CLARA COHAN (United States Born; 1956)
RESIDENCE:
15 Beach Bluff Terrace Cape Elizabeth, ME, USA 04107
207-650-7104 www.claracohan.com
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2024 “Maine Wood 2024”, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2023 “30th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition,” juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2022 “FLIGHT RISK; Fine Art for the Birds,” Maine Audubon Society and Harbor Square Gallery, Rockland, ME
2022 “Maine Wood 2022”, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2021 “Acquired Symbols”, Maine Art Gallery, Wiscasset, Maine
2021 “May 2021 Rage/Love: Goddess”; Union of Maine Visual Artists, Portland, ME
2020 “GATHERING” Clara Cohan; Maine Jewish Museum, Portland, Maine
2020 “Acquired Symbols”, Virtual exhibition, Maine Art Gallery, Wiscasset, Maine
2020 “Portland 2020”, juried photography exhibition, Cove Street Arts, 71 Cove Street, Portland, ME
2020 “Maine Wood 2020”, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2019. “All the Great Trees”, juried photography exhibition, Creative Portland Gallery, 84 Spring Street, Portland, ME
2019 “November Member’s Show”, Union of Maine Visual Artists, Portland, ME
2019 “Our Life is One of Lights and Shadows”, juried photography exhibition, Union of Maine Visual Artists, Portland, ME
2019 “June Member’s Show”, Union of Maine Visual Artists, Portland, ME
2018 “Journey with a Lens”; photography by Clara Cohan; Stanhope & Spencer Gallery, Rockland, ME
2018 “Maine Wood 2018”, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2016 “Maine Wood 2016”, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2014 “Let There Be Light”, juried sculpture exhibition, Maine Jewish Museum, Portland, ME
2014 “Maine Wood 2014”, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship
2012 “Maine Wood 2012”, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
GRANTS:
2019 Maine Arts Commission PROJECT GRANT for “GATHERING”, a sculptural interactive installation
2015 Creative Aging Grant: “Drawing for Seniors” Creative Aging in America's Libraries, supported by a National Leadership Grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services in collaboration with Lifetime Arts, Inc., AARP Foundation, American Library Association and Westchester Library System. Peaks Island, Portland, ME
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS
2024 The Maine Arts Journal: UMVA Quarterly Spring 2024 issue;“The Unconscious, the Unknown, the Unsaid”
2023 The Maine Arts Journal: UMVA Quarterly SUMMER 2023 issue;“In Balance/Imbalance”
2019 The Maine Arts Journal: UMVA Quarterly SPRING 2019 issue; “Sanctuary”.
2018 The Maine Arts Journal: UMVA Quarterly SPRING 2018 issue; “Origin Stories”
2010 “Collecting Rocks, Gems, and Minerals: Identification, Values, and Lapidary”, Patty Poke; Krause Publications. Photographs of Clara Cohan’s stone sculptures and Haiku poems.
1997 Anthology of women artist and writers “From the Listening Place: Languages of Intuition”; Edited by Margaret Blanchard, Astarte Shell Press; Pages 103-106
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES:
2008-2020 Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME: Department of Protective Services, Winslow Homer Studio Team Lead (2012-2020), Assistant Preparator (2017-2018)
2015 Creative Aging Grant:"Drawing for Seniors", Peaks Island, Portland, ME
2014-2016 MECA Pre-College Program; Life Drawing Instructor, Portland, ME
2015 MECA Continuing Studies Department; Instructor of "The Digital Sketchbook" and “Drawing for Seniors", Portland, ME
2015 "Island Drawing", Diamond Cove Art Gallery, Great Diamond Island, Portland, ME
2014 MECA Continuing Studies Department; Drawing Instructor;"Drawing at the Museum", Portland, ME
2003-2011 MAINE SCULPTORS, Co-founder and Co-curator, Portland, ME
2006-2009 Visiting Artist for the “Courtyard Sculpture Project”; Middle School, Cape Elizabeth, ME
2008-2010 Casco Bay Wood Carvers: Co-founder and Co-curator; Portland, ME
2001 Round Top Center for the Arts; Sculptor’s Lecture Series; Damariscotta, ME
GALLERY AFFILIATIONS:
2003-2024 Harbor Square Gallery, Camden, ME
2023-2024 Pearl Gallery, Portland, ME
2012, 2014,2016,2018,2020,2022,2023,2024 Messler Gallery at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
EDUCATION:
2019 Welding Apprenticeship in the Anviljac Studio; Betsy Dawkins Instructor, South Portland, ME
2015 Maine College of Art; Continuing Education; Lost Wax Bronze Casting; Sandy Macleod
2012 Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME; Hand-Tool Carving Tutorial; Instructor, Chris Pye, Master Carver from Hereford, UK
2011 Maine College of Art; Continuing Education; Encaustics; Instructor, Kim Bernard
1999-2000 Apprenticeship with Daniel Newman, Stone Sculptor, Sedona, AZ
1996,1997 Art Students League, New York, NY
1996-2002 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY Intensive 110 hour self-directed study and drawing of major works.
1976-2020 Independent travel and study of the arts and cultures of: Italy, France, Ireland, Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, Germany, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Society Islands of French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Taha’a, Huahine), Canadian Maritimes, Iceland, Alaska, US Native American tribes of the Southwest, Hawaii, Thailand, Bhutan, Finland, New Zealand, Japan.
1974-1976 Findlay University, Findlay, OH
1971 Chautauqua Art Institute, Chautauqua, NY; Sculptural studies with H.Richard Duhme
1960-1970 Formal Studies with Marie Cohan; Parent and Artist