Monica Furmanski - Artist Statement
In my work, I challenge traditional notions about the function of photography. My photographs explore the viewer’s perception and expectations, and can be seen as a revival of how we consider the photographic image, particularly within the context of digital media and its relationship with analog photography. I hope to activate the standard viewer/image relationship, extending the possibilities of photography beyond its traditional application. In my work, I explore the conspicuous elements in a photograph that do not exist in the material world by providing the minimal amount of visual information to the viewer, diluting, and distilling the photographic image. I want the viewer to struggle to observe the visual information, and at the same time confront how one knows something to be true, and what one thinks they expect or understand about a photographic image. I am revisiting the performative ways in which I like to photograph- considering the landscape, travel, time, motion, and memory. I am using the digital camera to capture information that plays with the viewers perception and a line where photography may intersect with other mediums, such as painting and video. Working with video and still images, I am constructing multiple layers of imagery shot at varying exposure settings. I plan on continuing this exploration, and I also plan on integrating analog photography into this process as well – photographing with my medium format camera and then working with the images digitally and in the darkroom. I will continue to challenge traditional notions of photography, working with digital and analog photography, site specific installations, as well as with video.
About
Monica Furmanski is a Portuguese-American born and raised in Southern California. She studied art and photography at Scripps College, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Art, and at The Claremont Graduate School, where she received her Master of Fine Art. While attending undergraduate school, Furmanski worked as a studio assistant for John Baldessari, a a darkroom assistant to Susan Rankaitis, and as a teaching assistant to Nancy Macko at Scripps College. Furmanski started teaching in 2006 and is currently an Assistant Professor of Photography at Ventura College where she teaches digital and analog photography. Since 2007, she and her husband Matthew Furmanski, co-direct the artist run gallery, 643 Project Space, in Ventura, CA.Furmanski has been working with photography, both digital and analog, for the past 25 years, and continues to challenge traditional notions about the function of photography. Her work is in the Samella Lewis Contemporary Art Collection, the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, the Community Memorial Hospital Permanent Collection, and numerous private collections. She exhibited in many venues, which include Photo L.A. in Los Angeles and in Berlin, Germany, and recently in a solo exhibition at Napa Hall Gallery, CSU, Channel Islands and in a group exhibition in Los Angeles.
EDUCATION:
Masters of Fine Art, Claremont Graduate University
Bachelor of Fine Art, Scripps College
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Assistant Professor of Photography, Ventura College, 2022- Present
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Art, Ventura College, 2016-2022
Art Instructor, Cate School, 2011-2022
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Art, Ventura College, 2007-2011
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Art, Oxnard College, 2006-2007
Instructor, Learning to See Outreach Program, Ventura, 2006-2007
Teaching Assistant, Scripps College, 2002-2003
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Co-curator/co-Director 643 Project Space in Ventura, CA. An artist run gallery, 2007 - present
Studio Assistant, John Baldessari 1994-1996
Studio Assistant, Susan Rankaitis 1995-1996
AWARDS/ FELLOWSHIPS:
Gerd Koch and Carole Milton Fellowship Award
Documented Artist, Focus on the Masters, 2009
2002 - 2003 Millard Sheets Fellow, Scripps College, CA
Ahmanson Fellow, Claremont Graduate University, CA
1994 Junior Fellowship, Humanities Institute,Scripps College
PUBLICATIONS/CATALOGUES:
Women and Print, A Contemporary View, Essay by Margaret Mathews-Berenson
Ventura Life and Style, Late summer edition 2007
Monica and Matt Furmanski at the Atkinson, Casa Magazine, August 24, 2007, Andria Watson
L.A. Galleries: Clare Rojas Joins the frat party, Los Angeles Times, Calendar, April 27, 2007
Supersonic, Art Net, August 2004, Patrick Deegan
The Office Space, The Orange County Weekly, April/May 2003
Out of Place, The Claremont Courier, front page, January 2003
A Room With a View, Raid Projects Journal, Los Angeles, CA, September 2002
An Interview with Three Artists Recently Shown at Bliss, Newsletter on the Arts, Diana Zlotnick, Collector and Art Advisor, May/June 2002
Of Shadow and Sun, catalogue for exhibition at Bliss, Pasadena, April 2002
Essay by Eric Weiss (aka Jon Furmanski), exhibition curated by Kenneth Riddle
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS: (* solo exhibition)
2019 *Artifact, CSU, Channel Islands, Napa Hall Gallery, Camarillo, CA
Group Exhibition, LACDA, Los Angeles, CA. Curated by Joel Ferree of LACMA and Joanna Szupinska-Myers of the California Museum
of Photography.
