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studio: 505 913 0466

web sites: vivona.net, lindavivona.com

video: https://youtu.be/kh2Ey2ZwE_4

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   Linda Vi Vona’s work has always been groundbreaking.  At the age of 27, she was the only woman included in Art in Process, an exhibition in the Contemporary Study Wing of the Finch College Museum of Art in New York City, alongside the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, Conrad Marca-Relli, Claes Oldenburg, Alfonso Ossorio, Robert Rauschenberg, Larry Rivers, Ray Johnson and Theodoros Stamos.

 

Vi Vona’s first solo exhibition, at the Graham Gallery in 1971,  focused exclusively on her remarkable “Plastics”, a body of  work that was also highlighted in a group show at the Allan Stone Gallery in New York City and featured at the Newark College of Engineering in a show entitled, Light as Art.

 

In 1972, Vi Vona exhibited with Lee Bontecou, Cecily Brown, Judy Chicago, Louise Nevelson, Lee Krasner, Louise Bourgeois, and others in a museum exhibit highlighting the work of contemporary women artists.  

 

That year Vi Vona was also among the women gathered for the first meeting of feminist artists at A.I.R., the first non-profit, artist-run gallery for women in the country.

 

Artist, art critic and educator Jon Carver, in a review of Vi Vona’s Santa Fe retrospective, Born Under What Star, at the Red Dot Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, wrote:

. . . a retrospective of works by Linda Vi Vona, spanning the past fifty years is an attempt to catalog an increasingly diverse career in the arts, by exploring the wide variety of styles and modes of work the artist has embraced and mastered.

Oil paintings, beach trash, chine-collé  and fabric collage, digital prints, intimate drawings and plexiglas constructions, Linda Vi Vona has approached each medium with a vivacity and a unique sensitivity that are hers alone.

 

A positive  review by Helen Harrison of The New York Times described Vi Vona’s work by saying: "One of her most notable predecessors is the Dada artist Kurt Schwitters, whose assemblages of found objects function as a kind of personal statement. Fabric, and especially bunched and layered cloth, has been a favorite motif of painters for centuries, but incorporation of the material itself is a relatively recent phenomenon. The feminist movement has given it a particular attention, adding a political dimension by celebrating clothing and needlework as neglected expressions of women’s creativity. Some look more destroyed than created, leaving the impression that there is a dark side to her expressive drive…"

(“When There’s a Leap From Junk to Art,” 1982).

 

In 1993 an accident shifted the trajectory of Vi Vona’s professional career and required her to rethink her choice of materials and processes.  “There are so many issues with my arms and my hands. I have to work with what I can do,” she says.  Because of that experience, one of her current goals is to inspire and give strength to other physically challenged people, and in turn, anyone else in need of inspiration and strength.

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To learn more, see “ Vi Vona Mastering A Life”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh2Ey2ZwE_4

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EDUCATION

1973     NYIT, Old Westbury, NY

1972     Brooklyn College (BS), Brooklyn, NY

1963     SMFA, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA

1962     Academia di Belle Arte, Florence, Italy

1961     Cooper Union School of Art & Architecture, New York, NY

 

HONORS AND GRANTS

2000     NCRPA, Grant for Solo Exhibit, Long Island, NY

1999     Emergency Grant, CHANGE, INC., Captiva, FL

1995     Emergency Grant, Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation, NYC, NY 

             Grant, Artists’ Fellowships, NYC, NY

1982     OCD Grant for Solo Exhibit, Office of Cultural Development, Nassau County, NY

1962     First Prize in Painting, Parrish Museum, Southampton, NY

 

SOLO EXHIBITS

2012     “Born under WHAT star?” Red Dot Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2004     Jemez Series; JMTC, Jemez Springs, NM

