Suzanne Stryk

Suzanne Stryk has shown her conceptual nature paintings in solo exhibits throughout the United States, including the Morris Museum of Art (GA), the United States Botanic Garden (DC), The Eleanor B. Wilson Museum (VA), and Gallery 180: The Illinois Institute of Art (Chicago). In 2005, a mid-career survey of the artist’s work, “Second Nature: The Art of Suzanne Stryk,” was organized by the William King Museum, an affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.  Collections that include Stryk’s paintings are the Smithsonian (DC), The David Brower Center (Berkeley, CA), The National Academy of Sciences (DC), the D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson Art Collection (Dundee, Scotland), and the Taubman Museum of Art (Roanoke, VA). 

STATEMENT

Stepping outside my studio for some sun last summer, I picked up a blackbird's egg that had fallen from its nest, while the parent bird shrieked from a tree above. How to tell him I didn't steal his egg? Looking from the glossy-brown orb in my palm to the agitated bird swooping overhead, I thought about that perfect egg---its pure potential---and the adult bird's struggle to survive and nest. Back inside my studio, I carefully placed the now cold egg on the white surface of my drawing table. There it became a sketch, rather than a fledgling. It then became part of my collection, and would later find itself in a painting. And the bird? He and his mate would try again, involved in their own passionate urge, taking grasses and sticks one by one to the crook of the tree to mend their nest. Watching this renewed ritual, I imagined the spiraling chains of genes responsible for those wings tipped richly red. I could begin to grasp that. But my spine tingled with the idea that some little sequence of molecules could instruct something so intricate as the act of nest building. And later, guide the distant flight south, navigating by stars and forces of the earth I'd never felt.

In late fall, weather cold and leaves fallen, I loosened the blackbird's nest from the limb and placed it in my studio. The tangle of twigs no longer served to shelter eggs, but nestled among an array of sketches, print-outs of gene sequences, scraps of dried plants, field guides, pencils with worn-down erasers, rows of beetles in boxes, bits of turtle shell, and other natural fragments. This nest had lost its original purpose while gaining another amid my chaotically ordered collections.

Now a row of eggs glistens from the black ground of a painting on my easel, each detailed with umber calligraphic streaks under a smooth glaze, and each labeled with a tiny white number. One egg's cracked open. Above it I've sculpted a wild nest in rough relief, branches splayed right and left---a chaos of sticks. Order, wildness, potential, reality, out there, in here---all in my thoughts as the living world passes through eye, mind and hand to make an image.

RESUME

Solo Exhibitions

William King Museum of Art, Abingdon, VA

Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, Portsmouth, VA

Chroma Projects Art Laboratory, Charlottesville, VA2017

Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester, VA   2016

The Athenaeum, Alexandria, VA2015-16

Ingram Gallery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. 2015

The Atheneaum, Alexandria, VA. 2015

The Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA.  2013(gallery guide & video)

 Tipton Gallery (Collaboration with Ann Ropp), East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.  2011

 Gallery 180, The Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, IL.  2010(brochure)

 Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, Danville, VA. [affiliate, VA Museum of Fine Arts]  2010

 Perspective Gallery, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.  2010

Blue Spiral I, Asheville, NC. 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012

Gray Fossil Site and Natural History Museum, Gray, TN.  2009(catalog)

United States Botanic Garden, West Orangerie Gallery, Washington, DC.  2007 

McLean Project for the Arts, McLean, VA.  [affiliate, VA Museum of Fine Arts]  2007

Morris Museum of Art, Augusta, GA.  2007

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.  2007[in conjunction with DNA Day]

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.  2007

Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA.  2006

William King Museum (affiliate, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts), Abingdon, VA.  2005(catalog)

Second Street Gallery, City Center for Contemporary Art, Charlottesville, VA.  2004

Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN.  1998, 2000, 2003

Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta, GA.  2003

Grover/Thurston Gallery, Seattle, WA.  2003

Hunt Gallery, Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, VA.  2002

gescheidle Gallery, Chicago, IL.  2002

Brown Gallery, Duke University, Durham, NC2002

Catherine Smith Gallery, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC. 2001

