[ CV/Extended Resume for Scott Ligon ]
www.digtalartrevolution.com | www.ligon-art.com | Scott@Ligon-art.com
Scott Ligon is a digital artist and filmmaker. He is the coordinator for the digital foundation curriculum at the Cleveland Institute of Art. His work is frequently exhibited and has won several awards. He frequently lectures on the subjects of creativity, digital art and film. Scott has written a book on digital fine art, entitled, “Digital Art Revolution”. The book will be released by Random House/Watson-Guptill in Spring 2010. His animated short film, “Escape Velocity”, painted in the style of his digital paintings, has played in festivals and theaters all over the world. Among other awards, “Escape Velocity” won “Best Experimental Film” at the USA Film Festival, Dallas, Texas. This is an Academy Qualified Competition. Scott has accepted a distribution offer for “Escape Velocity” from Shorts International, the world’s leading short film brand.
Education
> MFA, Hoffberger School of Painting, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD. Studied under renowned original abstract expressionist Grace Hartigan. Attended “Perspectives in Criticism” class taught by Robert Storr, formerly senior curator of painting and sculpture at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
> BA, Mary Washington College (now University of Mary Washington), Fredericksburg, VA.
Professional Affiliations and Related Activities:
> Special Events Chair, Board of Trustees, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (part
of the Virginia Museum of Art), in Fredericksburg VA. 2006-2008.
> Disabilities Advisory Committee, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA. 2007-
2008.
> Fine Arts/Graphic Communications Advisory Committee, Germanna Community College.
Fredericksburg, VA. 2005-Present.
> College Art Association. 2007-present.
> Scott attended The Jon Jost Workshop on Digital Filmmaking at Woods Hole, MA -2006. Jon is a master filmmaker that was given a retrospective of his film work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Jon wrote about Scott’s film “Escape Velocity” on www.cinemaelectronica.com.
Publications and Broadcast:
> Scott has written a book on digital fine art in Photoshop, entitled, “Digital Art Revolution”. The book will be released by Random House/Watson-Guptill in Spring 2010.
> Scott maintains an active blogsite related to his book and other topics related to digital artists, including links and tutorials. www.digitalartrevolution.com
> A 10 minute version of the film is on the DVD accompanying the recently released revised edition of Michael Dean’s acclaimed how-to book “Thirty Dollar Film School”, Thompson Course Technology.
> Scott has written scripts for two short films, “Escape Velocity” and “Figure/Ground”.
> He has written dozens of speeches and lectures on various art related subjects.
Awards:
> St. Paul’s Cathedral Center for the Performing and Visual Arts Award -2007, for work in “Independent Visions X”, Group Exhibition. Awarded by juror Derek Cartwright, Executive Director, San Diego Museum of Art. San Diego, CA.
> Best Animation (10-30 Minutes) -2007, Picture This...Film Festival, Calgary, AB, Canada.
> Awarded SPECIAL JURY CITATION for Originality of Vision -2006, 24 fps Short Film & Video Festival. Abilene, TX.
> Best Short Documentary -2006, Port Townsend Film Festival. Port Townsend, WA.
> Best Experimental Short -2006, Woods Hole Film Festival. Woods Hole, MA.
> Best Experimental Film -2006, USA Film Festival. Dallas, TX. This is an Academy Quali- fied Competition, making “Escape Velocity” one of a handful of films eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award in 2006. “One of the oldest, most prestigious film festivals in the world.” -Chris Gore’s Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide.
> Merit Award -2006, Superfest XXVI- International Disabilities Film Festival. Berkeley,
CA. America’s premiere Disability Film Festival, run by The Corporation on Disabilities and Telecommunication. CDT also curates showings for PBS.
> Travel Grant -2006, University of Mary Washington. Fredericksburg VA. Awarded Faculty Development Funds by the University of Mary Washington to travel to Superfest in Berkely, CA to accept the Merit Award and speak after the film.