            Watercolors and Oils; The Laughing Lizard, Jemez Springs, NM

2002     Large Digital Images; The Laughing Lizard, Jemez Springs, NM

2001     Watercolors; JMTC, Jemez Springs, NM

2000     Collages and Digital Images; Stenson Memorial, Sea Cliff, NY

1993     Oils & Watercolors; Bryant Gallery, Roslyn, NY

1985     Heroines; Discovery Art Gallery, Glen Cove, NY

1984     Caves and Cathedrals; Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY

1983     Watercolors; Rena Fortgang Gallery, Old Brookville, NY

1982     Rag Time; Village Square Gallery, Glen Cove, NY

1980     Metaphysical Geometrics; Seasons, Sea Cliff, NY

1978     Transitions I; Stenson Memorial, Sea Cliff,  NY

             Transitions I I; Great Neck House, Great Neck, NY

1971     Vi Vona, Plastics; Graham Gallery, New York, NY

 

PROFESSIONAL EXHIBITS

2020-21 Rotating Works: Moon and Dove Gallery, Corrales, NM

2019     Textile + Fiber, AMoA Biennial 600; AMoA, Amarillo, TX

             ABAD: The Last Waltz; Islip Art Museum, Islip, NY

             Inspired! Works on Paper; New Mexico Art League, Albuquerque, NM

             Summer Group Show; Moon & Dove Gallery, Corrales, NM

2018     Lobo the King of Currumpaw; Academy for the Love of Learning, Santa Fe, NM

2017     Local Coloring: Axle Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM

             Taking Back Orange; Santa Fe Collective, Santa Fe, NM

             WILD; Ghostwolf Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

2016     Art Bank; Muñoz-Waxman @CCA, Santa Fe, NM

            Trash Transformed: Art From Recycled Materials, Jemez Fine Art Gallery, Jemez Springs, NM

2015     Common Ground 2015; Santa Fe Community Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2013     Lucky 13; CCA, Santa Fe, NM   

             Gallery Exhibit; The William and Joseph Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2011     Vestiges; Jemez Trading Co, Jemez Springs, NM

2010     Island to Island; Mistretta Galleries, Locust Valley, NY

            Group Exhibit; JMTC., Jemez Springs, NM

            Collective: Meow Wolf, Santa Fe, NM

2009     Group Exhibit; Salon Margraff, Santa Fe, NM

2008     Cradle Project; Albuquerque, NM (catalogue)

             Shelter in Place; Mission Street Gallery, Jemez Springs, NM

2007     Group Exhibit; Salon Margraff, Santa Fe, NM

2006     American Impressions; William Paterson University Galleries, Wayne, NJ (catalogue)

             Braided Lives; Berkeley Studios, Berkely, CA

             Lines in the Land of D; Fisher Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

             Art and Spirit; Ushasti Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

2005     DFAS Members Show; Albuquerque, NM

            Snap to the Grid; Los Angeles Center For Digital Art, Los Angeles, CA

             War & Peace Between Mind and Body; VSA arts & Governor's Commission on Disability, Santa Fe, NM

             ArtFirst; Princeton, NJ

2004     Jemez Folk; SomArts, San Francisco, CA

2003     ArtFirst; Princeton, NJ

2002     A Collective; JMTC, Jemez Springs, NM

2001     Art Ability; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA

             Pier Show 9; BWAC, Brooklyn, NY

             Bridging Art and Ability 2; WAHC, Williamsburg, NY

             UCP/NYC's Window Gallery, New York, NY

2000     SMFA Exhibition and Sale; SMFA, Boston, MA

             Invitational; Bryn Mawr Rehab, Malvern, PA

             LIU Salena Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

             Catherine Street Gallery; Staten Island, NY

             Small Works on Paper; Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn, NY

             Pier Show; BWAC, Brooklyn, NY

             Millennium Perspective; Marlen Gallery, New York, NY

             Bridging Art and Ability 2; WAHC, Williamsburg, NY

1999     SMFA Exhibition and Sale; SMFA, Boston, MA

             Interior Views; Belsky House, Brooklyn, NY

             Joan Harrison: Artist and Friends; Sea Cliff Gallery, Sea Cliff, NY

             Selections: Collage; Anthony Giordano Gallery, Dowling College, Oakdale, NY (catalogue)

