Brian D Collier:  Artist, Educator, Re-Naturalist

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Selected Exhibitions

 

2019

▫Fleming Museum of Art, Burlington, VT, “Small Worlds: Miniatures in Contemporary Art” exhibited the premiere of “The Traveling Museum of Very Small Objects” an expansion and update of “The Collier Classification System for Very Small Objects”

 

 2018

▫Michele and Michael Cohen Hall for the Integrative Creative Arts, UVM, Burlington, VT, “Screen Works”, video exhibition

 

2017

▫Burlington City Arts, BCA Center, Burlington, VT, “Unlawning America” a new project consisting of photographs, video, designed elements and a sculptural planter commissioned to be exhibited in the “Of Land and Local” exhibition.

 

▫Coach Barn Gallery, Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT, “Unlawning America” a new project consisting of photographs, video, designed elements and outdoor site-specifics works commissioned to be exhibited in the “Of Land and Local” exhibition.

 

2016

▫National Climate and Atmospheric Research Center, UCAR Center for Science Education Gallery, Boulder, CO, “EcoArts Connections: History of Visual Arts in Boulder.” *Sept. 2016- Jan 2017

 

▫Billings Library, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, “Monarch Release,” new original work consisting of a performance and installation for the event “Sixth Extinction Café.” *Sept.

 

2015

▫Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education at the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT, “Systems, Cycles and Floating Goats” a new project commissioned for the “Eyes on the Land” exhibition.

 

2014

▫The Power Plant Gallery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, “Picture Books.”

 

▫Bush Barn Art Center, Salem, OR, “Curios and Curiosities.”

 

2013

Solo: New City Gallerie, Burlington, VT, “Ecologies,” my work was featured in the main gallery. Thematically related work by other artists was shown in the galleries peripheral exhibition spaces.

 

▫Burlington City Arts, Burlington, VT, “Of Land and Local.”

 

▫Butter Projects, Royal Oaks, MI, “The Order of Things.”

 

Two Person Show: Dolan Center Art Gallery, Friends Academy, Locust Valley, NY, “Very Small Objects/Selective Unveiling,” a two-person exhibition.

 

2012

Solo: Durick Library, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, VT, “The Collier Classification System for Very Small Objects.”

 

▫Cornell Cooperative Extension Agroforestry Center’s Sluisaw Model Forest, “From Whale Oil to Whole Foods,” a three-site exhibition hosted by Greene County Council On The Arts.

 

2011

Solo: The University of Colorado Natural History Museum, Boulder, CO, “Bird Shift: The Anthropogenic Ornithology of North America.”

 

Solo: “Bus Birding”: a commissioned public art project on Boulder County public buses and at selected bus stops. The project was accompanied by a series of related public events hosted by EcoArts Connections, Boulder County, CO.

 

▫Schuylkill Environmental Education Center, “Facts and Fables: Stories from the Natural World” Philadelphia, PA.

 

▫Platform, an exhibition space sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center, University of California, Santa Barbara, “micro-topologies.”

 

▫Vancouver Art Gallery, “Family Fuse Weekend”: my project “The Collier Classification System for Very Small Objects” was featured as an interactive art project.

 

2010

Solo: The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, New Harmony, IN, “The New Birds of New Harmony.”

 

▫United Nations Environment Program Exhibition, Bohemian National Hall Gallery, New York, NY, “Subtantialis Corporis Mixti.”

 

▫ArtSites Gallery, Riverhead, NY, “Bird Shift.”

 

▫The Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, “Connectivity Lost.”

 

▫McLean County Art Center, Bloomington, IL, “The Backyard.”

 

2009

▫Cynthia Wood Mitchell Center for the Arts and Blaffer Gallery, University of Houston, Houston, TX, “Systems of Sustainability: Art, Innovation Action”: A three day symposium. My participation includes a site-specific sculptural work installed on campus, a multi-media presentation and performative guided tour.

 

▫Missouri State University Art & Design Gallery, Springfield, MO, “Troubles in Paradise.”

 

2008

Solo: Kansas Union Gallery, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, “Reimagining the Environment at The University of Kansas.”

 

Solo: Paragraph Gallery, Urban Culture Project, Kansas City, MO, “Teach the Starlings in Kansas City.”

 

2008

▫Deutsche Bank 60 Wall Gallery, New York, NY, "Feeling the Heat: Artists, Scientists, and Climate Change."

 

▫H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO, “New, Three.”

