Monica Furmanski - Artist Statement

In my work, I challenge traditional notions about the function of photography. My photographs explore the viewer’s perception and expectations, and can be seen as a revival of how we consider the photographic image, particularly within the context of digital media and its relationship with analog photography. I hope to activate the standard viewer/image relationship, extending the possibilities of photography beyond its traditional application. In my work, I explore the conspicuous elements in a photograph that do not exist in the material world by providing the minimal amount of visual information to the viewer, diluting, and distilling the photographic image. I want the viewer to struggle to observe the visual information, and at the same time confront how one knows something to be true, and what one thinks they expect or understand about a photographic image. I am revisiting the performative ways in which I like to photograph- considering the landscape, travel, time, motion, and memory. I am using the digital camera to capture information that plays with the viewers perception and a line where photography may intersect with other mediums, such as painting and video. Working with video and still images, I am constructing multiple layers of imagery shot at varying exposure settings. I plan on continuing this exploration, and I also plan on integrating analog photography into this process as well – photographing with my medium format camera and then working with the images digitally and in the darkroom. I will continue to challenge traditional notions of photography, working with digital and analog photography, site specific installations, as well as with video. 

About

Monica Furmanski is a Portuguese-American born and raised in Southern California. She studied art and photography at Scripps College, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Art, and at The Claremont Graduate School, where she received her Master of Fine Art. While attending undergraduate school, Furmanski worked as a studio assistant for John Baldessari, a a darkroom assistant to Susan Rankaitis, and as a teaching assistant to Nancy Macko at Scripps College. Furmanski started teaching in 2006 and is currently an Assistant Professor of Photography at Ventura College where she teaches digital and analog photography. Since 2007, she and her husband Matthew Furmanski, co-direct the artist run gallery, 643 Project Space, in Ventura, CA.Furmanski has been working with photography, both digital and analog, for the past 25 years, and continues to challenge traditional notions about the function of photography. Her work is in the Samella Lewis Contemporary Art Collection, the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, the Community Memorial Hospital Permanent Collection, and numerous private collections. She exhibited in many venues, which include Photo L.A. in Los Angeles and in Berlin, Germany, and recently in a solo exhibition at Napa Hall Gallery, CSU, Channel Islands and in a group exhibition in Los Angeles.

 

EDUCATION:

Masters of Fine Art, Claremont Graduate University
Bachelor of Fine Art, Scripps College

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Assistant Professor of Photography, Ventura College, 2022- Present

Adjunct Instructor, Department of Art, Ventura College, 2016-2022

Art Instructor, Cate School, 2011-2022
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Art, Ventura College, 2007-2011
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Art, Oxnard College, 2006-2007
Instructor, Learning to See Outreach Program, Ventura, 2006-2007
Teaching Assistant, Scripps College, 2002-2003


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Co-curator/co-Director 643 Project Space in Ventura, CA. An artist run gallery, 2007 - present

Studio Assistant, John Baldessari 1994-1996

Studio Assistant, Susan Rankaitis 1995-1996

AWARDS/ FELLOWSHIPS:

Gerd Koch and Carole Milton Fellowship Award

Documented Artist, Focus on the Masters, 2009

2002 - 2003 Millard Sheets Fellow, Scripps College, CA
Ahmanson Fellow, Claremont Graduate University, CA 

1994 Junior Fellowship, Humanities Institute,Scripps College 

PUBLICATIONS/CATALOGUES:

Women and Print, A Contemporary View, Essay by Margaret Mathews-Berenson

Ventura Life and Style, Late summer edition 2007


Monica and Matt Furmanski at the Atkinson, Casa Magazine, August 24, 2007, Andria Watson


L.A. Galleries: Clare Rojas Joins the frat party, Los Angeles Times, Calendar, April 27, 2007


Supersonic, Art Net, August 2004, Patrick Deegan


The Office Space, The Orange County Weekly, April/May 2003


Out of Place, The Claremont Courier, front page, January 2003


A Room With a View, Raid Projects Journal, Los Angeles, CA, September 2002


An Interview with Three Artists Recently Shown at Bliss, Newsletter on the Arts, Diana Zlotnick, Collector and Art Advisor, May/June 2002


Of Shadow and Sun, catalogue for exhibition at Bliss, Pasadena, April 2002


Essay by Eric Weiss (aka Jon Furmanski), exhibition curated by Kenneth Riddle


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS: (* solo exhibition)

2019 *Artifact, CSU, Channel Islands, Napa Hall Gallery, Camarillo, CA

Group Exhibition, LACDA, Los Angeles, CA. Curated by Joel Ferree of LACMA and Joanna Szupinska-Myers of the California Museum

of Photography.

