MIchael Barsanti
Born: Port Edwards, Wisconsin
My work is an ongoing dialogue about the adventures and misadventures of the human species. Humans have become the most influential force on the world around us. As the preeminent toolmaker and alleged thinker, we have evolved to influence every aspect of our social and physical world. Our made world is designed for survival and the fulfillment of our desires. The advances we have made in creating technological forces seem to constantly surpass our ability to socially integrate the use of them. Our shortcoming is the inability to foresee the compromises we will face as a result of hasty implementation.
As a sculptor I am inspired by the transformational properties of clay: wet to dry, plastic to rigid, soluble to insoluble. I search for ways to blend clay with other materials and processes to create fixed and ephemeral installations. These constructions act as metaphors for my critiques du jour of the follies and endeavors of human existence.
As I reflect on the earliest uses of clay and its enduring power of communication, I am continuing this narrative about the world around us. From my perspective the earliest works in clay became the first 3d printed interpretations from the software we call the mind. With immediate access to information, every installation is a new blend of experience, objects, intuition and memory responding to a particular, site, theme or concept.
Michael Barsanti
CV
Education
Bachelor of Science, 1978
University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, WI
Master of Fine Art, 1980
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Recent Projects
"Sublime"
2017 Site Specific installation on Fable Farm fields, Barnard, VT
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"Grounding"
2016 Site specific installations/performance collaboration with Anne Mapplebeck. Sited on the King Farm, Woodstock, VT. Curated by Edythe Wright and Jay Mead.
Our piece considered the issue of homelessness.
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“Clay Landmarks”
2016 Site specific installation, Arabia Steamboat Museum, Kansas City, MO.
Exhibition Curated by Allison Newsome, Concurrent Exhibition with the NCECA conference.
Bird Habitat Collaboration
During my sabbatical in the spring semester of 2015 I created nests made from fired clay and installed them at locations within a 15 mile radius of my studio. The nests were designed to attract Barn Swallow and Eastern Phoebe species. These birds use soil and plant matter to construct their nests, and are also insectivores. Inspired by childhood experience living on a farm with these creatures, coupled with the decline of the Brown Bat (a voracious insectivore) my intent is to attract more of the aforementioned birds to increase insect consumption. Some of the inhabited nests will be retrieved and fired again to see how the organic matter sinters onto the clay in a decorative collaboration with the birds. The inhabited nests will be returned to their former locations and uninhabited nests may be relocated or left for the next season.
Selected Exhibitions
2016 “Clay Landmarks” Invitational
2016 Site Specific Installation, Arabia Steamboat Museum, Kansas City, MO Collaboration with Anne Mapplebeck, Curated by Allison Newsome, Concurrent Exhibition with the NCECA conference.
2015 “Transition” Invitational
Vermont Independent School of the Arts, Sharon, VT, October 24th
2012 19th Annual Juried Summer Exhibition Juried exhibition
AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH
2011 “Art Encounters Preservation” Invitational
Wentworth Coolidge Museum, Portsmouth, NH
2010 “On the Planet” Juried exhibition
Studio Place Arts Gallery, Barre, Vermont
Vermont Sculpture Fest, Woodstock, Vermont Invitational
“Agricultural Encounters Sculpture” Invitational
Allandale Farm, Brookline, MA
17th Annual Juried Summer Exhibition
AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH Juried exhibition
“In the Style of… American Pottery Invitational in the British Studio Tradition”
Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY
2009 16th Annual Juried Summer Exhibition Juried exhibition
AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH
2008 Ceramics Biennial Juried exhibition
New Hampshire Institute of Art, Concord, NH
Awarded Best in Show
15th Annual Juried Summer Exhibition Juried exhibition
AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH
2006 The Fabric of War Installation/Performance
Seven Stars Center, Sharon VT
14th Annual Juried Summer Exhibition
AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH Juried exhibition
2005 Color By Digital
artSPACE@16, Malden, MA Juried exhibition
2001-2002 Stone Hill Quarry Art Park, Cazenovia, NY
Selected to install a site-specific installation. The project was canceled because of reduced funding following the September 11th event.
1999 Place Wares Exhibit Invitational
Vermont Clay Studio, Waterbury, VT
The Chandler Gallery Group show
Randolph, VT
1998 Faculty Exhibit Group show
1998 cont. School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Site Specific Installation. Placement of Clay Trees to mark dowsed underground river cutting through the Museum School property.
1998 Green Mountain Visions Group show
The Works Gallery, Philadelphia PA
1997 Faculty Exhibition Group show
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
1996 Group Exhibit Invitational
Clark Gallery, Lincoln, MA
Blithwald Mansion Arboretum , Bristol, RI Invitational
Site Specific Installation
In conjunction with the National Sculpture Conference held in RI.
I installed 2 ceramic, hand built trees on the grounds. The trees were markers for underground domes of water that exist on the property. The locations were map dowsed from my studio in Vermont and verified by dowsing on site.
1995 Group Show
Copley Society, Boston, MA Invitational
Vermont Council on the Arts Sculpture Fest Invitational
Woodstock, VT
1994 Vermont Council on the Arts Sculpture Fest Invitational
Woodstock, VT
1993 Vermont Council on the Arts Sculpture Fest Invitational
Woodstock, VT
1992 Stratton Arts Festival Group show
Juried Exhibit of Vermont Artists
Stratton, VT
1991 DAS Gallery Solo show
Lebanon, NH
Lime Library Exhibit Two-person show
Lyme, NH
1990 The Chandler Gallery Group show
Randolph, VT
1989 Faculty Exhibit Group show
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
1989 cont. The Awakening Center Group show
Shelburne, VT
1988 Society of Arts and Crafts Group show
Boston, MA
1987 Faculty Exhibit Group show
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
1984 Ceramics & Mixed Media Group show
Lopoukhine Gallery, Boston, MA
Ceramic Constructions Solo show
Museum School Gallery, Boston, MA
1983 Clay Invitational Group show show Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI
1982 Innovations Craft "82" Invitational
Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
1981 Sheffield Gallery Invitational
Chicago, IL
Marietta National Group show
Marietta College, Marietta, OH
1980 Tradition in The Making Group show
Traveling Exhibit: Atlanta, Madison
and La Grange, GA
"Just Passing Threw" Solo show
Coffman Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
1980 Minnesota Sculptures "80" Group show
St. Paul, MN
1979 Midwest Craft Competitive Exhibition Group show
Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
Marietta National
Marietta College, Marietta, OH Group show
Best in Show
Ceramics "79"/ Minnesota Ceramics Invitational Group show
Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, St. Paul, MN
1978 Priebe Gallery, Oshkosh, WI Solo show
1976 Supermud “76” Group show
Penn State University, State College, PA
34th International Competition of Artistic Group show
Ceramics, Faenza, Italy
Bibliography
Review of “Art Encounters Preservation” by Judith Tolnick Champa, Ceramics: Art and Perception No. 89 2012