SANDRA MACDIARMID BIO
EDUCATION
2005-07 Katherine Chang-Liu, Florence, Italy (Private Instruction)
2004 Carole Burnes, Florence, Italy (Private Instruction)
2002 Livia Stern, Florence, Italy (Private Instruction)
1998 Santa Reperatta, Florence, Italy (Private Instruction)
1988 Kala Institute, Berkeley, California. Instructor: Linda Goodman
1982 San Jose State University, San Jose, California: Master of Arts
1979 Kala Institute, Berkeley, California. Instructor: Krishna Reddy
San Jose State University, San Jose, California, B.A. Painting & Drawing
1978 Bachelor of Arts, San Jose State University, San Jose, California
1975 De Anza College, Cupertino, California, Instructor: Roberta Loach
1970-73 Institute of Experimental Printmaking, University of California, Santa Cruz, California
1966 Instituto Allende, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, Instructor: Sr. Kortlang
1965 Texas A & I College, Kingsville, Texas
TEACHING
1983-95 Art Instructor, Mission College, Santa Clara, California. printmaking, life drawing
1979-90 Private Teaching: Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking
Painting, The Villages, San Jose, California
1978 Printmaking, Campbell Community Center, Campbell, California
Drawing, Alamaden Community Center, Campbell, California
1976-78 Printmaking, Alamaden Community Center, San Jose, California
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016 Surfacing, B. Deemer Gallery, Louisville, KY
2011 A Certain Slant of Light, B. Deemer Gallery, Louisville, KY
2008 A Separate Space, B. Deemer Gallery, Louisville, KY
2005 Recordo Italia, B. Deemer Gallery, Louisville, KY
2000-02 B. Deemer Gallery, Louisville, KY
1997 Capital Gallery, Frankfort, KY
1994 Art Source, Richmond, VA
1991 Stems, San Jose, CA
1989 Eulipia, San Jose, CA
1987 I. Magnin Gallery, Sacramento, CA
The Village Gallery, Orinda, CA
1986-87 Djurovich Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1985 Greenleaf Gallery, Saratoga, CA
1983-97 Capital Gallery of Contemporary Art, Frankfort, KY
1982 Women’s History Week, Vintage Hall, Napa, CA
Stanford University, Stern Hall, Stanford, CA
1972-82 Montalvo Center for the Arts, Saratoga, CA
1969 The Frameup Gallery, Los Gatos, CA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2012 New Works- 99th Annual Members Exhibition, California Society of Printmakers, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2011 Statewide Watercolor Competition & Exhibition, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2006 Works by Artists: Celebrating 25 Years, Capital Gallery, Frankfort, KY
2005 California Landscapes, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
American Figurative Art, Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA
2004 90th Annual Exhibition, California Society of Printmakers, Works/San Jose, San Jose, CA
2001 Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
Japonisme: Asian Inspirations, Target Gallery, Alexandra, VA
2000 Italy Revisited, Capital Gallery, Frankfort, KY
1986-2000 Valentine Invitational, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
1996, 91, 88 San Jose Symphony Show Case, San Jose, CA
1998 CIAO ITALIA, Capital Gallery, Frankfort, KY
1994 Mustard Show, Invitational, St. Helena, CA
The Road Show, Capital Gallery, Frankfort, KY
1986-94 Fifty Years of Art, San Jose Art League Invitational, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA
1991 Prints Plus, Tandem Computers, Inc., Cupertino
1990 Santa Clara County-A Half Century of Change, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
The Gazing Ball, Capital Gallery, Frankfort, KY
1989 W.P.A. Monotypes Plus, Citadel Print Center, San Jose, CA
American Print Makers: Past & Present, Capital Gallery, Frankfort, KY
Interart, San Francisco, CA
1988-89 Branner Spangenberg Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
Citadel Print Center-Small Print Exhibition, San Jose, CA
1988 Society of Arts, Eden Crescent, Auckland, New Zealand
Small Painting Show, Greenleaf Gallery, Saratoga, CA
Nine Artists From America, Terni, Italy
The Artists' Vision: “A World Without War,” San Jose Art League, Downtown Gallery, San Jose, CA
Imprint, California and New Zealand Printmakers
1987 Frans Masereel Center, Printmaking Invitational, Antwerp, Belgium
1986-87 The San Jose Print, American Embassies & American Cultural Centers Invitational, traveling to Belgium, Pakistan, Nepal, India & Japan.
