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EDUCATION

 

Master of Fine Arts, Painting and Drawing, 1998, Central Washington University

Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology, 1988, University of Washington

Study Abroad, Burren College of Art, Ballyvaughn, Ireland, Abstract Painting, Summer 2009

           

TEACHING

 

Heritage University: 

            1994-2015 Professor of Visual Art

            2004-2015 Chair, Fine Arts Department

Yakima Valley Community College: 

            1999-2002 Adjunct Faculty, Art

Central Washington University: 

            1999 - Adjunct Faculty, Art - Beginning and Intermediate Ceramics

            1997 -1998 - Teaching Assistant Watercolor and 2D Design (instructor of record)          

 

AWARDS & HONORS

2021    Nancy Messner Memorial Award, Parkside Gallery, Richland, WA

2020    Gold Award, Annual Juried Exhibit, Parkside Gallery, Richland, WA

2016    Yakima Valley Museum, Artist Residency Grant 2017-2018

            Lillian and Muriel Adams Memorial Award,  CWAE

2015    Professor Emeritus of Visual Art, Heritage University

2013    Lillian and Muriel Adams Memorial Award, CWAE

2012    Muriel Adams Memorial Award, CWAE

2011    Honorable Mention CWAE

2010    Bahai Faith Award for Racial Unity CWAE

            Allied Arts of Yakima Award CWAE

2008    Heritage University Distinguished Professor

2007    Special Award Northwind Alliance

            Heritage University Award for Excellence in Research

2006    Ceramic Sculpture Award Allied Arts

2004    Best of Show Allied Arts of Richland

            Excellence in Ceramic Award Allied Arts of Yakima            

2003    Allied Arts Award CWAE

2001    Christy Zamora Award Allied Arts of Richland

            Idelle Hultgren Memorial Award Allied Arts of Richland

            Silver Award Allied Arts of Richland

2000    Larson Gallery Award Allied Arts of Yakima

1999    Collectors Award Allied Arts of Yakima

1998    Directors Choice Central Washington Artists Exhibit, Larson Gallery

1997    Holtzinger Award Allied Arts Yakima

1996    Tayer Award Allied Arts of Yakima

1995    Originality in a Non-Geometric Sculpture CWAE

1993    Battelle Northwest Purchase Award Allied Arts of Richland

            Arts in Education Award Allied Arts Council Yakima

1992    Eileen Fleming Memorial Award Allied Arts of Richland

EXHIBITS

 

2022    Conversations with the Wind:  Sculpture and Painting by Carolyn Nelson, Virginia S. Hislop Gallery,            

             Heritage University, Toppenish, WA

             WPW Exhibit, Museum of Art and Culture, Moses Lake, WA

             The Potter's Touch, Boxx Gallery, Tieton, WA

             Images of the Sage Steppe, Boxx Gallery, Tieton, WA

             Intersections, Women Painters of Washington, Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA

             Central Washington Artist Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA

2021    Central Washington Artists Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima

             Annual Juried Exhibit, Parkside Gallery, Richland, WA   

 

2020    Washington State Juried Exhibit, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA

            Divergent Voices: Women Empowered, Yakima Valley Museum, Yakima, WA

            Annual Juried Exhibit, Parkside Gallery, Richland, WA

            Central Washington Artist Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA

 

2019    Conflicting Realities, solo exhibit, Robert Graves Gallery, Wenatchee, WA

            Fracture, juried exhibit, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA       

            Sculpting the Valley III, invitation, Boxx Gallery, Tieton

            

2018    Acclimating, Kirkland Art Center, curated by J. Gordon

            Northwest Ceramic Artists, Robert Graves Gallery, Invitational, Wenatchee

            Between Memory and Imagination, Residency Exhibit, Yakima Valley Museum

            Sculpting the Valley II, invitation, Boxx Gallery, Tieton

            Images of the Sage-Steppe, Boxx Gallery, juried,  Tieton

           Nasty Women, Makerspace Gallery, invitation,  Yakima

2017  Washington State Juried Exhibit, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton 

          Current Connections with Barb Smith Gilbert, Boxx Gallery, Tieton

          Sculpting the Valley, invitation,  Makers Space and Seasons, Yakima, WA.

           Larson Gallery Studio Tour, Yakima, WA.

2016    In Search of Meaning, Juried, Vachon Gallery, Seattle University, Seattle, WA

            Small Works, Juried Exhibit, Gallery North, Edmonds, WA

            Visual Impressions, Juried Exhibit, Ryan James Gallery, Kirkland, WA

            Totem, Invitational Exhibit, Confluence Gallery, Twisp, WA

            Larson Gallery Members Exhibit, Yakima, WA

            Storytellers, Boxx Gallery, Tieton, WA

            Central Washington Artists Exhibit, Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery

2014    Feminine Voices in Clay, Invitational Exhibit, Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA

            Annual Washington State Juried Exhibit, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA

2013    Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, (award)

            Windows Alive, Yakima Arts Commission, Sept.-Dec. Cheryl Hahn, curator

            On the Walls, Fourth Street Theatre, featured artist, 2013-2014, Carol Hassen, curator

