ART & DESIGN
ARTIST STATEMENT
As a professional designer and mixed media artist, I am interested in how art and design can enhance the existing links between individuals and the materials, objects and nature they encounter. I find inspiration in the natural environment, but also through the objects in our built environment, including the leftovers of those environments. Issues of material reuse and sustainability are consistent factors across my work.
As an educator and writer, I am fascinated by how we learn, how we forget and how we disseminate knowledge. I ground my work in the present, yet enjoy embedding it with allusions to pasts and futures. I work with a variety of materials, but have also focused extensively on reclaimed inner tube rubber. This is reflective of a preoccupation of mine with what is left behind, and making use. For the past nearly four decades, while sourcing my materials for my rubber design work, I have had a first hand view of the evolving, often failed, methodology for dealing with waste tubes and tires. My rubber artwork strives to communicate dichotomies in the allure and danger of these materials and present both the beauty and tragedy associated.
Some of my work is physically interactive allowing the viewer or user to participate in the application of meaning with the intent of creating deeper relationships with objects and the larger world. I find the shared aesthetics that exist between adults and children especially compelling as they encounter such works. This type of interaction and play can celebrate one’s individuality while reflecting the pluralistic nature of culture.
For inquiries about ART, DESIGN, or other PROJECTS: mandanamacpherson@gmail.com
PORTFOLIOS
UNDER RECONSTRUCTION — final portfolios coming soon
SELECT EXHIBITIONS OF ART & DESIGN – by invitation unless noted as juried
SIDLE HOUSE - PopUp No. 1, Freeport, ME, July, 2023
CENTER FOR MAINE CONTEMPORARY ART - 2023 BIENNIAL, juried show, collaborative installation, Rubber Impact Project, Rockland, ME, January 28 - May 7, 2023
THOMPSON GIROUX GALLERY - Word Salad: in collaboration with Marie Claude Giroux, June 2022
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS - TAKE A TUBE/LEAVE A TUBE Material Exchange Station installation, Rubber Impact Project, San Francisco, CA, 2020-2022
THE CENTER FOR IMPACT - California College of the Arts, solo show, San Francisco, CA, 2019-2021
HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN SCHOOL OF CRAFTS - Faculty Exhibition, Deer Isle, ME, 2011
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, THE SCIENCE MUSEUM OF LONDON - “Disposing of it”, The Challenge of Materials Gallery, London, UK, 1996-2006
SAN FRANCISCO DESIGN CENTER - Fashion Show and Exhibition, San Francisco, CA, 2006
UNITED NATIONS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY - Catwalk on the Wild Side, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA, 2005
CUMMINGS ART GALLERY, STANFORD UNIVERSITY - “Signed Design” 3 pieces-mixed media and felt, Stanford, CA, 2003
CANTOR ART CENTER, STANFORD UNIVERSITY - “Precious Metal Work”, Stanford, CA, 2003
LEVI STRAUSS & CO - “Earthweek”, corporate offices lobby, San Francisco, CA, 2003
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY - Used Rubber USA designs, solo show, San Francisco office, 2002
TURN OF THE CENTURY FINE ART - Mixed media sculpture, solo show, Berkeley, CA, 1999
OAKLAND MUSEUM OF ART - “Hello Again - Recycled Design”, Oakland, CA, 1997
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF ARTS AND CRAFTS - “Re(f)use” San Francisco campus, 1997
ARANGO DESIGN FOUNDATION - “Re(f)use”, Miami, Quebec, and traveling exhibition, 1996-1997
MUSEUM OF FOLK ART - “Recycled- Re-seen”, Santa Fe, NM and traveling exhibition, 1996
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM - “Hello Again” New York, NY, 1995
SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - “Earthsense” Photographic Exhibition of Environmental Excellence, Rotunda Gallery, Washington DC, 1992-1995
RICHMOND ART CENTER - Exhibition and Auction, mixed media sculpture - “Photo Album”, Richmond, CA, 1994
CLOUD CLIFF GALLERY - Multimedia Fashion Show, solo show, Santa Fe, NM, 1994
NEW LANGTON ARTS - Exhibition and Auction, mixed media sculpture - “Absolution”, juried show, San Francisco, CA, 1994
RICHMOND ART CENTER - “Living in Balance” Recycled Art Exhibition, Richmond, CA, 1994
