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Education
1990 Master of Fine Arts, Sculpture, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
1984 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Appalachian Center for Crafts, Tennessee Tech University, Smithville, TN
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Blue Fig Gallery, Nashville, TN
2018 Days & Deeds, Janice Mason Art Museum, Cadiz, KY
2012 Jewels of Wisdom, LAL Lexington, KY
2005 Book Sculptures, TAG Art Gallery, Nashville TN
2004 Continuity, Point B Gallery, Clarksville TN
2000 FLYING SOLO, Woodwinds, Installation, Nashville International Airport, Nashville TN
1996 TEMPORARY CONTEMPORARY, Bound Books, Installation, Cheekwood Museum of Art, Nashville TN
1994 Bound Books, Installation, Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville TN
1992 There's Something About Angels, Tennessee Arts Commission, Nashville TN
1990 Connections, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge LA (MFA Thesis Exhibition)
1984 Embodiments, Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville TN (BFA Exhibition)
Juried Exhibitions
2018 Word Play, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
2006 Private Accounts, AVA Center Gallery, Chattanooga TN
2005 7th Annual Renaissance Regional Art Exhibit, Renaissance Center, Dickson TN
1994 VAANGUARD, Visual Arts Alliance of Nashville, Nashville TN
Water Tower Annual, Louisville Visual Arts Association, Louisville KY (Best of Show)
1993 Tennessee Craft Artists Showcase, Tennessee State Museum, Nashville TN
Magic City Art Connection, Birmingham AL (Purchase Award)
Celebration of Women's History Month, Arts Foundation, Nashville TN
1992 Art Ninety Two, Carroll Reece Museum, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City TN
1991 Showcase 91, Louisville Visual Arts Association, Water Tower Gallery, Louisville KY
1985 Spotlight 85, Southern Arts Federation Traveling Exhibition, Southeast Crafts Council
Metal Expressions, Appalachian Center for Crafts
1983 The Figure, New Form, New Function, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg TN
Group Exhibitions
2008 Gallery Artists, Gopalan Contemporary Art Gallery, Terre Haute IN
2007 Tennessee Masterworks 2007, Tennessee Artists Guild, Madison TN
Modernature, Lotus Space, New York NY
Lucky 7, TAG Art Gallery, Nashville TN
Hometown Favorites, Art & Invention Gallery, Nashville TN
2006 And Now, A Word From Our Sponsors, Art from the permanent collection Tennessee State Museum, Nashville TN
Brawl on the Wall, Faculty Art Show, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville TN
Found: Objects and Imagery As Art, Gallery 121, Belmont University, Nashville TN
2004 Faculty Art Show, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville TN
Plowhaus, Active Members of Artists Co-op, Nashville TN
Tomatoes, Art and Invention Gallery, Nashville TN
2003 Visions of Spring, DAC Gallery, Clarksville TN
Value Menu, Plowhaus, Nashville TN
2002 First Anniversary, Plowhaus, Nashville TN
Out of Our Minds, Zeitgeist, Nashville TN
Riverfest Fine Art Exhibit, Clarksvile TN
Art and Invention, Garage Mahal, Nashville TN
Grand Opening, Little Frog Gallery, Leavenworth IN
Flight, Trahern Gallery, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville TN
1996 Temporary Contemporary Yearbook Show, Cheekwood Museum of Art, Nashville TN
1995 Zeitgeist Portfolio Show, Nashville TN
DADA, Cheekwood Museum of Art, Nashville TN
Riverfest Fine Art Exhibit, Clarksville TN
1994 Bennett Gallery Art Mart, Nashville and Knoxville TN
Found Art, The Gallery on Broadway, Nashville TN
1993 Riverfest Fine Art Exhibit, Clarksville TN
Starry Night with Angels, Clary Sage Gallery, Birmingham AL
Ancient Inspirations, Contemporary Interpretation, The Gallery on Broadway, Nashville TN
