Ren Lis
Craftsman
Bio
Growing up in the Northwest, not surprisingly, cultivated a profound connection to nature. Some of my earliest memories are the scent of ferns, moss, loamy earth, and the sense of the tree canopy covering and protecting me. While my work is primarily in wood, I still maintain a love of trees. Drawing on my experience in both machine production and the use of human powered tools, I carefully balance these techniques to best suit the piece and maintain a conscious and measured use of the resources consumed in producing sculptural furniture.
Resume
Education:
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington Bachelor of Arts Major: Liberal Arts with a Focus on Visual and Performing Arts
Graduation: 2009
Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, Washington
Metalwork, Jewelry and Fine Metalsmithing, Printmaking and Bookbinding, 2011
ArtsNow, Edmonds, Washington
EDGE Professional Development Program for Visual Artists, Winter 2010
Relevant Experience:
Tacoma Art Museum Open Arts Studio Volunteer, 2009-Present
• Guide visitors of all ages through hands-on art making activities
• Foster technical skills and conceptual understanding, while encouraging the independent visions of students
• 2010 Star Volunteer
• 2010 OAS Volunteer of the Year
Pratt Fine Arts Center
Development Assistant, September 2010 - 2011
Presentations and Publications:
2011
Mighty Tieton Chandelier Festival Catalogue; Ed Marquand, Ryan Polich, Maria Soloro; Marquand Editions; 2011
Petchakutcha, City Hall Gallery, Auburn, WA, April 8
2010
Professional Development Workshop, Main Presenter, artEAST, Issaquah, WA, September 9
I Am An Artist Presentations, Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA, May 21 EDGE Graduates Presentations, ArtsNow, Edmonds, WA, March 12
Group Exhibitions:
2012
iPoneography, Seattle Central Community College, President's Gallery, Seattle, WA, August 20 - September 30
ArtRageous, Auburn Art Walk, Auburn, WA, August 4
LongShot, Photo Center NW, Seattle, WA, July 28
Sketchbook Project: Limited Edition, Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY, June 22
The Sketchbook Project
Co-Cab Project Space, Austin, TX, September 8-16
MASS Collective, Atlanta, GA, August 29-September 1
The Painted Bride co-presented with InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA, August 23-25
The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON, July 18-22
SPACE Gallery, Portland, ME, July 11-14
LynnArts, Lynn, MA, July 6-8
Pop-Up Shop, San Francisco, CA, June 2-23
iam8bit, Los Angeles, CA, May 24-26
W2 Media Cafe, Vancouver, CA, May 15-16
The Cleaners, Portland, OR, May 11-13
Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, May 3-5
Brooklyn Art LIbrary, Brooklyn, NY, April 14-30
Gypsy Caravan Travelogue, Georgetown Art Center, Seattle, WA, March 10-April 10
Small Works, Gallery North, Edmonds, WA, March 1-31
2011
Recyclart, artEast Studio, Issaquah, WA, September 30-October 30, 2011x
Conjuntos, Pratt Gallery, Seattle, WA, July
Along the Edge, Auburn City Hall Gallery, Auburn, WA, Aprilx
The Sketchbook Project
Full Sail University, Winter Park, FL, July 29-31
Hyde Park Arts Center, Chicago, IL, July 14-17
111 Mina Gallery, San Francisco, CA, June 18, 2011
Form/Space Atelier, Seattle, WA, June 10-12
Transformer Gallery, Washington, DC, April 11-30
The Granite Room, Atlanta, GA, April 8-9
SPACE Gallery, Portland, ME, March 30-April 2
Austin Museum of Art, Austin, TX, March 12
Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY, February 19-27
2010
Chandelier Festival, Mighty Tieton Warehouse Gallery, Tieton, WA, December 3-March 3, 2011
Along the Edge, Maple Valley Arts Center, Maple Valley, WA, October 22-November 17x
