MARY ZERAN
10 Years
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
August 29, 2020 -
January 3, 2021
CRMA STATEMENT
In 2020, local artist Mary Zeran will have been working as a professional artist for 10 years. Given the CRMA’s rich history of presenting the art of local artists—especially when they’ve achieved a certain milestone or completed a specific new body of work—the idea of displaying a 10-year retrospective of Zeran’s work during the CRMA’s 125th anniversary year seems fitting. One of the very few local artists to have spent her entire painting career working abstractly, Zeran’s work will challenge viewers to see her subtle but significant evolution over the course of the past 10 years. Constantly exploring, Zeran has crafted different methods of mark-making to accompany her evolution in palette and scale. The exhibition will not only trace the trajectory of her career, it will also include a site-specific installation created especially for this exhibition.
— Kate Kunau
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Things that happen randomly or by accident...The idea of layers and transparency...Our ability to examine things up close...To work collaboratively with a material...Not forcing an outcome...Being present to the experience...Being in the Moment...
These pieces evolve over time. I paint on polyester film, cut out shapes, and then re-arrange them. The final interaction with the object’s shape is spontaneous and collaborative. Working this way gives me the chance to be responsive to the random things that happen, to tap into my internal rhythms and way of being.
— Mary Zeran“ ”
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Mary Zeran grew up in a family of women artists. Textiles, embroidery, and woodcarving, were their visual language. Abstracted shapes and forms were their words. Each time Zeran picks up a brush or scissors, she immerses herself in the language of her family. As she abstracts flowers, trees, and all the colors of nature, she speaks her mother tongue. This language brings her closer to her family’s traditions, histories, and stories.
Zeran’s collage work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in galleries and museums throughout the United States and abroad including the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, SOIL Gallery in Seattle, and Chiang Mai University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
In addition, her work is in several public and private collections as well as many corporate collections including those of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City; the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids; the U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids; Grafix Corporation, Cleveland; and United Fire Group, Cedar Rapids and Los Angeles.
Zeran is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. She received an Oregon College of Arts and Crafts Residency, and a 2% for the Arts Purchase Prize from the Visual Arts Commission in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Mary Zeran was born in Iowa City, Iowa in 1964. She received her B.F.A and M.F.A from University of Iowa in Metalworking under Chunghi Choo. She currently lives and works in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
That Pink Line 2010
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel 8 x 8 x 2 inches
Possessing As I Do
2011
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel
12 x 12 x 2 inches
We Must Cultivate Our Garden 2011
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel 12 x 24 x 2 inches
The Impulse to Make the Past Simpler
2012
Acrylic on panel
32 x 40 inches
Quirky Progress
2012
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel
40 x 40 x 2 inches
A Situation 2012
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel 36 x 48 x 2 inches
An Unforgettable Conversation 2012
2
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel 46 x 60 x
inches
Japanese Overlay 2013
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel
33 x 45 x 2 inches
Forces of Nature #4
2013
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on paper
15 x 12 inches
Geometrocizing the Landscape
2013
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel
24 x 36 x 2 inches
The Beauty of it All #2
2014
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on paper 20 x 16 inches
Gentle 2015
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on paper
20 x 16 inches
It Was So Warm 2015 Acrylic, Dura-Lar on paper 30 x 22 inches
Lake Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
2016
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel
24 x 36 x 2 inches
Orange Swoosh 2017
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on paper
30 x 22 inches
Periwinkle Plaid 2017 Acrylic, Dura-Lar on paper 30 x 22 inches
Everything is Indefinite
2018
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on paper
20 x 16 inches
Same River Twice 2018
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on paper
30 x 30 inches
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel 24 x 36 x 2 inches
2019
Keeping the Bubble Happy
Weighing It Out 2019
48
30 x 2 inches
Acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradeled panel
x
Going Against the Pattern 2020
Acrylic, Dura-Lar, plastic clothes pins, thumb tacks, 3M adhesive 9 x 19 x 5 feet
MARY ZERAN
CV
EDUCATION
1992 Professional Development, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