The National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.  2000

The Spartanburg County Museum of Art, Spartanburg, SC.  2000

Carroll Reece Museum, Johnson City, TN.  1999

The Carnegie (Visual and Performing Arts Center), Covington, KY.  1999

1912 Gallery, Emory and Henry College, Emory, VA.  1999

Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA.  1998

Tennessee Technological University, Appalachian Center, Smithville, TN.  1998

Holden Gallery, Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC.  1997   

Trahern Gallery, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.  1996

Spirit Square Center for the Arts, First Union Gallery, Charlotte, NC.  1994

McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA.  1993

Kingsport Renaissance Center, Kingsport, TN.  1992

Virginia Intermont College, Bristol, VA.  1989

Group Exhibitions

“Collaborations”, with Ann Ropp, Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN. 2018

“Ideation, Sketchbooks,” Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA.  2018

"New Arrivals," Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN. 2017

“AquaTerra,” Two-person exhibit, Capitol One Headquarters, Richmond, VA.  2017

“A Sketch of the Universe: Art, Science and the Influence of D’Arcy Thompson,” Edinburgh City Art Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland.  2016-17

“Imagery Art for Wine Collection,” Triton Art Museum, Santa Clara, CA. 2016

“Consideration of Bees,” Chroma Projects, Charlottesville, VA, and the Danville Museum of Art, VA.  2016

“Altered Surfaces,” Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN.  2016

“Natural Order,” Blue Spiral I Gallery, Asheville, NC.    2015

“Changing Appalachia: Custom to Cutting Edge,” Portsmouth Art and Cultural Center, 2014

“Pollinator,” Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC.  2014

“High Art: 15 Years of Collecting,” National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.   2013

“Nature Nuture,” 3-person exhibit curated by Amy Moorefield,  Jacksonsonville Art Center, Floyd, VA.  2013

“Along the Trail,” Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC.  2013

“Who We Art,” Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA.  2012

 “Chicks,” The Bascom Museum, Highlands, NC.  2012

“North, South, East…Nest,” Hambidge Center Gallery, Dillard, GA.  2012

“Soaring: Nine Women Artists Paint Birds,” Tipton Gallery/ETSU, Johnson City, TN.   2011

“Thinking Like A Mountain: Artists Respond to Mountain Top Removal,” SWVCC/traveling exhibit, 2010-12

“What Matters Most,” Ecoartspace exhibition, Exit Art, NY, NY.  2010

“Milestones: Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary Exhibit,” Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC.  2010

 “30th Anniversary Exhibit,” Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN. 2010

“Striking Poses: Birds With an Attitude,” Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI.  2009

“Imagine,” EA Gallery, Port Chester, NY.  2009

“Female Forms,” William King Museum, Abingdon, VA.  2008-09

“Nature’s Survey,” Four-person exhibit, Piedmont Arts Association (affiliate, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts), Martinsville, VA.   2008

“Artivism: Towards a Greener America.” McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA.  2007

“Gifts,” The Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA.  2007

“The Long View: Blue Ridge Parkway,” Blue Spiral I, Asheville, NC.  2004, 2007

Contemporary Art Fair, New York, NY.  2003, 2004, 2005, 2007

“Love,” Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA. 2006

“Small Packages,” Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN.  (annually, 1996-2007)

Second Street Gallery Art Auction Exhibition, Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA. 2005

“Small Works,” Les Yeux du Monde, Charlottesville, VA. 2004

Summer Group Exhibit, Grover/Thurston Gallery, Seattle, WA.  2003

“From These Hills,” William King Museum, Abingdon, VA.  2003, 2001, 1999, 1996, 1994

“From These Hills” traveling exhibit, Portsmouth Museums, Portsmouth, VA.  2003

“Fins, Fur and Feathers,” Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN.  2002

“Bugs!” Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, AK. 2002

Atlanta Art Exposition, Atlanta, GA. 2002

“For the Birds,” Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC. 2002

 “Snow Globe Invitational,” Lyons Wier Gallery, Chicago, IL. 2001

“Feathers and Sticks: The Bird in Art,” Bennett Galleries, Knoxville, TN. 2001

“Circles, Orbs & Spirals,” Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC. 2001

“Observation/Revelation: Plants and Insects through the Lens of Art,” Sun Valley Center for the Arts,

Ketchum, ID. 2000 / Prichard Art Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. 2002

“In the Garden,” Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC. 2000

“Summer Reading,” Anne Reed Gallery, Ketchum, ID. 2000

“National Midyear Exhibition,” The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH.  1998

Juried Exhibition, Fredericksburg Center for the Arts, Fredericksburg, VA.

