Resume
Education
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
M.F.A., Sculpture, 2001
M.F.A. Project: Witness to Whiteness (puppet/music video installation)
Project Advisor: Laurie Palmer

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Post Baccalaureate Certificate, Sculpture, 1999

University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.A., Afro-American Studies (Art History), 1996
Master’s Thesis: The Image Text Composite in the Art of Faith Ringgold: Form and Narrative
Thesis Advisor: Freida High W. Tesfagiorgis

University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S., Fine Arts, Sculpture, 1993

International Study Abroad
Ealing Community College, Ealing, England, fall 1989


Specialized Art Training
Independent Study: Ghanaian Master Wood-carvers, Djam Vivie & Kwakou Gerai, WI, 1997
Haystack Mountain School of Craft, ME, 1996
Penland School of Craft, NC, 1995


Awards and Honors
Invited guest, “Reinventing Revolution,” Ella Baker Center for Social Change, 2003
Graduate Fellowship (“Witness to Whiteness”), The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2001
Student Service Award, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2001
Leadership Award, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2001
Incentive Scholarship, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2001
Recognition Scholarship, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1998
Afro American Studies Graduate Travel Grant, University of Wisconsin -- Madison, 1998
Haystack Mountain School of Craft Scholarship, 1995
Advanced Opportunity Fellowship, University of Wisconsin -- Madison, 1994-1996
Penland School of Craft Scholarship, 1995
Study Abroad Scholarship, University of Wisconsin -- Platteville, 1989


Exhibitions/Screenings/Installations
2006   “QRC Art Exhibition,” Pomona College, Claremont, CA
           “Pure Painting,” Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
           “Flaming,” Women’s Cancer Resource Center, Oakland, CA
           “Catch 22,” Pro Arts, Oakland, CA
2004   “Assata Shakur Exhibit,” Hot House, Chicago, IL
2003   “Creative Movements Festival: Exploring Cultural Work and Social Change,” Insight
           Arts, Chicago, IL
           “OMA Diversity Program,” (screening: “Witness to Whiteness,”) SAIC, Chicago, IL
2002   “Face Value,” (screening: “Witness to Whiteness”), White Columns, New York, NY
           “Interrogating Diversity,” Betty Rymer Gallery, SAIC, IL
2001   “From the Basement,” Base Space, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago,
           Chicago, IL
           “MFA Exhibition,” (video/installation: “Witness to Whiteness”), Gallery 2, SAIC,
           Chicago, IL
           “Youth Speak Out Exhibition,” Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art, Cleveland, OH
2000   “Deciphering Moon Shadows,” (performance), Chicago Historical Society and
           Redmoon Theater, Chicago, IL
           “Rock, Paper, Puppet,” Gallery X, SAIC, Chicago, IL
1999   “Black Face Minstrelsy,” (installation), Base Space, SAIC, Chicago, IL
           “What Map?” Ceramic Gallery Space, SAIC, Chicago, IL
1998   “External Traditions,” Charles Allis Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
1997   “Recent Works by Linda Mathis and Verlena Johnson,” Memorial High School Gallery,
           Madison, WI
1996   “Recent Works by Verlena Johnson,” Class of 1925 Gallery, University of Wisconsin-
           Madison, Madison, WI
1995   “Afro-American Studies Conference,” Wisconsin State Historical Society, Madison, WI
1993   “Untitled Group Show,” Humanities Gallery, UW-Madison, Madison, WI
1992   “Sunday After Church,” (installation), Humanities Courtyard, UW-Madison,
           Madison, WI


