Bridget Fischer
Artist’s Statement
The subject and style of my work has encompassed a range from pure abstraction to photo-realism. I work in a variety of media including cast bronze, wood construction, oil on canvas, drawing, and monotype prints. I often explore an idea or theme in one medium then translate it into another medium.
The monotype offers me a way to work through ideas in a quick way, yet the product is not just a sketch, it is a finished work. With the monotype, there is always the factor of the unknown that is integral to the process. The image is a reversal of what I put onto the plate and I don’t know until I pull the paper away from the plate if what I put down has transferred. It is this element of the unknown that makes the process seductive.
Monotype offers a way to slow down time, bringing me into the present moment. The present moment is described in Chinese calligraphy, where the characters for “Mind” and “Heart” are written as one concept and referred to as “heart mind”. In the west, heart and mind are seen as separate or opposites creating a paradox. It is in this paradox where my art begins and ends in a heart and mind connection.
Education
M. F. A. University of Arizona
B. F. A. San Jose State University
A. A. West Valley Community College
Academic and Professional Appointments
Tenured Faculty: Cascadia Community College, Bothell WA Fall 2008-Present
Tenured: Professor of Art & Gallery Director Skyline College, San Bruno, CA 1992-2008
Professor of Art: Study abroad program: Paris spring 2006
Adjunct Faculty, Art Department, Mission Community College, Santa Clara, CA
1993-1999
Instructor, College of San Mateo: Emeritus Institute, San Mateo CA. 1996-1999
President of the Sanchez Art Center, Board of Directors, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA 2000-2001
Member of the Board of Director, Sanchez Art Center , Pacifica, CA 1997- 2000
Art Lab Technician, Mission Community College, Santa Clara, CA 1993-1997
Instructor, Art Department, University of Arizona Tucson, 1987-1989
Graduate Technical Assistant, University of Arizona, 1987-1989:
Foundry Supervisor, University of Arizona, 1987-89:
Technical Assistant to Head of Art Dept, University of Arizona, 1987-1989
Assistant Director, Joseph Gross Gallery, University of Arizona,
Summer- 1987 and 1988
Member: Dean’s Graduate Advisory Committee, University of Arizona, 1988
Member: Graduate Application Committee, University of Arizona, 1987 and 1988
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 1986
Grants and Awards
Presidents Innovation Fund Grant, Skyline College, 2002, 2003, 2004
Trustees Grant, Skyline College, 1999
Television Interview: Speaking on Own Work, Pacifica Currents, 1999
Finalist: Fleishaker Award, 1998
Creative Achievement Award, University of Arizona, 1988
Josette Pignato Scholarship, University of Arizona, 1987-88 and 1988-89
Teaching Fellowship, University of Arizona, 1987-88 and 1988-89
Tuition Scholarship and Graduate Teaching Assistantship, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 1986
Visiting Artist
Guest Artist: Monotype Demonstration, Art Guild of Pacifica, Pacifica, CA 1998
Guest Artist: Speaking on Own work, Cerro Coso Community College,
Ridgecrest, CA 1994
Instructor, Papermaking Workshop, De Frank Community Center,
San Jose, CA 1993
Guest Artist: Speaking on Own Work, with painting demonstration,
Skyline Community College, San Bruno , CA 1991
Instructor, Aluminum Sand Casting Workshop, Bridge Program,
Tucson Summer Arts Festival , University of Arizona, 1988
Co-instructor, Ceramic Shell Casting Workshop, San Jose State University,
San Jose, CA 1987
Guest Artist: Speaking on Own Work, Palm Springs Desert Museum,
Palm Springs, CA, 1988
Guest Artist Lecturer: AIRBRUSH and OIL PAINTING, Mission College,
Santa Clara, CA, 1986
