Dara Larson

I have always been fascinated with travel, language and inter-cultural aesthetics. My most recent work fuses research completed during travel with global art and craft traditions, mixed media and pop culture information. I am combining materials such as photographs of ancient landmarks, handmade paper, found objects, movie and advertising references into forms which have bookish or kinesthetic potential. Historic factual accounts and fictional characters or events evolve within this setting to explore the myriad of meanings associated with defining contemporary identity.




The Fox and The Chickens
Mixed Media Collage, 16" x 20"
1999




Ship of Fools
Mixed Media Collage
16" x 20"
1999
 

Lacandon Dreams
Mixed Media Collage
16" x 20"
1999





A bad man and a bad woman discuss the theory of the niches with Senor del Mango
Mixed Media Collage
10" x 25"
1999

 

The Wolf and the Milkmaid Cry Over the Scarred Star
Mixed Media Collage
16" x 20"
1999

 

Ama de la Casa
Mixed Media Collage
16" x 20"
1999





Topography of a Crazy Quilt, Unique Artists' Book handmade papers cast and sheet formed, 1998

 

Trade Secrets, Unique Artists' Book mixed media, 1999
View One

 

Trade Secrets
View Two




Second Shift
Mixed Media Drawing, 15" by 20", 1994





El Bano de Dolores
Handcolored Drypoint
15" by 20"
1996


Green River Twister
Monoprint/Drawing
15" by 22"
1993






Cultural Meandering
Pen & Ink
22" by 30"
1996


Once Bitten - Twice Shy
Mixed-media
8" by 3" by 37"
1995






Spring
Mixed-media Collage
22" by 30"
1993


Abigail in the Pink
Unique Artist's Book
21" by 16" by 12"
1987



Address inquiries to Dara Larson at djg.dll@mixcom.com.


Education
Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking and Drawing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1987
Post Baccalaureate Study in Art History and Spanish Language, University of Salamanca, Spain, 1983
Bachelor of Science in Studio Art, Printmaking, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wl. 1983

Employment
Associate Professor of Art, Alverno College, Milwaukee, Wl. 1989 to present.

Selected One and Two Person Exhibitions
Recent Works - Joan Bontempo and Dara Larson, Vanguard Gallery, Milwaukee, WI. 2000
Segments Spliced - A Journey From Wisconsin to Oaxaca and Back, Alverno College, Milwaukee, WI. 1999
Cultural Meandering - Dara Larson, The Dishman Art Gallery, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX. 1995
Dara Larson - Unique Artists' Books, Tarble Arts Center Reading Room, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL. 1993
Stories Upon Paper and Wood: Recent Works by Marvin Hill and Dara Larson, Moyer Art Gallery, Green Bay, Wl. 1992
Cindy Crigler and Dara Larson: Recent Works, River West Artwalk, Milwaukee, Wl. 1991
Recent Works by Dara Larson, University of Wisconsin Center - Sheboygan, WI. 1989
Eric and Carmen: An Installation by Dara Larson, Artists' Bookworks, Chicago, IL. 1989

Selected Juried Exhibitions
Art Books, Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, MI. 2000
On the Edge of the Millennium, Edge Gallery, Denver, CO. 1999
Wisconsin Artists Biennial, Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. 1999
Wisconsin Watercolor 98, Wustum Museum of Fine Art, Racine, WI. 1998
Northern National Juried Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI. Jurors Award. 1998
Folk Artists, Bearers of Tradition, Latin Arts Inc. Latino Arts Gallery, United Community Center, Milwaukee, WI. 1996
Virtual Gallery, Wisconsin Painters and Sculptors Juried Internet Exhibition, Jurors Award. 1996
Sculptural Books and Bookends - Traveling Exhibition, Maryland Visual Arts Touring Program. 1990 - 1992
12th Annual WARM Summer, Womens' Art Registry of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. 1991
Womens' Autobiographical Artists' Books; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI. 1988
Art Cart Caper, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wl. Jurors Award. 1987
USA Art, Chimerical Greg Gallery, La Puente, CA. Jurors Award. 1986
Open Door / In Celebration of International Women's Day, Survival Graphics, Madison, Wl. Jurors Award. 1983

Selected Invitational Exhibitions
Who Knows Where or When- Artists Interpret Time and Geography, Charles A. Wustum Museum, Racine, WI. 2000
Postmark Millennium, Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, Laurel, MD. 2000
Millennium Bug, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Wyandotte, KS. 1999
Dia de los Muertos, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI 1999
Farewell to the 20th Century, Central Michigan University Art Gallery, Mt. Pleasant, MI. 1999
Artistic Observers in Latin America: The Cultural Vantage Point, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 1999
Renaissance 2000 Project, Aardvark Studios, Dallas, TX. 1999 to 2000
Artist, Writer, Publisher, Printer: The Art of the Book in Wisconsin, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI. 1998
Woodworking, Pottery and Prints, Miller Art Center, Sturgeon Bay, WI. 1997
Faculty Exhibition, Alverno College Art and Cultures Gallery, Milwaukee, WI. 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997
The Print: An Exploration of the Print Medium, Internos Gallery, Milwaukee, Wl. 1995
U.N. 4th World Congress on Women, Beijing, China, (International Association of Women Artists presentation), 1996
Exquisite Corpse - Traveling Exhibition, Artemesia Gallery, Chicago, IL. 1994
Art/Missia, Treyakov Gallery Central House of Artists in Moscow, Russia, 1994
Verbal Text/Non-Verbal Context: Handmade Books By Wisconsin Artists, Milwaukee Art Museum, Wl. 1992
Paper Pages/Books by Women, Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wl. 1990
Vessels of Message/Contemporary Book Art, Art Center of Battle Creek, Battle Creek, Ml. 1990
Domestic Realisms/Group Traveling Exhibit, C.A.G.E. Cincinnati, OH. /Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. 1990
Recipe, Holsom Roc, Chicago, IL. 1989
Modern Communications, The Upstairs, New York, NY. 1988
 


Address inquiries to Dara Larson at djg.dll@mixcom.com.