> First Place, Computer Generated Art -2006, Uniquely Fredericksburg Biennial Juried Group Exhibit, Atrium Gallery. Fredericksburg, VA.
> MOCA, Museum of Computer Art. “The Donnie Awards -2005”, Awarded Honorable
Mention. Virtual museum site for computer art.
Lectures and Speeches:
> Sept 5, 2008 at Ohio Bell Auditorium, Cleveland Institute of Art. Lecture about digital art.
> March 28, 2008 at University Hall, University of North Carolina, Asheville. Lecture about my art, sponsored by Equal Access.
> March 18, 2008 at Kulas Auditorium, Cleveland Institute of Art. Public lecture on my ideas for digital curriculum.
> May 6, 2007 at Belmont, historic home of 19th century artist Gari Melchers, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Scott spoke briefly and showed “Escape Velocity” as part of Seurat Sunday.
> April 24, 2007 at Chandler Hall, University of Mary Washington, , Fredericksburg, Virginia. Lecture by Scott and Presentation of “Escape Velocity”, as part of a Disability Awareness series.
> November 9,10, 2006 at Jengo’s Playhouse, Wilmington, North Carolina. Gave Q & A after showing of “Escape Velocity” on both days.
> November 4, 2006 at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (part of the Virginia Museum of Art), in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Scott gave a lecture on digital art, called “Welcome to the Revolution!”.
> September 16, 17, 2006 at the Upstage Theater in Port Townsend, Washington. Scott speaks as part of a filmmaker panels, “DIGITAL VIDEO, CELLULOID DREAMS” and “DOC TALK”. Part of the Port Townsend Film Festival.
> July 5, 2006 at the Firehouse in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Gave Q & A after showing of “Escape Velocity”, accepted award for Best Experimental Film for Woods Hole Film Festival.
> June 10, 13, 2006 at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Scott gave a video interview June 10 at the opening reception of the VSA Arts Show, “Transforma- tions”, and gave a lecture to visiting school children at the Kennedy Center on June 13.
> June 4, 2006 at La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley, California. Given Merit Award as part of Superfest XXVI- International Disabilities Film Festival. Gave acceptance speech at award ceremony and spoke/did audience Q & A after film.
> May 16-17, 2006 at The University of Mary Washington’s 11th annual Faculty Academy on Instructional Technologies in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Gave presentation, “Digital Fine Art: Implications, Applications, and Apprehensions”.
> May 14, 2006 at The Charles Theater in Baltimore, Maryland. Part of The Maryland Film Festival. Did audience Q & A after showing “Escape Velocity”.
> April 8-10 at The Varsity Theater in Ashland, Oregon. Four day theatrical run for Scott’s film, “Escape Velocity”, April 6-10, 2006. Scott spoke and answered questions from the audience after the film for three days, as part of he Ashland Independent Film Festival.
> March 5, 2006 at the Goethe-Institute in Washington, D.C. Scott was part of an international panel of filmmakers speaking as part of the DC Independent Film Festival.
