St. Cloud State University

Untitled
Andrew Nordin
Mike Strand
Jonathan
Gomez Whitney

Mike Strand

www.modernartsmidwest.com

Artist Statement

My recent work is influenced by a myriad of visual and conceptual interests, from Japanese architecture to Norsk Mythology. At the core of the work however is an absolute passion for surface and color. With surfaces that vacillate between minimal and decorative, I strive to marry image and object. The contrast between organic form and tightly articulated areas of color is a cornerstone of this process and provides a limitless context to work within. As a visual scribe I intend to author work that is universal, evocative and ultimately poetic. I seek that elusive magic... a state where work is no longer made but inevitable.

Biography

Michael Strand is the Chair of the Department of Art at Concordia University-Nebraska where he also serves as the Director of the Center for Liturgical Arts. After receiving his MA in painting from St. Cloud State University, Minnesota in 1996 and his MFA in ceramics from the University of Nebraska in 1999, Strand completed an artist’s residency at the Artigas-Miro Foundation in Barcelona, Spain. Strand previously taught at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska. Prior to Midland, Michael was the Education Director at the Lux Center for the Arts and worked exclusively as a professional artist. His work can be found in several private and public collections including: Hilton Hotels International, General Mills Corporation, New York, Alnwick Castle: Duke of Northumberland Collection, England, Artigas-Miro foundation, Spain, Kirov Ballet Company, Russia, University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the City of Omaha.

Andrew Nordin

www.mnartists.org/Andrew_Nordin

Artist Statement

I believe an artist should be a researcher, thinker and maker. One must work with their head, heart and hands in order to create honest art. I make paintings to bring to form visions and images that float by in my head, and it fulfills the compulsion I have as creative person to share with others my ideas and visual thoughts.

More objects than pictures, my work invokes inquiry about the act of painting and presentation of art. I choose materials to work with that range from found wood and materials from dumpsters to marble dust gesso prepared panels, powdered pigments and gold leaf. Using formats such as the multiple and altar-piece inspired variables, the work questions the purpose of art objects and illustrates an imperfect search for the sublime.
My current body of work is an investigation into formal elements found in painting, specifically the phenomenon of “push-pull”; a battle between colors and shapes, fighting for advancing and receding space. Surface qualities and graphic compositions drive these paintings, and the making of them becomes very game-like. I provide myself with visual problems to solve - resolution of shape, space, color, and intuitive feeling is the result and goal.

Biography

Andrew Nordin studied art at Ridgewater College (then Willmar Community College) before getting BFAs in Painting and Graphic Design at St. Cloud State University. He later received his MFA in pictorial arts from San José State University (California).

Andrew has worked as a Museum professional at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2005 he moved with his family, artist Lisa Bergh and son, to New London, Minnesota. In the summer of 2007 Andrew and Lisa opened their home for ‘ARThouse’ a phantom exhibition event space. Information on ARThouse can be found at www.arthousenewlondon.com. Andrew currently is an art instructor at Ridgewater College in Hutchinson, as well as and adjunct instructor at St. Cloud State University. Andrew shows his work regionally, and has paintings in the collections of both Ridgewater College and St. Cloud State University.

Jonathan Gomez Whitney

www.gomezwhitney.com/art.html

Biography

Jonathan Gomez Whitney grew up in Central Minnesota, received a degree in painting from St. Cloud State University, and has been part of the Minneapolis art community since 1997. Gomez Whitney directed Gus Lucky’s gallery, an experimental performance and art gallery, from 1998 to 2001. Since then Jonathan has worked from his South Minneapolis studio making pieces that are both performance and sculptural.

Jonathan Gomez Whitney

400 E lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-237-5098
jonathan@gomezwhitney.com
www.gomezwhitney.com

Degrees and Awards

1996 Bachelor of Fine Art/ painting, St Cloud State University
May Bowle Scholarship for art studies
1994 Associates of Arts Degree, Willmar Community College

Exhibits (solo)

‘08 Pay Attention;GM08, Soap Factory, Mpls, MN
‘07 Art House, NewLondon, MN
‘06 Sounds Like Best Friend, Art of This, Mpls, MN
‘02 The Virtuoso Pianist, Ridge water College, Willmar MN
’00 Untitled, Ridge Water College, February, Willmar MN
‘99 Untitled, Ridge Water College, December, Hutchinson, MN
Sunday, Willmar Center for the Arts, September , Willmar ,MN
Day, Café Solo, Minneapolis MN
‘98 Simple, Gus Lucky’s Gallery 1626 E Lake St, Minneapolis
’97 Untitled, Gus Lucky’s Gallery, Minneapolis
Untitled, The Coffee Hag, Mankato ,MN
’96 Sunshine, St John’s University, Collegeville, MN
’95 You Come Too, G10 gallery St Cloud State