“Environmental Art,” EMU Gallery, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR. 1997

“Virginia Collects,” Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Virginia Beach, VA. 1997

Seattle Art Fair, Seattle, WA. 1997, 1996

“Artists Listen to the Earth,” Marsh Art Gallery, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA. 1996

“Combined Talents: The Florida National,” Museum of Fine Arts, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. 1996

“The Halpert Biennial,” Catherine Smith Gallery, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC. 1995

“Ecological Art,” Nacul Center for Ecological Architecture, Amherst, MA.  1995

“City Art Show: Roanoke and Vicinity,” Art Museum of Western Virginia, Roanoke, VA.  1995, 1994

“Rutgers National,” Stedman Art Gallery, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ. 1994

Juried Exhibition, Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Virginia Beach, VA. 1994

“Reverent/Irreverent,” Sarratt Gallery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.  1993

“Environmental Art,” Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA 1993

Invitational Exhibition, Zone One, Asheville, NC. 1993

“Exhibition 280: Works on Walls,” Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV. 1992

“Works on Paper,” Marsh Art Gallery, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA. 1992

Invitational Exhibit, Gallery 10, Washington, D.C.  1992

“Mid Atlantic Exhibition,” D'Art Center, Norfolk, VA.  1992, 1991

“Earth Art,” Brandstater Gallery, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA. 1991

“Primitive Origins,” Sarratt Gallery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. 1991

“Annual Juried Exhibition,” Cooperstown Art Association, Cooperstown, NY 1991

Gallery Artists, Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN. 1991

Juried Art Exhibit, Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA. 1991

“Fascination: Scientific and Artistic,” Carroll Reece Museum, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. 1989

Juried Exhibition, Museum of the Hudson Highlands, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. 1989

Hoyt Annual Exhibition, Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, New Castle, PA. 1988

“Paper in Particular,” Columbia College, Columbia, MO. 1988

Collections

 Smithsonian Institution, NMAS, “Art and Flight Collection,” Washington, DC.

 Eleanor B. Wilson Museum, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA.

 Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, TN.

Carroll Reece Museum, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

 Spirit Square Center for the Arts, Charlotte, NC.

 Gaylord Palms Hotel (Hemingway Suites), Orlando, FL.

 The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Wise, VA

 Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Abingdon, VA.

 Omni Hotel, Nashville, TN.

Johnson City Public Library, Johnson City, TN.

 Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, VCU, Richmond, VA.

 Evergreen Conference Center Hotel, Atlanta, GA.

 Bank of America (Southeastern Collection), Charlotte, NC.

Meadowview Convention Center, Kingsport, TN.

Merrill Lynch, Asheville, NC.

Radford Hospital, Radford, VA.

BF Goodrich, Charlotte, NC.

Dollar General Corporation, Nashville, TN.

Chattanooga Conference Center, Chattanooga, TN.

The National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC.

The Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville, VA.

 Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI.

 Imagery Estates Collection, Benziger Winery, Glen Ellen , CA.

 Seattle Museum of History (Fine Art Collection), Seattle, WA.

 The David Brower Center, Berkeley, CA.

 The Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA.

 Music City Convention Center, Nashville, TN.

 The D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson Museum, Dundee, Scotland

Bibliography

2018     Stoddard, Leah. “Suzanne Stryk: Notes on the State of Virginia,” catalog essay.

2017    Derby, Elizabeth. “Nesting Materials has Elegant Science at its Center,” C’ville WeeklyMay 3.

2016    Jenkins, Mark. “In the galleries: Suzanne Stryk,” The Washington Post.  January 15.

            Cedar-Southworth, Donna. “Interpretation,” feature article, élan magazine.  January.

2014    “Suzanne Stryk, Artist: Flight and Life” (interview), Shenandoah: The Washington and Lee

             University Review.  May issue.

2013     Stoddard, Leah.  “Suzanne Stryk: Notes on the State of Virginia,” Gallery Guide, Taubman Museum of Art.

             Kotterbay, Scott.  Essay, “Two Characters in Search of a Title,” Antennae: The Journal of Animals and Visual Culture [UK], summer issue.

