Michel Tsouris

Artist’s Statement

what is art?

is a lifelong question for every artist and every audience of art

getting at the definition, the feeling, the essence of what we have, when we say we have, art

i asked myself this question for 360 consecutive days

i kept a journal of the questions i posed and the conclusions i began to draw-i compiled these into a book “Art/Not Art, in 360 Degrees”

i interviewed over 100 people- friends, colleagues and strangers, to get a broader insight into how we view art, or how we define art- i made a video titled “What Is Art” of the interviews and i present that at Brackenwood this October

i made 360+ drawings in an attempt to make a disciplined practice of, what i considered to be, acts of art making- i collected these drawings into a book titled “360 Days of Drawings.

I believe the question is often answered with examples of art, which satisfy the aesthetics of whoever is answering the question, what is art?

I also think the question is answered by repeating what one has been instructed to say about art, rather than what one has learned by interacting with art.

In this project I wanted to pose the question to myself until i felt truly satisfied with a definition, and more importantly to arrive at a definition that would lead me most productively on my journey forward in making art.

Taking the question into the street was extremely instructive. Very few people refused to answer, many were eager to answer, some were only able to give an answer that they were taught, some gave me a deeply personal response, a few were made uncomfortable, others welcomed a much longer discussion than my video project was able to include. There was philosophizing and remembering, pontificating and recoiling, but generally an agreement to be engaged.

And it is the agreement to be engaged, the communion of energies, that I have come to consider, the most valuable part of what i call, art.

Encaustic Painting
The introduction of wax into my work over the past ten years has enabled a more faithful use of materials.
The subjects that most interest me are not always on the surface of the conscious mind. The beauty of translucent beeswax brings me closer to an understanding that memory and though are often veiled, incomplete and mysterious.
This lovely material makes me realize that moments of great clarity are sparsely interspersed in our experiential life and also fleeting.
The process of painting with these materials finds me constantly reaching for knowledge,
insight and most importantly connection, through the veils of my perception.

Process for Encaustics
I work primarily with a tar ground. I chose this dark and textural surface because it reminds me of the depth of the unconscious mind. At the start of a piece I prefer to work without a specific concept. The murky grounds are evocative and subtly direct the painting. The tar ground is a space onto which I can project whatever resides just beneath the surface of consciousness.
My process evolves by identifying shapes and forms suggested in the dark ground. I use oil paint, tar, galkyd medium, cold wax and encaustic to build multiple layers of shape, form, line and eventually rendering more specific imagery.
I work in series, and I find that objects recur, and I mine them for meaning.
Recurring images will transform or disappear altogether as I work with them over a period of months or years.
My painting process leads me more than I lead it. While I work a title a word or phrase will occur. I may allow them to remain legible as content or obscure them by burying them in subsequent layers of material. My work is informed by continued study of philosophy, especially eastern philosophy, psychology, the new physics and the work of other painters.
I am a fan of Alan Watts, Joseph Campbell, Albert Einstein, Annie Dillard, Richard Diebenkorn, Picasso, Van Gogh, Rauschenberg and Antonio Tapies.
I am after a sense of being in the world unattached to its material constraints.
My interest is in discovering the processes we all go through to make our lives ‘’mean’’ something. I love paint and the physical act of mark making.
I love discovering materials and techniques that will deliver the subject of the piece into a cohesive and expressive form.

