Erin Anfinson
Statement for 2010 work
New Chemistry & Migration of the Disruptors:
For several years, the building public controversy over the commercial use of organic compounds
(bisephonal A), chemical preservatives (parabens) and plasticizers (pthalates) has alarmed me
as a consumer and inspired me as an artist. I was first made aware of this issue in 2008 when the US
Congress voted to ban the use of phthalates in children’s products. This ban was due to scientific
studies that correlated the use of pthalate-laden products with hormone disruption in babies
and pregnant women. Around the same time, wildly conflicting reports about the ubiquitous
appearance of parabens in personal hygiene products and bisephanol-A in plastic baby bottles
began to appear in major news outlets. Having just given birth to my son, these news articles hit
extremely close to home and I found myself feverishly searching for concrete answers and advice.
In general, I question the degree to which the public can be informed and misinformed about
these issues through the interpretive lens of the media. This series of encaustic paintings and
drawings communicates my intrigue with the speculative fears and complex public perceptions
generated by this issue. I also hope this project will foster awareness and generate a dialogue
within my immediate community about this subject matter we all share as consumers.
Statement for Collapse series:
For some time, my work has been inspired by an ongoing interest in peoples’ complex perception
of the natural world. As John Berger notes in his essay titled, Why Look at Animals?, “they [animals]
are always observed.” In this quote, I recognize an inevitable detachment between the human
and animal experience. I am intrigued with my own invented expectations of nature, and I
question the degree to which one can be informed and misinformed via representations. Many
of my works are created by digitally combining and abstracting images of flora and fauna
derived from various sources such as scientific illustrations and pictures found on the internet.
This series of drawings in encaustic media explores my concern with the recent unexplained
decline in honeybee populations. Colony collapse disorder [CCD] is an umbrella term for suspect
pathologies including fungus, mites, viral infections that may be responsible for the disappearing
bees. Inspired by 19th century illustrations of flukes and other parasitic-like creatures, I created
these new drawings in an attempt to amplify the suggestion that the bees are being overtaken by
something absurd and elusive.
RESUME
EDUCATION
2003 MFA, Painting, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
2001 American College of Greece, Athens, Greece.
2001 B.A., Studio Art, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2005-Present Assistant Professor of Art, Foundations, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro,TN.
2008 & 09 Encaustic instructor, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009 Charleston Heights Art Center, Las Vegas, NV.
Rotunda Gallery, Murfreesboro, TN
Judson University, Elgin, IL.
2008 Renaissance Center, Dickson, TN.
2007 Volunteer State Community College, Gallatin, TN.
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY.
2006 Flying Solo, Arts at the Airport, Nashville International Airport, Nashville, TN.
New Paintings by Erin Anfinson, Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, IL.
2001 Recent Paintings, Cup of Joe Gallery, Cedar Falls, IA.
Paintings by Erin Anfinson, Denver Public Library, Denver, IA.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2010 Southern Organic, The Rymer Gallery, Nasvhille, TN.
2009 eARTH, Wiregrass Museum, Dothan, AL.
Divining Nature, Antelope Valley College, Lancaster, CA.
2009 SECAC Members Juried Exhibition, Space 301, Mobile, AL.
2008 Juried Exhibition, Long Island Beach Foundation for the Arts, Loveladies, NJ
2-Person Exhibition, Tennessee Arts Commission Gallery, Nashville, TN
Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR.
2007 SECAC Member’s Exhibition, Cultural Center and Capitol Complex, Charleston, WV.
Lucky Seven, TAG Art Gallery, Nashville, TN.
Valdostsa National 2007, Valdosta State University, GA.
Alterscape, The Basement Gallery, Knoxville, TN.
20”x20”x20” Compact Exhibition, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
Scape, Ruby Green Contemporary Art Center, Nashville, TN.
2006 Gambit 4, Twist Gallery, Nashville, TN.
Clear Box Project, Ruby Green, Nashville, TN.
Abstractions, Claypool-Young Art Gallery, Moorehead State University, Moorehead, KY.
Erin Anfinson and Lisa Klakulak, TAG Art Gallery, Nashville, TN.
Gambit Artist Group Show, Sobro Studio, Nashville, TN2005 Second Base, Gambit Artist Group Show, Nashville, TN.
Artspace Flatfiles at Haskins Laboratory, New Haven, CT.
The View From Here, Ruby Green Contemporary Art Center, Nashville, TN.
Erin Anfinson, Mary Sue Kern and Bo Culpepper, TAG Art Gallery, Nashville, TN.
2004 Art ala Carte, Murfreesboro, TN.
New Acquisitions, Art Space, New Haven, CT.
New Works by Erin Anfinson, Elizabeth Dorbad, Kate Barrere and Jennifer Febbraro,
TAG Art Gallery, Nashville, TN.
2003 Switchyard, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, TN.
MFA Exhibition, CAA co-sponsored exhibition, Hunter College/Times Square Gallery, New York, NY.
2002 Threshold, Arena Gallery, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
Annual Juried Group Exhibition. Artwell Gallery, Torrington, CT.
AWARDS
2010 Faculty Research and Creative Activity Grant, MTSU.
2007 3rd Place, 20”x20”x20” Compact Exhibition, LSU Union Gallery,
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
2006-09 Professional Development Support Grants, Tennessee Arts Commission.
2003 Joan Mitchell Foundation MFA Grant nomination.
Graduate Teaching Assistantship, University of Connecticut.
Dedalus MFA Fellowship nomination.
2002 Graduate Teaching Assistantships, University of Connecticut.
1998-2001 Department of Art Scholarships, Department of Art, University of Northern Iowa.
PUBLICATIONS / REVIEWS
2009 Bornfeld, Steve, “Deep in the Art of Dixie.” The Las Vegas Review-Journal. July 24, 2009
Kelley, Daniel, “Digital Integration.” Las Vegas Weekly. July 16, 2009.
2007 Cohen, David. “The Seed Issue.” Artworld Digest. January, 2007.
Maddox, David. “Culture Clash,” The Nashville Scene May 17, 2007: 79.
2006 Witt, Brittany. “MTSU Art Professor Brings Nature to Airport.” The Daily News Journal 9
November 2006: D1 and D3.
Heath, Benita. “Worthy of a Closer Look.” Lexington Herald-Leader (Weekender) 8
September 2006: 29.
Maddox, David. “Hide and Seek.” The Nashville Scene 13 July 2006: 59.
Zevitas, Stephen T, “Juried Exhibition in Print No. 64: 2005 Southern Competition,”
New American Paintings, Vol. 11, Issue 3 (2006): 6-9.