THE WEIGHT OF WORDS Laura Schiff Bean’s work has always addressed the human condition which is a never-ending source of interest to her. The empty dresses in her work reflect on identity as both journey and construct, accumulated and fabricated from the critical moments and turning points that indelibly mark our lives. The dresses as surrogate for people allow her to speak to the issues she thinks about on a daily basis. Currently, Schiff Bean has been fascinated with the inadequacy of words, and conversely the power they hold. In our current political and social climate, this has never been more apparent to her. Words have been damaging and uplifting, insensitive and compassionate, calming and inciting. There are times when our words seem inadequate, our meanings misinterpreted and communication difficult. And then, the power of just one (right or wrong) word in a particular context can be astounding While acknowledging the ever-present noise around us, Schiff Bean tries to take viewers back inside themselves to find the human presence that often gets lost in the chatter. If she is successful, her work will make the viewer take a moment to consider…leaving the artist, and at times the viewer, feeling just a little bit naked. EDUCATION School of the Museum of Fine Arts,Diploma Program Boston 1991-1997George Washington University, BA 1970-1974 SOLO/2 PERSON SHOWS 2018 Untold Stories, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID2017 Dress Matters: Clothing as Metaphor, Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ2017 The Weight of Words, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO2015 Redefined, Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Seattle, WA2015 Without Words, Lanoue Gallery, Boston, MA 2014 Defined, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID2013 Argazzi Art, Lakevill, CT2012 She Comes and Goes As She Pleases, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID2012 New Work, Argazzi Art, Lakeville, CT2011 24/7, Lanoue Fine Art, Boston, MA 2010 New Work, Pryor Fine Art, Atlanta, GA2010 Blue Gallery, KC, Mo2009 INTERSECTIONS: Between Dreams and Memory, Gallery One, Nashville, TN2009 New Work, Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA2009 Journey, Lanoue Fine Art, Boston, MA GROUP SHOWS 2023-24 Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID2022-23 Deck the Walls, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID2021 Representational Painting, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID2020 Evolved, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID2018 Art Market San Francisco, Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA2018 Lanoue Fine Art, MA2017 Dress Matters: Clothing as Metaphor – Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ2017 Lanoue Fine Art, MA2017 Georges Berges Gallery, NY, NY – Summer Group show2017 Georges Berges Gallery, NY, NY2016 Lanoue Fine Art2016 Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID2015 Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID2015 Lanoue Fine Art, Boston, MA2014 Lanoue Fine Art, Boston, MA2014 Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Seattle, WA2014 C Parker Gallery, CT “Yes She Can:2013 Lanoue Fine Art, MA “A Few Of My Favorite Things”2012 Argazzi Fine Art, Lakeville, CT2012 Lanoue Fine Art, MA “Summer Salon Show”2012 Rosenbaum Contemporary, Boca Raton, FL2012 Floria/Forre, Aspen, CO2012 Art MRKT San Francisco 20122012 Argazzi Fine Art, Lakeville,CT2012 West Branch Gallery, Stowe VT2012 Forre Fine Art, Aspen/Vail CO2011 Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum Idaho2011 Spring Group Show, Lanoue Fine Art2011 Forre Fine Art, Aspen, CO2010 Lanoue Fine Art,Boston, MA2010 Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO2010 Lanoue FIne Art,Boston, MA2009 Lanoue Fine Art, Boston,MA2009 Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta,GA2008 Lanoue Fine Art, Boston, MA2008 Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta,GA2008 Gallery One, Nashville, TN: 3 person show, “In Minds Eye”2007 Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN Packages Large & Small2007 Cumberland Gallery, Nashville,TN 2007 “Artists In Heat”2007 Lanoue Fine Art, Boston, MA “VISIONS: Contemporary Female Artists”2007 Lanoue Fine Art Boston, MA Group Show 2006 Etheringon Fine Art, Vineyard Haven Group Show 2005 Windsor Gallery, Dania,FLA Group Show 2003 Family Tree Gallery, Portsmouth, NH 2003 Hanson Gallery, Wellfleet,MA: Group Show 2001 Artana Gallery, Framingham,MA: Group Show MUSEUMS Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ. October 2017 – February 2018DRESS MATTERS: Clothing as Metaphor Endicott College, Beverly, MA. February 2009 BOSTON PAINTS: 22 Boston Painters ELEANOR D. WILSON MUSEUM at Hollis University, VA. July 2007”VISIONS: CONTEMPORARY FEMALE ARTISTS” COMPETITIONS 2008 Danforth Museum Member Show Juror: Carol Anne Meehan, Curator ICA BostonFrances Roddy Competition, Concord Art Association 2005, 2006 2006 Juror: Howard Yezerski, Howard Yezerski Gallery, Boston, MA 2005 Juror: Katherine French, curator Danforth Museum, Framingham, MASouth End Open Studios, Juried Space 2004, 2005Cathy Shuman, Art Consultant 1999,2000,2001,2002,2003First Expressions Gallery, Boston: Invitational Show 2000
First Expressions Gallery, Boston:Juried Competition 1997,1998,1999Annual Drawing Competition, SMFA 1996,1997First Expressions Gallery, Boston:Juried Competition 1995,1996 PUBLICATIONS Tucson Weekly, Margaret Regan, Jan 2018 Review of Dress Matters, Tucson Museum of ArtNew England Living, Jan 2018Luze Magazine SF, Dec 2017New York Times, 1/23/2014Lakeville Journal, CT 7/2012New England Home Magazine, 3/2012ArtScope, 3/2009ArtScope, 7/2008Boston Globe, 3/23/2000Arts Media, December 1996 SELECTED CORPORATE COLLECTIONS Bellevue Research Inc, Cambridge, MA Escada Retail Inc, Boston, MA Medical Portfolio Mgmt., LLC, Cambridge, MASt. Regis Hotels, Atlanta, GAGaylord Entertainment Resorts,Nashville,TN