Monroe Hodder CV and Statement

Urban Geometry and Natural Rhythms

This series of paintings reflects the textures and twisted grids of London, the city where I live and work. The pace and flash of urban energy, the mix of multicultural customs and languages, the anonymous trajectories of a million crossing paths - all merge in my mind as I make my way to paint in my studio.

The momentum of the city mirrors the pulse of networks that bind us together. An information web encircles us and creates a continuous flow of connections that interact and prolifeerate. As we feel these fluctuating currents, experience seems less stable, more random. The patterns in my paintings are intended to reflect this state of shifting complexity.

Yet the process of painting begins with an empty canvas that always suggest to me the solitude of an open field. As I work, abstract passages of paint become markers for my experience. The momentum and focus of painting distances the everyday world and brings a sence of natural cycles: the patterns of westher and light, the rhythms of land and sea. In the end, a finished work is simply the trail left behind by the curious and solitary pursuit of a painter; it is the bright aftermath of one in search of sanctuary.

In the current art world, themes of political urgency and post modern irony might seem more relevant than the personal quest of a painter. Yet Oil painting continues to have a stubborn and sensate that draws us into itself. We stop before a great painting. We are inexplicably pulled out of our routines, a mystery ship floating far out to sea, far from the safe habour of the rational mind.

Painting persists. It continues to have the power to strike a resonance in our hearts and ignite a radiance on our minds.

ONE TWO AND THREE PERSON EXHIBITS

Solo Exhibition, Vertigo Gallery, London, England, February 2005 (planned)
“ The Mysteries,” New Works by Monroe Hodder, Toomey Tourell Gallery, San Francisco, CA, March 2004
“New Works,” Vertigo Gallery, Shoreditch, London, April 2003
“Eclipse,” Toomey Tourell Gallery, San Francisco, CA, August 2002
“The Lights of London,” Toomey Tourell Gallery, San Francisco, CA, June 2000
“Trees of Russia,” Toomey Tourell Gallery, San Francisco, CA, July 1999
“Expressions of Nature,” Toomey Tourell Gallery, San Francisco, CA, October 1998
The Cobden Club, Ladbroke Grove, London, England, Ma, 1998
Heifer Gallery, Islington, London, England, April 1997
Tengri Umai Gallery, Almaty, Kazakhstan, January 1997
Jan Baum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, April - May 1996
Joan Roebuck Gallery, Lafayette, CA, June 1995
d. p. Fong Galleries, San Jose, CA, January 1995
Studio Raid, Los Angeles, CA, October 1992
Allegra Gallery, San Jose, CA, December 1990
Jennifer Pauls Gallery, Sacramento, CA, June 1988
Branner Spangenberg Gallery, Palo Alto, CA, Jun, 1988
Laura Russo Gallery, Portland, Oregon, July 1987
SFMMA Gallery, San Francisco, CA, October 1986

