Resume
MICHAEL PEARCE PhD, MFA
Chair, Art Department
California Lutheran University
60 West Olsen Road 3800
Thousand Oaks
CA 91360-2700
(001) 805 493 3316
http://gildedraven.com
BACKGROUND
Nineteen years of creative leadership in Arts Practice. Recognized as a tenacious and motivated leader with excellent problem-solving skills and original ideas. Persuasive teacher experienced in multiple areas of imaginative work, especially in fine art painting, drawing, three dimensional design and scenography. Proven effectiveness in departmental management and project completion.
· Individual mentoring
· Leadership in varied disciplines
· Exploration of original ideas
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Plymouth University, England. Dissertation titled: Vesica: Using Neolithic British Ritual Art and Architecture as a Model for Creating Contemporary Art.
M.F.A. Set Design. U.S.C. (Full Scholarship, Teaching Assistant.)
BA (Honours) Theatre. Dartington College of Arts, England.
Art Foundation. Swindon College of Art and Design.
HIGHLIGHTS
Elected Chair of the CLU Art Department
Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians of Scotland
$100,000 painting commission by high profile rap star
Tenured and promoted to Associate Professor Fall 2011
Monumental Oil Painting Baptism of Christ donated to Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Areas of Special Interest
Figurative studio oil painting, alchemy, studio drawing, installation art, scenic design, Neolithic British art and architecture, symbolism, contemporary art, tarot.
Exhibits of Work
2011 The New Romantic Figure, Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U. Paintings, (Participant)
2009 In the Eyes of my Ancestors, Video Installation, Roger Williams University, Rhode Island
2009 Alchemical Paintings, Featured Artist, The Alchemy Conference, Los Angeles, Paintings
2009 Warriors, High Studio Moorpark, Paintings, (Participant)
2009 Selected Curiosities, including Mr. Pearce’s Cabinet of Alchemical Wonders, Installation and Paintings, Brand Gallery, Glendale, CA. (Participant)
2009 As the Crow Flies Painting Installation, Hillcrest Centre, Thousand Oaks
2009 California Freemasonry exhibit, International Conference of Grandmasters, Paintings (Participant)
2008 The Big Show, Ventura County Government Center, Paintings (Participant)
2008 Dreamscapes, High Studio Moorpark, Paintings (Participant)
2008 Alchemical Paintings, Featured Artist, The Alchemy Conference, Las Vegas, Paintings
2008 The Principle, Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U. Installation and Paintings
2008 A New Cabinet Studio Channel Islands, California State University Channel Islands, Gerd Koch Gallery (Installation and Paintings)
2008 Conejo Valley Studio Tour Exhibit Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Paintings (Participant)
2008 The Alchemy Tree Simi Valley Town Center (Public Installation)
2008 Oil Paintings and Constructs High Studio Moorpark, Paintings (Participant)
2008 Mr. Pearce’s Cabinet of Contemporary Neolithic Wonders (Installation and Paintings) High Studio, Moorpark (Solo)
2008 CLU Faculty Show Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U. Paintings (Participant)
2007 Solar Cross Public Installation, CLU
2007 International Celebration Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Paintings (Participant)
2006 Mr. Pearce’s Cabinet of Contemporary Neolithic Wonders (Installation and Paintings) Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA (Solo)
2004 Artefacts (Sculptures) Porter Hall, Westmont College, Montecito (Solo)
2003 Paintings by Gallery Artists Elephant Circle Gallery Paintings (Participant)
2003 Paintings Abundant Sugar, The Brewery, LA (Solo)
2002 Turf labyrinth Landscape Installation, CLU (Solo)
2002 Reynolds Gallery, Westmont College, Montecito, Painting (Participant)
2002 Paintings by Gallery Artists Elephant Circle Gallery (Participant)
2002 Paintings Elephant Circle Gallery (Solo)
2001 Paintings by Gallery Artists Elephant Circle Gallery (Participant)
2001 Barnsdall Park Artwalk (Solo)
2001 Paintings Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U (Solo)
2000 Paintings by Gallery Artists Elephant Circle Gallery (Participant)
1999 Paintings Urban Canvas Santa Monica (Solo)
1999 Paintings Lumpy Gravy LA (With Jennifer Lynch)
1997 Paintings The Hollywood Loft (with Emeric Conrad)
1995 Paintings Roark, Los Angeles (Solo)
CURATOR
2009 Meditations on the Apocalyptic, Prints by Patrick Merrill, Kwan Fong Gallery, CLU
2009 Svelata, Paintings by Mia Tavonatti, Kwan Fong Gallery, CLU
2009 Paul Luchessi Resident Sculptor, Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U. (Artist in Residence at California Lutheran University)
2009 Perceptions: Contradictions and Associations, Assemblage by Bob Privitt, Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U.