1982 21 Contemporary American Realists, by art writer Dorothy Burkhart, San Jose Mercury News, San Jose, CA. Exhibition review
1981 Contemporary Abstract Artists, Greenleaf Gallery, Saratoga, CA
First Annual Open Art Graduate Show, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Our Creative Link, WORKS, San Jose, CA. Invitational, three generations of women's work
Three Women Printmakers, Castilleja School, Siepp Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
SELECTED COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
2015 California Watercolor Association International Competition, Silver Award
2013 Statewide Painting Competition & Exhibition, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2012 California Society of Printmakers 100th Anniversary Exhibition Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA Honorable Mention Award
2011 Water+Color, 42nd National Exhibition, California Watercolor Association, Marin Society of Artists Gallery, Ross, CA Bronze Award
2010 Pastels USA: 24th Annual International Exhibition, The Pastel Society of the West Coast, Art Museum of Los Gatos, Los Gatos, CA President's Award
2008 Statewide Painting Competition & Exhibition, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
50th Anniversary Juried Show, Gallery House, Palo Alto, CA
2007 Holiday Lites Juried Show, Lauren Taylor Contemporary Art Gallery, Carmel, CA
Pastel Society of the West Coast International Competition, Sacramento, CA
The Pastel Journal 8th Annual Pastel 100, 2 Honorable Mentions
2006 Watercolor USA 2006, The Springfield Museum of Art, Springfield, MO
The Pastel Journal: 7th Annual Pastel 100, Honorable Mention
Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition, Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO
2005 6th Annual Pastel 100, The Pastel Journal, Abstract Division, April, pg. 71. Honorable Mention
2004 5th Annual Pastel 100, The Pastel Journal, March/April. Honorable Mention
Pacific Prints 2004, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA. Smith Anderson
Pastels USA 2004: 18th Annual International Open Exhibition, Pastel Society of the West Coast, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2003 American Figurative Art Exhibit, Santa Cruz, CA
Washington Printmakers National Small Works, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
The Pastel Journal: 4th Annual Pastel 100, Honorable Mention
2002 Pacific Prints 2002, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
1996 Land-Sea-Skyline, Pastel Society of America, 1st Regional Exhibition, Joanne
Chappell Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1990 Santa Clara County Fair, San Jose, CA. 4th Place Painting
Santa Clara County Fair, San Jose, CA, Best of Show, 1st Place Painting
1987 Kansas Pastel Society, 3rd Annual Exhibition, Wichita, KS. Pastel Society of America Award
1986 San Jose Art League’s 17th Annual 2-D Art Regional, Santa Clara, CA
National Arts Club 90th Annual Exhibition, Gramercy Park South, NY. Mary Hill Memorial Award
Second Annual Invitational Exhibition, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
1985 Annual Art Competition, Sunnyvale, CA
Santa Clara County Fair, San Jose, CA, 2nd Place Graphics
Kansas Pastel Society 2nd Annual Exhibition, Wichita, KS. Juror: Harvey Dinnerstein
1981 Beyond Words Competition, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
San Jose Art League’s 12th Annual 2-D Art Regional, San Jose, CA. Juror: Henry Hopkins, Director, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Women’s Graphics 8th International Miniature Print Exhibition, New York, NY
Pratt Graphic’s 8th International Miniature Print Exhibition, New York, NY
1978-81 Women’s Graphic Competition, Los Gatos, CA, Honorable Mention, Drawing Purchase Award (‘80)
1979 Fiesta de Artes, Los Gatos, CA. Third Award- Drawing
1978 Fiesta de Artes, Los Gatos, CA. Honorable Mention- Etching
1977-78 TAPESTRY & TALENT, San Jose, CA
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Advance Micro Systems, Sunnyvale, CA
American Tobacco Co., Permanent Collection, Richmond, VA
Apple Computer, Inc., San Jose, CA
Art Indicies, Palo Alto, CA
Blue Cross Blue Shield Corporate Headquarters, Richmond, VA
Blue Cross of California, Permanent Collection, San Francisco, CA
Brown-Forman Corporation, Louisville, KY
City of Sunnyvale, Permanent Collection, CA
County of Santa Cruz, CA (donation from the Heil Family)
Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Corporate Offices, Memphis, TN
Crump Group, San Francisco, CA
De Bonheur Children’s Medical Center, Memphis, TN
First Health Services Corporation, Richmond, VA
Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose, CA