2010     Allison, Martha.  “Flyway: Birds in the Art of Suzanne Stryk,” brochure essay, traveling exhibition (Perspective Gallery, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA / Gallery 180, The Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, IL / Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, Danville, VA).

2009     Evans, Jessica and Stoddard, Leah.  Keeping An Eye On Things, exhibition catalog, Natural History Museum at the Gray Fossil Site, Gray, TN. 

              Lyle, Valerie. Review, “Keeping an Eye on Things,” A! Magazine for the Arts, April 2009.

2008    Justice, Adam.  “Female(s)  Forms(s),” exhibition catalog, William King Museum, 2008-09.

2007    Parsons, Laura. “Suzanne Stryk.” Virginia Living Magazine, October 2007

            Uhles, Steven. “Installation Blends Scientific Fact with Artist’s Touch.”  Augusta Chronicle, June 6.

            Hearne, Jan“Suzanne Stryk, Nature Artist,” Her magazine, Johnson City Press, July 2007.

2005     Mangold, Matthew and Burriss, Theresa.  Essay and interview, “Second Nature: The Art of Suzanne Stryk” exhibit catalog, William King Museum, Abingdon, VA. 

2004    Parsons, Laura.  Review, “Natural Wonders: Stryk’s Jeweled Insights,” The Hook (Charlottesville, VA), February 19-25, 2004.

2003    Knowles, Susan. Review, Art Papers, September/October, 2003.

            Cullum, Jerry. “A Dialogue Between Art and Science,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8 June 2003.

            Feaster, Felicia. “The Art of Science” (review), Atlanta Creative Loafing, June 2003.

            Pollen, Andrea. From These Hills (catalog essay), William King Museum, Abingdon, VA.

            Bevil, William. “An Interview with Suzanne Stryk,” Fernbank Magazine, Summer 2003.

2001     Bostick, Alan.  “Kroll, Stryk nestle work at Cumberland Gallery,” The Tennessean, 14 May, 2000.

             Stoddard, Leah. From These Hills (catalog essay), William King Museum, Abingdon, VA.  2001

2000    Hopes, David.  Review, The Asheville Citizen-Times, 21 May 2000.

             Friedman, Ann.  Observation/Revelation: Plants and Insects Through the Lens of Art(exhibition catalog essay), Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Sun Valley, ID.  2000

             Jones, Jill.  “The Collector’s Dream: Interview with Suzanne Stryk,” The Spartanburg County Museum of Art, Spartanburg, SC.  2000

1999    James, Curtia.  Review, Art Papers, March-April, 1999.

            Watson, Fran.  Review, Cincinnati CityBeat, Volume 5, Issue 16, March, 1999.

1998    Wall, Donna Dorian.  "The New Gouache," Southern Accents, July-August 1998.

1997    Sultan, Terrie. From These Hills (catalog essay), William King Museum, Abingdon, VA.

1996    Roberts-Pullen, Paulette. Review, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 2 April, 1996.

1994    Knowles, Susan.  Review, Nashville Scene, 30 June 1994.

            Patterson, Tom. Review, The Charlotte Observer, 30 January l994.

1993    Boyd, Julia. From These Hills (catalog essay), William King Museum, Abingdon, VA. 1993

1992    Issue: Earth (catalog), Brandstater Gallery, La Sierra University, CA. 1991

Awards and Honors

2015    Keynote Speaker, “The Nature of Art” Annual Conference, Virginia Art Education Association

2010-11Virginia Commission for the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship

2010    Keynote Speaker [“The Beetle and the Double Helix: Why Nature Matters in the Art Classroom”],   

             Annual Conference of the Georgia Art Education Association, Callaway Gardens, GA

2009     Residency, The Hambidge Artist Residency Program, Rabun Gap, GA

2008    Selected for Clara: The Database of Women Artists, National Museum of Women in the Arts, DC

2007     George Sugarman Foundation Grant

2005     Selected for The Drawing Center’s Viewing Program, NY, NY

2002    Artist-in-Residence, Centrum Arts and Creative Education, Port Townsend, WA

2001    Fellowship Finalist, Virginia Commission for the Arts

2000    Anselm Atkins Award, The Hambidge Artist Residency Program, GA

1999    Fellowship, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, VA

1997    Purchase Award, Carroll Reece Museum, TN

1996    Fellowship Finalist, National Endowment for the Arts

1994    First Place, Exhibition Award, Art Museum of Western Virginia, Roanoke, VA

1990    First Place, Mid-Atlantic Exhibition Award, D’Art Center, Norfolk, VA

Published Art and Writing

2016    “The Poetics of Science” special issue of the Kenyon Review (cover, portfolio, online interview)

