Karen Chesna
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Education

2010                            MFA Sculpture
                                     Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
                                     Area of Specialization: Metals/Jewelry

1977                           BA History of Art and Architecture with Honors and Highest Distinction
                                    University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
                                    Areas of Specialization: Indigenous Art/North American Indian Art
                                    Honors: Phi Kappa Phi, Edmund J. James Scholar, Departmental Distinction
 
2012                           Market-Ready Certification
                                    Montana Artrepreneurship Program, Montana Arts Council
 
1996-2000                 Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, MT
                                    Professional Goldsmithing Program
 
 
Awards/Grants
 
2012                            Strategic Investment Grant, Montana Arts Council
1990                            First Place, Garments, Flathead Quilt Show
1986                            Jurors’ Choice Award: Renie Adams, New Dimensions in Fiber II
 
 
Exhibitions
 
2015                            Return to the Light, Persimmon Gallery, Bigfork, MT (invitational)
2015                            Adornment, Livingston Center for Art and Culture, Livingston, MT (invitational)
2015                            Adornment, 4 Ravens Gallery, Missoula, MT (invitational)
2015                            Members’ Salon, Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell, MT
2014                            Members’ Salon, Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell, MT
2014                            Montana Artists: Innovators, Inventors and Entrepreneurs, Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell, MT (juried)
2013                            Pendulum, Featured Artist, Soucie Soucie, Kalispell, MT
2013                            A Gathering of Artists, Montana Arts Council, Hamilton, MT
2012                            Western Design Conference, MT Arts Council Booth, Jackson, WY
2012                            Shrines and Shadowboxes, Persimmon Gallery, Bigfork, MT (invitational)
2012                            Faculty Art Show, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, MT
2010                            ARTiFACT, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, MT (solo)
2010                            A Gathering of Artists, Montana Arts Council, Great Falls, MT
2010                            Faculty Art Show, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, MT
2009                            Beauty, Decoration and Ornament, Eastern New Mexico University, Roswell, NM (juried)
2008                            Decades of Conflict: 1960-2008, Fallbrook Art Center, Fallbrook, CA (juried)
2008                            Faculty Art Show, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, MT
2006                            Flathead Valley Art Educators, Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell, MT
2003                            Featured Artist, Off the Wall Gallery, Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell, MT
2003                            Theory and Practice: FVCC Art Faculty Exhibition, Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell, MT
2003                            Kalispell Art Walk, Glacier Grand Hotel, Kalispell, MT
1997                            Angels and Spirit Guardians, The Knead, Kalispell, MT
1997                            Art That Glitters, C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, MT (invitational)
1996                            Miniatures, The Knead, Kalispell, MT
1995                            Whitefish Art Walk, Whitefish, MT
1990                            Whitefish Art Walk, Whitefish, MT
1990                            Flathead Quilt Show, Kalispell, MT
1990                            Prayer Flags for the Earth, installation, Missoula Art Museum, Missoula, MT
1989                            Fiber Arts, Rabbit Tree Gallery, Ronan, MT
1987                            Fiberworks 1987, Bloomingdale Park District Museum, Bloomingdale, IL
1987                            Memory Boxes, Countryside Art Center, Arlington Heights, IL
1986                            New Dimensions in Fiber II, College of DuPage Gallery, Glen Ellyn, IL (Jurors: Renie Adams, Diane Itter, Naomi Townsend)
1986                            Contemporary Fibers: Selected Works from the DuPage Textile Arts Guild, Textile Arts Center, Chicago, IL, (Juror: Virginia Churchill Bath)
 

Collections
 
Ravalli County Museum, Hamilton, MT
 
 
Bibliography
 
Priddy, Molly, “Sharing the Mystery of Metalsmithing”, Flathead Beacon, Vol. 7, No. 23, June 5, 2013, p. 30-31.
 
 
Publications as Author
 
K. Chesna-McNeil, J. G. Johnson, D. J. Joyce, R. Blazina-Joyce, “Mounting Ethnographic Garments”, Curator,  Vol.  29, No. 4, December 1986.
K. C. McNeil, “The Kente Cloth of Ghana:  A Marvel of Weavers’ Art”, Field Museum of Natural History Bulletin, Vol. 51, No. 4, April 1980.
 
 
Teaching and Related Experience 
 
2016-present               Instructor and JEM Online Co-Ordinator, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
2017                              Course Author (Modern & Contemporary Design & Techniques), Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
2012-present               Owner/Instructor, Glacier Metal Arts Studio, Kalispell, MT
                                       Teach metalsmithing through workshops, classes, and private instruction
2000-2012                    Adjunct Professor, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, MT
                                       Courses taught: Metalsmithing I, II, III, IV; Surface Embellishments I, II;  Jewelry Repair, Introduction to Jewelry, Enameling, Jewelry                                        for Seniors, Portfolio Presentation
                                       Courses created: Enameling, Surface Embellishments II, Introduction to  Jewelry
1999-2001                    Sculpture studio assistant, Kate Hunt, Kalispell, MT
1985                              Conservation Grant Field Reviewer, Institute of Museum Services
1981-2000                    Textile Preservation Service, owner, Illinois and Montana
                                       Lectured, conducted workshops, and consulted on antique textile repair, stabilization, display and                                                                                                storage for local museums, historical societies, and private clients
1978-1982                    Technical Assistant, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL
                                       Responsible for management of Northwest Coast Indian and Eskimo collection during renovation of permanent exhibit.                                                        Inventoried collection. Wrote condition reports. Designed storage system and display mounts for textiles and costumes.  Cleaned                                        and stabilized artifacts. Advised staff on conservation requirements for case lighting, humidity, temperature, display materials                                              and techniques. Packed artifacts for shipping.  Prepared collection management and conservation budgets.  Interviewed, trained                                        and supervised staff and volunteers during renovation and installation phases. 
 

Workshops Taught
 
2014                            “Beginning Enameling”, Livingston Center for Art and Culture, Livingston, MT, September 5 - 6
2014                            “Amulets”, Women’s’ Mountain Art Retreat, Lincoln, MT, March 8-9
2013                            “Forged Rings”, University Crafters, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, January 31.
2013                            “Making Jewelry and Accessories for the Stage”, Thespian Conference, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, February 2.
2008, 2006, 2004       “Recycled Jewelry”, Montana High School Art Interscholastics, Kalispell, MT, April.
2003                            “Recycled Jewelry”, Continuing Education Department, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, MT, April.
1997                            “Embroidery”, Stillwater Studio, Kalispell, MT, July 14.
1990                            “Paper Marbling”, Hockaday Art Museum Art Camp, Kalispell, MT, July 30.
 
 
Gallery Affiliations
 
4 Ravens Gallery, Missoula, MT
Persimmon Gallery, Bigfork, MT
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Copyright © Karen Chesna 2017
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