Carolyn Lee Anderson graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2006 with a B.A. in studio art. Since then she has created a series of acrylic landscapes that explore the Euro-american battle against nature and the attempt to tame a falsely-perceived chaotic world or "wilderness." More recently, she has been working with mixed media, layering images, patterns, and text to share personal stories about her family and friends. She has exhibited at several venues throughout Minneapolis including the Gage Family Art Gallery, All My Relations Arts, and the Mill City Museum.
As a curator, she is devoted to American Indian artists. She has worked with All My Relations Arts to support contemporary American Indian artists. In December 2009, she curated a group self-portrait exhibit called Hokah! Ten Years of Art at Ancient Traders. In 2009 and 2010, she interned at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts working under the guidance of Associate Curator, Joe Horse Capture on historical and ancient Native American art objects. She also co-curated the traveling group exhibit This is Displacement: Native Artists Consider the Relationship Between Land and Identity with Emily Johnson of Catalyst. Carolyn is a member of the Navajo Nation, and she lives and works in the Twin Cities metro area.
Resumé:
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, May 2006
Artist Grants:
Split Rock Arts Program Scholarship, 2003
Smithsonian NMAI Expressive Arts Grant, 2008 (with Rhiana Yazzie & Emily Johnson)
NEFA National Native Artist Exchange Travel Grant, 2008
Past Exhibits:
This is Displacement: Native Artists Consider the Relationship Between Land & Identity, Plymouth Church's Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, Minneapolis, January-February 2011
Dimensions of Indigenous, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, November 2010-January 2011
Red Feather Gala, Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, November 2010
This is Displacement, Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, November 2010
This is Displacement, Edge Center Gallery, Bigfork, MN, October 2010
Original Green, Mill City Museum, Minneapolis, May-November 2010
This is Displacement, Center for Living Arts' Liggett Studio, Tulsa, March 2010
Hokah! Ten Years of Art at Ancient Traders, All My Relation Arts, Minneapolis, Dec. 2009
This is Displacement, Out North Gallery, Anchorage, Oct. 2009
Waasa Inaadibaa, Powderhorn Park Art Fair, Minneapolis, Aug. 2009
Potluck Show, Bockley Gallery, Minneapolis, Jul. 2009
States, Dates and Place, Corneucopia Gallery, Lanesboro, MN, Mar.-May 2009
Green Show, Isles Deli and Cafe, Minneapolis, Mar. 2009
States, Dates and Place, Ancient Traders Gallery, Minneapolis, Dec. 2008-Jan. 2009
Carolyn Lee Anderson and Joe Allen, Isles Deli and Cafe, Minneapolis, Sept. 2008
RE: Visions of the American Dream, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, Jul. 2008
Sesquicentennial Show, Black Dog Cafe, St. Paul, Jul. 2008
Potluck Show, Bockley Gallery, Minneapolis, Jun. 2008
10 Native American Artists, Gage Family Art Gallery, Minneapolis, Jan. 2008
Carolyn Anderson Solo Exhibit, Tillie's Bean Cafe, Minneapolis, Nov. 2006
Curatorial Experience:
Hokah! Ten Years of Art at Ancient Traders, All My Relations Arts, Minneapolis, Dec. 2009
This is Displacement, Out North Gallery, Anchorage, Oct. 2009
Curatorial Intern, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Feb.-May 2009
-Symbolism in Ceremony, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2009
-Southwest Jewelry Display, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2009
Collaborations:
Ady, Pangea Theatre, Minneapolis (with Rhiana Yazzie & Emily Johnson)
This is Displacement, Anchorage, Minneapolis (with Emily Johnson of Catalyst Dance)
Private Collections:
Katherine Beane, Jim Denomie, Heid Erdrich, Louise Erdrich, Emily Johnson, Reverend Melanie Spears, and Kathleen Wanner
Work Experience
Book Seller, Birchbark Books and Native Arts, Minneapolis, August 2007-present
Curatorial Intern , Minneapolis Institute of Arts, February-May 2009 and May-July 2010
Gallery Staff , All My Relations at Ancient Traders Gallery, Minneapolis, August 2007-January 2010