             Separate Flights, poems by Patricia Hooper, University of Tampa Press, 2016 (cover)

2015     “Collecting the Wild,” Shenandoah: Volume 64, Number 2 (portfolio)

             From Place to Place, Personal Essays by Judy Ray, Whirlybird Press, 2015

2013     Men and Beasts, Stories by Curtis Smith, Press 53 (cover)

             UnConventional: The Art Collection of Music City Center, Nashville, TN [paintings]

2012     Convergence:The Art Collection of the National Academy of Sciences (assemblage)

            The Mountain Defender, 7th Edition (back cover)

            The Bird with Silver Wings and other musical stories, by Jon Manship White, Iris Press (cover)

2011     Launching the Imagination: A Comprehensive Guide to Basic Design, 4th Edition, by Mary Stewart, McGraw-Hill  (interview, interior & cover images)

            Bound, Poems by Linda Parsons Marion, Wind Publications (cover)

            Orion: Nature/Culture/Place, July/August (drawings), and November/December (painting)

2009    Crossroads: A Southern Culture Annual, Mercer University Press(front & back cover art)

             The Land Report, Number 93, Spring(cover & interior paintings)

             Orion: Nature/Culture/Place, November/December (drawing)

             Café Review, Winter (cover & interior art)

             Packing Light, Selected Poems by Marilyn Kallet, Black Widow Press (cover art)

            The Calaboose Epistles, Stories by R. T. Smith, Iris Press (cover art)

2008     Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built and Natural Environments, No. 22: Summer/Fall 2008 (portfolio of drawings & commentary)

             Ecotone: The Evolution Issue, personal essay “Drawing with Darwin” with drawings

             Isotope, A Journal of Literary Nature and Science Writing, Spring/Summer 2008 6.1 (drawing)

             American Tet, a play by Lydia Stryk, Broadway Play Publishing, Inc. (cover art)

2007    Ecotone: Reimagining Place, Winter issue (assemblages: cover & portfolio)

             Shenandoah: The Washington and Lee University Review (painting: cover art)

             Field Notes: Stray Musings in Brief Forms, poetry chapbook by Dan Stryk, Rubicon Press (paintings: cover & six interior images)

            The Movable Nest: A Mother/Daughter Companion, anthology edited by Kathryn Stripling Byer and Marilyn Kallet, Helicon Nine Publications (painting: cover art)

           South Dakota Review, Winter 2007, Volume 45.  (painting: cover art)

2006    Spectral Waves, poems by Madeline DeFrees, Copper Canyon Press (painting: cover art)

2005    Orion: Nature/Culture/Place, November/December (8-page portfolio of paintings & essay)

            CrossRoads: A Southern Culture Annual, Mercer University Press(painting & essay)

            Asheville Poetry Review(painting: cover art)

2004    Writing the Future: Progress and Evolution, Terra Nova Anthology of Nature Writing, MIT Press

             (paintings: cover & chapter art)

2003    Shenandoah: The Washington and Lee University Review  (paintings: cover & portfolio, interview)

            Fernbank Magazine, Volume 27, Issue 2(paintings & interview)

2002    Discover Biology, Sinauer Associates/Norton(painting: chapter art)

            Taping Images to Walls, poems by Dan Stryk, Pecan Grove Press(painting: cover art)

2001    Years Later, poems by Gregory Djanikian, Carnegie Mellon Press(painting: cover art)

2000    The Distillery, Volume VIIINumber 1, Motlow State Community College(painting)

1999    Death of a Sunflower, poems and prose by Dan Stryk, Timberline Press(drawings: cover &

            chapter art)

1998    New American Paintings (#15), Open Studio Press(paintings & artist’s statement)

1990    Lives, poems by Dan Stryk, Edwin Mellen Press(drawings: cover & chapter art)