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITS

“30 x 30,” Vertigo Gallery, Shoreditch, London, December, 2003, 2004
“Big,” South of Market Center, San Francisco, CA, November 2004
“The Land of Yes,” Trilllium Press, Brisbane, CA, October 2004
Exhibition and Auction, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA, March 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,2004
“Night Moves,” Film of Oil Paintings by Jerry Chater, music by Joby Talbot, SJICA, San Jose, CA, July 2004
Central City Hospitality House, San Francisco, CA, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
London Art Fair, Business Design Centre, London, UK, January 2003, 2004
Exhibition and Auction, San Jose ICA, October 2002, 2003, 2004
Drawing Show, Vertigo Gallery, Shoreditch, London, August 2003
London Art Fair, Chelsea, London, June 2003, 2004
San Francisco Art Fair, San Francisco, CA, January 2003
Works on Paper, Vertigo Gallery, Shoreditch, London, July, 2002
“Almaty International Art Biennale,” Almaty, Kazakhstan, September 2002
“Family Friends,” Vertigo Gallery, Shoreditch, London, Dec-Jan 2002
Selected for Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, June 2001
London Art Fair, Maymie White Contemporary Art, London, UK, October 1999, 2000
Millennium Artists, Lindenberg Gallery, Chelsea, New York, NY, May 2000
“International Women Artists,” Gallerie Everarts, Paris, France, April 1999
“Three American Women Artists,” Most Gallery, Almaty, Kazakhstan, March 1999
“Art and Nature,”Almaty State University Gallery, Almaty, Kazakhstan, October 1998
“20th Anniversary Show,” SFMMA Gallery, San Francisco, CA, October 1998
"California Artists," Heritage Bank and Trust, San Jose, California, July, 1998
“Parade of Galleries,” Kasteev Museum, Almaty, Kazakhstan, March 1998
"Celebration of Colour," Maymie White Contemporary Art, London, UK, October 1997
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Art, London, England, June-Aug 1997
"Recent Acquisitions," San Jose Art Museum, San Jose, CA, May-July, 1997
Summer Exhibition, Heifer Gallery, Islington, London, England, 1997
Twentieth Anniversary Show," Jan Baum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA., March 1997
"SF Art Institute Anniversary Show," Joan Roebuck Gallery, Lafayette, CA, March 1996
"Artists Making Furniture," SFMMA Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Dec. 1995-96
"Impure Painting," Jan Baum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, June 1995
Small Works, Patricia Sweetow Gallery, Napa CA, December 1995
"Small Works," d. p. Fong Galleries, San Jose, CA, October 1994
"Women and the Body," juried by Kiki Smith, Works Gallery, San Jose, CA, May 1993
Exhibit on Women and Ageing, Works Gallery, San Jose, CA, May-June 1993
Exhibit in honour of Maya Angelou, Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA, June 19993
"S.O.S. Show," Studio Raid, Los Angeles, CA, July 1992
"South Bay Artists," Davis Art Center, Sacramento, CA, August 1992
Faculty Show, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA, February 1991
San Francisco Art Institute Alumni Show, San Francisco, CA, Jan 1987
"First San Jose Biennial", San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA,
curated by Julia Brown Turell, April - June 1986
"Teachers and Their Pupils,” (selected by Academic Dean of SF Art Institute)
Anna Gardner Gallery, Stinson Beach, CA, June - September 1986

EDUCATION

SAN FRANCISCO ART INSTITUTE, San Francisco, CA, 1980-1983
Received MFA in painting, June 1983. Instructors included
Elizabeth Murray, Manuel Neri and Bob Collescott.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Stanford, CA, Received MBA
ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF NEW YORK, New York, NY
VASSAR COLLEGE, Poughkeepsie, NY
Received BA degree with major in Creative Writing, minors in Philosophy and Art History

CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE, AWARDS, OTHER EXPERIENCE

TV INTERVIEW SHOW, ”Art News”, PBS Maryland, November, 2003
“LONDON UNDERGROUND” Seven British Artists of a New Generation, curated by Monroe Hodder, Toomey Tourell Gallery, San Francisco, October, 2003
LABYRINTH INSTALLATION, St George’s Church, Holborn, London, 2003
FILM OF PAINTINGS by Jerry Chater, shown in conjunction with concert by Joby Talbot, Royal Festival Hall, London, Nov. 2002
RESIDENT VISA granted by the British Government to work as an artist in Great Britain, August, 2000, after receiving LETTER OF CONSENT from the British Government to work as an artist, 1996-2000
SEMI-FINALIST, Jerwood Painting Prize, London, 2001
VISITING ARTIST, American Academy in Rome, October 1995-January 1996, November 1999
VISUAL CYMBALS, San Jose State Gallery and the San Jose Art League, Oct, 1994
Co-curated a collaborative exhibit of artists and composers at two locations in San Jose, CA
Purchase Award in Exhibition, "Creating Ourselves,”
E. New Mexico Univ., Portales, New Mexico, juried by Lucy Lippard, March-April, 1992

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

DE ANZA COLLEGE, Cupertino, CA, September 1990 – June 1995
Member of Studio Art Faculty, beginning and advanced oil painting, beginning and advanced drawing.
SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE, San Jose, CA, 1993, Studio Art Instructor
SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, San Jose, CA, 1989-1990, Studio Art Instructor