Creativity is all of life's actions.

BETH SURDUT

Environmental Artist and Writer

Paintings, Wearable Art, Textile & Product Design

www.bethsurdut.com

info@bethsurdut.com

Artist and writer Beth Surdut has maintained a professional studio since 1978. For ten years her studio designed and fabricated over 50 site-specific stained glass artworks for homes, hotels, and a Middle Eastern palace. Works on silk were introduced in 1986 and within a year were included in a group exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery. Surdut’s fine art paintings, textile and product designs for reproduction, business articles, profiles and commentaries for radio and print media have an international audience.Prior to Raven calling her to the Southwest, she spent three years paddling with alligators on the designated wild and scenic Myakka River on the Gulf Coast of Florida,where she earned the moniker "Gator Girl.".

Current exhibitions including Listening To Raven, custom work ( often devoted to Hebrew tallitot, prayer shawls, and healing scarves), and private installations are listed on the website at www.bethsurdut.com/news.htm . Visit commentaries and stories on the blog www.surdut.blogspot.com

The Creative World of Beth Surdut

Beth Surdut is a designer and a colorist, a writer and visual storyteller. Her visionary paintings, which translate and integrate the patterns of nature and world cultures into a new mythology, are exhibited in museums and galleries internationally.

Surdut’s studio provides custom design services for hotels and private homes, product branding identity, and licensing for reproduction by manufacturers including textiles, Hawaiian shirts, women’s apparel, giftware, tile murals, and home goods.

Noted for combining rich jewel tones and fluid movement during a 10-year career designing and fabricating architectural art glass in the Washington, D.C. area, the artist garnered commissions for private and public spaces, including 24 windows in a Middle Eastern palace. A project for an intimately delightful hotel in Key West, Florida introduced her to tropical color and form.

In 1986 her expertise as a colorist led to developing her recognizable style of painting on Chinese silk with Japanese brushes and French dyes. Her wearable art, first featured in the Washington Post, was soon exhibited in the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery. Explorations in Jamaica and six years residing in Hawaii fostered large-scale paintings as well as extensive textile and product design internationally.

Commissions include designing and painting Celtic motifs for fashion icon Mary McFadden, and shaping product identity for Hawaiian resorts. Magazines feature Surdut’s paintings on their covers. The painted cape Power Without Sacrifice was chosen by the Cahoon Museum of American Art and the New Zealand Wearable Art Awards. The American Textile History Museum exhibited her hand-painted silk men’s Ultimate Aloha Shirts™ in 2004. This museum also commissioned Surdut to implement her unusual vision to design an entire exhibit of Hawaiian shirts.

The Surdut Tropical Table Linen Collection debuted in 2004 at major museums and Bloomingdale’s. Due to the linens’ record breaking sales at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts blockbuster Gauguin Tahiti exhibition, the MFA commissioned Bamboo Forest linens inspired by the museum’s Asian collection.

Believing in personal activism, Surdut created the painting Come Walk With Me presented by the Sarasota Sister Cities Association to the mayoral delegation from Vladimir, Russia in January 2007, as well as a painting for a Cambodian relief organization for land mine victims. As a journalist and commentator she examines topics ranging from sewers to senators, and works as a hired media and strategic consultant on political campaigns. National Public Radio aired her essays on diverse issues including a six-part series on the business of art. During her career, projects involving visual art and writing have received multiple grant support, notably from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Harvard Historical Society.

She’s hung from a rope in the feathery greenness of a mountain fern forest, piloted a small plane through the hot lava reds of sunset, climbed a mountain to bathe in a holy Hindu spring, swum with barracuda, kayaked amidst alligators, seals and dolphins, and narrowly avoided being kidnapped in the desert.

Surdut doesn’t expect everybody to be as adventurous as she is, but she does encourage people to make the leap from desire to reality by participating in her new Dream Vessels Project, an international sculptural initiative for creative visualization. A Dream Vessel is a tangible form of transport large enough to get into, fly, sail or motivate. Individuals or groups design and build a sculpture based on the premise that by visually actualizing their dreams, they can make them happen.

