Sharon Feder: Open Allegory
ARTIST STATEMENT
My relationship with making paintings changes as I change, up to my elbows in the messy business of paint, color, light, living and learning. I’ve been a painter for as long as I can remember. Creating is integral to my way of life. Everything I think, imagine, dream, and register with my senses is integrated into everything I paint, write and speak.
The paintings are conceptual and representational abstractions, painted with an expressionist’s hand and heart — in relationship with the great mysteries. The imagery comes from stilled studies of life. The work is about the work of living: showing up for each moment -- fearlessly and unconditionally -- to discover what lessons are being offered and seeking the wisdoms within each experience.
As described by Simone Kussatz, (VisualArtSource|ArtScene), Feder’s paintings “are more about color combinations… and how paint is applied than subject matter.” The work is “at once an aesthetic expression and a spiritual engagement”. Michael Paglia (Westword) writes, they are: "a reconciling of opposites... the tension between representation and abstraction, with the resulting paintings flipping between the two." Further describing her work, Corrine Joy Brown wrote (Colorado Expression): "Through line and shape, color and texture, she renders a new reality so sublime as to leave the viewer spell-bound at its beauty. We sense what is beyond, or far beneath. We stand at the edge of the experience and then, suddenly, are immersed in it.”
BIOGRAPHY
Feder began studying oil painting as a child and learned with some of Colorado’s well-known Modernists including Ed Marecak and Mark Zamantakis; then with Michael Spafford, Norman Lundin and Patty Warashina at University of Washington in Seattle and with Bob Froese in the 1980's. She graduated from Regis University in 1996. The collaborative process with her creative and life partner, Dallas Parkins Jr (1958 - 2022) brought a sweetly significant evolve to her works which have also been enhanced and informed by decades of technical experience as set designer, muralist, and sign artist, along with a life richly lived as mother, mate, and student of nature. She is represented by Billis Williams Gallery in Los Angeles and Michael Warren Contemporary in Denver, where her paintings had been featured in many solo, paired, and group shows. Feder’s work has been selected for solo and paired solo exhibitions at Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver Botanic Gardens, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Denver Performing Arts Complex’s Buell Theatre, Denver International Airport, Ironton Gallery and Denver Theatre District. Invited group shows include those at Museum of Outdoor Art, Billis Gallery Manhattan and LA, Curtis Fine Art Center, Denver Botanic Gardens, and Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. Her paintings are in many corporate and private collections.
Still Being | Being Still No. 34, 2022
oil on panel
40 x 30 inches Private Collection
Stil l Bein g | Bein g Stil l No . 7 , 2022
oi l o n line n
1 0 x 8 inches
Private Collection
Still Being | Being Still No. 21, 2022
oil on linen
8 x 10 inches
Still Being | Being Still No. 23, 2022
oil on linen
8 x 10 inches
Still Being | Being Still No. 35, 2022
oil
mixed media on panel 36 x 48 inches
and
Being Tr ees No. 3, 2023
oil on panel
27 x 21 inches
Private Collection
Still Being | Being Still No. 36, 2023 oil
on panel 24 x 24 inches
StillFences No. 1, 2018
oil on linen
10 x 8 inches
StillFences No. 2, 2021
oil on linen 10 x 8 inches
Bein g Tr ee s No 1 , 2023
oi l o n linen
8 x 1 0 inches
Private Collection
Bein
oi l o n linen
8 x 1 0 inches
Private Collection
g Tr ee s No . 2 , 2023
Still Being | Being Still No. 29, 2022
panel
oil on
36 x 36 inches
Stil l Bein g | Bein g Stil l No . 17 , 2021
oi l o n linen
9 x 1 2 inches
Still
Being | Being Still No. 14, 2022
oil on linen
8 x 10 inches
Sharon Feder
EDUCATION:
University of Washington, Seattle - painting, ceramics major; scientific illustration (1975-78)
Hogere Rijksshool voor Beeldende Kunsten, Brussels - lithography, ornamental smithing (1981)
Regis University, Denver - BA in Fine Art (summa cum laude); sociology, education reform (1995)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Billis Williams Gallery, Los Angeles - Open Allegory (2023)
The Buell Theatre, Denver - HERE again STILL | s feder | d parkins jr (paired solo, 2021)
Michael Warren Contemporary, Denver - project space pop-up (2021)
The Buell Theatre, Denver - Still. Here. | s feder | d parkins jr (paired solo, 2020)
Michael Warren Contemporary, Denver - Life Cycles | s feder | d parkins jr (paired solo, 2020)
George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles - i n b e t w e e n (2019)
Goodwin Fine Art, Denver - Kate Breakey & Sharon Feder (concurrent solos, 2017)
Telluride Arts Gallery 81435, Telluride - delta t = Change in Time (2015-16)
George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles - Curb Appeal (2015)
Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver - Edge of The Plains (2015)
Telluride Arts Gallery 81435, Telluride - (2014)
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art - BMoCA at Macky, Boulder CO, BUY (2014)
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Denver - Colorado Creative Districts, (2014)
Goodwin Fine Art, Denver - Paul Ching-Bor & Sharon Feder - Urbanism (concurrent solos, 2013)
Ironton Gallery, Denver - Topologies (2012-13)
Arvada Center for Arts and Humanities, Arvada CO - Edge of The Plains (2011)
Denver International Airport - Public Art Program (2010)
Aurora Art in Public Places, Aurora CO (2009)
Downtown Theater District Art Salon - Hotel Teatro, Denver (2009)
SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Arvada Center For Arts And Humanities, Arvada, CO - Art of The State (jurors: Louise Martorano, Ellamaria Ray, Collin Parson, 2021) Institution Choice Award: Denver Botanic Gardens
Arvada Center For Arts And Humanities, Arvada, CO - Viral Influence (juried exhibition, 2021)
George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles - The Cityscape Show II - X (annual invitational exhibitions, 2012-20)
Arvada Center For Arts And Humanities, Arvada, CO - Art of The State (jurors: Joy Armstrong, Daisy McGowan, Collin Parson, 2019)
Goodwin Fine Art, Denver - Group Show (2019)
Museum of Outdoor Art, Denver - Intersecting Formations (invited collaboration with Craig Marshall Smith, 2018)
Curtis Arts Center, Denver - Open Space: The Finite Frontier (curator: Robin Whatley ASLD, 2018)
Arvada Center For Arts And Humanities, Arvada, CO - in SITu (curator: Collin Parson 2018)
Arts Brookfield, Republic Plaza, Denver - Industrial Strength (curator: Andra Archer, 2017)
Curtis Arts Center, Denver - Structured (four-person exhibition, 2016)
Sunset Magazine’s 2015 Idea House, Denver - cky design (2015)
George Billis Gallery, New York - Industrial Beauty (invitational, 2014)
Arvada Center For Arts And Humanities, Arvada, CO - Art of The State (jurors: Dean Sobel, Collin Parson, 2013)
Arvada Center For Arts And Humanities, Arvada, CO - Faces, Places & Spaces (invitational, 2013)
George Billis Gallery, New York - City Streets II (invitational, 2012)
Denver International Airport, Colorado State Capitol - Creative Capitol/Metro Denver (juried exhibition, 2011)
Michele Mosko Fine Art, Denver - Exploring Abstraction, (2011)
The Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex - Ironton Artists at The Buell (2011)
Western Colorado Center for the Arts Grand Junction, CO -14th National Juried & Invited Contemporary Exhibition (invited artist; curator: Michael Chavez, 2011)
Ironton Gallery, Denver (annual two-person and group exhibitions, 2003 - 2011)
Ironton Gallery, Denver (annual two-person and group exhibitions, 2003 - 2011)
Pattern Shop Studio and Gallery, Denver - Sharon Squared (two-person exhibition, 2011)
Michele Mosko Fine Art, Denver - The Architect Within (international invitational, 2010)