2009 New Work by Megan and Murray McMillan, Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U. (Artists in Residence at California Lutheran University)
2008 Ceramics by Kathy Waggoner, Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U.
2008 Assemblage. Works by Leslie McQuaid, Larkin Higgins, Bob Privitt, Gary Raymond, Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U.
2008 Duncan Simcoe The Black Drawings, Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U.
2008 Theodora Ilowitz Sculpture Donation to California Lutheran University: Benin – A black Virginia soapstone sculpture permanently installed outside the Humanities Building
2008 Brian Stethem Uncommon Places, Photography, Kwan Fong Gallery, C.L.U.
2008 CLU Faculty Show, Kwan Fong Gallery, , C.L.U.
2007 Christophe Cassidy A Mural for World AIDS Day Kwan Fong Gallery
2007 Sean Sobczak Light Sculptures Kwan Fong Gallery
2007 Cyn McCurry Residency and exhibit of paintings, Kwan Fong Gallery
2007 John Solem The McKinley Suite Viscosity Etchings The Gallery at Overton Hall
2007 Kees Sprengers, Brian Stethem, Morgan Alexander Red Star States - Photographs from Communist Countries Kwan Fong Gallery
2007 Christopher Marshall Paintings Kwan Fong Gallery
2007 Highly Favored – Contemporary Images of the Virgin Mary Traveling Exhibit, Kwan Fong Gallery
2007 Terry Spehar-Fahey Self Image Mixed Media, Pastels, Kwan Fong Gallery
2006 The AIDS Quilt Kwan Fong Gallery, Overton Hall, Samuelson Chapel
2006 Sean Sobczak Light Sculptures Kwan Fong Gallery
2006 John Storojev Sculptures Kwan Fong Gallery
2006 Lynn Creighton Ecstatic Visions Sculptures Kwan Fong Gallery
2006 Mark Tevis & Grant Toland Cosmetic Trans Fat Kwan Fong Gallery
2006 The Distillery Collective. Paintings, Sculpture, Photography Kwan Fong Gallery
2006 Larkin Higgins I Give You My Word. Mixed Media. Kwan Fong Gallery, CLU
2006 Grant Toland. Cyanotypes. Overton Hall, CLU
2006 Grant Toland & Samantha Fried Cyanotypes, Photography Wellness Gallery, Los Robles Hospital, Thousand Oaks
2005 Brian Stethem Photographs Wellness Gallery, Los Robles Hospital, Thousand Oaks
2005 Barry Burns Paintings Wellness Gallery, Los Robles Hospital, Thousand Oaks
2005 Morgan Alexander AIDS Effects U$ All Photography Kwan Fong Gallery, CLU
EVENT ORGANIZER
2006, 2007, 2008 C.L.U. Halloween Festival Fire dancing, Music, Light Sculptures, Performances, Art exhibit, Costume contest.
