Statement

The iconography in my work has turned into a combination of abstract and figurative forms, both reflecting interest in and obsession with the process of transformation from living to dying, and from dying to regeneration as seen through my interest in nature’s creations. In my current work, I explore the interconnectivity and further investigate where the intersection of the passage of time and the cycle of living and dying, paying attention to the repetition and reintroduction of past events on present circumstances. The scratched surfaces, stained paper, delineated forms, and buried imagery all work in tandem to feed this idea. My process of painting and drawing is a sensory experience, both tactile and olfactory. The textures still resonate with memories of the smell of the materials; the remnants of the smell of wax and coffee live on through out the entire creative process. Images and silhouettes of plant roots and flowers overlap and lie underneath one another suggesting the transitory nature of living along with the possibilities of being forgotten as they slip under the memories of that which is still alive.

Bio

b. 1974 Framingham, Massachusetts

In 2002, Cole graduated with a B.F.A. in Spatial Arts from San Jose State University where she also completed a minor in Art History with a concentration in Modern and Contemporary Non-Western art. In 2006, Cole finished her M.F.A. in Pictorial Arts with a concentration in Painting and Drawing, also from San Jose State University. Cole has shown at the Triton Museum of Art, several galleries at San Jose State University, and has shown regularly at the Institute of Contemporary Art in San Jose. Currently represented by Bryant Street Gallery in Palo Alto, Cole was recently invited to participate in the exclusive biennial auction at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Sunset Magazine Idea House in Monterey.

Education

San Jose State University M.F.A. in Pictorial Arts, 2006
B.F.A. in Spatial Arts, minor in Art History, Cum Laude, 2002

Exhibition Record

2008

Biennial Invitational Auction, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA

underneath, Bryant Street Gallery, Solo Show, Palo Alto, CA

Sunset Magazine Idea House, featured artist with Joseph Hittinger Designs, Monterey, CA

Two Worlds, Atelier Deux Mondes, group show, Metz, France

Monotype Marathon XIII, patron sponsored group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA

If these walls could talk, Reaves Gallery, group show, San Francisco, CA.

Women’s History Month 2008: Relics & Remembrances, Reflect-arts, Inc. at The Fountainhead Gallery, juried group exhibition, New York City, NY.

Red Dot Fair, represented through Bryant Street Gallery, invitational group show, New York City, NY

Delineated, BackWater Arts Gallery, San Jose, CA

2007

Essence of Asia: eastern influence in western art, Asian Fusion Gallery of the Asian Cultural Center, juried group exhibition, New York City, New York. Award: 2nd Place in Best of Show

Inaugural residents show, BackWater Arts Gallery, San Jose, CA

Affordable Art Fair, represented through Bryant Street Gallery, invitational group show, New York City, New York

Arts of Silicon Valley, Triton Museum of Art, juried group show

Monotype Marathon XII, patron sponsored group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art

Recent Graduates, inaugural invitational group exhibition, ArtArk Gallery, San Jose, CA

Featured artist, DiModa Salon, solo exhibition, San Jose, CA

Featured artist, Ariba Corporation, solo exhibition, Mountain View, CA

Kalied, invited artist, group show exhibition through Anno Domini Art Gallery.

Spring Community at the Citadel, group open studios & exhibition, San Jose, CA

2006

Dislocations, Bryant Street Gallery, solo exhibition, Palo Alto, CA

Fall Community at the Citadel, group open studios, San Jose, CA

26th Annual Fall Auction, invitational group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art

Monotype Marathon XI, patron sponsored group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art

Lift Off! San Jose State University MFA Group Show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art

Flux, annual members group show, WORKS San Jose

Bryant Street Gallery, group exhibition, works on panel, November 2005– January 2006, May –July 2006

2005

Fresh Strokes, group show, Heritage Bank, San Jose, three wax & graphite on paper drawings

WORKS Annual Auction, group show, WORKS San Jose, oil & wax on panel

paper cuts (again), invitational group show, Bay Area MFA students on paper, Fetterly Gallery, Vallejo

25th Annual Fall Auction, invitational group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art

Monotype Marathon X, patron sponsored group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, mo

2004

24th Annual Fall Auction, invitational group show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA

San Jose State University Art Museum Fundraiser, featured artist, group show, San Jose, CA

2003

Peninsula Open Studios Preview Exhibition, group show, Cogswell College Gallery, CA

Peninsula Open Studios Preview Exhibition, group show, Herbst International Exhibition Hall, The Presidio of

San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

1999

Annual Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

1998

Olympiad of Arts, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara County Fair Art Exhibition, San Jose, CA

Annual Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Gallery, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

1997

Annual Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

Exhibitions Towards Degree

2006

dirshinsear::diroschliochtoch, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

2005

sara cole / jason adkins, collaborative group show, gallery 8, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Advancement to Candidacy, group show, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

recent work, Gallery 2, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

2004

American Values, juried group show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

on paper: recent work from sara cole and shelby smith, group show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Advanced Drawing Class Show, group show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

quiescence, solo show, Gallery 5, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Drawing from Six Painters, group show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

broken lines, solo show, Galley 2, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

2003

symbolic interactionism: works on paper, solo show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

sleep: works on paper, solo show, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

2002

Bachelors of Fine Art Thesis Exhibition, waiting: an installation, solo show, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Awards & Scholarships

2007

2nd Place Award in Best of Show, Essence of Asia at the Asian Fusion Gallery of the Asian Cultural Center, New York, NY

2005

Catherine Urban Art Scholarship, San Jose State University, Department of Art & Design, Artistic Merit

2004

Randal Sadler Art Scholarship, San Jose State University, Department of Art & Design, Artistic Merit

2003

Dean’s Scholar Award, San Jose State University, Scholastic Achievement

2002

Viola Speddy Scholarship, San Jose State University Department of Art & Design, Artistic Merit

Dean’s Scholar Award, San Jose State University, Scholastic Achievement

2001

Elizabeth Heil Scholarship, San Jose State University Department of Art & Design, Artistic Merit

Dean’s Scholar Award, San Jose State University, Scholastic Achievement

2000

De Anza College Memorial Art Scholarship, Artistic Merit

De Anza College Art on Campus Purchase Award, Ceramic Sculpture

1999

Best of Show (Ceramic), Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Gallery, De Anza College

Teacher’s Choice Oil Painting Participant, Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Gallery, De Anza College

1998

Teacher’s Choice Award, Student Art Exhibit, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College

Robert Fritz Award, Santa Clara County Fair, Ceramic Sculpture

Press

• Sunset Magazine, Idea House Monterey, October. 2008.
• The Wave Newspaper – BackWater Renaissance. March. 2008. San Jose, CA
• Channel 36 – Television interview as focus artist of the south bay area, May 2007. Mountain View, CA
• Metro Newspaper – review for the Citadel Artists Community exhibition. April 2007. San Jose, CA
• The Wave Newspaper – review for Kalied Gallery. February 2007. San Jose, CA
• San Jose Mercury News – Kalied Gallery review, business weekly. January 2007. San Jose, CA
• The Wave Newspaper – No More Cockroaches! Article on being an artist in the south bay area, December 2006. San Jose, CA
• ArtWeek – paper cuts again! show review. OCT/NOV 2005.