Recent Art Shows:
> Art 6 Gallery, “Think Small”, Biennial International Invitational Group Exhibition, Richmond, VA -2009
> Reinberger Gallery, Cleveland Institute of Art, “Faculty Show”, Group Exhibition, Cleveland, OH -2009
> Art Basel Miami 2009, “The Masters’ Mystery Art Show”, Group Show. Miami Beach, FL -2009
> The Sketchbook Project, “Everyone We Know”, Touring Group Show, The Art House Gallery, Atlanta, GA.; Museum of Contemporary Art DC, Washington, DC; Laconia Gallery, Boston, MA; Antena Gallery, Chicago, IL; Soulard Art Market, St. Louis, MO; 3rd Ward Gallery, Brooklyn, NY; Museum of Design Atlanta, Atlanta, GA.; Chicago Art Source Gallery, Chicago, IL -2009
> Silent Auction, 14th Annual Gala Dinner of the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel America (ACCA-SoCal). Former President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker at the event. Los Angeles, CA -2009
> New Arts Program, “20th Annual Invitational Salon Exhibition of Small Works”, Juried Group Show, Kutztown, PA -2009
> Libertytown Arts, “Invitational Patron’s Art Group Show”, Fredericksburg, VA -2009
> Reinberger Gallery, Cleveland Institute of Art, “Faculty Show”, group exhibition, Cleveland, OH -2008
> Jepson Center, University of Mary Washington, “One Hundred Years Together”, Juried Group Show, Fredericksburg, VA -2008
> Libertytown Arts, “Feast for the Eyes”, Group Exhibit, Fredericksburg, VA -2008
> Walker Home, “Invitational Group Show”, Fredericksburg, VA -2008
> Spotsylvania Museum, Solo Show. Spotsylvania, VA -2007
> The Cathedral Center for Performing and Visual Arts, St. Paul’s Cathedral, “Independent Visions X”, Group Exhibition, juried by Derek Cartwright, Executive Director, San Diego Museum of Art. San Diego, CA -2007
> de Young Museum, Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, “Art Slam 2007”, Group Exhibition. San Francisco, CA -2007
> DC Arts, The New Media Lounge, Washington Convention Center. “On Becoming My Father”, video installation. One of twelve artists selected by jury. Jurors include: David Gariff, Lecturer, National Gallery of Art, Victoria Reis, Executive Director, Transformer Gallery, Sarah Tanguy, Curator at the ART in Embassies Program. -2007
> Dupont Gallery, University of Mary Washington, “Painting by Numbers”, Solo Show. Fredericksburg, VA -2007
> New Arts Program, non-profit arts organization and Museum Space, “18th Annual Invitational Salon Exhibition of Small Works”, Juried Group Show. Kutztown, PA –2007
> Maryland Institute College of Art, “15 x 15”, Annual Alumni Exhibition of Small Works. Baltimore, MD –2007
> Regent Galleries, “Her Name Was Elizabeth: 60 years of Obsession with L.A.’s Black Dahlia”.
> Juried Group Show in Gallery Row, Los Angeles, CA -2007
> Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Three works, plus video, exhibited as part of the VSA Arts Show, “Transformations”, an international juried exhibition at the Terrace Gallery of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, June 5 - 29, 2006. The exhibition also features a large outdoor steel sculpture by renowned artist Mark di Suvero on the grounds of the Kennedy Center. The distinguished jury panel included: Amy Horschak, Museum of Modern Art in New York, Stacey Schmidt, independent curator, most recently the associate curator of contemporary art at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Roman Terleckyj, vice president for artistic planning at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and Jeannine Chartier, executive director of VSA Arts of Rhode Island. Washington, DC -2006
> Atrium Gallery, “Uniquely Fredericksburg”, Biennial Juried Group Exhibit. Won First Place, Computer Generated Art. Fredericksburg, VA -2006
> Maryland Institute College of Art, “15 x 15”, Annual Alumni Exhibition of Small Works. Baltimore, MD –2006
> CHEEBO, “Get:ART, the sale of the century”. Invitational Art Auction in Hollywood eatery, run by auctioneers Bonhams & Butterfields. Auction benefited Project:Angelfood, whose mis- sion is to nourish the body and spirit of men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses. Los Angeles, CA -2006
> New Arts Program, “17th Annual Invitational Salon Exhibition of Small Works”, Juried Group Show. The New Arts Program is a non-profit arts organization and Museum Space. Kutztown, PA -2006
> Pharmaka, “Small Wonders”, Juried Group Exhibition. Pharmaka Gallery is a nonprofit art gallery whose mission is to bridge the gap between the commercial galleries and the museums of Los Angeles. The exhibition also includes artwork from Ed Ruscha, Andy Moses and Greg Colson. Los Angeles, CA -2005
> Fredericksburg Athenaeum, “State to State”, 2 Person Show. Fredericksburg, VA -2005
> Art Basel Miami 2005, “The Masters’ Mystery Art Show”, Group Show. Miami Beach, FL -2005
> Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, “Snap to Grid”, Group Show. The LACDA is part of Los Angeles’ Gallery Row. This show is featured in the Sept. issue of Wired Magazine. Los Ange- les, CA -2005
> Limner Gallery, “Digital Art Extravaganza”, Juried Group Show. This gallery is a well-known gallery previously located in Soho, now relocated to a resort area outside of the city. The show is featured in Direct Art Magazine. Phoenicia, NY -2005
> Maryland Institute College of Art, “15 x 15”, Annual alumni exhibition of small works. Balti-
more, MD -2005
> Libertytown Gallery. 3 Person Show. Fredericksburg, VA -2005
> MOCA, Museum of Computer Art, “The Donnie Awards 2005”. Awarded Honorable Men- tion. One Virtual museum site for computer art.