2018 “The Next Big Thing,” SCIART, Camarillo, CA. Curated by Peter Frank
2016 Photo L.A., Los Angeles
"You Are Here," Surrogate Gallery Project, Pasadena, CA. Curated by Kristine Schomaker
"You Are Here," Moorpark College, CA. Curated by Erika Lizee
2015 Photo L.A., Berlin, Germany
"Lark," a collaboration between Matthew and Monica Furmanski, CSU, Channel Islands
"Fixture," a collaboration between Matthew and Monica Furmanski, McNish Gallery,Oxnard College, CA
2014 Women and Print, Williamson Gallery, Scripps College, Claremont, CA, Curated by Mary MacNaughton
and catalog essay by Margaret Berensen
2012 Flights of Pattern, Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura, CA
Collaboration with ceramics artist Janet Neuwalder
2011 Metallic, Raid Projects, Los Angeles, CA, Curated by Daniel Aksten
5 x 5 An Invitational, Westmont Museum, Santa Barbara, CA
2010 Draft, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
2009 On the Shoulder’s of Davids, Jaus, Los Angeles, CA
Selected Curiosities, Brand Library, Glendale, CA
Preservation/Conservation, Los Angeles International Airport, Terminal 3, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Place in Time: Contemporary Landscape, Williamson Gallery, Scripps College, Claremont, CA, Curated by Mary Macnaugton
Recent Acquisitions, Williamson Gallery, Scripps College, Claremont, CA
Convergent Topologies, Digital Works on Paper Exhibition, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, WA, Co-curated with Barbara Robertson
One Night Stand, Christine’s Garage, Oxnard, CA
Faculty Exhibition, Ventura College, Ventura, CA
2007 Forest for the Trees (an installation), Atkinson Gallery, Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA
*Cryptofloriography , Fringe Exhibition, Chung King Rd., Chinatown, L.A., CA
*Cryptofloriography, Upfront Gallery, Ventura, CA
Celebration SCIART: 10th Anniversary Exhibition, SCIART, Camarillo, CA
Art of Photography Show, Lyceum Theatre Gallery,San Diego, CA. Tim Wride, juror.
W.O.P. “with out passport”, Brewery Project, LosAngeles, CA
2006 Blips, Drips and Strips, Upfront Gallery, Ventura, CA, Curated by Christine Morla and Paul Benavidez
The Big Picture at the Small Gallery, Peggy Phelps Gallery, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, Curated by David Pagel
2005 *Submerged, Oxnard College, Oxnard, CA, Curated by Christine Morla
Carpool, 18th Street Complex, Santa Monica, CA
2004 *Land and Sea, Huntington Beach Art Center, CA, Curated by Darlene D’Angelo
Supersonic, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
Centered on the Center, Huntington Beach Art Center, CA
2003 *Land and Sea (an installation), Peggy Phelps Gallery, Claremont Graduate University, CA
Picture Me This, The Office Space, Huntington Beach, CA, Curated by Chris Hoff
Surely, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA
Shift, The Office Space, Huntington Beach, CA, Curated by Chris Hoff
*Displaced Landscape: Triple Palms, Scripps College, Steele Hall
Centered on the Center, Huntington Beach Art Center, CA.
2002 Welcome, Peggy Phelps Gallery, Claremont Graduate University Big Wave IV, Andrew-Shire Gallery, Los Angeles, Curated by Young An
A Room With a View, Raid Projects, Los Angeles, Curated by Max Presneill
Of Shadow and Sun, Bliss, Pasadena, CA., Curated by Kenneth Riddle
2001 Open House, Danny First Space, Los Angeles
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS:
Samella Lewis Contemporary Art Collection, Williamson Gallery, Scripps College, Claremont, CA
Hyatt Regency, San Francisco
Community Memorial Hospital Art Collection, Ventura, CA
John Baldessari, Mr. And Mrs. Michael Reafsnyder. Kim Schoenstadt, Amy Hall
Randy Ginsberg, Cheryl Ann Thomas, Paul Benavidez, Margaret Tranovich, Caroline Friend
Nancy Macko, Jan Blair, Christine Morla, Bernadette Richardson, Ric and Julie Sletten