            Invitational, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Allied Arts Center, Yakima

            Light, The Seasons Performance Hall, Yakima, WA., Laurie Kanyer, curator

2012    Expressions Northwest, Regional Juried All-Media Exhibit, Port Townsend, WA

            4th Contemporary Clay Biennial, National Juried Exhibit, The Art Center, Grand Junction, CO

            Carolyn Nelson and Elaine Green, Esvelt Gallery, Columbia Basin College, Pasco, WA

            From the Ground Up: Regional Ceramic Survey, Larson Gallery, YVCC, Yakima, WA

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, (award)

            50th Anniversary Invitational, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima

2011    Annual Washington State Juried Exhibit, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA        
            56th Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, (award)

2010    Expressions Northwest, Regional Juried All-Media Exhibit, Port Townsend, WA

            Tacoma Community College Juried Exhibit, The Gallery, Tacoma Community College

            Women Artists:  Where We Are Now, Larson Gallery, YVCC, Yakima

            Members Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, (award)

2009   Carolyn Nelson, solo exhibit, Art Stop Gallery, Tacoma, WA

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, (award)

            Members Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima

            June Fest, Invitational Artists Exhibit, Yakima

            Larson Gallery Tour of Artist’s Studios, Yakima

2008    Annual Washington State Juried Exhibit, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA

            WCA Juried Ceramic Exhibit, Art Stop Gallery, Tacoma, WA

            Christmas Exhibit, Simon Gallery, Yakima

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima

            Junefest, Chalet Mall, Yakima

            Larson Gallery Members Exhibit, Yakima

            Masks, Simon Edwards Gallery, Yakima

2007    Vessels 2007, National Juried Ceramic Exhibit, Claymakers, Durham, NC

            Expressions Northwest, Regional Juried All-Media Exhibit, Port Townsend, WA

            Transitions, solo exhibit, Oak Hollow Gallery, Yakima, WA

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima

            Christmas Exhibit, Simon Edwards Gallery

            Harvest, Juried WPA Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima

            Inspirations of Eastern Washington, Simon Edwards Gallery, Yakima

2006    Expressions Northwest, Regional Juried All-Media Exhibit, Port Townsend, WA

            Travelers, Solo Exhibit, Changing Woman Gallery, Pioneer Square, Seattle,

            Exploring Place:  Regional Women Artists, Esvelt Gallery, CBC, Pasco, WA

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima

            Ridges: Then and Now, Group Invitational, Lewis Gallery

            Vitrify, (WPA Group Exhibit) Highline Community College, Seattle

            Allied Arts of Yakima Annual Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, award

            Washington Potters Association 2006 NCECA juried exhibit at NWCC, Seattle

            Figuratively Speaking, Larson Gallery (work selected for poster)

2005    Chase Gallery All-Media Juried Show, Spokane, WA

            Simon Edwards Gallery Christmas Exhibit, Yakima

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery,

            Allied Arts of Yakima Annual Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, Yakima

            Larson Gallery Tour of Artist’s Studios

            Carolyn Nelson and Terry Mullen, Yakima Cellars Winery

            Fired Up, Regional Ceramic Exhibit, Oak Hollow Gallery, Yakima

2004    2016 Carousel French Cuisine, ongoing solo exhibit, paintings and drawings

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, award

            Allied Arts of Yakima Annual Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, Yakima

            Annual Multi-Media Juried Show, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award

            Heritage University Faculty Exhibit, Yakima Campus

2003    Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, award

            Collaborations, Lewis Gallery with Terry Mullen and Dr. Loren Schmidt

            Allied Arts Annual Juried Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima

            Connecting Traditions, Heritage College Faculty Exhibit, Allied Arts Gallery

2002    Carolyn Nelson: New Paintings - New Clay, Solo Exhibit, Oak Hollow Gallery, Yakima

            Regional Women Artists, Simon Edwards Gallery, Yakima, WA

            Allied Arts Open Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA

            Summer Celebration Juried Exhibition, Parkside Gallery, Richland, WA

            Award Winners of 2001, Lewis Gallery, Yakima      

2001    Ceramics 2001, National Juried Exhibition, The Guilford Center, Guilford, Connecticut

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery        

            Words and Images, Invitational, Lewis Gallery, Yakima

             Allied Arts Juried Show, Lewis Gallery, Yakima, award

            Summer Celebration Juried Show, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award

            Award Winners of 2000, Lewis Gallery, Yakima     

            Regional Juried Exhibition, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award        

            Annual Student and Faculty Exhibit, Department of Visual Arts, YVCC

            Larson Gallery Artist’s Studio Tour, Yakima

2000    Earth and Fire, Larson Gallery Regional Ceramic Exhibition, Yakima, WA

            Beyond Decoration, Invitational Exhibition with Penn O. Shelton & Ron Gerton, Larson Gallery, Yakima, 