             Hearts for Children; Sea Cliff Gallery, Sea Cliff, NY

1998     Awkwardology; Open Space Gallery, Allentown, PA

             Group Show; VSA Gallery West, Beverly Hills, CA

1997     The Altered Image; Islip Art Museum, Islip, NY

             Fresh Perspectives; VSA Gallery, Washington, DC

1996     A Large Show of Small Works; The Cooper Union, New York, NY

             Still Life; Islip Art Museum, Islip, Long Island, NY

             Group Show; Very Special Arts Gallery , Washington, DC

1995     APA Benefit; Mary Anthony Galleries, New York, NY

             Group Show; Gallery 31A, Glen Cove, NY

1994     Group Show; Galleries 321A and 31A2, Glen Cove, NY

1993     Group Show; Galleries 31A and 31A2, Glen Cove, NY

1992     In Search of Meaning; Discovery Gallery, Glen Cove, NY

             Visions of Angels; Nancy Driscoll Gallery, Sea Cliff, NY   

             (WHAT IS?); Ambassador Galleries, New York, NY

1991     Spirit and the Mind; Discovery Gallery, Glen Cove, NY

             First Art Benefit; YM-YWHA of Suffolk, Commack, NY

1990     Younger Members & Their Friends Exhibition; The National Arts Club, New York, NY

             Group Show; Avanian Gallery, New York, NY

             The Larger Print; Midge Karr Art Center, Greenvale, NY

             International Women’s Exhibit of Contemporary Art; Weatherholt Galleries, Washington, DC

             The Last Round-Up; Discovery Art Gallery, Glen Cove, NY

1989     First Fine Arts Exhibit; Sid Jacobsen Y, Glen Cove, NY

1988     Electronic Art; Discovery Art Gallery, Glen Cove, NY

             2 Person Show; Discovery Art Gallery, Glen Cove, NY

1987     Invitational; Discovery Metro Gallery, Long Island City, NY

             Paintings & Sculpture; Towards the 90’s; Discovery Art Gallery, Glen Cove, NY

1986     At Liberty with Liberty; Bryant Gallery, Roslyn, NY

             Letters; Clocktower, New York, NY

             Women Artists on Long Island; Hutchins Gallery, CW Post University, Greenvale, NY

             Outsize Graphics; Discovery Gallery, Glen Cove, NY

             East Meets West; Forefront Gallery, Long Island City, NY

1985     Fold of Cloth; HHAA, Glen Cove, NY

             The Last Roundup; HHAA, Glen Cove, NY

             Top of the Eighties; HHAA, Glen Cove, NY

1984     Wood Show; HHAA, Glen Cove, NY

             Invitational; Great Neck Library, Glen Cove, NY

             Multiple Choice; Wunsch Arts Center, Glen Cove, NY

             Graphics Spin Offs; HHAA, Glen Cove, NY 

             Innovation: New Wave Constructions & Autobiographical Works; HHAA, Glen Cove, NY

1983     FAMLI Annual; FAMLI, Hempstead, NY (catalogue)

             Group Show; HHAA, Glen Cove, NY

             S.O.S., Protest Show; Glen Cove, NY

             Invitational; Birch Hill Gallery, Locust Valley, NY

1982     Group Exhibit; Sea Cliff Photograph Co, Sea Cliff, NY

1981     Small & Tiny Artworks; 79 Wall Street, Huntington, NY

             Drawings/Works on Paper; 79 Wall Street, Huntington, NY

             Pratt Pond, Social Awareness Show; HHAA, Glen Cove, NY

             Martha Lincoln Gallery, Vero Beach, FL

             American Legion, Amagansett, NY

             Kips Bay Designers Showcase, New York, NY

1980     Five Artists; Studio School of New York, New York, NY

             Fire House Gallery Annual; Nassau Community College, Long Island, NY

             Tulip Connection; Gallery 36, New York, NY

1979     Invitational; Odin Gallery, Port Washington, NY

             3 Artists; Downtown Gallery, Glen Cove, NY

1977     27th Annual New England Exhibit; The Silvermine Guild, Silvermine, CT (catalogue)