Publications
CD cover art.  “Big Jim” Johnson: Smoke Stack Lightnin, Trikk Bags Studio, 2006
“Phoebe, Age 7.”  Our Family Coalition Newsletter, Volume 11, Issue 3, Summer (2006): 7
“The Adoption Game.”  Our Family Coalition Newsletter, Volume 11, Issue 2, Spring (2006): 8
“Welcome, Verlena!”  Our Family Coalition Newsletter, Volume 10, Issue 5, Winter (2006): 4
“Diversity in Art Education: A Question of Ethics,” Fnews, SAIC, Chicago, IL (2003)
OMA Newsletter, SAIC, Chicago, IL (2001)
250 Years of Black Art, SAIC OMA website text, SAIC, Chicago, IL (2001)
“The Critique Process: Racialized Assumptions Matter,” Fnews, SAIC, Chicago, IL (2001)
“Political Correctness,” Fnews, SAIC, Chicago, IL (2001)
Cover illustration.  “Warrior Women #2.”  Approaches to Teaching the Novels of Toni Morrison.  
New York: Modern Language Association.  Nellie McKay and Katheryn Earle, eds., 1997
Inclusion of artwork, “Black Woman in White Face,” and “Sister Outsider: In Memory of Audre
Lorde.” Prime, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 1993


Bibliography
“Verlena Johnson,” in Dept (SAIC Sculpture Catalogue), SAIC, Chicago, IL, 2001


Permanent Collections (selected)
White Columns, New York, NY - gallery collection
Stanlie James, Madison, WI - private collection
Nellie McKay, Madison, WI - private collection
Freida High W. Tesfagiorgis, WI - private collection


Art Teaching Experience (higher education)
Fall 2003        Instructor, Representations of Blackness in Art & Visual Culture: Race, Gender
                       
 and Sexuality
                       The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Fall 2002        Instructor, African American Art History
                       
 Columbia College, Chicago, IL
Spring 2002  Instructor, African American Art History
                       The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Fall 2001        Instructor, African American Art History
                       Columbia College, Chicago, IL
Spring 2001  Instructor, African American Art History
                       Barat College, Chicago, IL
Fall 2000        Instructor, African American Art History
                       Columbia College, Chicago, IL
Spring 2000  Instructor, African American Art History
                       The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Art Teaching Experience (community-based)
Summer 2006   Instructor, Puppet-making
                           
 FAB Camp (Family Arts Bridge Camp), San Francisco, CA
Summer 2002   Co-Instructor, Inside Out, post incarcerated youth arts & media analysis
                           
 Insight Arts & Gallery 37, Chicago, IL
Summer 2000   Teaching Assistant, Woodcarving
                           
 Gallery 37, Chicago, IL
Summer 2000   Instructor/Collaborator, Puppet-making
                           
 Street-Level Youth Media, Chicago, IL
Fall 1999             Art Instructor, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture
                            
 Insight Arts, Chicago, IL


Art Workshops and Presentations (selected)
“Being Biracial: Creating Community and Challenging Notions of Blackness,” Chicago, IL, 2004
“Black Women Visual Artists,” Chicago, IL, 2003
“Video Soul: Images of Women in the Media,” Chicago, IL, 2002
“SAIC Graduation Commencement Ceremony Introduction of Faith Ringgold,” Chicago, IL, 2001
“250 Years of African American Art,” Chicago, IL, 2001
“On the Importance of Diversity,” SAIC Diversity Committee Panel Presenter, Chicago, IL, 2001
Visiting Artist, Edgewood High School Arts Day, Madison, WI, 1995 & 1996
Visiting Artist, Memorial High School Arts Day, Madison, WI, 1993
Visiting Artist, Rock Valley Correctional Programs, Inc., Beloit, WI, 1992


Related Arts Experience (selected)
2005       Affinity Community Services, Designed and Painted Mural
2004       Newhouse Programs & Architecture Competition, Juror
2003       Fieldwork: in Honor of National Women’s History Month, SAIC, Co-Curator &
              
 Catalogue Contributor
2001       The Women in the Director’s Chair International Film and Video Festival, Juror
1999       36th Annual Outdoor Art Festival, Watertown, WI, Juror
Drawings & Paintings
Comix Art & Puppets
Sculpture
Contact
verlenasroom@yahoo.com


Verlena Johnson
Installation & Video
Bio & Artist Statement