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the follies of Scott William Burns
Bio, CV/Resume, and Artist Statement
Brief Bio:
I grew up in a swamp outside of a small town in SouthernTexas, close to the Gulf Coast. My family lived on a catfish farm that became overrun with alligators, which we began to raise instead. I spent my free time camping, hiking, fishing and in constant contact with woods and wildlife.
At 18, I proceeded to shock my system by moving to Houston where I spent the next 20 years, mostly in downtown. I began college as a biology/chemistry double major and also took every theology course available. After three years I made the switch to art, vacillating between painting and sculpture for the next decade. I curated exhibitions (30+) for several years, became a gallery coordinator, taught at three colleges and one high school, and have attempted to live an adventuresome life on the side.
CV /Art Resume of Scott William Burns (edited version)
Born: 1969 Arlington, Tx
Currently Residing: Alvin, Tx
Select Group Exhibitions
2011 Use Your Illusion, Colton-Farb Gallery, Houston
2010 YardSale Time Machine, The Art Guys Facility, Houston
2006 Beast, Finesilver Gallery, Houston
2006 Pathfinder/Threadwinder, CSAW, Houston
2005 Contemporary Erotic Drawings, Diverseworks, Houston and The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, Ct
2005 Woods, Negative Space, Houston
2005 Art LA, courtesy of Houston's Artscan Gallery, Los Angeles
2005 Erotic Resistance, The Houston Foundry, Houston
2004 Camp Lucky, Deborah Colton Gallery, Houston
2003 The Stray in May, courtesy of Houston's Mixture Gallery, Chicago
2003 Texas Raw, Artscan Gallery, Houston
2003 The Thicket, CSAW, Houston
2002 ...until someone gets hurt... , Lawndale Art Center, Houston
2002 Fast Forward Miami, courtesy of Inman Gallery, Miami,Fl
2002 Million Dollar Hotel, Holiday Inn (top floor), Houston
2002 Fashionistas II, Poissant Gallery, Houston
2002 Child's Play, CSAW, Houston
2002 Stacks, 110 Gallery, Houston
2002 Summer Drawings, Mixture Gallery, Houston
2001 Big as Texas, Diverseworks, Houston
2001 New Orleans Triennial, New Orleans Museum of Art, Louisiana
2001 Masters Thesis Show, Blaffer Art Museum, Houston
2001 Friendly Mart, Heights Convenience Store, Houston
2001 Scene of the Crime, U of H Small Projects Gallery, Houston
2001 Fashionistas I, Poissant Gallery, Houston
2001 Fast Food for Thought, Artscan Gallery, Houston
2001 Slumberhouse, Poissant Gallery, Houston
Solo and Duo Exhibitions
2003 Through the Wilderness, CSAW, Houston (with Mindy Kober)
2002 Dark Water and Stars, Poissant Gallery, Houston (with Teresa O'Connor)
2001 Wanderlust, CSAW, Houston (with Teresa O'Connor)
2000 Ruse and Ruin, CSAW, Houston
1995 Glorypoisoned, Gallery One Nine, Houston
Education
1999 - 2001 MFA Sculpture, University of Houston
1989 - 1999 BFA Painting, University of Houston
1987 - 1989 Biology/Theology Studies, Houston Baptist University
Art-Related Employment
1999-2001 Sculpture Instructor, University of Houston
2001-2003 Gallery Coordinator and Drawing Instructor, North Harris College
2003-present Advanced Placement Art Studio Instructor, Alvin ISD, Tx
Other Related Experience
1998-2000 Third Wheel Productions Independent Curating Team
1999 CSAW Grant Studio Recipient
2002-2004 Diverseworks Artist Advisory Board
Artist StatementThe primary thrust of my work is an investigation (or manipulation) of clashing visual systems. The various characters of my earlier work, such as devils, robots, snowmen and buddhas, are all used as baggage-laden constructs pulled directly from the popular subconscious. The frolics and misadventures of these characters enact typological conflicts while also embodying aspects of my own internal theological, philosophical and personal battles. More recently, I have begun using whole visual systems, ranging from tattoo art to minimalist design to pursue these conflicts. I do not consider these investigations to be "art about art" or strictly cultural archaeology. Rather, they are extremely personal, left-brain critiques and probes of my own self-theater. I am an amalgam of all my characters and systems, an aggregate consciousness, a memetic montage, a fractured and conflicted forum.
I, Amphorum.
All text and images© Scott Burns 1996 - 2011