Artist Statement:
I was born and raised in Utah where my high school art teacher inspired me to seriously pursue art. After high school I moved to Los Angeles, California, to attend art school, but instead, surfed and painted for the next few years. I later returned to school, studying art at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the San Francisco Art Institute, where I earned an MFA degree in painting. I taught painting and drawing for 15 years at several West Coast colleges and universities. Four years ago I moved from Northern California to the Philadelphia area. My art has been exhibited nationally in major galleries and museums and is included in numerous public and private collections.
The inspiration for my art comes from dreams and dream research, memories, stories, everyday occurrences and political or environmental concerns. I create my art to be visually interesting as well as intellectually and spiritually provocative. Although the subject matter is diverse, the techniques used in the paintings and drawings serve as a “thread” tying the work together. The symbols in my art represent transitions, conversations with the past, or a search for new growth and promise for the future. The words and numbers in some pieces become part of the design as well as hinting at the narrative. the figure may represent a participant, an observer, a witness, a victim or a survivor, depending on the scenario. Art critics have described my art as, “broad and rewarding,” “infinitely rich,” and “bold and captivating”
SOLO EXHIBITIONS: Partial List
Pagus Gallery, Norristown, PA, “Still Here” 2013
Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA 2012
James Snidle Gallery, Chico, CA, “Stories, Dreams, Facts and Figures” 2010
Coyote Gallery, Chico, CA, “And So It Goes” 2008
“Art in Public Places” Project, Redding, CA, 2008
Avenue 9 Gallery, Chico, CA, “Figures x 2” 2006
Avenue 9 Gallery, Chico, CA, “Visions, Dreams, and Memories” 2004
American Institute of Architects, Fine Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA, 1984
Sheppard Fine Arts Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 1982
Gallery of Visual Arts, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 1976 and 1978
Media Generalists, San Francisco, CA, 1976
Hartnell College Fine Arts Gallery, Salinas, CA, 1973
Triangle Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 1972
Sierra College Fine Arts Gallery, Rocklin, CA, 1972
Hansen-Fuller Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 1971
Triangle Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 1970
Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, NV, 1970
Richard White Gallery, Seattle, WA, 1969
Central Washington State College Gallery of Art, Ellensburg, WA, 1969
University of Nevada, Jot-Travis Gallery, Reno, NV, 1967
GROUP EXHIBITIONS: Partial List
GoggleWorks Center for The Arts , Reading, PA, Juried Exhibition, 2013
Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts, Burlington, NJ, “Art Spirits” 2012
Soho 20 Gallery, NYC, “Backlash” International Exhibition, 2012
University of Nevada, Reno, “Far Out” Invitational Exhibit, 2012
Museum of Northern California Art, Chico, CA, Traveling Group Exhibition, 2012
Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA, Professional Artists Group Exhibition, 2012
“Best of Show” Award, Annual Juried Exhibition, Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA, 2011
North First Art Space, San Jose, CA, “50 Years of Artwork,” 2010
Triangle Gallery, San Francisco, CA, “The Present,” 2010
Triangle Gallery, San Francisco, CA, “Figure/Ground,” San Francisco, CA, 2010
Gallery 1078, Chico, CA, “Ekphrasis” Project, 2010
Triangle Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2009
University Art Gallery, California State University, Chico, & Gallery 1078, Chico, CA, 2008
Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA, “The Buddy Show” Group Invitational, 2007
Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA, “5 Year Anniversary” Gallery Artists, 2006
Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA, “The Shape of Words” Group Invitational, 2005
Avenue 9 Gallery, Chico, CA, “Openings” Group Invitational, 2004
Harcourt’s Contemporary Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 1984
Museum of Art, Boise, ID, “Artists from Montana” 1977
University of Montana, Missoula, MT, “Drawing from Montana” Invitational, 1977
Wake-Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC “Montana Artists, 1976”
