Painting - Sculpture - About Us - Contact

CHRIS WILSON

8600 NE O'Dean Ave
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 441-1563

www.ChrisWilsonStudios.com

EDUCATION:

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Art Education, December 1970
  Post graduate studies:
       1986 Studio Art Foundry and Papermaking - University of Minnesota

Other: 
   2008 Anchoring Curriculum: Music-Drumming – Mu Daiko, Perpich Center for Arts Education
   2007 Pastel Workshop, Cambridge Community College
   2006 Retreat for the Arts Conference, Albert Lea, MN
   2004&5 Artist & Educator Institute, Bemidji State University
   2003 Sumi-e painting workshop , Edina Art Center
   2002 Plaited baskets, Minnesota textiles center.
   2001 Experimental Letterpress Techniques, Minnesota Center for the Book Arts
   2000 Sweet grass basket making, Penland School for the Arts and Crafts, Asheville, NC
   1998 Book-binding workshop at the Minnesota Center for the Book Arts, Mpls., MN
   1993 "Women, Fire and Iron", University of Minnesota Conference

Guild of Metalsmiths' classes and seminars:
    1992-2001 Annual Conferences for metalsmiths with demonstrators of national and international stature
    2001 Welding for Artists - Valerie Weihman, Madison Area Vo-Tech College, Madision, WI
    2000 "Tinsmithing" - Dave Brown, Heritage Smithing, Green Bay, WI
    1998 Weaving a Basket Birdhouse - Sheri Stanaitis, Baldwin, WI.
    1997 Sculpting Animal heads in hot iron - Paul Hubler
    1997 Black ash, basket weaving - Tim Evans, Bemidji
    1996 Patinas - Sam Campbell
    1994 Hammer Making - Ollie Juaire
    1992 Basic Blacksmithing - Pete Stanaitis/Robert Fredell

  Seminars:
    1990 Archival Framing Techniques, Twin City Moulding
    1980 Health Hazards in the Arts and Crafts - University of Minnesota

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

  1996-2009 Multi-district substitute teacher
  2001 Taught workshop for the Guild of Metalsmiths, metal casting and mold making
  2000-01 Long Term Substitute - Elementary Art - Elk River, MN School District
  1999 Guest speaker, May members meeting of "Artists del Norte", Anoka, MN
  1999 Taught workshop for the Guild of Metalsmiths, "Hammered Copper Fountains"
  1976-79 Eden High School, New So. Wales, Australia,

• •. While working in New South Wales Ms. Wilson helped to develop the state elementary art curriculum and established a traveling exhibition of elementary and high school student work.  

  Bar None Boy's Ranch, St. Francis, MN

AWARDS AND HONORS:

2004 Member's Award, "Arts in Harmony" Gov't Ctr, Elk River, Mn.
2003 Honorable mention/ painting @ MN State Fair Fine Art Show
1999 First place, sculpture division, "2001 Arts Alliance" show, Elk River, MN
1993 First Peer Award - Metal, MCC Fiber/Metal Show

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

2003-2007 4 year appointment to the board at the Perpich Center for Arts Education.
1999-2009 contributing member of the Elk River Area Arts Alliance
1998 creation of 6' diameter x 3" deep light box with a stained glass transparency, installed 30' over the altar at Gustavus Chapel, St. Peter, MN
1995 waxes, molds and castings of antique clock parts for Charles Dokas, Chicago, IL 1994 Volunteer at Pease Academy, U of M east bank, Mpls, MN
1992 installed seven ton stone with gold-leafed signage at the Bank of Elk River
1991 custom hardware for the Paulucci home, Lake of the Isles, Mpls., MN
1986-87 Assistant Graphic Designer and Keyliner for Vineyard Publishing
1984 Ms. Wilson was foreman of the molds and wax section at The Mettle Works during the production of New York based SITE Architects' "Inside-Outside Building" project for BEST Products in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Hundreds of bronze and aluminum facsimile artifacts were cast from her waxes.

PUBLICATIONS/REVIEWS:

1997 St. Paul Pioneer Press review, "Women Working Metal"
1988 Hawaii Magazine, October issue
1983 Artists Profile, Elk River Star News, Elk River, Minnesota

CATALOGS:

1987 The Guild, page 86, Kraus/Sikes, Inc. New York, New York
1988 The Guild, page 26, Kraus/Sikes, Inc. New York, New York

BOOKS:

Contemporary Crafts for the Home, published by Kraus-Sikes Inc. 1990

EXHIBITIONS and SHOWS :

    2008 Genus Elephas Premier Gallery, Minneapolis
    2007 MN State Fair, Fine Arts Show
    2007 "Arts in Harmony" Sherburne Co. Gov. Center
    2006 National Sumi-e show, Bloomington Arts Center, Bloomington, MN   
    2004 "Arts in Harmony" Sherburne Co. Gov. Center
    2002 "Arts in Harmony" Sherburne Co. Gov. Center
    2001 "2001 Arts Alliance" show, Elk River, MN
    2001 Sumi-e show at Edina Arts Center, Edina, MN
    2001 "Oriental Brushwork", a Sumi-e show at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN and Phoenix, AZ
    2000 "Arts in Harmony" Sherburne Co. Gov. Center
    2000 Minnesota Sumi-e show, Sheldon Auditorium, Red Wing MN
    1999 "2001 Arts Alliance" show, Elk River, MN
    1999 "16 on the River" art show, Bloomington, MN
    1998 "Artisans" show at Calhoun Square, Mpls., MN
    1997 "Arts in Harmony" Sherburne Co. Gov. Center
    1997 "Women Working Metal" exhibition at College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN
    1996 "Arts in Harmony" Sherburne Co. Gov. Center
    1996 86 th Annual Fine Arts Show, Minnesota State Fair, juried
    1996 "16 on the River" art show , Bloomington, MN
    1992 82 nd Annual Fine Arts Show, Minnesota State Fair, juried
    1990 "Paper/Fiber XIII. nat'I. juried exhibit, lowa City, lA.
    1990 American Crafts Exhibition, juried, Mpls. Mn.
    1989 Minn. Artists Assoc. juried invitational, St. Paul, Minnesota
    1989 "Dreams and Visions", Bloomington Art Center. Bloomington, Minnesota
    1988 Studio 13. Minneapolis, Minnesota
    1988 "Ancient Inspirations", Carlyn Gallery, Inc., Madison Ave., New York, New York, invitational
    1988 Minn. Artists Assoc. juried invitational, St. Paul, Minnesota
    1987 Studio 13. Minneapolis, Minnesota
    1987 76 th Annual Fine Arts Show, Minnesota State Fair, juried
    1986 16 th Annual Works on Paper Exhibition, San Marcos, Texas, juried
    1984 WAVE Gallery Invitational, juried, St. Paul, Minnesota

COLLECTIONS:

Toni Sikes, Kraus/Sikes, Inc., New York, New York
Kathleen Wallace, Regional Head, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, Minnesota
Georgiana Rider, La Jolla, California
Angie Mueller, Atlanta, Georgia
Shirley Pope, Minnetonka, Minnesota
Look/Loeber Studios, Algoma, Wisconsin
Dianne Herman, Kodiak, Alaska
Deborah Frost, Anchorage, Alaska

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Minnesota Arlisls Association
American Crafls Council
Minnesota Crafts Council
The Guild of Metalsmiths