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Ellen Soffer Earlier paintings are usually the basis of inspiration for new work. A painting begins with drawing shapes and lines on the canvas. These compositional elements are abstract and I work on them intuitively. Later, stepping back, I may sense figurative or associative elements in the painting. It is important that these elements be universal forms- something that isn’t too literal but might be understood by or at least create intrigue for anyone anywhere. On another level, there is the uncertain space created by the overlapping forms. The space may seem to be inside or outside: exposed or concealed. This ambiguity is critical. The use of small marks to create pattern and intensity of color is an important aspect of many of the paintings. Interpretation is left to the individual viewer. My intention is that the paintings evoke feelings left behind by a dream, an emotion, or a memory without being limited to the specific details of the event itself. Solo Exhibitions
2008 Inside/Outside, Karpeles Manuscript Museum, Shreveport, Louisiana 2007 Milam Street Series/ New Works on Paper, Prima Tazza, Shreveport, Louisiana 2007 Candy Mountain and Other New Works, Artspace, Shreveport, Louisiana 2006 Works on Paper, Prima Tazza, Shreveport, Louisiana 2005 Broadmoor Library, Shreveport, Louisiana 1998 Magale Library, Centenary College, Shreveport, Louisiana 1993 Nexus/Foundation For Today’s Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1990 Bradley Gallery, Lakeland College, Sheboygan, Wisconsin 1990 Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center, Kilgore College, Kilgore, Texas 1989 Noel Memorial Library, Louisiana State University at Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana 1989 Turner Arts Center, Centenary College, Shreveport, Louisiana 1988 Sam Wiener Gallery, Stoner Arts Center, Shreveport, Louisiana 1987 Nexus/Foundation For Today’s Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1985 Nexus/Foundation For Today’s Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Selected Group Exhibitions
2009 Group Show, Cerulean Gallery, Dallas, Texas (upcoming) 2008 Deck the Halls, Artspace, Shreveport, Louisiana 2008 The Money Show, Artspace, Shreveport, Louisiana 2007 Artport- UP, Shreveport Regional Airport, Shreveport, Louisiana 2007 Texas Artists Coalition Juried Membership Show, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth, Texas, Juried by Ed and Linda Blackburn, Honorable Mention, 2007 War & Peace: Membership Show, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, Texas 2007 West Edge Artists’ Co-op Show, East Bank Gallery, Bossier Arts Center, Bossier City, Louisiana 2006 Meadows Museum Northwest Louisiana Artists’ Triennial Competition, Meadows Museum of Art, Shreveport, Louisiana, Juried by Meg Harders and Connie Bostic 2005 Deck the Halls, Artspace, Shreveport, Louisiana 2002 Traditions and Interpretations: Perspectives of 7 Jewish Artists, East Bank Gallery, Bossier Arts Council, Bossier City, Louisiana 1994 20” x 20 x 20”: A Compact Competition, Louisiana State University Art Gallery, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, juried by Melody Guichet, Greg Elliott, and Judi Stahl 1992 Concurrent Conversations, Taylor’s Contemporanea Fine Arts, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas 1991 Black/White: A Joint Venture in the Arts, Southern University, Shreveport, Louisiana 1991 Twenty-first Prints, Drawings and Photographs Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, Arkansas, juried by Sue Taylor 1991 Louisiana Competition 1991, Louisiana Arts and Science Center, Riverside Museum, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, juried by John Yau, Catalog 1990 Interstate 49: The Exhibition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, Louisiana, curated by Caroline Kennedy Stone and Steve Bradley 1990 Shrines and Rituals, Stoner Arts Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, curated by Linda Snider 1990 Season Opening Group Show, Hall/Barnett Gallery, New Orleans 1990 Island Introductions, Galveston Art Center, Galveston, Texas, Juried by Betty Moody 1990 The Red Clay Survey, Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, Alabama, Juried by Dr. Harry Rand, Catalog 1990 Womanspirit: Myth and Metaphor, Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, Florida, Juried by Dorothea Rockburne, Catalog 1989 SPAR 1989 National Art Exhibition, Barnwell Gardens and Art Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, Juried by Lou Thomas 1987 Ninth Biennial Five State Art Exhibition, Port Arthur Public Library Gallery, Port Arthur, Texas, Juried by Grahm Beal 1986 Art in City Hall-The Self-Portrait, Philadelphia City Hall, Philadelphia, Juried by Dean Savard 1986 Hudson Valley 86, Mid-Hudson Arts and Science Center, Poughkeepsie, New York, Juried by Holly Solomon 1986 Tenth Annual Small Works, 80 Washington Square East Galleries, New York University, New York City, Juried by Holly Solomon 1986 46th Annual, Woodmere Art Museum, Pennsylvania, Juried by Isaiah Zagar
Selected Bibliography
David Connelly, “Interstate 49: The Exhibition” Art Papers, November/December 1990. JoAnne Harris, “I-49 art exhibit is worth the drive to Alexandria,” The Shreveport Times, August 12, 1990. David Connelly, “Art exhibit unites cites linked by I-49,” Shreveport Journal, August 6, 1990. David Connelly, “We Don’t Do Windows,” Art Papers, May/June 1990. Jerry Cullum, “1989 SPAR National Art Exhibition,” Art Papers, November/December 1989. David Connelly, “Artists,” Shreveport Journal, November 3, 1989 Jerry Cullum, “SPAR exhibit ’food for thought,’ The Shreveport Times, September 23, 1989. David Connelly, “Two veterans of local art scene dominate SPAR Show-Shreveporters dominate SPAR National Art Exhibit,” Shreveport Journal, September 1, 1989. David Connelly, “Stoner exhibit attests to talents of women,” Shreveport Journal, March 9, 1988. Victoria Donahue, “Art,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 20, 1987. Rita Beyer, “Striking visual impact in works of Ellen Soffer,” Chestnut Hill Local, November 19, 1987. Lisa Stub-Viggianao, “More Reviews,” Art Matters, December 1985/January 1986. Victoria Donahue, “On Galleries,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 9, 1985.
Selected Awards, Public Collections, and Honors
2009 Collection, Newmont Mining Corporation, Denver, Colorado 2007 Visual Arts Fellowship Award, Shreveport Regional Arts Council, Shreveport, Louisiana 2007 Honorable Mention, Texas Artists Coalition Membership Show 2007, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth, Texas 1993 Residency, Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, Illinois 1988 Residency, Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, Illinois 1984 Residency, Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, Illinois, 1979 Collection, The Fabric Workshop, Philadelphia 1979 Apprentice Grant, Fabric Workshop, Philadelphia
Lectures/Public Speaking Engagements
Lecture, “Meadows Museum Northwest Louisiana Artists’ Triennial,” Meadows Museum of Art, Shreveport, Louisiana, 2006 Panel Discussion, “Interstate 49: The Exhibition,” Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, Louisiana, 1990 Lecture, Turner Arts Center, Centenary College, Shreveport, Louisiana, 1990 Interview, “Art Scene,” Cablevision, Shreveport, Louisiana, January 1989 Lecture, Stoner Arts Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, 1988
Education
1983 MFA, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago 1981 Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine 1981 BFA, Philadelphia College of Art, Philadelphia
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