To the Edge, artEAST Studio, Issaquah, WA, September 23-October 20+
EDGE Graduates Show, ArtsNow, Edmonds, WA, June 17-August 12
Artiture: Art Meets Furniture Meets Art, Lowell Art Works, Everett, WA, May 15-June 12
x lead curator
+ co-curator
collaborators available upon request
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington Bachelor of Arts Major: Liberal Arts with a Focus on Visual and Performing Arts
Graduation: 2009
Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, Washington
Metalwork, Jewelry and Fine Metalsmithing, Printmaking and Bookbinding, 2011
ArtsNow, Edmonds, Washington
EDGE Professional Development Program for Visual Artists, Winter 2010
Relevant Experience:
Tacoma Art Museum Open Arts Studio Volunteer, 2009-Present
• Guide visitors of all ages through hands-on art making activities
• Foster technical skills and conceptual understanding, while encouraging the independent visions of students
• 2010 Star Volunteer
• 2010 OAS Volunteer of the Year
Pratt Fine Arts Center
Development Assistant, September 2010 - 2011
Presentations and Publications:
2011
Mighty Tieton Chandelier Festival Catalogue; Ed Marquand, Ryan Polich, Maria Soloro; Marquand Editions; 2011
Petchakutcha, City Hall Gallery, Auburn, WA, April 8
2010
Professional Development Workshop, Main Presenter, artEAST, Issaquah, WA, September 9
I Am An Artist Presentations, Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA, May 21 EDGE Graduates Presentations, ArtsNow, Edmonds, WA, March 12
Group Exhibitions:
2012
iPoneography, Seattle Central Community College, President's Gallery, Seattle, WA, August 20 - September 30
ArtRageous, Auburn Art Walk, Auburn, WA, August 4
LongShot, Photo Center NW, Seattle, WA, July 28
Sketchbook Project: Limited Edition, Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY, June 22
The Sketchbook Project
Co-Cab Project Space, Austin, TX, September 8-16
MASS Collective, Atlanta, GA, August 29-September 1
The Painted Bride co-presented with InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA, August 23-25
The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON, July 18-22
SPACE Gallery, Portland, ME, July 11-14
LynnArts, Lynn, MA, July 6-8
Pop-Up Shop, San Francisco, CA, June 2-23
iam8bit, Los Angeles, CA, May 24-26
W2 Media Cafe, Vancouver, CA, May 15-16
The Cleaners, Portland, OR, May 11-13
Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, May 3-5
Brooklyn Art LIbrary, Brooklyn, NY, April 14-30
Gypsy Caravan Travelogue, Georgetown Art Center, Seattle, WA, March 10-April 10
Small Works, Gallery North, Edmonds, WA, March 1-31
2011
Recyclart, artEast Studio, Issaquah, WA, September 30-October 30, 2011x
Conjuntos, Pratt Gallery, Seattle, WA, July
Along the Edge, Auburn City Hall Gallery, Auburn, WA, Aprilx
The Sketchbook Project
Full Sail University, Winter Park, FL, July 29-31
Hyde Park Arts Center, Chicago, IL, July 14-17
111 Mina Gallery, San Francisco, CA, June 18, 2011
Form/Space Atelier, Seattle, WA, June 10-12
Transformer Gallery, Washington, DC, April 11-30
The Granite Room, Atlanta, GA, April 8-9
SPACE Gallery, Portland, ME, March 30-April 2
Austin Museum of Art, Austin, TX, March 12
Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY, February 19-27
2010
Chandelier Festival, Mighty Tieton Warehouse Gallery, Tieton, WA, December 3-March 3, 2011
Along the Edge, Maple Valley Arts Center, Maple Valley, WA, October 22-November 17x
To the Edge, artEAST Studio, Issaquah, WA, September 23-October 20+
EDGE Graduates Show, ArtsNow, Edmonds, WA, June 17-August 12
Artiture: Art Meets Furniture Meets Art, Lowell Art Works, Everett, WA, May 15-June 12
x lead curator
+ co-curator
collaborators available upon request
