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Contact Information:
Additional works available, please contact for
more information.
651-343-9589
email: spencer@raincollective.com
For more images click on
www.spencerfsilver.com
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ARTIST STATEMENT:
My work reflects my long term career and background in Chemistry as well as my personal studies in landscape architecture and garden design. The Science of Chemistry is rich in symbols for the structure, substance and chemical interactions of all matter. The elements of chemistry are invisible, at an atomic and molecular scale, yet basic and integral in all things. Chemistry has been described as the fusion of the aesthetic, the creative and the intellectual - elegance of preparation and delivery, discovery, mystery of process.
My desire is to find an artistic bridge between the practical and theoretical aspects of chemistry and the allegorical and fantasy world of images using plants, landscape and poetry as my elements. I have been inspired by the mythology and spirituality of tree forms and the idea of “the woods” to develop many of my paintings. My work often incorporates ideas from poetry as a source of inspiration relying heavily on the serendipity of the painting process for the development of the pictures. Poets that inspire me are Wallace Stevens, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Roald Hoffman among many others. The studio is now my laboratory and serendipity rules my day.
EDUCATION:
Arizona State University, B.S., 1962
University of Colorado, PhD, 1966
1988 – 1992: Classes and seminars with artist Sally Brown
1988 - 1997: Grand Marais Art Colony, Grand Marais, MN
Pastel and painting classes with Joyce Lyon, Lou Safer and Hazel Belvo; drawing with Judith Rood
1987 & 2005: Split Rock Arts Program, Duluth, MN
Pastel drawing classes with Joyce Lyon, Sally Brown and Sally Nystrom
1984 – 1987: Minneapolis College of Art and Design, drawing classes with
George Olsen, Carole Fisher, Marty Nash and Laura Stone
1980 – 1984: University of Minnesota, Studio Arts, drawing and painting classes
with David Feinberg, Hank Rowan and Victor Cagliotti
1977 – 1979: University of Minnesota, School of Architecture
EXHIBITIONS:
1997: Invited Artist/Exhibitor, Crystal Centennial of the Como Zoological Society,
Como Conservatory, St. Paul, MN
1996: Northern Lights Juried Show, Lakewood Community College,
White Bear Lake, MN – Honorable Mention
13 X 13 X Thirteen Group Show, North Hennepin Community College,
Brooklyn Park, MN
1993: Paul Whitney Larson Gallery, University of Minnesota, 13 X 13 X Thirteen group show
Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN 18th Annual Juried Show
1992: Common Bread Café, Minneapolis, MN, group show, 13 X 13 X Thirteen
1990: Northern Lights Juried Show, Lakewood Community College, White Bear Lake, MN
1989: The Afton Gallery, Afton, MN
1986: Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN,
a show for students of Marty Nash
PUBLICATIONS, INTERVIEWS and AWARDS:
2010: Inductee, National Inventors Hall of Fame, US Patent &Trademark Office,
Alexandria, VA,
2009: Hall of Fame award recipient for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2007: Time Magazine, December 12, 2007: “The Best Inventions of the Century,
1900 - 1999” - Art Fry and Spencer Silver, Post-it Notes (TM)
2004: Selected to the University of Colorado Heritage Center’s “Hall of Excellence” recognizing outstanding alumni
2000: Television and National Public Radio Interviews on creativity, NY, NY, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Post-it™ Notes
1998: Award for Creative Invention, American Chemical Society, Dallas, TX
1996: Invited Guest, The White House, National Medal of Technology Award,
Washington, DC
1994: “Built to Last”, J.C. Collins & J.I. Porras, Harper Business, NY, NY
1990: State of Minnesota Inventors Proclamation Award
1989: profiled in “Serendipity”, R.M. Roberts, John Wiley and Associates, NY, NY
1988: “Fresh Air Radio”, on air interview with Beth Friend about creativity
1986: profiled in “Breakthoroughs”, Nayak and Ketteringham, Rawson and Associates,
New York, NY
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