NEW LANGTON ARTS - Exhibition and Auction, mixed media sculpture - “Rock Collection”, juried show, San Francisco, CA, 1993
LOS ANGELES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM - Pieces included in ongoing recycling exhibits, 1993-2000
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - “Living in Balance” design exhibition, 1993
ORIGINS – SOHO, NYC, 1992 - Main display windows for grand opening
JOHNSON DESIGN CENTER, 1992 - Seattle, WA
WHITE BIRD GALLERY - solo show, Cannon Beach, OR, 1991
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, 1991 - “Industrial Design California”, 3 pieces in group show
SACRAMENTO CITY HALL - Recycling Exhibition, Sacramento, CA, 1991
COMPLETE THE CYCLE CENTER - Rubber design work, solo show, Denver, CO, 1991
NORDSTROM - South Coast Plaza, main entrance display windows, special Earth Day exhibition, Costa Mesa, CA, 1991
ALLIGATOR GALLERY - San Francisco, CA, 1987
WOODS GERRY GALLERY - Rhode Island School of Design, sculpture, juried show, Providence, RI, 1986
DAVID WINTON BELL GALLERY - Brown University, sculpture, juried show, Providence, RI, 1986
LIST ART CENTER - Brown University, Used Rubber Design work, solo show, 1986
NORFOLK LIBRARY - Pen and ink drawings, Norfolk, CT, 1982
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS & INSTALLATIONS
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS - Interactive Material Exchange Station, 2020
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY - included in permanent exhibit, “The Automobile”, London, UK, 2006
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT – Alaska Campbell Creek Science Center, “Earthsense” photo, Anchorage, AK, 1995
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND DISABILITIES - Sculpture, “Photo Album”, Richmond, CA, 1994
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ART & DESIGN WORK - ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS, 1986 - present
MAGAZINES: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE, July 1994 - foldout centerfold for cover story, SEVENTEEN MAGAZINE, April 1993 - cover, TIRE BUSINESS MAGAZINE, February 1991 - cover story and photo. Business Week, People, Natural Health, Vegetarian Journal, USA Weekend, Buzzworm, Metropolitan Home, Bon Appétit, Verge, Mirabella, Mademoiselle, Wired, Office Wise, Fitness, Sierra, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, New Woman, Entrepreneur, Ranger Rick, Newsweek, E Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Self, Consumer Reports, In Business, Biocycle, Conde Nast Traveler, New Age Journal, San Francisco Focus, Garbage, Tire Review, Rubber & Plastics News, Newsweek, Berkeley By Hand Monthly, Men’s Health, Washington Flyer, Hotchkiss Magazine, Brown Magazine, Maine Women Magazine.
NEWSPAPERS: New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury News, Women’s Wear Daily, USA today, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, Boston Phoenix, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Contra Costa Times, Rocky Mountain News, North Beach News, New York Daily News Sunday Magazine, Marin Independent Journal, Coloradoan, Wichita Eagle, Parade Magazine Section, Kansas City Star, Akron Beacon Journal, San Francisco Bay Guardian, SF Weekly, New York Newsday, Orange County Register, San Diego Union, Lakeville Journal, Choice News, Stanford Report. FOREIGN PUBLICATIONS: French Vogue, Visio Mono–Japan, Brutus–Japan, Nippon Ecological Network –Japan, Hanatsubaki Japan, Mono–Japan, Musik Express–Germany, Industrial Design Magazine–Brazil, The Globe and Mail–Canada
TELEVISION: CNN, TBS-Network Earth, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, ABC Home Show, MTV, ABC/NBC/CBS News–local & nation- wide, Fox Television, KQED, European Television, Good Afternoon Colorado, Channel 4 News, Earth Journal, Into the Night with Rick Dees, Maryland Public Television, Impact, Government Broadcast, Name Your Adventure, Cinetal, Dame Edna –England, Alien episode.
RADIO: Marketplace-National Public radio, Public Radio International, Living on Earth, INFOBONN-Germany, WEFX, KQED, KGO.
BOOKS: 50 Simple Things Your Business can do to Save the Earth, Earth Journal, Choose to Re-use, Houghton Mifflin’s Integrated Mathematics, Making a Better World-Recycling, Social Issues Resources Series, Close The Loop: The Guide to Recycled Products for Consumers and Small Businesses, Rubber: Fun, Fashion & Fetish, Chevrolet Summers Dairy Queen Nights, Environmental Heroes