Resume
1997 to 2009 . Partner . Karthia Design Group . Moss Landing, CA / Langley, WA
1990 to 1997 . Adjunct Professor . La Roche College . Pittsburgh, PA
1994 to 1995 . Artist/Lecturer . Carnegie-Mellon University . Pittsburgh, PA
1993 to 1997 . Faculty . Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh
1991 to 1993 . Faculty . Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Academic
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art . Philadelphia, PA

Duquesne University . Pittsburgh, PA M.S.Ed.Pscyhology ‘75

Fleischer Art Memorial . Philadelphia, PA

University of Pittsburgh . Pittsburgh, PA

Representation

Brackenwood Gallery, Whidbey Island, WA

Carmel Art Association, Carmel, CA

Bennett Galleries, Nashville, TN

Gallery Chiz Neuberg, Pittsburgh, PA

Awards
Brookside Art Annual, Featured Artist and Publicaiton Reward, 2009
Brookside Art Annual, Best in Painting, Kansas City,KS 2005
Portland Arts Festival, Portland, WA, 2005
Bellevue Art Museum, Juror’s Award, Bellevue, WA 2001
Monterey Museum of Modern Art, Jurors Best of Show Award, 2003
Mill Valley Arts Festival, Best in Painting, 2002
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Best of Show, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh,1996
Carnegie Museum of Art, Purchase Award, Associated Artists, Art Conservancy of Latrobe, 1995
Pittsburgh Society of Artists, Jurors Award, 1992, 1994, 1995
Warhol Museum, Honorable Mention, Miles Corporation, , Pittsburgh Commission on Women 1994
Honorable Mention, Poverty in the Nineties, Pittsburgh Food Bank, Poster Art Competition 1991
Exhibition Award, SOHO International Art Competition, NY, NY 1990
Publication Award, ARS FEMINA Calendar Competition, 1983
Best of Show, Fleischer Art Memorial Exhibition, 1983

Residencies
Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta, Canada 1996

Museum Exhibitions

University of California, Santa Cruz, Cowell Gallery, Exemplary Contemporary, 2004

Bellevue Art Museum, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006

Monterey Museum of Modern Art, 2001, 2003, 2004
Sun Valley Art Center, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Boca Raton Art Museum, Boca Raton, FL, 2006
Kinsey Institute, Selected Works from the Robertello Collection, 2003
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, Ca, July-Sept. 1998
Pro Arts, Oakland, CA 1998
Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA 1998
Alchemy, Stiffel Fine Arts Center, Olgebay Institute, W.VA 1997
Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Annual, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pgh.,PA 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996
Art for Aids, Frick Fine Arts, University of Pittsburgh 1991-1997
Landscape:10 Points of View, Stiffel Fine Arts Center, Ogelbay Institute 1995
Solo and Group Exhibitions, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts 1991-1995
Alchemy, Hoyt Institute, PA 1994
Exhibit 280, Huntingdon Museum of Art, W.VA 1994
Miles for Women, Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA 1994
Illumination, Parkersburg Museum of Art, W.VA 1993.

Selected Exhibitions 1996 – 2010(*denotes solo exhibitions)

Brackenwood Gallery, Langley, WA this is where i live, 2010

Museo Gallery, Langley, WA group show January 2010

Art for Art, Santa Cruz CA 2010, 2008

KarlsonGray Gallery, Langley, WA 2008, 2009
Museo Gallery, Langley, WA 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
*Post Ranch, Big Sur, CA
Art In The Pearl, Portland, OR
Mowen-Solinsky Gallery, Nevada City, CA
JET Artworks, Washington, DC
Cherry Creek Art Festival, Denver, CO
NorthBeach Gallery, SF, CA
*Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA
Sausalito Fine Arts Festival, Sausalito, CA
Bennett Galleries, Nashville and Knoxville, TN
Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
Plaza Art, Kansas City, MO
Ann Arbor Arts Festival, Ann Arbor, MI
Woodside Arts Festival, Woodside, CA
LaQuinta Arts Festival, LaQuinta, CA
Contemporary Craft Market, SF and Santa Monica, CA
Carmel Art Association, “Surfaces” Carmel, CA
Fort Worth Texas Arts, Fort Worth, TX
Marin Fine Arts Festival, Marin, CA
Mill Valley Fine Arts Festival, Mill Valley, CA
*Remain in Light*, Hespe Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Santa Cruz Art League Members Exhibition, Santa Cruz, CA
Featured Bay Area Artists, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Group Show, Berkeley Arts Center Association, Berkeley, CA
*Serial Momentary Presence*, Gallery Chiz, Pittsburgh PA
Constant Paradox*, Hespe Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Welcome to Oakland, Pro Arts Association, Oakland, CA
Introductions 97, San Francisco Art Dealers Association, Pro Arts, Oakland CA
Open Studios*, Pro Arts Association, Oakland CA
Group Show, Charles Hespe Gallery, San Francisco CA
Boxes, Hewlett Gallery, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA
Meaning of Community, Brew House Space 101, Pittsburgh PA
*Run Through Me/When Air was Electric*, Gallery Chiz, Pittsburgh PA
*Parallel Visions, Three Rivers Arts Festival, PPG Plaza, Pittsburgh PA
Group A Annual, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA
Drawing and Beyond, Group A at Gallery in the Square, Pittsburgh PA
The Breast, Lascaux Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
*In Flagrante Dilecto*, Carlynn Gallery, Delray Beach FL
Pittsburgh Society of Artists Annual, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA

Publications

This Is Where I Live, Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn NY, 2010

Poems for My Father, 2008

Pictures on the Road I Travel, Cover Illustration for Andreena Zawinski, 2008
Liquid Like This, Cover Illustration for Leslie McIlroy 2008
Piitsburgh City Paper, 2008
South Whidbey Record. 05/ 2005, 09/2005, 05/2006, 08/2006/2007
Coast Weekly. 09/2001
HeArt Magazine . 11/98
Pittsburgh Tribune Review . 10/93, 11/94, 8/95, 9/95, 3/96, 11/96, 1/97, 7/98
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . 5/90, 1/93, 11/94, 8/95, 9/95, 10/96, 12/96,
In Pittsburgh Newsweekly . 5/92, 10/93, 10/94, 9/95, 10/96, 12/96, 7/98
Vision . Catalog of the Collection . Art Conservancy of Latrobe 12/96
The Pittsburgh Quarterly . Cover Illustration 1996
Transmission . 96 Eyes Press . March 1996
Mad River . Jan Beatty . University of Pittsburgh Press 1995
Traveling in Reflected Light . Andreena Zawinski . Pig Iron Press . Ohio 1995
Ravenous . Jan Beatty . State Street Press . NY, NY 1995
Sistersong, Women in Culture . Pittsburgh, PA 1995
Landscape: 10 Points of View . Exhibition Catalog . Stiffel Fine Arts Center . W.VA 1995
Art in Alliquippa . Exhibition Catalog 1995, 1996
Pittsburgh Magazine . WQED Productions . November 1995
Brainwash . Ric Wisinski Publication 1994
AAP 84th Annual Exhibition Catalog . Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 1994
Pittsburgh Style Magazine . June 1994
Further Magazine . 1992, 1993, 1994
City Paper Newsweekly . Coleen McKay . October 1993
Neighbors . Coleen McKay . October 1993
5AM Ochester and Vollmer . University of Pittsburgh 1992
“ A” Magazine . Editorial Commentary and Illustration . 1990

Reviews
South Whidbey Record, 2005, 6, 7, 8, 9,10

Santa Cruz Weekly 2008, 2010

Monterey Herald, 2004

New Art Examiner . Alchemy . 5/97
Akron Free Times . Leslie Stewart Curtis . 2/97
Pittsburgh Tribune Review . Graham Shearing . 10/93, 11/94, 6/94, 1/94, 2/96, 11/96, 7/98
Pittsburgh Post- Gazette . D. Miller, P. Lowry, J. McCall, M. Thomas 1990- 1993, 7/95,9/95, 10/96
In Pittsburgh Newsweekly . Chris Potter . 9/95
City Paper . Coleen McKay . 10/93
Neighbors . Coleen McKay . 10/93
Pittsburgh Magazine . Harry Schwalb . 9/90