1972    Unmanly Art; Suffolk Museum, Stony Brook, NY

             Paintings by Some Contemporary Women Artists; Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA

1971     This is Not Here;  Everson Museum, Syracuse, NY

             Women Artists; International House, New York, NY

             21st New England Exhibit; The Silvermine Guild, Silvermine, CT

1970     Birds and Beasts; Graham Gallery, New York, NY (catalogue)

             Collectors Show; Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

             Annual Exhibit; Ramaz School, New York, NY

1969     Five Artists; Graham Gallery, New York, NY

             Summer Show; Chelsea Gallery, New York, NY

             Art on Paper; Weatherspoon Annual; Greensboro, NC (catalogue)

             Watercolors Exhibit; Boston Museum; Boston, MA

1968     Light as Art; Newark College of Engineering, Newark NJ (catalogue)

             Group Show; Allan Stone Gallery, New York, NY

1967     *Art in Process; Finch College Museum, New York, NY (catalogue)

             Group Show; East Hampton Gallery, New York, NY

             XXII American Drawing Biennial; Norfolk Museum of Arts & Sciences, Norfolk, VI (catalogue)

             Weatherspoon Annual; Greensboro, NC

             Group Show; Allan Stone Gallery, New York, NY

1966     Group Show; Stamford Museum, Stamford, CT

             Silvermine Exhibition, Silvermine, CT

             XXI American Drawing Biennial, Norfolk Museum of Arts & Sciences, Norfolk, VI

1965     Southeastern Exhibit; Savannah, GA

1963     Boston Fine Arts Festival, Boston, MA

1962     Annual Juried Show; Parrish Museum, Southampton, NY

     

 *Art In Process: The Visual Development of a Collage traveled via the American Federation of Arts 

to the following venues:
Aug. 24 – Sep. 14: Charles N. MacNider Museum, Mason City, IA
Sep. 28 – Oct. 19: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Nov. 2 – 23: State University College, Plattsburgh, NY
Jan. 11 – Feb. 1: Cedar Rapids Art Center, Cedar Rapids, IA
Feb. 15 – Mar. 7: The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC
Mar. 21 – Apr. 11: The Neville Public Museum, Green Bay, WI
Apr. 25 – May 16: Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN
Jul. 4 – 25: State University College, Geneseo, NY
Sep. 12 – Oct. 3: Bates College, Lewiston, ME

 

LECTURES AND INTERVIEWS

2012     Lecture, Red Dot Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, November 2

             Interview, Jon Carver on “Born under WHAT star? Vi Vona, Art Beat, Kathryn Davis, KTRC, Santa Fe, NM 10/12    

2008     Power Point Presentation, “Creativity and Thought,” CW Post LIU Campus, NY, November 7

2000     Featured Artist, Studio 211, CO Website – no longer exists

             Interview, “Vi Vona Finds New Medium, New Audience on Web,” The Palette, Washington, DC, 2000, pg 3

1989     Interview, WCWP, Artist and Teacher, CW Post LIU Campus, NY  

             Interview, Channel 12, First Fine Art Exhibit, Long Island, NY

1987     Lecture, Heckscher Museum, NY, September 22

             Lecture, The Gallery-Oyster Bay Salon, Nassau Community College, NY, June 12

             Interview, WHPC, The Philosophers of Art Series, Nassau Community College, NY, Jun. 5 