Hometek, Santa Clara, CA
IBM, Walnut Creek, CA
InfoSeek, Sunnyvale, CA
Kaiser Hospitals, Oakland, San Jose, Mt. View, Stockton, Santa Clara, CA
Library of Congress, Washington, DC (monotype in the prints & drawing collection)
Lighthouse Systems, Milpitas, CA
Louisville Gas and Electric, Louisville, KY
Media General, Virginia Magazine
Nordstrom, Washington, D.C. & Sacramento, CA
Oral B, San Francisco, CA
Pacific Bell, Los Angeles, CA
Peritus Public Relations, Louisville, KY
Raycom Media, Montgomery, AL
Richmond International Airport, Richmond, VA
Republic Bank, Granada Hills, CA
Sheraton-Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Siemens, Cupertino, CA
Silicon Graphics, California and Japan
Summit Medical Center, Oakland, CA
Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA
Virginia Beach Resort & Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Va
Virginia Commonwealth University, VA
World Trade Center, Norfolk, VA
20th Century Fox, Los Angeles, CA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2016 Incite 4: Relax, Restore, Renew (The Best of Mixed Media), North Light Publishing, Fort Collins, CO, September
2014 Ones to Watch, by Jessica Canterbury, Watercolor Artist Magazine, F& W Media, Inc., Blue Ash, OH. December, pg. 23,33
California Society of Printmakers- Portfolio, (group selection), Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., March
2011 Water+Color, 42nd National Exhibition, California Watercolor Association, Marin Society of Artists Gallery, Ross, CA. Catalog- pgs. 6, 27
2010 Art: Twenty-Ten, Open Summer Studio with Katherine Chang Liu, Ventura, CA. Catalog, pg. 36-37
Pastels U.S.A.: 24th Annual International Open Exhibition, The Pastel Society of the West Coast, Art Museum of Los Gatos, Los Gatos, CA. Catalog, pgs. 4, 11, 19
2006 Watercolor USA 2006, The Springfield Museum of Art, Springfield, MO. Catalog, pg. 14
Rocky Mountain National Watermedia 2006, Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO. Catalog, p. 26
2005 6th Annual Pastel 100, The Pastel Journal, Abstract Division, April, pg. 71
2004 5th Annual Pastel 100, The Pastel Journal, March/April
Pacific Prints 2004, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA. Honorable Mention, catalog.
1993 Alexander's Ragtime Band, review by Peggy Alexander, The Napa Valley Register. June 20
1987 Critic's Choice, by Dorothy Burkhart, San Jose Mercury News, San Jose, CA. January 11, pg. 18
1984 'Places in Pastels' art exhibition opens at Gallery, by Susan Page, The State Journal Spectrum, Frankfort, KY. October 21, pg. 29
1982 Scatter-gun Approach Peppers Realism Show, by Dorothy Burkhart, San Jose Mercury News, San Jose, CA. Art review August
1980 The Art of the Good Life, by staff writer Ellen Goodwin, San Jose, CA. Local News, pg. 1 & 2
ARTIST STATEMENTS
December 2008- The Abstracts
At this stage of my journey as a painter, I am drawing upon years of travel, observations of surfaces, fabrics, textures and landscapes. My history of painting, printmaking, pastels and drawing has become a multi-layered exploration of abstracts on paper and canvas.
From my photographs and sketches I observe then distill the surfaces of Tuscany, the chariot ruts in Pompeii, column fragments of Rome, a worn kimono in Japan, the stones and reflections of Venice; images at once ancient and modern, translucent and opaque.
To attain this imagery, I experiment with techniques that include sgraffito, glazing, sanding adding elements and repainting, gaining and losing the surface, overlapping shapes and colors.
I attempt to portray change and decay and the interplay of space and light along with the perfect and imperfect together, honoring the passage of time and cultures that have gone before me, honoring my ancestors.
A Certain Slant of Light- 2011
On my first trip to Italy in 1970, I was in Florence and knew nothing, except what I had studied so diligently beforehand. A stranger walked up to me and asked directions to the David and Dantes Home. I immediately knew exactly where it was and told him. I have no idea just how I knew this, but do know that this is exactly the way I have felt in Italy ever since. I arrive there and feel immediately surrounded by everything I love...art, architecture, history, the warmth of the people, food, wine and last but not least, the landscape and the colors. I have been many times- from Milan and Venice down to Naples and Herculaneum and Pompeii and never lost that sense of wonder and appreciation. I have shared many trips to Italy with my dear friend Daryl, which is why the entire show is dedicated to her. I will continue to read all I can, remember all I can and look forward to returning as often as I can.