Gallery Show, Clary Sage Gallery, Birmingham AL
Contemporary Craft Show, Bennett Gallery, Knoxville TN
Anniversary Show, The Gallery on Broadway, Nashville TN
1992 HEAVAANLY Bodies, Visual Arts Alliance of Nashville, Nashville TN
Industrial, The Gallery on Broadway, Nashville TN
1991 Angels by Artists, Cheekwood Fine Arts Museum, Nashville TN
1990 X Off TEN, Artspace, Beaumont TX
1989 Eight People and Words, Onezieme's, Baton Rouge LA
1988 Pieces of Seven, Foster Gallery, Baton Rouge LA
1986 Southeast Arts Exchange, Nashville TN
1985 Faculty Exhibition, Sarratt Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN
1983 Appalachian Center for Crafts Faculty/Student Exhibition, Murray State Colle, Murray KY
Visions & Revisions, Southeastern Women's Caucus, Nashville TN
1982 Group Exhibition, Converse Colle, Spartanburg NC
1981 ACC Faculty/Student Exhibition, Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville TN
1978 Southern Highlands Crafts Exhibition of student worls from Arrormont School of Arts and Crafts, Asheville NC
Collaborations
1992 Wangs and Thangs, Installation with Rusty Barwick, Trahern Gallery, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville TN
1988 River Construction, Site specific installation with Rusty Barwick
Lectures
2006 ARTISTS FORUM, Frist Center, Nashville TN
Awards
2006 First Place, 3-D Art, Riverfest Fine Art Exhibit, Clarksville TN
2002 Best of Show, Riverfest Fine Art Exhibit, Clarksville TN
1994 Best of Show, Water Tower Annual, Louisville Visual Arts Association, Louisville KY
1993 Best of Show, Riverfest Fine Art Exhibit, Clarksville TN
Purchase Award, Operation New Birmingham, Birmingham AL
1991 Merit Award, Art Ninety One, Johnson City Arts Council, Johnson City TN
Tennessee Arts Commission Solo Exhibition for 1992, Nashville TN
1987 Graduate Assistantship, Louisville State University, Baton Rouge LA
Residency (6 weeks), Banff Centre for Fine Arts, Banff, Alberta Canada
1985 Special Juror's Award, Southeast Crafts Council, Traveling Exhibition
1982 Josh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Oak Ridge TN
Special Projects
2004 College Art Days, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville TN
2002 Artists in Public Schools, Montgomery Central High School, Clarksville TN
1997 Children's Art Installation, Abintra Montessori School, Nashville TN
1993 Created hand-carved frames for Maria Von Matthisen's photography exhibition, Tennessee State Museum, Nashville TN
Juror, Student Art Show, Watkins Institute, Nashville TN
1992 Juror, Showcase '92, Louisville Visual Arts Alliance, Louisville KY
1989 Children's Sculpture Workshop, West Baton Rouge Museum, Port Allen LA
Bibliography (Articles / Reviews / Interviews)
"Mary Sue Kern..." The Nashville Scene, David Maddox, Feb. 17, 2005
"Turning the Page from Book to Art" The Tennessean, Nashville TN, Alan Bostick, March 9, 2005
"Arts Talk" Feature Interview, WPLN, Nashville Public Radio, Susan Knowles, March 10, 2005
"Out of Our Minds" Critical Distance/Critical Debate, Number: an independent journal of the arts, Memphis TN, Jeanne Hamilton, Spring 2003
"Make room for Dada" The Tennessean, Nashvile TN, Alan Bostick, June 15, 1995
"Mary Sue Kern....." Feature Interview, Tennessee Crossroads, Nashville Public Television, Rob Wilds, 1993
"Art for Peace's Sake" Number: an independent journal of the arts, Memphis TN, Daniel Cooper, Fall 1991
"Heavenly sculpture flies high at gallery" Nashville Business Journal, Angela Wibking, September 7-11, 1992
"Mary Sue Kern: Embodied Dualities" Fiberarts, Gallery, Asheville NC, JoEl Loguidice, Sept/Oct 1986
Collections
2004 Tennessee State Museum, Nashville TN (3 purchases)
2001 Tennessee State Museum, Nashville TN (1 purchase)