1991 M.F.A. The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1988 B.F.A. The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021
Happy Zone, Art Center Burlington, Burlington, IA
2020
Mission Happiness, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
Mary Zeran: 10 Years, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2019
Keeping the Bubble Happy, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2018
Loud and Proud, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
Beauty Seeker, Gilded Pear Pop Up Gallery, US Bank, Iowa City, IA
2017
A Rainbow Colored Dream, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
Lumpy Swoosh, Higher Art Gallery, Traverse City, MI
2016
KACHOW!, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2015
Full Throttle Color, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2014
La Tierra de Mi Corazón, New Work by Mary Zeran, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
JUICY! Black Hawk College, Moline, IL
Living With Forces of Nature: All Things Beautiful, Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah, IA
2013
Mary Zeran: Made In Many Different Ways, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2012
Mary Zeran Art Extravaganza, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA Small Branch, Maquoketa Arts Experience, Maquoketa, IA
2011
Rivers, Clouds, and Wind, Cole Library, Cornell College, Mt Vernon, IA
The Best of all Possible Worlds, The University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, IA
1998
Ascension, SOIL, Seattle, WA
1997
The Source of it All, SOIL, Seattle, WA
Treads and Threads, Public Safety Building Plaza, Seattle, WA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019
Up All Night, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, curator Kate Kunau
DUMA Biennial, Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA, curator Sarah Humphreville, Senior Curatorial Assistant at Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Into the Blue, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, curator Kate Kunau
2018
Beyond the Prairie: Midwestern Art from the Collection, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, curator Kate Kunau
2016
Funkytown, Urbano, Berkely, CA, curator Kimberly Rowe, 17 person exhibition
Summer Invitational, Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO, twenty person exhibit
2015
The Iowa Artists Purchase Exhibition, EMC , Des Moines, IA, seven person exhibit
Pushed, Pulled, Shaped: Work that Reflects the Artists Spirit and Environment, Best Chicago Properties, Chicago, IL, three person exhibit
Midwest Summer: Light and Warmth, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, curator Kate Kunau
2014
Spaces We Inhabit: Sculptures and Paintings by Alicia Forestall-Boehm, Emily Rutledge and Mary Zeran, Hairpin Arts Center, Logan Square, Chicago, IL, three person exhibit
2014-2011
Drips and Daubs: Painters Zeran and Tollefson Explore Nature, Art Guild of Burlington, Burlington, IA, Maquoketa Art Experience, Maquoketa, IA, Lowe Art Center, Marion, IA, Simpson College, Indianola, IA
2013
Contemporary Expressionism-The Creative Spirit, The San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild, San Diego, CA, curator Derrick Cartwright
Some Assembly Required: Collage and Assemblage, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, curator Sean Ulmer
Three Person Exhibit, Art in the Airport, Quad City Airport, Rock Island, IL
2012
Lure of the Local, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, curator Sean Ulmer
2011
What to Dip, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
1999
Here/ There, COCA, Seattle, WA
1998
Sutures and Other Handiwork, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA
Crossing the Border, Fisher Gallery and Annex, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA, curator Steven Michael Vroom
1997
C.A.R.B.O, Artspace Gallery, Seattle, WA
1994
All That Is Solid Melts into Air…All that is Sacred is Profaned, Metropolis Gallery, Seattle, WA
1993
Off Course: Artist Installed 18 Hole Miniature Golf, COCA, Seattle, WA
Pacific Northwest Annual Exhibition, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA, curator Susan Biskeborn
Personal Views in Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton, CA
1992
Silver: New Forms and Expressions, Fortunoff, New York, NY
1991
Chunghi Choo with Former and Present Students, Waterloo Museum of Art, Waterloo, IA
1990
Galeria Mesa National Metals Invitational, Galeria Mesa, Mesa, AZ
1990-1989
Silver: New Forms and Expressions, Fortunoff, New York, NY, The University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, IA, The National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, TN
1989
Divine Line, Galeria Mesa, Mesa, AZ
1988
The Wichita National All Media Crafts Exhibit, The Wichita Art Association, Wichita, KS
1986
Hanukkah and Other Jewish Lights, The Jewish Quarter, Beverly Hills, CA
CORPORATE COLLECTIONS AND AWARDS
US Cellular Center, 2% for the Arts, Cedar Rapids, IA
Canal One, Boston, MA
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
EMC, one of 7 artists selected for 2015 Sixth Biennial Art EMC Program, Des Moines, IA
First Bancorp, Southern Pines, NC
Grafix Corporate Collection, Cleveland, OH
Grant Thorton, Chicago, IL
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Human Services Building, Cedar Rapids, IA
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA
Kirkwood Community College, Coralville, IA
McCarter & English in Boston.
