Claire Thorson – Curriculum Vitae

 

 

Education

  • 2005 – MFA Pictorial Arts, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
  • 1997 – BA Studio Art, emphasis drawing and painting, UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA
  • 1992 – Study Abroad, Cortona, Italy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

 

Selected Exhibitions

2020 – Ripple Effect, Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, CA, invitational group show
2019 – A Figurative Affair, Blitzer gallery, Santa Cruz, CA, group show, Curators: Susan Hancey and Sefla Joseph
2018 – Shared Seas, Radius Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA, group show, Curators: Margaret Niven and Robynn Smith,
2017 – Shared Seas, Listhus Gallery, Olafsfjordur, Iceland, group show
2016 – Dust and Deluge, Café Iveta, Santa Cruz, CA, solo show
2015 – Claire Thorson: Painting and Drawing, Santa Clara University, solo show
2014 – Desire & Inquiry, Museo Eduardo Carrillo, “On View”, solo show, Executive Director: Betsy Andersen
2013 – The Drawing Salon, Smith Gallery, UCSC, group show, Curator: Joan Blackmer
2011 – Without Art, Cabrillo College Gallery, Aptos, CA, group show
2010 – Figure + Form, Michelangelo Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA, three-person show2009 – National Drawing and Sculpture Exhibit, Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA, juried group show. Jurors: Jane Gregorius and Lynda Watson
2009 – Cabrillo Arts/Cabrillo Artists, Pajaro Valley Arts Council, Watsonville, CA group show, Curators: Janet Fine, Jane Gregorius, Kristin Hayward, Susan Matulich
2009 – Reflections: the Human Figure, Santa Cruz County Bank, Santa Cruz, CA, group show Curator: Joan Blackmer
2009 – People, Ohlone College, Fremont, CA, group show, Curator: Kenny Mencher
2007 – Figurative Works, Orchard Commercial, San Jose, CA, invitational group show, Curator: Carla Turturici
2006 – Plein Air Affaire, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA, invitational group show
2006 – Fresh Strokes, Heritage Bank, San Jose, CA, invitational, group show, Curator: Jane Salvin
2005 – Paper Cuts Again, Fetterly Gallery, Vallejo, CA, juried group show, Juror: Thomas Wojak
2005 – Glim Glam Glom, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose CA, juried group show, Curator: Marisa Olson
2005 – Galex 39, Galesburg Civic Art Center, Galesburg, IL, juried group show, Purchase Award, Juror: Robert Poplack
2004 – Configurations, San Jose State University School of Art and Design, solo show
2003 – 40th Annual International Competition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA, Juror: Peter Gordon
2003 – Unbounded Vistas: Artists Interpret the Northern California Landscape, Hearst Gallery, St. Mary’s College Moraga, CA, Juror: Terry St. John
2002 – Presence/Absence, San Jose State University, solo show
1999 – Landscapes, d.p. Fong gallery, San Jose, CA, four-person show, Curator: Joan Blackmer
1998 – Landscapes, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA, juried group show, Juror: Phil Linhares
1997 – Recent Works, University of California Santa Cruz, senior show 1994 Entrances, Carl Cherry Center, Carmel, CA, solo show
1993 – Water, Los Gatos Museum, Los Gatos, CA, group show
1992 – From Tassajara, San Francisco Zen Center, San Francisco, CA, three-person show
1990 – The California Landscape, The Art League, Santa Cruz, CA, juried group show, Juror: Terry St. John
1990 – California Landscapes, Creative Arts Center Gallery, Sunnyvale, CA, two-person show
1989 – The New American Landscape, Pacific Grove Art Center, Pacific Grove, CA, juried group show, Jurors: Josine Ianco-Starrels, Fred Martin
1989 – Trees and Views, Santa Cruz County Building, Santa Cruz, CA, two-person show
1989 – The Necessity of Images, Carl Cherry Foundation, Carmel, CA, three-person show
1988 – Santa Cruz Painting ’88, The Art Museum and The Art League, Santa Cruz, CA, juried group show Juror: Kenneth Baker
1987 – West Coast Competition, Pacific Grove Art Center, Pacific Grove, CA, juried group show, Juror: Terry St. John

Teaching Experience

  • 2007 to present – Instructor, Cabrillo College, Aptos, CA
 – Beginning Drawing and Composition, Figure Painting, Color Drawing, Life Drawing 1& 2, 2D Design and Color
  • 2005 to present – Instructor, Monterey Peninsula College, Monterey, CA
 – 2-D Design, Figure Drawing 1&2, Painting 1&2, Color Fundamentals
  • 2008 – Instructor, West Valley College, Saratoga, CA
 – Beginning Drawing
  • 2003-2005 – Instructor, Teaching Assistant, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA – 2D Concepts, Beginning Drawing, Beginning Painting, Color Fundamentals

 

Related Experience

Since 2016 – Art Studio Department Chair, Cabrillo College
Since 2017 – Executive Board Member, Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers
Since 2016 – Curriculum Committee Representative, Cabrillo College
2016-2020 – Faculty Senate Representative, Cabrillo College
2017-1019 – Team Leader, Art Now Lecture Series, Cabrillo College
2015 – Co-curator, Freehand-A Drawing Show, Pajaro Valley Arts
2014 – Art Residency, Bordeneuve, France
2011- 2017 – Instructor, Cabrillo Extension
2011- Workshop Presenter, CabrilloArts, Making the Leap: Large-scale Drawing
2010-2014 – Advisory Board Member, CabrilloArts, Occasional – Curatorial Committee, Monterey Peninsula College Gallery

 

Scholarships, Awards

2006 – Nominee Eduardo Carrillo Prize
2004 – Willis Nelson Memorial Scholarship
2002 – Willis Nelson Memorial Scholarship