 

▫KU Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, “Biodiversity is.”

 

▫H & R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO, “Kansas City Flatfile.”

 

▫La Esquina, Urban Culture Project, Kansas City, MO, “Locate | Navigate.”

 

▫Online exhibition: greenmuseum.org, “Conducting Mobility,” curated by Claude Willey and Ryan Griffis.

 

2007

Solo: Rowland Contemporary, Chicago, IL, “The Highway Expedition.”

 

Solo: Alice C. Sabatini Gallery, Topeka, KS, “Very Big Show about Very Small Objects.”

 

▫Neues Museum Weserburg Bremen, Bremen, Germany, “Say It Isn’t So,” curated by Peter Friese, Guido Boulboullé, Susanne Witzgall.

 

▫Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, CO, “Weather Report: Art & Climate Change,” curated by Lucy Lippard.

 

▫Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, IL, “MFA 2007.”

 

▫I-Space Gallery, Chicago, IL, “Dookie,” curated by Deke Weaver.

 

▫OPENSOURCE Art, Champaign, IL, “Collected.”

 

2006

Solo: The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery, The College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN, “Teach the Starlings.”

 

▫Contemporary Art Center, North Adams, MA, “Back to Nature.”

 

▫Herndon Gallery, Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OH, “EARTH.”

 

2005

Solo: Stevenson Union Gallery, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR, “The Collier Classification System.”

 

▫OPENSOURCE Art, Champaign, IL, “Mind in Matter: Constructions of the Built Environment.”

 

▫Washington University, St. Louis, MO, “Elements of Scale.”

 

▫Green Lantern, Chicago, IL, “Collier, Eichron, Picard.”

 

2004

Solo: The Cloyde Snook Gallery, Adams State College, Alamosa, CO, “I’ll Have a Starling.”

 

Solo: CSPS Gallery, Legion Arts, Cedar Rapids, IA, “Very Small Objects:  A New System of Classification.”

 

▫Grand Central Art Center, California State University Fullerton, Santa Ana, CA, “The Bird Show, Artist Invitational.”

 

Two Person Show: McLean County Art Center, Bloomington, IL “Huge Detail”

 

▫Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon, IL, “Lucky Thirteen.”

 

▫Hartman Center Art Gallery, Bradley University, Peoria, IL, “International Environmental Art Exhibition.”

 

2003

Solo: Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, IL, “Earth and Water

 

▫Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI, “Artists Defend Democracy,” curated by Troy West and Claudia Flynn.

 

▫Carnegie Art Center, Tonawanda, NY, “Art of the Encyclopedic,” curated by Paul Vanouse.

 

2002

▫Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba, “Ejercicios/Laboratorios” (Three person show with Paul Vanouse and Caroline Koebel).

 

2001

Solo: Galería Raúl Martínez, Cuban Book Institute, Palacio del Segundo Cabo, Havana, Cuba

 

 “Rock Collecting Project.”

 

Solo: CEPA Gallery (Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Art), Buffalo, NY, “Two Projects.”

 

▫Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI “Artists Defend the Environment,” Curated by Troy West and Claudia Flynn.

 

Publications as Author and Published Interviews

 

▫The Cultural Society, contributor to The Public Life of Chemistry, a book of poetry and letters by Joel Bettridge. 2018. 48-50.

 

▫City of Burlington Conservation Newsletter, “Unlawning America: A Call to Inaction,” 5/1/2018.

 

▫ MIT/Whitechapel Press, selection from “The Collier Classification System for Very Small Objects,” included in The Object, Documents of Contemporary Art, edited by Antony Hudek. May 2014. 153-154.

 

▫ Cover artist and contributing author (text and images) of “Why Do Flying Carp Jump,” for Mandorla: New Writing from the Americas #16. 2013. 244-254.

 

▫Published interview by Jeremy Beaudry for “Nature Study, An Ambivalent Guide,” printed booklet created for “Facts and Fables: Stories of The Natural World” at The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Philadelphia, PA, 2011. 36-39.

 

▫Selections from “The Collier Classification System for Very Small Objects,” by Brian Collier, Mandorla: New Writing from the Americas #8, 2005. 178-185.

 

Books and Exhibition Catalogues

 

▫University of Chicago Press, critical analysis of my project “Roadkill Shrines” and use of my image in Displaying Death and Animating Life: Human-Animal Relations in Art, Science and Everyday Life (Animal Lives) by Jane Desmond. August 2016.