2006 Edward Goldman Lecture Samuelson Chapel
WORKS IN THE COLLECTIONS OF
Andrew Getty, Percy Miller, Jennifer Lynch, Steve Tibbo, Corey Miller, Kim Bass, Snoop Dogg, The Carsey Werner Company, San Fernando Valley Historical Society, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Brian Smith, Shane Brolly, E.P. Graphics, Alon Aranya, Kevin “Ohgr” Ogilvie, Sue Bauer
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2011 – present Associate Professor, Art. California Lutheran University. Teaching Painting, Drawing
2005 – present Assistant Professor, Art. California Lutheran University. Teaching Painting, Drawing, Design, Exhibit Design, Printmaking
2002 – 2005 Resident Designer, Scenography. Assistant Professor Theatre Department, Westmont College. Scenic Design, Stagecraft, Performance Theory
2001 Art Department Adjunct Faculty, California Lutheran University. Print-making
Visiting Lecturer: USC School of Theatre, USC School of Cinema and Television, Access Arts Group, Hollywood
Private classes in Oil Painting technique
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Panelist, 2011 City of Ventura Cultural Fundung Program Review Panel Ventura
Panelist, 2008 City of Ventura Artwalk Featured Artist Competition Ventura
Judge, 2007 Conejo Valley Artwalk Thousand Oaks
Panelist, 2007 City of Ventura Cultural Funding Program Peer Review Panel $16,000 grants
Judge 2006, 2007 Bowls of Hope Art Show
Adjudicator, 2006 Art De Soleil ACCV Conejo Valley Art Show
Adjudicator, 2002 – 2006 Fine Art Scholarships California Alliance for Arts Education (Herb Alpert Awards)
Adjudicator, 2006 Lilly Fellowship awards
Panelist, Homosexuality and the Church ELCA West Coast Christianity Conference
Bethlehem Lutheran Church: Church representative at ELCA conferences 2003, 2004, 2005. Lay Assistant Minister, Usher, Lector, Council Selection Committee Member, past Church School PTA Emergency Co-ordinator.
ACADEMIC SERVICE & COMMITTEES
Faculty Convocator, CLU 2007, 2008, 2009
Curator, Kwan Fong Gallery 2006 – present
Artists and Speakers Committee member, CLU 2006 – 2009
Search Committee, CLU (Art History) 2006
Search Committee, Westmont (Acting) 2004, 2005
Faculty Institutional Technology Committee Member, Westmont 2004, 2005
Supervised the $200,000 renovation of Porter Theatre, Westmont
GRANTS
2011 C.L.U. Artists and Speakers Committee Grant to bring Dan Wheldon to campus for a month long painting residency. $10,000 plus in kind accommodation
2009 C.L.U. Artists and Speakers Committee Grant to bring Paul Luchessi to campus for a month long painting residency. $10,000 plus in kind accommodation
2008 C.L.U. Artists and Speakers Committee Grant to bring Megan and Murray McMillan to campus for a month long painting residency. $10,000 plus in kind accommodation
2007 C.L.U. Artists and Speakers Committee Grant to bring Cyn McCurry to campus for a month long painting residency. $7000 plus in kind accommodation
2006 Hewlett Grant. $1,250 to identify prehistoric rock art on Fyfield Down, Wiltshire
2006 Community Leaders Grant. $2,500 to improve Painting Studio Facilities
2004 Irvine Diversity Award. $2,000 to create new course material bringing cultural diversity to a Performance Theory Class
2004 Westmont Faculty Development Grant. $3,500 to study Prehistoric Installation Spaces in England, Scotland and Ireland
PAPERS
Alchemical Art. Opening Presentation at The Alchemy Conference, Las Vegas, October 2008
Shamanism among British Megaliths of the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. Presented to the Santa Barbara Archaeological Society, June 2005.
Herbs in Hamlet. Presented at the Comparative Drama Conference, Northridge
Fire as an Element of Performance in Neolithic Orkney. Presented at the Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference, Glasgow, December 2004.
