Artist Statement

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A sensation of warmth on the back of my neck assures me of the suns rays that illuminate my journey. I hear the crackle of twigs and leaves discarded from the trees under my feet. The site of vines entwined into a once durable, man-made structure, now deconstructing it and assimilating it back to its point of origin. I stand in awe of what was originally land procured for humanity, now from “neglect” has become an environment of beauty and inspiration once again.

Experiences like this are the concept behind many of my recent artistic undertakings. By using other peoples natural and industrial debris, I fabricate sculptures that embrace the notion of rebirth from refuse. This process of creating gives me the chance to associate myself with nature, as opposed to the human habit of disconnecting oneself from it. For the viewer, my sculpture is intended to inspire individuals to take the time to stop and perceive the magnificence of the world that surrounds them.

I am fortunate to work with materials from the natural world. These materials help me display patterns, colors and textures that would be difficult to formulate out of pure imagination. When synthetic matter is added, the natural materials guide me in creating lines and shapes that form continuity in the completed piece.

Although the imagery of my works is contemporary, I feel that they are more closely related to the artwork of earlier centuries. That is, art that exists not only for visual stimulation, but exists to educate the masses. The viewers of my work may follow a paved path to a manufactured structure. My intention is that they leave with the knowledge that humanity shares more of a union with the unprocessed part of the landscape.

Exhibition Record

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Solo and Two Person Exhibitions:


2010
"A World without Us"
 Earlville Opera House, Earlville  NY

2009
"Hydrophobicity"
Second Avenue Firehouse Gallery, Bay Shore NY

2007
“Cacophony of Trees” Solo Exhibit
The Sculpture Gallery, Brookville NY
“Domestic Malevolence” Two Person Exhibit with John Ozwald
Bryant Library Gallery, Roslyn NY

2006
“Insectivorous” Solo Exhibit
Union Square Gallery, Ronkonkoma NY

Group Exhibitions:



2012                             
"Postcards from the Edge"  
Cheim & Read, New York, NY
"Bookstore" 
Drift Station, Lincoln, NE
"Carnivorous" 
Johnson and Whales conference Center, Providence, RI 


2011
"Postcards from the Edge"
 CRG Gallery, Chelsea, NY 


2010
"Postcards from the Edge" 
Zieher Smith, Chelsea, NY
 "A Book about Death"
 Hillwood Art Museum, Brookville, NY
 "Counter Rejection"
 Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
"9 X 12" 
Fort Worth Community Art Center, Fort Worth, TX


2009
"Support Your Band"
Hoodlum Records, Tempe AZ
"Group Show"
Hillwood Museum, Brookville NY
"Alpan International"
Alpan Gallery, Huntington NY
"Art Xing"
University of Illinois, Carbondale IL
"Tree Project"
Children's Museum, Huntsville AL
"Mail In Art"
Shah Ahlam Museum, Shah Ahlam Malaysia
"Carnival of Decks"
Avenue a Gallery, New York NY
"EnvIronMEnt"
John S. Dolan Gallery, Locust Valley NY
"Night of 100 Drawings"
Artist's Space, SoHo NY
"Postcards from the Edge"
Metro Pictures, Chelsea NY
"Digital Z-Print"
Yes Gallery, Brooklyn NY

2008
"Square Foot Exhibition"
Art Gotham, SoHo NY
"Art with Heart"
Hazy Moon Cafe, Patchogue NY
"Blue Fibers"
Second Avenue Firehouse Gallery, Bay Shore NY
"Red Show"
Ripe Art Gallery, Greenlawn NY
"Recycled"
Footprint Gallery, Huntington NY
"Amalgamation"
World Culture Open Center, New York NY
"Transition"
Second Avenue Firehouse Gallery, Bay Shore NY

2007
"Different Worlds"
World Culture Open Center, New York NY
"Bay Shore Artists"
Second Avenue Firehouse Gallery, Bay Shore NY
"Group Exhibition"
Bryant Library Gallery, Roslyn NY

2006
"Nature vs. Mankind"
Second Avenue Firehouse Gallery, Bay Shore NY
"New Outlook"
Sculpture Gallery, Brookville NY
"Circle of Three"
Art League Gallery, Brookville NY

2005
"Up and Coming"
Gallery 4222, Port Jefferson NY
"Art Meets Industry"
Rockland Kitchens Art Gallery, Washingtonville NY

2004
"Group Show"
Gallery 4222, Port Jefferson NY
"Anterior Space"
Union Square Gallery, Holbrook NY
"Alumni Exhibit"
Staller Center Art Gallery, Stony Brook NY

2003
"Art and Beer"
Union Square Gallery, Holbrook NY
"Group Exhibition"
Bald Hill Gallery, Centereach NY

Competitions:
2006
"Public Sculpture Walk", Sioux Falls SD
"Mail-In Artwork About Coffee", Los Angeles, CA

2004
"Art Meets Industry", Washingtonville NY

Publications:

Kitchen and Bath Design Magazine, April 2004
Evolutions, September 2001, January 2002

Collections
Rockland Kitchens Art Gallery, Washingtonville, NY
Permanent collection
Jacklyn Koch PHD, Port Jefferson Station, NY
Private collection
Denise Howell CWOCN, Ronkonkoma, NY
Private Collection

Contact

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Joel Koos
P.O. Box 5618
Bay Shore, NY 11706
jkoosart@gmail.com

Links

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Second Avenue Firehouse Gallery
Gallery 4222
Teaneck Creek Conservancy
Quogue Wildlife Refuge
International Carnivorous Plant Society
New England Carnivorous Plant Society
Materials Resource Center

Artist Web Sites

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Steve Ceraso
Vincent Carr
Fotos by Scarpulla
Diana Lynn Thomson
Rick Mills
Seung Lee


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Curriculum Vitae


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Education


MFA 2009 Long Island University at C. W. Post (cum laude)


BFA 2004 Stony Brook University


AS 1999 Suffolk Community College


Professional Experience


2008 – Present Instructor of Drawing, Second Avenue Firehouse Gallery,

Bay Shore, New York


2007 – Present Director of Arts and Education, Materials Resource Center,

Ronkonkoma, New York


2007 – Present Graduate Assistant, Long Island University at C. W. Post,

Brookville, New York (Sculpture and Printmaking)


2005 – 2007 Instructor of Arts, Brookhaven Country Day School,

Brookhaven, New York


2002 – 2004 Assistant to Foundry Technician, Stony Brook University,

Stony Brook, New York (Maintained foundry equipment)


Grants


2007 Long Island University Graduate Student Materials Grant


2009 Long Island University Graduate Student Travel Grant


Technical Abilities


Drawing (All Mediums)

Welding (MIG, TIG, Oxy-acetylene and Plasma Cutting)

Woodworking and Construction (All Phases)

Metal Casting (Lost Wax and Waste Mold)

Ceramics (Clay, Kiln and Glaze Chemistry)

Printmaking (All Techniques)

Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

Final Cut Pro and Aftereffects

Introduction to Art History


Professional Organizations


College Arts Association

International Carnivorous Plant Society

New England Carnivorous Plant Society

Collections

Rockland Kitchens Art Gallery, Washingtonville, NY (Permanent collection)

Jacklyn Koch PHD, Port Jefferson Station, NY (Private collection)

Denise Howell CWOCN, Ronkonkoma, NY (Private Collection)

Biography

Bryant Library Newsletter, March 2007

Kitchen and Bath Design Magazine, April 2004

Evolutions, September 2001, January 2002