Manion, Gaynor & Manning, Miami, FL
Marion Arts Council, Marion, IA
Newton Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA
People’s United, Boston, MA
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Raining Rose Corporate Collection, Cedar Rapids, IA
Reliant Medical Group, Westborough, MA
School of Art and Art History, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Skogman Realty, Cedar Rapids, IA
The Fallon Companies, Boston, MA
The University of Iowa Hospitals, The University of Iowa, Iowa City IA
Southeast Iowa Community College, West Burlington, IA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mary Zeran Opens First Solo Show at Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Sept 10, 2020
“Advise and Select”, Ann Landi, Vasari21, July 29, 2018
“Art and Life with Mary Zeran”, Boston Voyager, July 2018
“Boston City Guide”, The Boston Arts & Culture Weekly Review, July 30, 2018
“Culture Crawl 316 , Really Flat Sculptures”, by Dennis Green, Jazz 88.3 KCCK Culture Crawl, Posted: Thursday10:10 AM, Dec 5, 2018
“Eastern Iowa Health Center Holds Grand Opening Celebration”, by Samantha Myers, KCRG-TV9, Posted: Thursday 8:56 PM, Oct 27, 2016, Updated: Thu 10:17 PM, Oct 27, 2016
“Eastern Iowa Health Center Undergoes Renovation”, by KCRG-TV9 Staff, Posted: Thursday 9:18 PM, Oct 13, 2016
“Assembling An Artful Home”, Katie Mills Giorgio, The Gazette, April 24, 2016
“Full Throttle Color”, Culture Crawl, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 3, 2015
“Full Throttle Color”, Hoopla, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 3, 2015
“Midwest Summer: Light and Warmth” The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, July 21, 2015
“Artist Mary Zeran Set to Unveil Latest Collage”, RCreader, Quad City, IA, November 19, 2014
“Mary Zeran at Luther College”, Christopher Byrne, Kolaj Magazine, Montreal, Canada, April 22, 2014
“All Things Beautiful: Mixed Media Collages by Mary Zeran on display April 2 - May 25, Decorah Newspapers, Decorah, IA, April 1, 2014
“The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art-Some Assembly Required Collage and Assemblage”, The Daily Palette, Iowa City, IA, January 20, 2014
“Farnham to Showcase Work of Dena Tollefson and Mary Zeran”, Simpson College News Center, Indianola, IA, January 17, 2014
“Some Assembly Required At Cedar Rapids Museum of Art”, Kolaj Magazine, Montreal, Canada, October 19, 2013
“Have You Met…Mary Zeran?” Stephen B. MacInnis, Painter’s Progress Blog, October 13, 2013
“Paint the Music!”, Operahhh! Newlsetter of the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 2012
“Note-Worthy Art, Artist Mary Zeran ‘Paints the Music’ ”, Michael Bierne, Cedar Rapids NE Life, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 2012
“Painters Dena Tollefson and Mary Zeran”, Art Talks with Bruce Carter WVIK Augustana College, 90.3FM Rock Island, Rock Island, IL June 3, 2012
Cover of The National Poetry Review, Los Angeles, CA, 2012
“Artist Mary Zeran “Small Branch: New Collage”, River Cities’ Reader, Dubuque, IA, February 17, 2012
“Dribs and Daubs: Painters Mary Zeran and Dena Tollefson Explore Nature”, River Cities’ Reader, Dubuque, IA, September 22, 2011
“Whole Lotta Yellow!”, Elizabeth Sheppell, Elizabeth Sheppell Art Blog, Atlanta, GA, March 4, 2012
“Candide Program”, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2011
“Singin Songs of Springtime,” Bobby Wilson, The Hawkeye, Burlington, IA, April 17 2011