Group Exhibits

‘05 Images Possibly Sent, Banfill-Locke Art center, Fridley, MN
‘04 Fallout Art Fest, The Fallout, Minneapolis, MN
Spark; festival of electronic music and art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
‘03 Art Attack, T Gallery, Northrup King Building Minneapolis, MN
Gettn’ Gus Lucky in Kentucky, The Fallout, Minneapolis, MN
Fallout Art Fest, The Fallout, Minneapolis, MN
’00 Gala Performance, Aveda Congress 2000, Northrup Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN
Untitled, a fashion show at Bath House Gallery, N.E. Minneapolis, MN
’99 Function, First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
‘98 Material Immaterial, Soap Factory Minneapolis, MN
’95 Too, Willmar Community College, Willmar, MN
’94 Hopscotch II, G10 Gallery, St Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN
Hopscotch, Flaco Gallery, St Cloud, MN
Reconstructions, Sculpture patio, St Cloud State University, MN

Performances

‘04 Balloon Kite, Powder horn Park, Minneapolis
Untitled built instrument performance, Acadia, Minneapolis
‘02 The Virtuoso Pianist, Ridge water College, Willmar MN
‘01 If I Had it to do Over Again I would Use Ink, My Generation, Distill Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Item, performance series, 6 installments through 2001, Gus Lucky’s Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

Special exhibits

The Who Chapel
Soo Visual Art Center Minneapolis, MN; ‘03
T-Gallery, Minneapolis ‘03
Seward Café, Minneapolis ‘04
Matchbox, 04
Red Hot Art Festival, Stevens Square, Mpls ‘05
The Virtuoso Pianist video installation, Gallery 360, Minneapolis, MN

Boomerang: Three Alumni Artists

Andrew Nordin, Jonathan Gomez Whitney, Mike Strand

Jan. 7 - Feb. 6, 2009

Artist Talk: Wed. Feb. 4 @ 3pm

Mike Strand

www.modernartsmidwest.com

Artist Statement

Biography

Andrew Nordin

www.mnartists.org/Andrew_Nordin

Artist Statement

Biography

Jonathan Gomez Whitney

www.gomezwhitney.com/art.html

Biography

Jonathan Gomez Whitney

Degrees and Awards

Exhibits (solo)

Group Exhibits

Performances

Special exhibits

Art (contact information)

