CELIA GILBERT

Artist's Statement
“Scraps of Time” reflects long-standing themes in my work. Like my monotype series “Urns,” inspired by a line of Paul Celan’s poetry, and my paintings of Fayum portraits, these “scraps” conjure a lost time. The photos, framed by the constructions that both contain and support them, connect to a moment of the early 20th century. Rescued from the trash, hence “orphaned” the photos evoke the fragility of our common history. These elements of the passage of time, family, and history, inform my poetry as well.

Biography
I grew up in Washington, DC, where I attended art school at the Corcoran Art Gallery. I received a BA from Smith College and a MA from Boston University. I lived abroad in Paris and in England before settling down to raise a family in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At that time I focused on writing poetry. My books are Something to Exchange, BlazeVOX, [books]; An Ark of Sorts, Alice James Books; Bonfire, Alice James Books; Queen of Darkness, Viking.

I have studied watercolor at The Radcliffe Institute and painting with the painter, Jim Peters. I also worked with the conceptual artist Anna Poor.

My poetry, which takes its inspiration from visual images, and my art complement one another. I have had the pleasure of using one of my monotypes as the cover for my latest book. My artwork has been reproduced on book jackets and most recently I was the featured cover of an online literary magazine. I am happy to see both parts of my life come together in this way.

Selected Exhibitions

Group Shows
“Faces, Old and New,” Schomburg Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA 2010
“Art 2010,” Viridian Gallery, New York, NY 2010
“Winter Salon,” BAAK Gallery, Cambridge, MA 2009
“All the Best,” Viridian Gallery, New York, NY 2008
“Jazz in June,” Chase Mitchell Gallery, Santa Ana, CA 2006
“The Way We Live,” Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA 2006
Juror: Jon Imber
“Women, Men, Masculine, Feminine,” Ayer Loft Gallery, Lowell MA 2006
Jurors: Maxine Farkas, Patrick Pierce, Brenda Pinardi
“Under the Influence: SCIENCE,” Brickbottom Art Gallery, Somerville, MA. 2006
“City Lights,” Viridian Gallery, New York, NY 2005
“From Earth to Heaven,” Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA 2005
“The Human Condition,” Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA 2004
Juror: Jerry Beck
“Energy,” Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA 2003
Jurors: Carl and Portia Belz
“Spring Competition,” Silas-Kenyon Gallery, Provincetown, MA 2003
Jurors: C. McCarthy, M.P.Landis

Selected Collectors
J. D. Watson, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Baroness Helena Kennedy, London, England
Patrick Lyons/Mama-kin, Boston, MA
Tony Komaroff and Lydia Villa-Komaroff, Boston, MA
Claudia Goulette, Winchester, MA
Harriet Reisen and Tony Kahn, Arlington, MA
Society of Fellows, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Eric and Lori Lander, Cambridge, MA
Susan Klein, Clarksville, MD
Natasha Staller and Gary Ruvkun, Newton, MA