“The Best of,” Katie Mills Giorgio, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, April 9, 2011
“Mary Zeran”, Lorraine Glessner, Oh What A World, What a World, April 13, 2011
“Here and There’ at COCA,” Frances DeVuono, Artweek, Seattle, WA, September 1999
“Crossing the Border: Art and Fiber,” Jill Connor, wetSOFA, New York, NY, Sept/Oct 1999
“Sound Alternatives in Seattle,” Susan Platt, Art Papers, Seattle, WA, March/ April 1998
“Mary Zeran and Alex Emmons,” Jill Connor, The Art Examiner, New York, NY, September 1997
“Through the Eye of the Needle,” Soyon Im, Eastsideweek, Kirkwood, WA, August 27, 1997
“Sutures ad Other Handwork,” Diane Wright, The Herald, Kirkwood, WA, August 15, 1997
“Digging in Deeper, “ Greg Burkman, Art Access, Seattle, WA, March 1997
“A New Alternative”, L.R.A, REFLEX, Seattle, WA, March/April, 1994
“Miniature Golf Exhibit is a Hole-In–Wonder”, Regina Hackett, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Seattle, WA, 1993
“Annual Bellevue Art Museum Show Reveals Exceptional New Voices”, Regina Hackett Seattle Post Intelligencer, Seattle, WA, July 24, 1993
“Choo and Students: Waterloo Show”, Eliot Nusbaum, The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, IA 1992
“Visions, Concepts, Communication”, David La Plantz, Jewelry/ Metalwork Survey, 1991
“Silver New Forms and Expression”, Janet Koplos, Metalsmith, Spring 1990
“Discover the UI Museum-an Abundance of Artistic Wealth”, Steve Cruse, The Daily Iowan, Iowa City, IA 1989
“Students Go For Gold With Silver”, Kanchalee Svetvilas, Iowa Press Citizen, Iowa City, IA, October 19, 1989
“Galeria Mesa Offers a Divine Line”, Evelyn Cooper, Arizona Republic, Mesa, AZ, September 15, 1989
“Modern Art Meets Ancient Tradition”, The Iowa Scene, Iowa City, IA, December 1986
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2020 ArtBites Gallery Talk, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2020 PJ Storytime, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2018 Gallery Talk, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2016 Gallery Talk, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2015 Gallery Talk, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2014 Golden Artist Educator Certification, New Berlin, NY
2014 Gallery Talk, Farnham Gallery, Simpson College, Indianola, IA
2013 Artist Talk, Marvin Cone Club, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2013 Visiting Artist, Clinton Community College, Clinton, IA
2012 Gallery Talk, Maquoketa Arts Experience, Maquoketa, IA
2012 Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre Artist in Residence
2012 Gallery Talk, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2012 Gallery Talk, Art Bites, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2010 Visiting Artist, Creative Connections, Cedar Rapids Museums of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
1998 Visiting Artist, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA 1997 Visiting Artist, Cornish School of the Arts, Seattle, WA 1997 Visiting Artist, School of Art, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
1991
1997 Co-founding Member, Soil, Seattle, WA 1992 Artist in Residence, Oregon School of Arts and Crafts, Portland, OR
Teaching Assistant, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Mary Zeran: 10 Years Cedar Rapids Museum of Art 410 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 www.crma.org www.maryzeran.com