Paul Amenta

4234 Greenbrier Ct SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49546

917.902.7358

paul@paulamenta.com

www.paulamenta.com

 

 

education

2000           MFA Sculpture, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

1995           BFA Sculpture & Printmaking, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

 

teaching

2007-          Adjunct Professor, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI

            Courses: Sculpture I, 3-D Design

      Adjunct Professor, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

            Course: Sculpture, Installation & New Media Art

2007-08       Adjunct Professor, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

                        Courses: 3-D Design

2006-07       Assistant Professor, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI

                        Courses: Sculpture I, Sculpture II and 3-D Design

2002-05       Adjunct Professor, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

                        Course: Sculpture, Installation & New Media Art

 

professional

2007-          Visual Arts Committee, Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, MI

                  responsible for the visual arts programing and the jurying and curating of exhibitions

 

2004           Artist’s Assistant, Ursula von Rydingsvard, sculptor, New York, NY

                  assisted in the construction of a large scale wood sculpture installed in the Bloomberg

                  Building in New York City

 

2000           02 Assistant to the Chair, MFA Fine Arts Department, School of Visual Arts, NYC

                  coordinated all elements of graduate fine arts program, including but not limited to--

                  departmental budget, academic advisement, applicant review process, registration,

                  and management of the department woodshop

 

1999           2004 Artist’s Assistant, David Row, painter, New York, NY

                  involved in many aspects of David’s process, from preparing canvases to converting

                  small drawings onto large scale canvases

 

1999           Preparator, Art in General, New York, NY

                  responsible for installation and lighting of exhibitions

 

1998           Artist’s Assistant, Elona Van Gent, sculptor, Grand Rapids, MI

                  assisted in many facets of the art-making process: design (creative problem solving),

                  model building, construction of artwork (aluminum and copper fabrication, wood &

                  wax patterns, mold making and aluminum and bronze casting), and installation

                 

                  Artist’s Assistant, Yolande McKay, sculptor/installation artist, Bloomington, IN

                  designed and built special welded metal armatures for life size figures cast in soap,

                  aided in the molding making, casting process and installation

 

1996-97       Artist’s Assistant, Beliz Brother, installation artist, Seattle, WA

                  involved in all aspects of the art-making process: design (creative problem solving),

                  model building (artwork & architectural spaces), involvement with engineers and

                  fabricators, material research, construction of artwork (too many materials & techniques

                  to list), and installation

1995           Artist’s Assistant, Elona Van Gent, sculptor, Grand Rapids, MI

                  same as aforementioned

1993           Artist’s Assistant, Beliz Brother, installation artist, Seattle, WA

                  same as aforementioned

                  Artist’s Assistant, Cliff Goodman, glass artist, Seattle, WA

                  involved in all elements of the glass blowing and casting processes

1990-01       Artist’s Assistant, James Clover, sculptor, Grand Rapids, MI

                  participated in many aspects of the art-making process: design (creative problem

                  solving), model building, construction of artwork (steel and wood fabrication), and

                  installation

 

solo exhibitions

2004           Pretty Rugged, Marvelli Gallery, New York, NY

2002           Quivering Twilight, Marvelli Gallery, New York, NY

2001           Superstructure, Marvelli Gallery, New York, NY

 

group exhibitions

2006           Faculty Exhibit, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI

2005           Voice of Site, New York-Tokyo, Visual Arts Gallery, New York, NY

2004           Voice of Site, Tokyo National University of Fine Art & Music, Tokyo, Japan

                  Beginning Here, 101 Ways, Visual Arts Gallery, New York, NY

                  Rubbish, Cuchifritos Project Space, New York, NY

2001           I Love NY-Art Benefit, Marvelli Gallery, New York, NY

2000           Aspects of Contemporary Landscape, Marvelli Gallery, New York, NY

                  CAA New York Area MFA Exhibition, Hunter College, New York, NY

                  MFA Thesis Exhibition, Visual Arts Gallery, New York, NY

1999           Group Trope, Visual Arts Gallery, New York, NY

                  Rewrite, Visual Arts Gallery, New York, NY

                  Space (I believe in), ABC no Rio, New York, NY

                  Plot, Westside Gallery, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

1998           Sculpture, SoFA Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

                  Alumni Invitational, Calder Gallery, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

                  Time Line, Art Complex, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

1997           Alumni Printmakers, Calder Gallery, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

1995           BFA Thesis Exhibition, Calder Gallery, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

 

curatorial

2008           ACTIVESITE @ Federal Building, 155 N Division Ave, Grand Rapids, MI

                  ACTIVESITE @ Kindel Furniture Factory, 818 Butterworth Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI

 

2007           ACTIVESITE @ Clear Water Place, 1430 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI

                  ACTIVESITE @ 70 Ionia SW, Grand Rapids, MI

 

awards

2000           Paula Rhodes Scholarship, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

1999           Graduate Fine Arts Award, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

1998           Silas H. Rhodes Merit Scholarship, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

1997           Tanner Fellowship, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

1994           Branstrom Fine Arts Scholarship, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

 

lectures/presentations/panels

2008           Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids

2007           Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

                  Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, MI

2006           Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI

2004           Tokyo National University of Fine Art and Music, Tokyo, Japan

2003           School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

2002           University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

                  Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

2000           Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

1999           Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

                  Kenowa Hills High School, Grand Rapids, MI

1998           Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

 

bibliography

2008           Pulsinelli, Olivia, “Creating Activesites for Collaboration in Grand Rapids”, Business

                  Review Western Michigan, October 9

                  Woolfenden, Tricia, “Old Grand Rapids Art Museum Hosts Sculpture Show”, Grand

                  Rapids Press, October 2

                  Knape, Chris, “Activating in an Inactive Museum”, Grand Rapids Press, October 1

                  Wozniak, Curt, “Different Kinds of Canvas”, Rapid Growth Media, September 25

                  Weiner, Emily, “The Fine Art of Teaching Art”, Visual Arts Journal, Fall 2008

                  Patton, Pamela, “ACTIVESITE @ Clear Water Place”, Portfolio, Winter 2008

                  aily, Joanne, “A Happy Ending to the Start of the Season”, On the Town, November

2005           Takami, Akihiko, “Neighboring School Rooms”, Voices of Site catalogue, Tokyo

                  National University of Fine Arts and Music, 2005

2004           Finel Honigman, Ana, “New York Horticulture”, Artnet Magazine, April 23

2002           Johnson, Ken, The New York Times, September 20

                  Worth, Alexi, The New Yorker, September 30

2001           Smith, Roberta, “As Chelsea Expands, A Host of Visions Rush in”, The New York

                  Times, June 1

2000           Agro, Umbretta, “Emerging Artist; The Curator’s Picks”, Art Tribune, January

1999           Artists’ Album, NY Arts Magazine, July/August

                  Dietsch, Scott, “Best and Brightest”, Villager, December 22

 

collections

Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI