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Robert Coon
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Biography
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Mr. Coon was born in Charlotte and educated in the public system of North Carolina. His Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing was earned at the University of Georgia, where he studied with Lamar Dodd, Howard Thomas, and Leonard Delonga. This was followed by graduate study at the University of Massachusetts with a major in Sculpture and Printmaking. There he studied with Lyle Perkins, David Slivka, and Jack Coughlin. After receiving his M.F.A., Mr. Coon became an instructor at Ohio University. His full time teaching career continued at The Western College, Albright College and Wilson College. In 1985 he left full time teaching and became a part of the Vero Beach Museum of Art. At one various points his tenure there I have included: teacher, foundry master, kiln fireman, and Artist-in-Residence. Mr. Coon continues varied duties at the museum, while maintaining sculpture production. He has an extensive record of solo and group shows, as well as invitational and juried exhibitions. His resume and exhibition record can be accessed at www.robertcoonscuptor.com.
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Statement
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HURRICANE DEBRIS STATEMENT:
Two of the Five Hurricanes that visited Florida in 2004 were dangerously near my home. There was much preparation, shutters attached, loose items stored, choices made for things to be saved. Eventually, the only route left was that of evacuation, twice. After these storms, as bad as they were, we all were grateful at what had been spared. Even though nature's impact had left us dazed, confused, and determined to gather ourselves, and return to what was for each of us, our normal lives. For me, that meant a return to art and the production of sculpture. All around me were examples of how some of nature was destroyed and how some was even then quickly rebounding. There were numerous examples of how the engineering and construction of humans did and or did not, withstand the ravages of Mother Nature and her fury. Piles of debris, both construction and natural were became larger and larger daily. Mountains of what had once, only recently, seemed invincible, waited for disposal. My sculptural thoughts turned to using these materials not as trash, but as items for human consideration. These ranged from the torn metal roof panels, to shingles and asphalt, to heaps of twigs, limbs and tree trunks, once the very things that we looked to for protection and security. My sculptures became those of nestling forms that were human made within form that came from nature, or vice versa. This cannot become a very large series of works, because the debris has now dwindled and little is left as choices. Life is getting back to normal. I sincerely hope that the viewer will see some solace in these works, some realization of man and nature and their co-dependency. And, I sincerely hope that it is a long time before I have this opportunity again.
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Exhibitions
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RECENT EXHIBITIONS:
Sculpture on Sample Coral Springs FL 2011-2012 National Juried Exhibition
Sculpture Walk 2012 national juried exhibition Columbus GA 2010-2011
Sculpture Exhibition McKee Botanical Garden Vero Beach FL 2011-2012 International Exhibition
Sculpture Walk 2011 national juried exhibition Columbus GA 2010-2011
Avenue of the Arts national juried exhibition Boynton Beach FL 20010-2011
Salmagundi XIII national juried exhibition Rocky Mt. NC 2010-2011
Cary Visual Art national juried exhibition Cary NC 2009-2010
FLOSC National Juried exhibition Winter Haven FL 2009-10
Salmagundi XI national juried exhibition Rocky Mt. NC 2008-09
WOW2 Florida invitational outdoor sculpture St. Lucie County FL2008
Liquid Metal 3person show Gulf Coast Museum of Art 2008
International Juried Exhibition New Bern NC 2007-2008
Long term loan Gulfcoast Art Museum Largo FL 2007-
First Annual National Juried Sculpture Show New Bern NC006-07
ArtQuest 2006 Marco Island Fl juried outdoor exhbition
Sculpture Key West 2006 Key West FL international invitational
Sculpture Visions 2005-2006 Chapel Hill NC juried outdoor show
HERMANDADES ESCULTORICAS" MEXICO - EUA invitational
Macay Museum of Contemporary Art Merida MX 2005-06
Sculpture Key West 2005 Key West FL international invitational
Burlington County Sculpture Garden Annual 2004-2005
Pemberton, NJ national juried show
Art in the Park Key West FL 2004 national juried show
"Southern Bent" traveling exhibition St. Louis 2003-04
Sculpture on the Grounds Vero Beach Museum of Art 2003
Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Hendersonville, NC 2003
Outdoor Exhibit Wingate University Wingate NC 2001-2002
Sculpture Celebration Lenoir, NC 2001 award winner
Art in Downtown Fort Lauderdale FL 2001
Tri State Exhibition N.C. State Arboretum, 2000
Sculpture Celebration Lenoir, NC 1999 award winner
Sculpture Garden Enzo's on the Lake Orlando, FL 1999 Invitational outdoor exhibit
Sculpture Garden I V C.S.T.C.C. Chattanooga, TN 97-99
Invitational Outdoor exhibit
Lincoln Park Sculpture Garden Springfield, IL 1996-97
Invitational Outdoor exhibit
Sculpture Celebration Lenoir, NC 1996
Start To Finish Sculpture Invitational, Armory Art Center
West Palm Beach, FL 1995
Lake Worth Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition 1993-94
Lake Worth, FL works from four states
5th Annual Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition 1993-94
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
National juried show
Royal Palm Sculpture Garden `93 Vero Beach, FL
National juried show award winner
Burlington County Sculpture Garden Annual 1992-93
Pemberton, NJ national juried show
5th Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Lawrence, KS
1991-92 national juried show
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Next Artist: Alison Avery