	A-Z Index \| News \| Library \| Technology \| Support St. Cloud State \| St. Cloud State University Home Admissions Academics Student Life About SCSU Athletics Alumni & Friends Current Show Artist Statement Boomerang: Three Alumni Artists Andrew Nordin, Jonathan Gomez Whitney, Mike Strand Jan. 7 - Feb. 6, 2009 Artist Talk: Wed. Feb. 4 @ 3pm Untitled Andrew Nordin Mike Strand Jonathan Gomez Whitney Mike Strand www.modernartsmidwest.com Artist Statement My recent work is influenced by a myriad of visual and conceptual interests, from Japanese architecture to Norsk Mythology. At the core of the work however is an absolute passion for surface and color. With surfaces that vacillate between minimal and decorative, I strive to marry image and object. The contrast between organic form and tightly articulated areas of color is a cornerstone of this process and provides a limitless context to work within. As a visual scribe I intend to author work that is universal, evocative and ultimately poetic. I seek that elusive magic... a state where work is no longer made but inevitable. Biography Michael Strand is the Chair of the Department of Art at Concordia University-Nebraska where he also serves as the Director of the Center for Liturgical Arts. After receiving his MA in painting from St. Cloud State University, Minnesota in 1996 and his MFA in ceramics from the University of Nebraska in 1999, Strand completed an artist’s residency at the Artigas-Miro Foundation in Barcelona, Spain. Strand previously taught at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska. Prior to Midland, Michael was the Education Director at the Lux Center for the Arts and worked exclusively as a professional artist. His work can be found in several private and public collections including: Hilton Hotels International, General Mills Corporation, New York, Alnwick Castle: Duke of Northumberland Collection, England, Artigas-Miro foundation, Spain, Kirov Ballet Company, Russia, University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the City of Omaha. Andrew Nordin www.mnartists.org/Andrew_Nordin Artist Statement I believe an artist should be a researcher, thinker and maker. One must work with their head, heart and hands in order to create honest art. I make paintings to bring to form visions and images that float by in my head, and it fulfills the compulsion I have as creative person to share with others my ideas and visual thoughts. More objects than pictures, my work invokes inquiry about the act of painting and presentation of art. I choose materials to work with that range from found wood and materials from dumpsters to marble dust gesso prepared panels, powdered pigments and gold leaf. Using formats such as the multiple and altar-piece inspired variables, the work questions the purpose of art objects and illustrates an imperfect search for the sublime. My current body of work is an investigation into formal elements found in painting, specifically the phenomenon of “push-pull”; a battle between colors and shapes, fighting for advancing and receding space. Surface qualities and graphic compositions drive these paintings, and the making of them becomes very game-like. I provide myself with visual problems to solve - resolution of shape, space, color, and intuitive feeling is the result and goal. Biography Andrew Nordin studied art at Ridgewater College (then Willmar Community College) before getting BFAs in Painting and Graphic Design at St. Cloud State University. He later received his MFA in pictorial arts from San José State University (California). Andrew has worked as a Museum professional at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2005 he moved with his family, artist Lisa Bergh and son, to New London, Minnesota. In the summer of 2007 Andrew and Lisa opened their home for ‘ARThouse’ a phantom exhibition event space. Information on ARThouse can be found at www.arthousenewlondon.com. Andrew currently is an art instructor at Ridgewater College in Hutchinson, as well as and adjunct instructor at St. Cloud State University. Andrew shows his work regionally, and has paintings in the collections of both Ridgewater College and St. Cloud State University. Jonathan Gomez Whitney www.gomezwhitney.com/art.html Biography Jonathan Gomez Whitney grew up in Central Minnesota, received a degree in painting from St. Cloud State University, and has been part of the Minneapolis art community since 1997. Gomez Whitney directed Gus Lucky’s gallery, an experimental performance and art gallery, from 1998 to 2001. Since then Jonathan has worked from his South Minneapolis studio making pieces that are both performance and sculptural. Jonathan Gomez Whitney 400 E lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55407 612-237-5098 jonathan@gomezwhitney.com www.gomezwhitney.com Degrees and Awards 1996 Bachelor of Fine Art/ painting, St Cloud State University May Bowle Scholarship for art studies 1994 Associates of Arts Degree, Willmar Community College Exhibits (solo) ‘08 Pay Attention;GM08, Soap Factory, Mpls, MN ‘07 Art House, NewLondon, MN ‘06 Sounds Like Best Friend, Art of This, Mpls, MN ‘02 The Virtuoso Pianist, Ridge water College, Willmar MN ’00 Untitled, Ridge Water College, February, Willmar MN ‘99 Untitled, Ridge Water College, December, Hutchinson, MN Sunday, Willmar Center for the Arts, September , Willmar ,MN Day, Café Solo, Minneapolis MN ‘98 Simple, Gus Lucky’s Gallery 1626 E Lake St, Minneapolis ’97 Untitled, Gus Lucky’s Gallery, Minneapolis Untitled, The Coffee Hag, Mankato ,MN ’96 Sunshine, St John’s University, Collegeville, MN ’95 You Come Too, G10 gallery St Cloud State Group Exhibits ‘05 Images Possibly Sent, Banfill-Locke Art center, Fridley, MN ‘04 Fallout Art Fest, The Fallout, Minneapolis, MN Spark; festival of electronic music and art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis ‘03 Art Attack, T Gallery, Northrup King Building Minneapolis, MN Gettn’ Gus Lucky in Kentucky, The Fallout, Minneapolis, MN Fallout Art Fest, The Fallout, Minneapolis, MN ’00 Gala Performance, Aveda Congress 2000, Northrup Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN Untitled, a fashion show at Bath House Gallery, N.E. Minneapolis, MN ’99 Function, First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN ‘98 Material Immaterial, Soap Factory Minneapolis, MN ’95 Too, Willmar Community College, Willmar, MN ’94 Hopscotch II, G10 Gallery, St Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN Hopscotch, Flaco Gallery, St Cloud, MN Reconstructions, Sculpture patio, St Cloud State University, MN Performances ‘04 Balloon Kite, Powder horn Park, Minneapolis Untitled built instrument performance, Acadia, Minneapolis ‘02 The Virtuoso Pianist, Ridge water College, Willmar MN ‘01 If I Had it to do Over Again I would Use Ink, My Generation, Distill Gallery, Minneapolis, MN Item, performance series, 6 installments through 2001, Gus Lucky’s Gallery, Minneapolis, MN Special exhibits The Who Chapel Soo Visual Art Center Minneapolis, MN; ‘03 T-Gallery, Minneapolis ‘03 Seward Café, Minneapolis ‘04 Matchbox, 04 Red Hot Art Festival, Stevens Square, Mpls ‘05 The Virtuoso Pianist video installation, Gallery 360, Minneapolis, MN Kiehle Gallery Home Art Department Home Hours 8am - 4pm, Mon - Fri Phone 320.308.4283 Contact Bill Gorcica Gallery Director 320.308.4999 wgorcica@stcloudstate.edu Kiehle Gallery is supported by Student Government funds and the St. Cloud State University Art Department. Art (contact information) 720 4th Avenue South - St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301-4498 Page Revised: 02/12/2009 Phone: (320) 308-4283 © 2009 St. Cloud State University Site Map \| Map & Directions \| Contact SCSU \| Accreditations St. Cloud State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer. St. Cloud State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.