Selected solo and Group Exhibitions
2011 It’s all in the Fine Print: Brackenwood Gallery, Langley, WA
2010 Froggwell Invitational: Printmaking and Sculpture, Freeland, WA
Bells, Books and Candlesticks: sculpture, prints and books Group exhibit,
Brackenwood Gallery, Langley, WA
Small Pleasures: Group exhibit, Brackenwood Gallery, Langley, WA
2009 Poetry of Paper and Bronze: 2 person show, Open door Gallery, Langley, WA
2nd annual hand pull Printmaking: Karlson/Gray Gallery, Langley, WA
“Forgeries: artist copies” Froggwell Gardens, Freeland, WA
Reflections (Group exhibit): Brackenwood Gallery, Langley, WA
2008 Printmaking: Karlson/Gray Gallery, Langley, WA
Open Studio Artists, Langley, WA
2007 Open Studio Artists, Langley, WA
XIIxXIIxXII, Bayview Front Room Gallery, Langley WA
2006 XIIxXIIxXII, Bayview Front Room Gallery, Langley WA
2005 Art Faculty, Gallery Theatre, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
Open Studio Artists, Langley, WA
XIIxXIIxXII, Bayview Front Room Gallery, Langley WA
2003 Group Exhibit: Object Gallery, San Jose, CA
2002 Faculty Art Exhibit, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
2000 Art Guild of Pacifica: Sanchez Art Center Gallery, Pacifica, CA
Faculty Art Show, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
1999 Two Person show: Sanchez Art Center Gallery, Pacifica, CA
1998 Arts On Fire, Sanchez Art Center Gallery, Pacifica, CA
40th annual Pacifica Art Guild Exhibition, Pacifica, CA
1997 Selected works: Sponsored by Santa Cruz Art League, at Chamanade.
Santa Cruz, CA
Faculty Art Show, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
Arts On Fire, Sanchez Art Center Gallery, Pacifica, CA
39th annual Pacifica Art Guild Exhibition, Pacifica, CA
1996 “Bridget Fischer New Work: Bronzes & Monoprints”
Michael P. Vargas Gallery , Mission College, Santa Clara , CA
38th annual Pacifica Art Guild Exhibition, Pacifica, CA
Group Show: Monoprints, The Mitre Box Gallery, Saratoga, CA
Group show: Monoprints, Michael P. Vargas Gallery, Mission College,
Santa Clara CA
1994 Bridget Fischer: Recent Sculpture and Paintings, The Mitre Box Gallery,
Saratoga, CA
Bridget Fischer: Sculpture, Cerro Coso Community College, Ridgecrest CA
1993 Faculty show: Gallery Theater, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
Hearts and Flowers: Gallery Theatre, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
1992 Two Person Exhibition: Forbidden Images Gallery, San Jose, CA
Squid Art ’92: India Joze Calamari Festival, Santa Cruz, CA
65th State wide exhibition-Santa Cruz Art League: Santa Cruz, CA
Abstract Gay: Forbidden Images Gallery, San Jose CA
1991 WORKS ON OR OF PAPER: INK People, Humbolt, CA
Two Person Exhibition: Wiseman Gallery, Rogue Community College,
Grants Pass, OR
1990 Three Person Exhibition: Modesto Community College Art Gallery, Modesto, CA
Body Parts: Figurative Realism, San Mateo City College, San Mateo CA
In and Out of Town: Tucson Arts Collective , Tucson, AZ
Introductions 1990: Fagen Peterson Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
1989 M.F.A. Thesis Exhibit, University Art Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
New American Landscape, Pacific Grove Art Center, Pacific Grove, CA
Northern California Artists, Joseph Gross Gallery, Tucson AZ
Works on Paper, Connecticut College, New London, CN
Bridget Fischer: Paintings and Drawings Centennial Hall, University of AZ,
Tucson
Small Sculpture Exhibition: Works by Women, National Sculpture Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1987-89, traveling exhibition
Artists Across America, Works on Paper, Traveling Exhibition 1988-89
Group Show: Paintings, Wingspan Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1988 What’s New In Art, Galesburg Art Center, Galesburg, IL
Primavera, Tucson Museum Of Art, Tucson, AZ