artists Initiative Southeast Region Exhibition, Norwich Arts Council Gallery, Norwich, CT.
The Colors of Freedom – Charles A. Shepard III, Dir Lyman Allyn Art Museum, Juror, Honorable Mention.
1995 The Connecticut Open, Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT. David Pease, Dean, Yale School of Art, Juror.
Faber Birren National Color Award Show, Stamford Art Museum, CT. Cora Rosevear, Associate Curator, Museum of Modern Art, Juror.
Memberships
2009- Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism Mentor Teaching Artist
2008- Rotary International
2006- Programming Committee – Hygienic Galleries, New London, CT.
2006- Bulgarian-American Exchange Program – Griffis & Orpheus Foundations, USA and Bulgaria.
2006- Elected Artist – Norwich Arts Council, Norwich, CT / Mystic Arts Center, Mystic, CT.
2005- Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism Teaching Artist
2005- Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism Urban Artists Initiative - Fellow
