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
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