> Pawsitively Fredericksburg, Juried Group Project. Painted cat sculpture that remained downtown for a year as part of multiple-artist project. Artwork featured on cover of Virginia Heritage Magazine. Fredericksburg, VA -2005
> Dallas Arts Review, “Self-Portraits” Online Exhibit on Dallas Texas’ most prominent art site. Dallas, TX -2005
Selected Past Shows and Performances:
> Hiraiso Observatory, “Solar Matrix: Love Letters to the Sun”, Group Show. Narita, Japan -2004
> Art Basel Miami 2004, “The Masters’ Mystery Art Show”, Group Show. (The show also fea- tured Pulitzer-Prize winning artist-illustrator Art Speigelman). Miami Beach, FL -2004
> Arts and Cultural Foundation of Antioch, CA, “Wit and Whimsy”, Group Show, Lynn House Gallery. Antioch, CA -2004
> Uniquely Fredericksburg, Biennial Juried Exhibit. Won second prize in category. Fredericks- burg, VA -2004
> Gallery 623, Two Person Painting Show. Fredericksburg, VA -2003
> Dorothy Hart Center, Annual Fredericksburg Art Show. Won 2nd and 3rd prize in category. Fredericksburg, VA -2003
> University of Massachussetts, Two Person Painting Show. Amherst, MA -1995
> BAUhouse, Juried Group Painting Show. Baltimore, MD -1991
> Maryland Institute College of Art, Two Person Show. Baltimore, MD -1989
> Gallery 409, Eubie Blake Cultural Center, Performance and paintings. Introduced by Kurt L. Schmoke, Mayor of Baltimore, MD -1989
> Burkett Gallery, 4 Person Painting Show. Baltimore, MD -1988
> Source Theater, Performance in juried festival, “Sourceworks”. Washington, DC -1988
> Arlington Arts Center, “Annual Tri-State Juried Exhibition”, Group Painting Show. Arlington, VA -1988
> Decker Gallery, Maryland Institute College of Art, Group Exhibition. Baltimore, MD -1988
> Botswana Gallery, Washington Project for the Arts, Solo Painting Show. Washington, DC -1987
> The Art League, “The Marshall Award Show”, juried painting show. Alexandria, VA -1987
Film Festivals and Screenings of “Escape Velocity”:
> Metro Cinema, Edmunton, Alberta, Canada. “Escape Velocity” shown along with “Catching my Breath”, a new film by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Lorna Thomas. June 17, 2008.
> University of North Carolina, Asheville. Screening of “Escape Velocity”. March 28, 2008.
> Woodstock Museum Film Festival, at the Woodstock Museum in Woodstock, NY. August 31-September 1, 2007.
> Assim Vivemos - Brazil’s 3rd International Disability Film Festival. The film festival takes place in Rio de Janeiro from August 7th-19th, in Brasilia from September 18th-30th, and in Sao Paulo in October.
> Berkshire International Film Festival, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. May 17-20, 2007.
> Doc Shop. Screened as part of class by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Lorna Thomas. Edmunton, Alberta, Canada. May 17, 2007.