1986     Interview, WCWP, Artists Talk Series, CW Post LIU Campus, NY, June 6

1985     Lecture, Heroines Show, HHAA, Glen Cove, NY, April 12

1982     Lecture & Videotaping, Ragtime Exhibit, HHAA, Glen Cove, NY, April 18

 

PUBLICATIONS 

New Feral Press/Prehensile Pencil Publications: Illustrations (Oyster Bay, NY)

            Bumming for Grub, John Digby's adaptation of a poem by Tao Chi'en 2007

            A Place of Shade, a collection of poems by E. F. Weisslitz 2007

            Poems, by Adelia Prado translated Flavia M. Lobo 2008

            Five Sons Fruits From the Old Tree, improvisation from Tao Ch'ien by John Digby 2008

            We Can Discuss Loneliness, two poems adapted from Tu Fu and Po Chu-1 by John Digby 2008

            Their Hunger is Great, two poems by Diane Lutz 2008

            Pausing at the Bonder, 5 Chinese adaptations by John Digby 2008

            Nostos, Diane Simone-Lutz poem 2009

            38th Summer, Diane Simone-Lutz poem 2009

            this before, Kimberly Southwick's poem 2009

            To Wang Lun, Master Brewer, poem by Li Po adapted by John Digby 2009

            I Shouldn't Have Waited, 9 poems by Edmund Miller 2009

            New Year Letter, prose poem by Vern Rutsala 2010

            The Girl Who Could Fly, poem by Vern Rutsala 2009

            West of the Truth, five prose poems by Vem Rutsala 2011

            Within the Rain, five poems by Bergès Alvarez 2011

            Love and Work & My Answering Machine, prose poems by Vern Rutsala 2011

            Antonio & Clara, poem by David Giannini 2012

             Bag of Sugar, short story by Fredric M. Menger 2016

             Uncharted Waters, poems by Steven Sher 2017

             Pulling Eagles From the Sky, poems by Tara L. Masih 2017

             My Mother’s Hands, poems by Frances Lombardi-Grahl  

 

ELECTRONIC BOOKS AND VIDEO

Vi Vona, Born under WHAT star? (blurb, 2012), http://blur.by/1bPuTzi

Vi Vona: Heroines (blurb, 2014)

Vi Vona: Mastering A Life, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh2Ey2ZwE_4

 

REVIEWS / PERIODICALS / NEWSPAPERS

Kate McGraw “to be always beginning” Albuquerque Journal North (Oct 12, 2012}: pg S3

Susan Wider “Linda Vi Vona: Born Under What Star?” THE Magazine (Dec-Jan 2012-2013): pg 51

“Collectors: Joan Lombardi and Lee Nash” Santa Faen Magazine (June-July 2009): pg 33

Deborah Mashibini “2004 Southwest Conference on Disability featured New Mexico Artist” N4 Newsletter, Albuquerque, (Summer 2004): pg 8

Gina Solamone “Artistic Triumph Over Tragedy” Whatevah-The Brooklyn Skyline Feature Section, Williamsburg, NY (Feb 2000): pg 3

Helen A. Harrison “Still Life’s Infused with Vim and Vigor” NY TIMES L.I. (May 12,1996): pg 18

Helen A. Harrison “In a Group Show, 5 Artists Seeking Meanings” NY TIMES L.I. (Dec 13,1992): pg 27

Helen A. Harrison “Angels in Many Guises, Historical and Modern” NY TIMES L.I. (Dec 20,1992)

Steve Parks “Living to Make Art on the Island” Newsday Part l l (Oct 11,1991): pgs 84-85

Karin Lipson “Abstract Offerings in Larger Print’” Newsday Part l l (June 15, 1990): pg 16

Martin Parson “Mejones, Ergin and Others” Artspeak, NYC (May 16,1990): pg 5

Karin Lipson “Quirky Gnirke-Land and Others” Newsday Part l l (June 24, 1988): pg 31