2018 “The Next Big Thing,” SCIART, Camarillo, CA. Curated by Peter Frank

2016  Photo L.A., Los Angeles

           "You Are Here," Surrogate Gallery Project, Pasadena, CA. Curated by Kristine Schomaker

           "You Are Here," Moorpark College, CA. Curated by Erika Lizee

2015  Photo L.A., Berlin, Germany

           "Lark," a collaboration between Matthew and Monica Furmanski, CSU, Channel Islands

          "Fixture," a collaboration between Matthew and Monica Furmanski, McNish Gallery,Oxnard College, CA

2014  Women and Print, Williamson Gallery, Scripps College, Claremont, CA, Curated by Mary MacNaughton
and catalog essay by Margaret Berensen

2012  Flights of Pattern, Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura, CA
Collaboration with ceramics artist Janet Neuwalder

2011  Metallic, Raid Projects, Los Angeles, CA, Curated by Daniel Aksten


5 x 5 An Invitational, Westmont Museum, Santa Barbara, CA

2010  Draft, 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA

2009  On the Shoulder’s of Davids, Jaus, Los Angeles, CA

Selected Curiosities, Brand Library, Glendale, CA

Preservation/Conservation, Los Angeles International Airport, Terminal 3, Los Angeles, CA

2008  Place in Time: Contemporary Landscape, Williamson Gallery, Scripps College, Claremont, CA, Curated by Mary Macnaugton
Recent Acquisitions, Williamson Gallery, Scripps College, Claremont, CA


Convergent Topologies, Digital Works on Paper Exhibition, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, WA, Co-curated with Barbara Robertson


One Night Stand, Christine’s Garage, Oxnard, CA


Faculty Exhibition, Ventura College, Ventura, CA

2007  Forest for the Trees (an installation), Atkinson Gallery, Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA


*Cryptofloriography , Fringe Exhibition, Chung King Rd., Chinatown, L.A., CA


*Cryptofloriography, Upfront Gallery, Ventura, CA


Celebration SCIART: 10th Anniversary Exhibition, SCIART, Camarillo, CA


Art of Photography Show, Lyceum Theatre Gallery,San Diego, CA. Tim Wride, juror. 


W.O.P. “with out passport”, Brewery Project, LosAngeles, CA 

2006  Blips, Drips and Strips, Upfront Gallery, Ventura, CA, Curated by Christine Morla and Paul Benavidez


The Big Picture at the Small Gallery, Peggy Phelps Gallery, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, Curated by David Pagel

2005  *Submerged, Oxnard College, Oxnard, CA, Curated by Christine Morla


Carpool, 18th Street Complex, Santa Monica, CA

2004  *Land and Sea, Huntington Beach Art Center, CA, Curated by Darlene D’Angelo


Supersonic, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA


Centered on the Center, Huntington Beach Art Center, CA

2003  *Land and Sea (an installation), Peggy Phelps Gallery, Claremont Graduate University, CA


Picture Me This, The Office Space, Huntington Beach, CA, Curated by Chris Hoff


Surely, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA


Shift, The Office Space, Huntington Beach, CA, Curated by Chris Hoff


*Displaced Landscape: Triple Palms, Scripps College, Steele Hall


Centered on the Center, Huntington Beach Art Center, CA. 

2002  Welcome, Peggy Phelps Gallery, Claremont Graduate University Big Wave IV, Andrew-Shire Gallery, Los Angeles, Curated by Young An

A Room With a View, Raid Projects, Los Angeles, Curated by Max Presneill


Of Shadow and Sun, Bliss, Pasadena, CA., Curated by Kenneth Riddle

2001  Open House, Danny First Space, Los Angeles


PERMANENT COLLECTIONS:

Samella Lewis Contemporary Art Collection, Williamson Gallery, Scripps College, Claremont, CA

Hyatt Regency, San Francisco

Community Memorial Hospital Art Collection, Ventura, CA

John Baldessari, Mr. And Mrs. Michael Reafsnyder. Kim Schoenstadt, Amy Hall
Randy Ginsberg, Cheryl Ann Thomas, Paul Benavidez, Margaret Tranovich, Caroline Friend
Nancy Macko, Jan Blair, Christine Morla, Bernadette Richardson, Ric and Julie Sletten