CONFERENCES & FESTIVALS ATTENDED
2009 International Alchemy Conference, Los Angeles
2008 International Alchemy Conference, Las Vegas
2007 Arts Leadership in a Changing Environment City of Ventura Cultural Affairs Division
2006 Art in the Land – Ritual, Polemic, Speculation Conference, The Glasgow School of Art
2005 Montreal International Fringe Festival Montreal, Canada
2005 International Shakespeare Festival Gdansk, Poland
2005 Comparative Drama Conference Northridge
2004 Theoretical Archaeology Group Glasgow University
2004 Annual Conference on Celtic Studies UCLA
MEMBERSHIPS
Trustee, Conejo Valley Future Foundation
Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians of Scotland.
Honorary member Pi Delta Phi (La Société d’Honneur Française)
Member Lit Moon Theatre Company (Designer)
SCENIC DESIGNER 1988-PRESENT HIGHLIGHTS
Designer for over twenty plays or dance pieces, many music videos and commercials.
Member of Lit Moon Theatre Company.
Steve Allen’s “The Wake”. Reconstructed theatre to accommodate set. Commendation from L.A.Times for exemplary set & lighting design.
Wrote, directed & designed one act experimental plays. Led to teaching position in Netherlands.
Synthesized “magical sets” from recycled materials for experimental theatre.
Received Independent Award for Scenic Design. “Frankenstein”.
Received Dramalogue award for Lighting Design. “Translations”.
THEATRICAL DESIGN
“Restless” Director Mitchell Thomas, Westmont Theatre Dept.. Scenography.
“Hypocrites” Director John Blondell, Lit Moon Theatre Co.. Lighting Design.
“Frankenstein” Director John Blondell, Westmont Theatre Dept.. Scenography.
Santa Barbara Independent Theatre Critics Award for Scenic Design.
“Mimeworks” Director James Donlan. Lighting Design.
“Jambo Watoto” Director: Sigfrido Aguilar. Boxtales Theatre Company. Lighting Design.
“Random Radiance” Choreography: Erlyne Whiteman, Victora Finlayson, Westmont Theatre Dept. Scenography.
“The Mariner” Director John Blondell, Westmont Theatre Dept. Scenography.
“Tartuffe” Director John Blondell, Lit Moon Theatre Co. Lighting Design.
“The Swimmer” Director: Marc Shaw, Site Pacific. Lighting Design.
“Leyendas de Duende” Director: Sigfrido Aguilar. Lighting Design.
“Hamlet” Director John Blondell, Lit Moon Theatre Co. 2002 (Santa Barbara), 2003 (Montreal, Santa Barbara), 2004 (Montreal, Canada; Prague, Czech Republic; Sopot, Poland.) Lighting Design.
Centaur Theatre Award ‘03 for Best Show of Festival.
Montreal Fringe Festival Frankie Award ‘03.
“Bloody Poetry” Director: Jack Rowe, USC., Scenography.
“Translations.” Director: Jack Rowe, Celtic Arts Centre. Lighting Design.
Dramalogue Award for Lighting Design.
“The Wake” Director: Steve Allen, Celtic Arts Centre, Scenography.
“Three Friends.” Director: Steven Midlane, Polka Children’s Theatre U.K. Lighting.
“Three Card Monte.” Director: Anna Stramese, Fountain Theatre, L.A. Set.
“Be Bop a Lula” Director: Jeff Murray, Theatre Theater, L.A. Set.
“R.U.R.” Director: Steve Kent, Bing Theater, U.S.C., L.A. Scenography.
“Both Your Houses” Director: Michael Arabian, Theatre Forty, Beverly Hills. Set.
“Square One” Director: Toby Yates at the Hudson Theatre, L.A. Set.
“The Plague” Director: Michael Pearce, Utrecht, Nederlands, Lighting.
“Grope and Tangle” Director: Michael Pearce, U.K. Scenography.