Helen A. Harrison “A Three Part ‘Showcase’” NY TIMES L.I. (June 26, 1988)

Elaine Benson “The New Breed” LI Monthly (Oct 1988): pg 50

Maria Stieglitz “Finding Homes For Arts Sake” Newsday L.I. (July 4,1987): pg 19

Karin Lipson “Six Artists in a Show of Contrasts” Newsday Part l l (Aug 12,1986)

Photo “Women Artists on Long Island” The Overview Section of Anton Community Newspapers of LI (Oct 9, 1986)

Jeanne Paris “Café Harlequin” Newsday Part l l (Nov 1986): pg 19

Lin Giliberti “Linda Vi Vona’s ‘Heroines’” Sunstorm L.I. (April 1985): pg 16

Madeline Burnside “Linda ViVona, Nola Zirin, Natalie Douenias” Sunstorm L.I. (June 1985): pg 8

Helen A. Harrison “Making Cloth The Fabric of Art” NY TIMES L.I. (Oct 13, 1985): pg 20

Lucy Appio “Alumni Return Carting Art” Kingsman, Brooklyn College Weekly Newspaper (Feb 17,1984): pg 9

Photo “Shelter” Women Artists NEWS (Spring 1984): 311 No.3 pg 33

Lillian Gates “Hempstead Harbor Artist’s new show is huge success” Glen Cove Record pilot (March 15,1984): pg 2

Lillian Gates “Art For ’84 Wood Sculpture” Glen Cove Guardian (April 26,1984): pg3

Richard C. Firstman “Here Summer Living is an Art” Newsday, Leisure Section (July 22, 1984): pgs 1&17

Malcolm Preston “A Multiple Choice Group Show” Newsday Part l l (August, 18,1984): pg 19

Phyllis Braff “Finding Trend on a Potpourri” NY TIMES L.I. (August 26,1984): pg 16

Phyllis Braff “Different Ways To Approach Nature” NY TIMES L.I. (Nov 18,1984): pg 30

Malcolm Preston “Invited artists, inviting works” Newsday Part l l (Dec 1983): pg 47

“Vi Vona’s new work has added dimension” ART Beat (1982)

Helen A. Harrison “When There’s A Leap From Junk to Art” NY TIMES, L.I. (May 16,1982): pg 20

Jeanne Paris “A Harmony of Strings” Newsday Part l l (July 1981): pg 20

Alvin Klein “A Rose, but Not a Blossoming” NY TIMES L.I. (Feb 24,1980): pg 2

Photo “Metaphysical Geometrics” Glen Cove Record Pilot (July 17,1980): pg 2

Barbara Wells Fitzgerald “A Show of New Works” Glen Cove Guardian (April 1982)

Helen A. Harrison “Works in Miniature Challenge the Power of Perception” NY TIMES L.I. (Nov 8, 1981)

Photo “Gallery Odin” Sunstorm (June 15,1979): pg 11

Jeanne Paris “Downtown Gallery” Newsday Part l l (June 22,1979)

Joan Marcus “Transitions l, a showing of Linda Vi Vona” Sea Cliff Glen Head Times (Feb 1978): pg 18

Otto Erbar “Beginning Again in a New Frame Work” Glen Cove Record Pilot (July 13,1978): pg 1A

Barbara Schwartz, “Linda ViVona Graham Gallery” Craft Horizons (August 1971): pg 45

J.G. “Linda ViVona Graham Gallery” Art Forum (April 1971)

A “Graham Gallery Show” Arts Magazine (Sept-Oct 1969)

Photo “Newark College of Engineering Five Artists Exhibit” The Star Ledger, Newark (October 7, 1968)

Photo “Young Artist at Work” Newsday (Oct 16, 1962)

 

TEACHING

1989-1993 Adjunct Professor, FIT, New York, NY

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1976-1993 Studio 308; Advertising and Graphics Design, Art Director and Owner

1998-Present Web and Graphic Design 

            

 

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