Selected Exhibitions & Projects

2012 Focus on Nature -- Scientific illustration biennial, NY State Museum, Albany, April18-December 31

Inn at Loretto, artist in residence-- February18, May 25-27

Jewish Arts Symposium presenter/panelist, SantaFe, NM , Feb 25/26

2011 Invitation to the Muse documentary film by Karen Cantor-- one of the featured artists and panel moderator Center for Contemporary Art, Dec 10, Santa Fe, NM

The Place Where I Live: Raven and the Las Conchas fires, Orion Magazine, Nov/Dec issue

The Brush Gallery, For the Birds group exhibition curated by David Allen Sibley, Lowell, MA

Gallery @ The Screen--solo exhibition, Santa Fe, NM

New Mexico State Land Office, Commissioner's Gallery, solo exhibition, Santa Fe, NM

Wells Fargo Bank Gallery--solo exhibition, Santa Fe, NM

2010 Randall Davey Audubon Sanctuary gallery-- Listening To Raven~ Drawings,Myths & Realities- solo exhibition Santa Fe,NM

Audubon Wildlife Invitational--group show Santa Fe,NM

Charles Collins Gallery-- Taos, NM

2009 Edible Santa Fe Magazine commisioned cover--"Gift of the Corn Mother"

Santa Fe City Hall Gallery-- group show

2008 Tampa International Airport Exhibition--Welcome to the Creative World of Beth Surdut--Landside Terminal (open to all) until December1, 2008

The ARTIST AND HER STUDIO, RINGLING COLLEGE Exhibition Hall, Sarasota,FL

Westshore Banner Project, Tampa, Fl--Surdut's Eye of the Storm banner hanging in various public locations

2007 Aurora Colors Gallery, Petaluma, CA--"Myths, Masks, Rites & Rituals"--group show

Bliss Gallery, Siesta Key, FL—invitational 3-person

Senses Gallery, Sarasota, FL—invitational 3-person

Come Walk With Me—painting commissioned as a gift from Sarasota Sister Cities to mayoral delegation from Vladimir, Russia

The Aquarium--Installation—paintings and ambient walls—private residence, Philippi Creek, Sarasota, Fl

Georgetown Performing Arts Gallery, Bethesda, MD

Winter Park Public Library Gallery, Winter Park, and Fl—invitational solo

Best of the Artists registry, Orlando, Fl—invitational group

Kaos Gallery, Bradenton, FL—invitational group

Federal Building, Sarasota, FL—invitational art in public places

2006 Sarasota Fine Arts Society Creators and Collectors Tour

Enigmatic Paradise (solo exhibition), Kaos Gallery, Bradenton, FL

Art on the Mountain, Deerfield, VT

Best of the Florida Artists Registry, Orlando, FL

Art in Public Places, Federal Building, Sarasota

National League of American Pen Women Exhibition, Longboat Key Art Center, FL

2005 Marie Selby Botanical Garden, Selby House Gallery, Sarasota—solo exhibition The Art & Design of Beth Surdut

HPoto Gallery of Contemporary Art, Sarasota—Jump the Line-group exhibition

Art in Public Places, Federal Building, Sarasota

2004 American Textile History Museum “Let’s Go Hawaiian” group exhibition of shirts painted, printed

2002-5 Ninth Life Gallery—St. Thomas, USVI-- paintings

2000 Montana New Zealand Wearable Arts Awards—international wearable art exhibition and runway show, Nelson, New Zealand

Acton Memorial Library—solo painting exhibition

1999 Harvard Public Library—invitational solo painting exhibition

Expressions of Love—Handworks Gallery, Acton, MA paintings

1997 Harmony Hall Gallery--solo painting exhibition, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Children's Hands-On Art Museum, Littleton, Massachusetts

Cornelius Ayer Wood Gallery-- solo painting exhibition, Concord, MA

Conant Gallery- Invitational Nature of Design group exhibition, Groton, MA

1996 Cape Capes, Cahoon Museum of American Art, Cotuit, MA

DeCordova Style '96, DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA

National Fiber Show, Handworks Gallery, Acton, MA

Colors of the Sun--solo painting exhibition, Emerson Umbrella, Concord, MA

1995 Visiting Artist, Manele Bay Hotel, Lana'i, Hawaii

Artforum Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii

Zoltan Gluck Gallery, Provincetown, Massachusetts

1994 Surdut Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii

Artforum Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii

1993 Youth at Risk fundraiser, Makk Galleries, Honolulu, Hawaii

Historic Hawaii Foundation, Honolulu, Hawaii

1992 Beth Surdut Studio/Gallery, Punalu'u, Hawaii

Artful Framer Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii

1991 Beth Surdut Studio/Gallery, Punalu'u, Hawaii

1990 Sunset Galleries, Lahaina, Maui

Volcano Art Center, Volcano National Park, Hawaii

Washington Art Auction -- Jobs for the homeless fundraiser

Sun Up Gallery, Watch Hill, Rhode Island

Artist in Residence, Hotel Hana, Maui

1989 Sunset Galleries, Lahaina, Maui—solo exhibition

Volcano Art Center, Volcano National Park, Hawaii

Village Gallery, Lahaina, Maui

1988 Nordstrom, Vienna, Virginia

Degagé-- solo exhibition, McLean, Virginia

Great Falls Art Center, Great Falls, Virginia

1987 Smithsonian Institution, Renwick Gallery, Washington, D.C.

The World Bank, Washington, D.C.