Selected Exhibitions 1983 – 1995
Director’s Choice, Julie Heller Gallery, Provincetown MA
Pittsburgh Painted, Third Street Gallery, Carnegie PA
Women’s Week, Julie Heller Gallery, Provincetown MA
In Flagrante Dilecto*, Zenith Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Images ’95, HUB Gallery, Pennsylvania State University, State College PA
Pittsburgh Society of Artists Annual, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA
Faculty Exhibition, La Roche College, Pittsburgh PA
Overdue Images, Zenith Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Open House*, Brew House Association, Space 101, Pittsburgh PA
Art in Alliquippa, Alliquippa PA
40-Odd Pittsburgh Artists, Lascaux Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh PA
Masks, Zenith Gallery,, Pittsburgh PA
Pittsburgh Society of Artists, LaRoche College, Allison Park PA
Deliver Us*, LaFond Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Alchemy, Zenith Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Art with a Heart, Pittsburgh Aids Task Force, Pittsburgh PA
Group Show, Carson Street Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Iron, Glass, Steel, Aluminum and Paint, 937 Gallery, AAP, Pittsburgh PA
50-Group A Annual, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA
Passion, Art From The Heart, AIGA, Pittsburgh PA
10x10x10, Hewlett Gallery, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA
Is This Our Beautiful House…after years of rearranging the furniture?*,
Carson Street Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Hoyt Regional, The Hoyt Institute, Newcastle PA
A Fair in the Park, Pittsburgh Craftsmen’s Guild, Sahdyside PA
How Can I Think When You Keep Touching Me?, Garfield Artworks, Garfield PA
Illumination, Light Installation, 937 Gallery, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh PA
83rd Annual Associated Artists Exhibition, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh PA
Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh PA
Regional Artists Exhibition, Martha Gault Gallery, Slippery Rock State College
Regional Artists Exhibition, Community College of Allegheny County PA
ReThinking Columbus, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh
House of Steel, 24 Hours in Aliquippa, Aliquippa PA
Confluence, Group A, River Run Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Faculty Show, Le Pouldu, Brittany, France
Under the Influence*, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA
Miniatures, Carson Street Gallery,
Influence*, Ground Zero, Rehobeth Beach, DE
Lost in Soho, Art Without Walls, Pittsburgh PA
Smoking Monkeys*, Installation, Art Without Walls, Pittsburgh PA
81st Annual Associated Artists Exhibition, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh PA
80 in 90 AAP Annual Exhibition, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh PA
Three Rivers Arts Festival, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, Pittsburgh PA
Perleman Proudfoot Tsouris, Ward-Nasse Gallery, New York NY
Soho International Art Competition, Ariel Gallery, New York, NY
As The Parthenon Becomes A Distant Memory*, Mendelson Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Fears of Melting*, North Star Gallery, Philadelphia PA
Breakfast with Hurricane Hugo 105 Miles Offshore*, Studio Z Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
A Show of Hands, LaPelle Gallery, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia PA
New Artists, Catherine Starr Gallery, Philadelphia PA
31st Annual Festival of the Arts, Chicago IL
Images ’92, Penn State University Gallery, State College PA
8×8 Associated Artists, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA
Pittsburgh Society of Artists Annual, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA
Kennywood, Carson Street Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Faculty Exhibit, LaRoche College, Allison Park PA
Faculty Exhibit, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA
Ars Femina, Urban Outfitters, Philadelphia PA
South Street Arts Fair, Philadlephia PA
Poverty in the 90’s, Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank, The Artery, Pittsburgh PA
The Underlying Structure of Cacophony*, Carson Street Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
Shadyside Arts Festival, 1989, 1990, Shadyside PA
From Form to Fancy: Contemporary Teapots, National Invitational,
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA
North Star 10th Anniversary Show, Philadelphia, PA
Back to Back, AAP New Members Show, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh PA
Art For Aids, Frick Fine Arts Gallery, 1991-1992, Pittsburgh PA

Commissions . Collections . Public Art . Public Art Projects
Over 1000 works in public and private collections . United States and Europe