> Screening of Picture This...Film Festival Winners, Edmunton, Alberta, Canada. Week of May 10, 2007.
> Seurat Sunday, Art Festival. Scott spoke briefly and showed “Escape Velocity” at Belmont, historic home of 19th century artist Gari Melchers, Fredericksburg, Virginia. May 6, 2007.
> University of Mary Washington, Chandler Hall, Fredericksburg, VA. April 24, 2007.
> Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI. April 12-15, 2007.
> The Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, Ithaca, NY. March 6-April 2, 2007.
> Equal Access 2007 Film Series, University of North Carolina at Asheville. March 18, 2007.
> Focus Fest 2007, at the Cascade Theatre, Redding, CA. February 9-10, 2007.
> Picture This...Film Festival, Calgary, AB, Canada. February 2-16, 2007.
> University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA, January 25, 2007.
> Animator’s Roundtable, Washington, DC, January 23, 2007.
> Show, Inspire, Act, Los Angeles, CA, November 29, 2006. Loyola Marymount University.
> The International Disability Film Festival “Breaking Down Barriers”, Moscow, Russia. November 16-19, 2006, and later in a minimum of 10 regions of Russia and Armenia, Uzbeki- stan and Azerbaijan, Georgia.
> 12th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival, Wilmington, North Carolina. November 8-11, 2006.
> 24 fps, International Short Film & Video Festival at the historic Paramount Theater, Abilene Texas. Oct. 20-21, 2006.
> “Rendezvous with Madness”, Workman Theater, Toronto, Ontario. October 16-31, 2006.
> Koret Auditorium, The San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, California. October 5, 2006. The city of San Francisco shows all of the winning movies from the Superfest International Film Festival, including “Escape Velocity”, as part of Disability Awareness Month.
> The Port Townsend Film Festival, Port Townsend, Washington. September 15th-17th, 2006. The film plays in a collection of short films called “Jackson Pollock was an Alcoholic (But He’s Alright by Me)”, named after the song on the closing credits of “Escape Velocity”.
> The Estes Park Film Festival, Estes Park, Colorado. September 15th-17th, 2006. “Escape Velocity” was one of the three finalists for best short film.
> FOCUS Film Festival, California State University, BMU Auditorium. Chico, California. Sep- tember 8, 2006.
> The Woods Hole Film Festival, Woods Hole, Massachusetts. July 29-August 5, 2006.
> Hi Mom! Film Festival, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. June 15-17 2006. “Escape Velocity” plays outside on giant screen in college art-town. The festival interviewed Scott and published it in the festival program.
> Provincetown International Film Festival, Provincetown, Massachusetts. June 14-18, 2006. “Escape Velocity” shown three times during the festival as part of the Shorts Program.
> Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC. June 5-29, 2006. Part of the VSA Arts Show “Tranformations”. A 10 minute version of the film is shown in a continuous loop during the entire run of the show. In the Terrace Gallery.
> Superfest XXVI- International Disabilities Film Festival, Berkeley, California. June 3-4, 2006. America’s premiere Disability Film Festival. “Escape Velocity” was given a Merit Award by the festival.
> The Filmstock International Film Festival, Luton, England. June 1-15, 2006. Huge festival outside London. The European debut for “Escape Velocity”!
> The Maryland Film Festival, Baltimore, Maryland. May 11-14, 2006.
> USA Film Festival, Dallas, Texas. April 30, 2006. “Escape Velocity” is shown and wins First Prize for Experimental Film.
> The Ashland Independent Film Festival, Ashland, Oregon. April 6-10, 2006. 4 day theatrical run for “Escape Velocity”, playing to sold out crowds.
> The Ozark Foothills FilmFest, Batesville, Arkansas. March 24-April 9, 2006.
> The DC Independent Film Festival, Washington, DC. March 2-12, 2006.
> The Carolina Film and Video Festival, Greensboro, North Carolina. Feb. 22-25, 2006.
