SV Laureates 2020 - Dana Harris Seeger

THE SVLAUREATES PROGRAM is a prestigious honor given annually to South Bay–based artists in a variety of categories and disciplines. Awardees for 2020 are in two categories: Artist Laureate Award, for established artists working in any discipline and Content Emerging Artist Award, for young artists showing promise for continued growth and excellence. The Laureates are chosen based not only on their individual body of work, but also on their community involvement, educational efforts, volunteerism, and other forms of engagement. As educators, artists, and performers, each of them has devoted time to their own craft while also seeking to mentor others and forge new cultural connections in the diverse Silicon Valley community.

Written by Nathan Zanon Drawings by Gabriel Coke

Dana Harris Seeger

Born in the coastal town of El Granada, north of Half Moon Bay, Dana Harris Seeger grew up immersed in the arts. “My mom is an artist and would make us little books that we could draw and write in. We practically grew up in the Legion of Honor, going on scavenger hunts to locate imagery in impressionist and classical paintings,” she recalls. “I always knew I wanted to be an artist. I also always knew I wanted to teach art. I love to share my inspiration, knowledge, and love of learning with others.”

Seeger received her MFA in printmaking from San Jose State University in 2011 and her BA in painting from Anderson University in 2004. She has been a member of the California Society of Printmakers since 2011. A twin herself, Seeger is now the mother of twin boys. In 2014, she and her sculptor husband, Yori, founded the School of Visual Philosophy in San Jose, an artist studio and incubator that offers classes in a variety of disciplines. Seeger has exhibited her work nationally, was named one of KQED’s 10 Bay Area Women

to Watch, and was recently awarded a solo show for 2022 at the Triton Museum of Art.

“I have an opportunity and a responsibility to create work that is relevant to the culture here, using the technology available to me while innovating and putting my own spin on traditional printmaking media. I plan to reach out to local groups, societies, schools, and businesses and educate about the value of art in any culture, particularly this culture, time, and place. Especially with the current health crisis, the opportunities for artists

to integrate technology are overwhelming. My practice is changing, as I imagine it is for a lot of artists, and I aim to share some of my experiences as an artist, business owner, mother, and educator dealing with the changing times. Art is, above all, a communication process, and I plan to communicate visually as well as virtually about my practice, experience, and passions.”

DANA HARRIS SEEGER ARTIST LAUREATE AWARD Visual Artist and Educator, School of Visual Philosophy Instagram: painterdana