 

▫ Thames & Hudson Publishers, inclusion of my project “The Highway Expedition” and a quote from my artist statement in Art & Ecology Now by Andrew Brown. June 2014. 112-113.

 

▫Environmental Anthropology, Ed. Helen Kopina and Eleanor Shoreman-Ouimet. “Requiem for Roadkill: Death and Denial on America’s Roads,” 46-57, by Jane Desmond, includes extended discussion of my project Roadkill Shrines. Routledge Press.

 

▫Subtantialis Corporis Mixti, Exhibition Catalog, Mark Cevenka, Curator, Published by The United Nations Enviroment Program & the Czech Center of New York.

 

▫Say It Isn't So : Naturwissenschaften im Vissier der Kunst / Art Trains its Sights on the Natural Sciences. Ed. Peter Friese, Guido Boulboulle, and Susanne Wittzgall. *“In the Laboratory of Doubt: Six Chapters on the Subject of Art and Science / Im Laboratorium des Zweifels: Sechs Kapitel zum Thema Kunst und Wissenschaft”: Section III, 22-25. By Peter Friese.

In English and German. Weserberg: Museum fur moderne Kunst, 2007.

*“Kunstlerinnen und Kunstler, Artists” / “Brian Collier.” 116-121.

 

▫Weather Report: Art and Climate Change. Ed. Kirsten Gerdes. Essays by Lucy Lippard, Stephanie Smith and Andrew C. Rivkin. Published by The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.

 

▫Schieffelin! by Kevin Sharp. Published by The College of St. Catherine for the exhibition, “Teach the Starlings,” 2006.

 

▫American Democracy Under Siege, Exhibition Catalog, Claudia Flynn and Troy West, Curators. 2003

 

▫Art of the Encyclopedic, Exhibition Catalog, Paul Vanouse, Curator. 2002.

 

Grants and Awards

 

▫Tenure Advancement, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, VT, 2015

 

▫VanderHeyden Endowment in Fine Arts Grant to host three McCarthy Gallery exhibitions, Art Faculty Exhibition, Angus McCullough and Tanya Chally, 2016

 

▫VanderHeyden Endowment in Fine Arts Grant to host two McCarthy Gallery exhibitions, Ryan Griffis & Sarah Ross and John Devlin, 2015

 

▫VanderHeyden Endowment in Fine Arts Grant to host two McCarthy Gallery exhibitions, Darlene Charneco & Ryan Thompson, 2014

 

▫VanderHeyden Endowment in Fine Arts Grant for Linda Weintraub Lecture 2011

 

▫Illinois Arts Council, Individual Artist Grant, 2011

 

▫Faculty Development Grant, 2008-2009, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO.

 

▫ArtsKC Inspiration Grant, 2008-2009, Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City, MO.

 

▫Faculty Development Grant, 2007-2008, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO.

 

▫Special Assistance Grant, 2003-2004, Illinois Arts Council.

 

▫Individual Artist Grant, 2003, City of Bloomington Cultural District Commission, IL.

 

▫Winner, Sixth Annual Emerging Artists Competition, 2001, Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Art (CEPA), Buffalo, NY.

 

▫New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Special Opportunity Stipend, Given in cooperation  with the Arts Council in Buffalo and Erie County, 2000-2001.

 

Selected Bibliography

 

“Art Review: Small Worlds: Miniatures in Contemporary Art” by Rachel Elizabeth Jones, Seven Days, March 6, 2019.

 

“Brian D Collier,” artist profile by Amy Lilly, Art New England, January/February 2018, 12.

 

“Of Land and Local,” review by Cynthia Close, Art New England, January/February 2018, 66

 

“Holding Water” Art Review: 'Of Land and Local,' BCA Center and Shelburne Farms, by Rachel Elizabeth Jones, Seven Days, Oct. 25, 2017.

 

“Special Collections: Brian Collier’s Teeny Tiny Things,” by Rachel Elizabeth Jones, Seven Days, Jan. 29, 2016.

 

“Art Review: Eyes on the Land,” by Kevin J. Kelley, Seven Days, Oct. 7, 2016.

 

“Art Review: Fine photography books escape from the coffee table to the art gallery,” by Lisa Sorg, Indyweek, Oct. 15, 2014.

 

“Curios & Curiosities: Tradition, oddities inspire art for Bush Barn show,” by Barbara Curtin, Statesman Journal, Jan. 25, 2014

 

“St. Michael's College professor, artist advocates for 'invasivores',” by Joel Baird, Burlington Free Press, Oct. 14, 2013

 

“Show Explores Man and Nature,” by Susan Campriello, The Daily Mail, July 9, 2012.