Triangle Gallery, San Francisco, CA, “15 Years” 1976
University of Nevada, Reno, NV, Invitational Exhibition, 1975-1976
Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, Faculty Exhibition, 1975-1976
Humboldt Cultural Center, Eureka, CA, Two Person Exhibit, 1975
College of the Redwoods, Eureka, CA, Faculty Exhibition, 1974
California State University, Fullerton, CA, “In a Bottle” Invitational, 1973
Nevada Art Gallery, Reno, NV, “Contemporary Painting and Sculpture” Invitational, 1973
San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA, Group Invitational, 1972
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, CA, Holiday Invitational, 1970 – 1971
San Francisco Art Institute and SFMOMA, Annual Juried Exhibition, 1966 and 1971
University of California, Davis, CA, Juried Group Exhibition, 1971
Stanislaus State College, Turlock, CA, “San Francisco Artists” 1971
The Art Company, Sacramento, CA, “17th Annual Northern California Exhibition” 1970
State Capitol Museum, Olympia, WA, “Governor’s Invitational Exhibition” 1970
Cheney-Cowles Museum of Art, Spokane, WA, “Young Artist’s Invitational” 1970
Cheney-Cowles Museum of Art, Spokane, WA, Annual Juried Exhibition, 1969
Seattle Center Museum, Seattle, WA, Juried Water Media Exhibition, 1969
Gordon Woodside Gallery, Seattle, WA, Group Show, 1969
Dulin Gallery, Knoxville, TN, “5th National Print and Drawing Competition” 1969
University of Nevada, Reno, NV, “West Coast Painting Invitational”. 1969
Western Washington State College, Bellingham,” 5th Annual Drawing Exhibition”. 1968
Purdue University, Lafayette, IN, “Max 24-66” Painting Exhibition. 1966
AWARDS and GRANTS:
University of Montana, Missoula, MT. “Montana Site Works”. Research Grant. 1977
Auburn, CA. “26th A.A.U.W. Exhibition”. Honorable Mention. 1974
Auburn, “CA. 25th A.A.U.W. Exhibition”, Best in Show Award. 1973
Auburn, CA. “Etc. 5 Exhibition”. Second Award. 1972
San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA. Scholarship Grant. 1972
University of Nevada, Reno, NV. Guest Juror, 1971
Cheney- Cowles Museum of Art, Spokane, WA, Annual Juried Exhibition, Best of show Award, 1969
REVIEWS:
San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA. 6/28/1972
The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, CA. 11/5/1972
The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, CA. 7/5/1972
San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA. 5/11/1971
Artweek, 5/15/1971
Artforum Magazine, November 1970
The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, CA. 9/1/1970
San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA. 8/27/1970
Seattle Times, Seattle WA. 9/28/1969
Seattle Post Intelligencer, Seattle, WA. 9/28/1969
Chico Art Review Magazine, Chico, CA, 9/2004
California Guide to The Arts Magazine, Sacramento, CA, Spring 2004, Winter 2005
Art Guild of Pacifica, CA, Newsletter
Paradise Post Newspaper, Paradise, CA, 9/25/2008
Enterprise Newspaper, Chico, CA, 9/4/2008
InsideOut Magazine, Chico, CA, Spring 2009
Chico News & Review, Chico, CA, 5/2009
Phoenixville, News, Phoenixville, Pa, 3/31/2012
COLLECTIONS:
Works included in many private and public collections including: San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco Hall of Justice, People’s Bank of Seattle, May Collection, L.A., Freeman Ford Collection, Media Generalist’s, S.F., permanent collections at University of Montana, Missoula, Central Washington State University, Ellensburg, and University of Nevada, Reno. Private collections include James Snidle and Franco Mancini, San Francisco, Pat and Richard Macias, Maria Phillips, and the Museum of Northern California Art, Chico, CA, and Linda Welch, Portland, OR.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
California State University, Chico, CA. Art Instructor, painting and drawing. 2006-2008
Truckee Meadows College, Reno, NV. Art Instructor, painting and drawing. 1982-1983
University of Nevada, Reno, NV. Art Instructor, painting and design. 1981-1982
University of Montana, Missoula, MT. Assistant Professor, painting, drawing, and design. Gallery Director. 1976-1978
Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA. Visiting Assistant Professor, painting, drawing, and design. 1974-1975
College of the Redwoods, Eureka, CA. Art instructor, painting, drawing, design, and contemporary art history. 1974-1975
EDUCATION:
San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA. 1970-1972, MFA Degree, Painting
University of Nevada, Reno, NV. 1966-1968 Art Majo
Michael Diven 