Old Mill Gallery, McLean, Virginia

Stained and Etched Architectural Art Glass

Client Locale Work

La Terrazza De Marti Hotel Key West, FL Stained glass window

Palace [client wishes anonymity] Saudi Arabia 24 stained glass panels

Lenard House Great Falls, VA 16 stained glass panels

Wolf's Lair Bryce, VA 3 stained glass windows

National Place Washington, D.C. 3 etched doors, windows

Kaempfer Company Washington, D.C. 6 etched doors and sidelights

R. & L. Joy Washington, D.C. Skylight and transom

Artful Hand Gallery Orleans, MA 2 stained glass windows

Sharp & Hebron Plainboro, NJ Stained glass window

Foley Construction Company Great Falls, VA 2 stained glass windows

Gryphon's Gate Gaithersburg, MD Stained glass partition

The Hamlet Washington, D.C. Etched door, transom

Great Falls Construction Great Falls, VA Etched panels, 2 doors

Designs for Reproduction- apparel, textile yardage, gift items, notecards

1990-present: Beth Surdut LLC (linens)

Adini Wild Side Pohai Nani Trans Pacific Textiles

New Aura Soft as A Grape Ihilani Resort Locals Only

Cooke Street Papio Tournament Hawaiian Respite Services Trend-Tex

Tori Richards G. Von Hamm Avanti MFA Boston

Grants

1999 Harvard Arts Council, Harvard Historical Society, Fitchburg State College Foundation— researched, compiled and

edited CD of 20+ stories told by an 85-year-old woodworker and teacher. Talking Life: Walter Harrod’s Stories

1997 Harvard Arts Council/Warner Free Lecture-- lecture "Colors of the Sun: An Artist’s Journey"

Groton Cultural Council, for on-site botanical painting at Fruitlands Museums

1988 Fairfax County Council of the Arts, Arlington, VA, for silk painting demonstrations to 5^th and 6th graders

O'Donohue Construction, Inc., Washington D.C. for independent project

Radio and Print articles by the artist

Radio: NPR aired Identity Crisis, my response to the backlash that followed the terrorism of September 11.

Sporty Girl, a commentary on my lack of natural sporting ability, aired on She Got Game (http://www.shegotgame.com).

2006 Dancing With The Mirthful Muse—invitational lecture for Surface design Society

2000 The Middlesex Beat, writer and Arts Editor—monthly profiles of artists, writers, musicians

ArtsMedia Magazine--Handworks Gallery profile

Clark University, guest speaker—Website development for the entrepreneur (designed own award winning site)

Boston Globe—Winter Fashion

1999 RadioArt, a six part commentary series on art and money for Public Radio International’s Marketplace

Boston Globe--Museums: Marriage with a View

96-99 Nashoba Publications, Harvard Editor-at-large, correspondent

97-99 Cape Cod Antiques and Arts Magazine--Monthly articles on arts and antiques, artists profiles

99-00 Art Calendar Magazine--Monthly profiles on the business of art?

1997 Guest lecturer, Warner Free Lecture Series, Harvard, MA

Guest lecture/demonstration, Fruitlands Museums, Harvard, MA

Guest lecture/demonstration, Children's Hands-On Art Museum, Littleton, MA

Guest lecturer, National League of American Pen Women, Wellesley, MA

1995 "Expose Yourself--Legally" article included in Getting the Word Out, anthology published by Art Calendar