Ice Cube Gallery, Dry Ice Factory, Denver (juror: Michael Paglia, 2010)
Denver Botanic Gardens - Mid-Century Modern Interpreted (invitational, 2009); Extinction (jurors: Ivar Zeile, Simon Zalkind, 2009)
Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO - Colorado Open (jurors: Christoph Heinrich, Michael Chavez, 2009)
Weilworks Gallery, Denver - The Making of Dust - (invitational, 2006)
Denver International Airport - Ballpark Galleries (curated: Ivar Zeile, 2004)
COLLECTIONS:
Vectra Bank • IMA • Intrepid Mining • First Western Trust Bank • CoBank • Anschutz Center for Advanced Medicine • RH Donnelly Corporation • Greenberg Traurig • Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado • Jarrow collection
• Karl Kister|Mary Caulkins • Michele Mosko • Jill Hooper|Hugh Graham * 4240 Architecture/Peter|Philea
Dominick • Tracy Weil • Karla Sherman • Donna Altieri|Michael Thornton • Mallory|John Clark • Everett Schneider| Robert Phifer • Tom Carter • Janet & Arthur Fine • Anna Lefler • Tim Zeleny • Jen|Casey Boone
SELECT INSTALLATIONS | COMMISSIONS | PUBLIC ART:
Levitt Pavilion/Ruby Hill Park City of Denver Public Art Program - finalist
Anschutz Center for Advanced Medicine - Outpatient Building, cafeteria
Denver Health Medical Center - ID/AIDS Clinic
University Hospital - Radiation Oncology Department - (moved to Anschutz Center for Advanced Medicine, 2001)
DanceAspen - sculptural/painted installation
The Children’s Museum of Denver
Volunteers of America’s Rainbow House daycare for children affected by AIDS
Children’s Literacy Museum Ogden, Utah - award-winning permanent museum exhibit
Over 60 murals and painting installations in commercial and residential venues, both interior and exterior in Aspen, Denver, Telluride, Palm Beach, Belgium
SELECT SCENIC DESIGN:
More than 25 theatre productions between 1992-99 at central Denver theatres including:
Acoma City Center Theatre - HurlyBurly; Angels in America Parts I and II (1998) Denver Drama Critics Circle award: “Best Production”
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities - I Do! I Do!; Prelude to a Kiss - (1993) Rocky Mountain News “Best Visual Experience in Theatre”
Aurora Fox Theatre - I Hate Hamlet; Goodnight, Texas
Avenue Theatre - Stanton’s Garage (1996) Denver Drama Critics Circle nomination: “Best Scenic Design”
Denver Civic Theatre - 1776; Road to Mecca (1998) Denver Drama Critic’s Circle nomination: “Best Scenic Design”
Shwayder Theatre Academy - all stage sets 1995-98
Theatre on Broadway/Phoenix Theatre - Party, Poor Super Man, suburbia; Emma’s Child; Love!Valour!
Compassion! (1996 and 1999) Denver Drama Critic’s Circle nomination: “Best Scenic Design”
University of Denver Theatre - I Can’t Get Started; The Children’s Hour
SELECT PUBLICATIONS, INTERVIEWS & REVIEWS:
2019 Denver’s Westword (December 11th, December 16th, ) - Michael Paglia
2019 The Twelve Best Arts Shows in Denver in 2019 - Denver’s Westword (December 26th) - Michael Paglia
2019 urban archaeology with essay by Michael Paglia - artbook
2017 Denver’s Westword (August 23rd) - Michael Paglia
2016 Painted Sky - 106 Artists of the Rocky Mountain West by E. Ashley Rooney, Schiffer Publishing
2016 Vogue - Gemma Z Price
2016 The Watch - Leslie Vreeland
2015 Sunset Magazine - Denver Mid Century Remodel Idea House
2015 Colorado Life - Matt Masich
2015 Visual Art Source | ArtScene - Simone Kussatz
2015 Denver’s Westword - Bree Davies
2014 Denver’s Westword - interview with Bree Davies
2013 Denver’s Westword (January 10th) - Michael Paglia
2012 Denver’s Westword - Michael Paglia
2012 Colorado Expression - Corrine Joy Brown
2012 The Untitled Art Show - interview with Erik Isaac and Mike Keen
2011 Sharon Squared - Rexford Brown
2011 Studio Visit Magazine, Juror: Ian Berry
2008 The Denver Post - Kyle MacMillan
2008 Westword - Michael Paglia The Latest Word
2006 Colorado Expression - (July)
2003 Intermountain Jewish News (August)
1992-98 more than 100 theatre/set design reviews in metro Denver newspapers
1985-98 (10) feature articles in Colorado newspapers