            17th Annual National Juried Exhibit, Gallery 76, Wenatchee, WA

            Allied Arts Open Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA

            Annual Student and Faculty Exhibit, Department of Visual Arts, YVCC 

 

1999    Painted Ponies, Solo Exhibit, Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA

            Interior Rhythms, Solo Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibition, Larson Gallery

            Allied Arts Annual Juried Exhibit, Lewis Gallery, Yakima, award

            National Juried Exhibit, Gallery 76, Wenatchee, WA           

1998    Alternative Realities, MFA Thesis Exhibit, Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, Ellensburg, WA

            43rd Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, award

            Allied Arts Open Juried Show, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA

            Award Winners of 1997, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima

            Watercolors, Ascension Fine Arts Gallery, Yakima

            Central Washington Artists Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima

            Symbols, Dreams and Visions, Ascension Fine Arts Gallery           

1997    Allied Arts Open Juried Show, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima, award

            Award Winners of 1996, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA

            Eclectic Encounters, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima, WA

            41st Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima, WA

1996    Allied Arts Open Juried Show, Lewis Gallery, Yakima, award

1995    Multi-media Juried Show, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima

            Louie Kollmeyer, Carolyn Nelson and Barbara Nickerson, Gallery One, Ellensburg

1994    Raku, Solo Exhibit, Chott Gallery, Yakima, WA

            New Year’s Views, Gallery One, Ellensburg

1993    25th Anniversary Invitational, Gallery One, Ellensburg

            Multi-media Juried Show, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award

            Washington Potters Association Members Show, Northwest Crafts Center, Seattle  

        

1992    Dal Porto and Nelson, Adam East Museum, Moses Lake, WA

            Raku, Creations Gallery, solo exhibit, Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA

            Multi-media Juried Show, Parkside Gallery, Richland, award

            Central Washington Artists Juried Exhibit, Larson Gallery, Yakima

            Delma Tayer and Carolyn Nelson, Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA

 

 

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

 

2018    Exhibition Catalog, Carolyn Nelson: Between Memory and Imagination, ISBN 978-1-5323-8543-8

            Artist Lecture in conjunction with "Carolyn Nelson:  Between Memory and Imagination"

2017   "Common Ground"  Guest artist lecture, Heritage University

            Presenting artist in conjunction with Sculpting the Valley, "Saggar Firing"

            "Say Yes to Art",  Pecha Kucha presentation for "I Heart Yakima"

            Yakima Downtown Sculpture Art Walk Guide, International Sculpture Day

2013    “Heritage University 30 Years of Art”, Articles, publication of the Larson Gallery

            IS Magazine, Summer 2013 issue, Ekphrastic poems and the works that inspired them.

2012    Panel presenter in conjunction with “From the Ground Up”

2009    Workshop Presenter, Larson Gallery Guild Summer Arts Program - “Raku and Other Low-Fire Surfaces”

2006    Presenting Artist, Esvelt Gallery, Columbia Basin College, with Exploring Place: Regional Women Artists

            “Postmodern Collaboration”, Artscope, Art History Column, March Issue

2004    “Why Art History?” Artscope-Art History Column, November Issue

2003    Davis High School Focus Week, Art History Guest Lecturer

2000    January - Presenting Artist in conjunction with “Beyond Decoration”

           

REVIEWS & PROFILES

           2018    Review:  "Between Memory and Imagination", by David Lynx, Yakima Herald Republic, Sept 27

2017    Sculpture, Vol. 36 No 8, October, ISDay 2017 by Virginia Maksymowicz

2013    Larson Gallery Guild featured “website artist of the month" - February

2010    “Central Washington Artists, 2007-2010” Artist Archive Publication, profile

2009    "Artistically Speaking-A Profile of Carolyn Nelson," by Jean Crawford, ARTicles, Larson Gallery Quarterly

2008    Featured artist - Washington Clay Artists Association Publication, January Issue 

2000    ARTicles: Larson Gallery Quarterly, April Issue, Review of “Beyond Decoration”

1999    KYVE Art Minutes - Featured Artist

 

JURY & CURATORIAL

2021           Juror, Images of the Sage-Steppe, Boxx Gallery           

2015           Juror, ESD 105 Exhibit, JV World, Yakima

2014-15      Curator, Virginia Hislop Gallery, Heritage University (7 exhibits)

2009           Juror, ESD 105 Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima

2008           Juror, Esvelt Gallery, Columbia Basin College, Student Art Exhibit

                   Juror, Feast for the Eyes, Yakama Nation Museum Juried Exhibit

2007           Curator, Harvest, Washington State Ceramic Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery

2005           Juror, Doc Hastings High School Art Competition, Tri-Cities

2004           Juror, ESD105 Exhibit, Peggy Lewis Gallery, Yakima

                       

COLLECTIONS

           -Yakima Valley Museum

            -Heritage University

- Battelle Northwest

-Carousel French Cuisine Restaurant

-Catholic Charities and Housing

- Drepung Loseling Monastery, in-exile-in-India, Atlanta, GA, USA headquarters

- Lillian Pitt Collection

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