1994 Guest lecturer, Honolulu Rotary Club, Oahu, Hawaii

1993 Guest lecturer, Kaneohe Rotary Club, Oahu, Hawaii

1992 Art Calendar, October issue. "Publicizing Yourself: Steps Toward More Than 15 Minutes of Fame”

Guest Lecturer, Brigham Young University, Laie, Hawaii

Media Coverage about the artist

also check the News page

2011The Intention of Tallitot, The New Mexico Link, November 2011, page 10

2010 Woman weaves prayers into healing scarves for Breast Cancer ... The Santa Fe New Mexican, Oct 16, 2010

Fine-feathered tales - The Santa Fe New Mexican Jan 21, 2010

2008 Feast of color - The Santa Fe New Mexican Dec 10, 2008

Creative Critters - The Santa Fe New Mexican, October 16, 2008

2007 Senses Magazine, feature article, 5/07

Sarasota Homes & Lifestyles 2/07

Christian Science Monitor 3/07

Talk of the Suncoast radio—featured guest

2006 Sarasota Magazine, Beth Surdut (profile) 7/06

The Observer, Marty Fugate, Beth Surdut (profile) and The Observer, Marty Fugate, A Moveable Visual Feast 4/20/006

SRQ Magazine online

Herald Tribune, D. Stockbridge Pratt, Pooling Their Talents 3/11/06

2005 Downtown & Beyond, Beth Surdut (interview Q & A) 12/05

http://www.theartsweb.com/artspotlight/Beth_Surdut.htm 10/05

Sarasota Herald Tribune, Marjorie North column, 3/6

Talk of the Suncoast radio, featured guest 3/21

DISH , Channel 21, featured guest 4/25

Pelican Press, The Artful World of Beth Surdut 9/22

2004 Feature articles in Boston Globe (3x), Boston Herald, Lowell Sun, Middlesex Beat, Harvard Hillside, NECN TV interview, 91.5 radio interview

2003 Lowell Sun, Style Section cover feature profile of Surdut: “Mermaids and Muses”

Boston Globe City Weekly article on Leonard Florence, quotes from Surdut, one of Florence’s biographers

2001 Fiber Arts Magazine, Jan/Feb issue—New Zealand Wearable Arts Awards

2000 Boston Globe, March—Acton solo show

The Beacon, March—Acton solo show

1999 The Middlesex Beat, October issue— “For Surdut, Art Reflects Life”

Harvard Hillside—“Local Color, you say. . .”

1997 The Gleaner [Kingston, Jamaica], January 16 "Healthy Environment Portrayed in Painting"

Harvard Spirit, Groton Landmark, October 22 "The Nature of Design"

1996 The Boston Globe, September 19 "Wearable Art Puts Creativity Into Clothes"

The Boston Globe, September 15 "Dazzling Fiber Art "

Creatively Speaking, September 21, television interview

Harvard Spirit, September 4 "Harvard Artist Displaying Nature's Hidden Treasures"

Harvard Post, August 23 "Beth Surdut Brings Tropical Art To New England"

1995 Aloha Airlines Magazine, "Spirit of Aloha" cover

1994 East Honolulu Newspaper, "Surdut's Tropical Silks"

1993 Honolulu Magazine, December cover

Making A Living as an Artist, anthology of interviews and articles published by Art Calendar

Aloha Magazine, "Island Perspectives: Beth Surdut"

Islands Magazine, "Unexpected O'ahu"

Honolulu Magazine, July, "Island Guide" cover and "Holoholo"

Seafood Leader Magazine, "Feed Me”

1992 Hawaii Magazine, "Island Discoveries: Exceptional Island Colors"

Honolulu Magazine, "Island Guide" and "Finds"

Island Home Magazine, "Art Couture"

Pacific Art and Travel Magazine, "Brush Strokes"

1990 Providence Journal Bulletin

Rhode Island Herald

Rhode Island Monthly, "Aloha Autumn"

Ocean Views Magazine, "Painted Silks"

1989 Maui News, "Surdut's Wearable Art"

Maui News, "Sketchpad: Beth Surdut"

1988 The Washington Post, "Surdut's Glass Act", by Nina Hyde

Washingtonian Magazine, "Best Buys"

The Gazette, "Portfolio"

1987 The Washington Post, "Try It"

Art Calendar magazine, "Interview with Beth Surdut"

Education

Washington University Religious Studies Program, St. Louis, Missouri

The American University Fine Arts Program, Washington, D.C.

Master Classes with contemporary glass artists

Smithsonian Institution Stained Glass Program, Washington, D.C.

Travel Influences

Middle East, Bali, Jamaica, Florida Keys and Gulf Islands, Puerto Rico, Hawaiian Islands, Australia

The entire content of this site is copyrighted. Contact info@bethsurdut.com for permission to download or reproduce in any form.

Look for updates on Facebook and at www.surdut.blogspot.com