Michelle Pennington’s previous work challenged the traditional rules of art viewing as she created work with the intention of being interacted with and to degrade overtime. She is a very tactile and sensual person, so her work gave the viewer the right to manipulate and change her artwork through this interaction, providing new experiences each time one viewed the piece. She often used motion, creating movement powered by machine
or manually powered by the viewer, to incorporate and encourage a slow decay and deterioration, which become part of the work. It challenged perceived fears of materials, such as broken glass, creating a conflict and potentially an internal struggle for the viewer. It questioned notions of how one should act in the presence of art, while inviting the viewer to act traditionally inappropriately. Although she gave some directions or
guidelines for each piece, she allowed the viewer to set up their own boundaries as she pushed them outside of their comfort zone and asked them to interact with art in a more invasive way.

Currently her work is taking a shift and inviting viewers to think critically about political decisions that impact men, women and children in this country. She is questioning why the decisions of so few have such a huge impact on so many lives, and often in a negative way. She asks viewers
to interpret and reflect on their own opinions of political matters, and encourages them to stand up for what they believe in by taking an active role by voting in local and national elections.

3210 Fairfield Ave.
Shreveport, LA 71101
419.461.0404
[email protected]

MICHELLE PENNINGTON

EDUCATION 2016 MFA in Glass, University of Texas Arlington,
Arlington, TX
2007 BFA in Graphic Design, Bowling Green State University,
Bowling Green, OH
2015 Santa Reparata International School of Art - Florence, Italy, art
history course, Kenda North
2014 The Glass Furnace - Istanbul, Turkey, Casting Glass, Evelyn Dunstan
2014 Pilchuck Glass School, Casting Glass, Sylvia Levenson
2013 Pittsburgh Glass Center, Hot Sculpting Experience,
Karen Willenbrink Johnsen and Jasen Johnsen.
2012 Penland School of Crafts, Blowing and Sculpting Inside the Bubble, Martin Janecky
2011 Corning Museum of Glass, Blowing and Sculpting Inside the Bubble, Martin Janecky
2010 Corning Museum of Glass, Scandinavian Focus, Susanne Jøker Johnsen
2006 Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy
(summer courses) Extensive Studies in graphic design and photography

SCHOLARSHIPS
& AWARDS 2016 Glass Art Society Student Scholarship
2016 COLA Scholar for the Art and Art History department
2016 Ideas in Art Scholarship Recipient
2015 The Nunez Grant for $500 (Juried)
2015 The McDowell Center travel grant to Florence, Italy
2015 Art and Art History Department funding for travel to Florence, Italy
2015 College of Liberal Arts (COLA) travel grant to Florence, Italy
2014 The Deans Travel Grant to travel to Istanbul, Turkey
2014 The Dubois Grant to attend a class at Pilchuck Glass School
2013-2016 Recipient of Enhanced Graduate Teaching Assistantship
University of Texas Arlington
2013 Half-Tuition Scholarship
Pittsburgh Glass Center
2012 Partial Work Study Scholarship
Penland School of Crafts
2011 Full Tuition Scholarship
Corning Museum of Glass
2010 Full Tuition Scholarship
Corning Museum of Glass
2005-2006 Dean’s List
Bowling Green State University

MICHELLE PENNINGTON

PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE 2018 Lead Gaffer for Gothrup Mobile Glassblowing Studios- Glassblowing Demonstrations from July 17-September 18
2017 Featured Artist at SiNaCa Studios
Glassblowing Demonstration for SiNaCa’s Open Studio Night
2017 Teaching Assistant for Scott Darlington and Shunji Omura at Pilchuck Glass School- Help students improve their hot glass sculpting skills.
2016-2017 Lecturer
University of Texas Arlington, Art foundations instructor.
2013-2016 Enhanced Graduate Teaching Assistant in Glass
University of Texas Arlington, Beginning glass instructor.
2014 Graduate Lecture Series at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth Lecturer
2013 Vetro Glassblowing assistant
2011-2013 Glassblowing Educator at Hale Farm and Village
Demonstrated glassblowing and explained the history of glassblowing in Ohio in the 1800’s.
2011-2014 Summer Staff at Pilchuck Glass School
Working as a kitchen coordinator overseeing kitchen assistants and making sure all tasks are completed to maintain a great working environment for the students and guests.
2011 Teaching Assistant to Nadine Saylor at the Corning Museum of Glass
Help students improve their skills to successfully achieve basic
Glassblowing techniques.
2009-2010 Glassblowing Assistant at Schmidt/Messenger Studios
2009-2010 Glassblowing Assistant to Nadine Saylor

EXHIBITIONS 2016 MFA Exhibition The University of Texas at Arlington’s Gallery
2016 Ideas in Art Exhibition (Juried) Gallery West, Arlington, TX
2015 SRISA Summer A Group Exhibition, Florence, Italy
2015 “The Consortium,” A Warehouse at 500 Singleton, Dallas, TX, Group Show with graduate students from UTA, SMU, and UTD in conjunction with the Dallas Art Fair
2015 500x Student Expo (Juried)
500x Gallery, Dallas, TX
2015 “Inanimate,” Gallery West, Group Show, Arlington, TX
2015 Solo Exhibition titled “A Vulnerable State”
Arlington, TX
2015 “Wunderkrammer,” Gallery 343, Photography exhibition, Arlington, TX
2014 International Student Online Exhibition
http://www.glassart.org/2014_International_Student_Online_Exhibition.html
2014 Group Exhibition, Nasad Review Exhibition,
Gallery West, Arlington, TX
2013 Group Exhibition, Alternative Reflection,
The Basement Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009 Glass Fashion Show, Glass Art Society Conference,
Corning, New York
Publication in Laura Donefer’s Glass Fashion Extravaganza

REFERENCES Scott Darlington 614-634-0868 [email protected]
Rob Stern 305-903-8566 [email protected]
Darryl Lauster 713-498-0276 [email protected]

http://www.michellepenningtonglassart.com

The University of Texas at Arlington

2016