MARJORIE THOMPSON
Artist Statement
Resume
Education
Graduate Studies
Master of Arts in Learning and Emerging Technologies, State University of New York Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA
Final Creative Project -Virtual Worlds: Art Studio Extension
Post Baccalaureate Studies
Art of Engraving workshop, American Numismatic Association, Summer Seminar, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Diamonds Graduate, Gemological Institute of America, New York, NY, USA
Undergraduate Studies
BFA- Sculpture, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
Mechanical Drafting Certification, Schaumberg, IL, USA
Shows
2016 Creators Deserve to be Seen Group Show, Times Square, See Me,
New York, NY, USA
2015-Exposure Photography Group Show, See Me, Louvre, Paris, France
2014-See Me Group Show, New York, NY, USA
2013-Art of Engraving Group Show, Colorado University, Colorado Springs,
CO, USA
1984-ARS Nova Group Show, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL, USA
1982-Group Show, Countryside Art Gallery, Arlington Heights, IL, USA
1980-Undergraduate Sculpture Group Show, University of Illinois, Urbana,
IL, USA
1979-Organized and exhibited in Fastex/Illinois Tool Works
Employee Group Show, Des Plaines, IL, USA
1977-Undergraduate Sculpture Group Show, University of Illinois, Urbana,
IL, USA
1972-District 214 Juried High School Art Show, Randhurst Shopping Mall,
Mount Prospect, IL, USA
1967-Fashion Show, The Cellar, Arlington Heights, IL, USA-In junior high, a
friend, her sister and I organized a fashion show at The Cellar,a teen
hang out where many 60's and 70's bands played including Cream and
The Who. We worked with business owners by curating clothing styles
and modeled clothing from local dress shops during an intermission
between bands
Consultant Projects/ Commissions
1991-2010 Jewelry Design, Models, Small Sculptures
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AVF Productions, New York, NY-designs
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Fantasy Diamond Corporation, Chicago, IL-designs, technical drawings
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Jeff Cooper, Inc., Long Island, NY-designs, technical drawings
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Jeff Kantra, New York, NY-technical drawings
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Kieselstein-Cord, New York, NY-models
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Lazaro Soho, New York, NY-designs, models, sketches-10 years jewelry design and model making-In-house and consultancy product development/strategic assortment planning for department stores and small boutiques
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Mahlia Collection, Tuscan, AZ- technical drawings, models
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Scott Kay Jewelry, Teaneck, NJ-designs, renderings
Art Teaching
2005 Presentation on Georgia O'Keeffe, Women in Art Course, as Visual
Resource Librarian 2004-2005, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY, USA
2004-2005 Teaching Artist, Roxbury Arts Group, Roxbury, NY, USA
2001-2002 Arts and Crafts Teacher, Museum Volunteer, Arts Administrative
Assistant, Americorps Volunteer, Oneonta, NY, USA
2001 Arts and Crafts Teacher, Brookwood School. Cooperstown, NY, USA
1980-1981 Sculpture Teacher, Wheeling Park District, Wheeling IL, USA
The main focus of my art is to create metaphorical works that have universal meaning, whether working abstractly or realistically. I am interested in how
people make meaning independent of power structures that can exist
between people. My work addresses the spirit of the individual in
confrontation with nature, their environment, their senses. Although I
am a female artist, I am interested in creating art that goes beyond gender classification.
My abstract art making is a complicated puzzle that involves elements of
composition, design, color, shape, forming an artistic vocabulary in the finished piece and in my larger body of work.
In my most recent work, I am examining the figure in mythological context.
Biography
Early years were spent in Europe where museums, churches, architecture,
historical sites created a strong interest in Classical Art as well as Modernism.
Growing up in the Chicago area, many hours were spent at the Art Institute
of Chicago, the Field Museum, where the extensive art collections instilled a
love of art and beauty.
During the time when she was studying for her BFA in Sculpture from the
University of Illinois, she also created cartoons for the University of Illinois
school paper. Between Junior and Senior year, she took a couple of years
off, studied mechanical drafting and worked for the engineering firm Illinois
Tool Works, experience which gave her a sense of the crossovers between
art, engineering and science.
After graduation, Marjorie moved back to the Chicago area where she worked
for different business, created freelance newspaper illustrations,worked
as an artist' assistant and entered work in art shows. She also took additional
art courses at the School of the Art Institute and Northern Illinois University.
In 1992, Marjorie moved to New York, NY to work with jewelry designers
and created models and designs for more than 15 years. In 2014, she decided
to return to school for a Master of Arts in Learning and Emerging Technology
at SUNY Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.