 

"Art of Flight,” by Pamela Poston, Seven Days, November 23, 2011.

 

“Facts and Fables mixes Sculpture with an outdoor stroll”, Edith Newhall, Philadelphia Enquirer, July 17, 2011.

 

”Jump Aboard for ‘Bus Birding’ in Boulder,” Joe Prentice, Daily Camera, August 3, 2011.

 

“Water: Social Issues and Contemporary Art Education” by Angela Cornelius, Ernie Sherow, and B. Stephen Carpenter. Art Education, November 2010, Volume 63, No. 6. 26-27.

 

“Nature in the City” Domus, February 2010.

 

“Brian Collier at Paragraph” review by Alice Thorson. Art in America, October 2008. 198.

 

“Old Birds, New Birds” by Tracy Abeln, Review: Mid-America’s Visual Arts Publication, May 5,   2009.

 

"Brian Collier at Paragraph," review by Alice Thorson. Art in America.October 2008. 198.

 

"They Practice What They Teach," by Nick Malewski. The Kansas City Star. Thursday, September 2008. 33-34.

 

“Global Warnings,” by Suzaan Boettger. Art in America , June/July 2008. 154-161, 206-207 : 161, 207.

 

“Wings of Change: Training Birds for Continent-wide Sound Installation,” by Jessica Owings. Review, June 2008. 20-23.

 

“Animal Imagery Showing Up in Contemporary Art,” by Alice Thorson. The Kansas City Star. Sunday, May 4, 2008.

 

“The Artists in Locate | Navigate Find Their Way Everywhere,” by Dana Self. The Pitch , February 28, 2008 .

 

"Looking for Inspiration in the Melting Ice," by Claire Dederer. The New York Times, Arts & Leisure, Sunday, September 23, 2007. 35.

 

"Mocking Bard," by Rachel McCrystal. Orion: Nature / Culture / Place 26.4, July / August 2007. 8-10.

 

"Atmospheric Art: EcoArts' "Weather Report" project brings together art, science and environmental activism,". by Vince Darcangelo. Boulder Daily Camera, Friday section, Sept. 14, 2007.

 

"Schieffelin!" by Kevin Sharp. Published by The College of St. Catherine for the exhibition Teach the Starlings , 2006

 

 "Birds of a Feather Talk Together," by Bonnie Obremski, The Berkshire Eagle , June 25, 2006 , Section B, 1 & 5.

 

"Brian Collier: Probing the Overlooked," by Steve Arney, The Pantagraph , Features, October 10, 2004.

 

"Worlds of Information: Art of the Encyclopedic," by Kristin Gallagher, Afterimage , July/August 2003. 13.

 

"Time in a Bottle," by Fred Camper, Chicago Reader , March 21, 2003. Section one, 20 & 23.

 

"Know It All," by Richard Huntington, The Buffalo News , "Gusto," March 21, 2003.

 

"Obscure and Compulsive at the Carnegie," Artvoice , March 13, 2003.

 

"Art of the Encyclopedic," Exhibition Catalog, Paul Vanouse, Curator

 

"Two Projects," by Kristin Gallagher, Art Papers Magazine , May/June 2002. 44.

 

"Diggin' in the Dirt," "How Many Cubic Inches Does It Take to Make a Planet?," "What's in the Water?...or.When was the Water Ever Water?," three interconnected reviews by Kristin Gallagher, Verdure No. 5/6 , February 2002. 146-148.

 

Additional Professional Activities

 

2014-Current

Director Curator of The McCarthy Art Gallery at Saint Michael's College

 

2018-Current

Programming and Curatorial Committee Board Member, Burlington City Arts

 

Visiting Artist at Vermont Studio Center

May 2017 & Nov. 2018

 

Education

 

2020 Vermont Master Naturalist Program

 

2007 M.F.A., Studio Art, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

 

1993 B.F.A. Sculpture, State University of New York at Buffalo

 

Teaching

 

2011-Current

▫Associate Professor of Fine Arts: Art, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, VT

 

2010

▫Adjunct Faculty, Art & Design, Sculpture, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign

 

2008-2009

▫Full-Time Instructor, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sculpture, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO

 

2007-2008

▫Full-Time Instructor, Interdisciplinary Arts, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO

 

2005-2007

▫Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign