CLARA COHAN (United States Born; 1956)
RESIDENCE:
Cape Elizabeth, ME, USA 04107
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2026. âLEND A HANDâ Communal Project, 3rd Floor, Pearl Gallery, Portland, ME
2026 âMaine Wood 2026â, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2024 âMaine Wood 2024â, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2023 â30th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition,â juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2022 âFLIGHT RISK; Fine Art for the Birds,â Maine Audubon Society and Harbor Square Gallery, Rockland, ME
2022 âMaine Wood 2022â, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2021 âAcquired Symbolsâ, Maine Art Gallery, Wiscasset, Maine
2021 âMay 2021 Rage/Love: Goddessâ; Union of Maine Visual Artists, Portland, ME
2020 âGATHERINGâ Clara Cohan; Maine Jewish Museum, Portland, Maine
2020 âAcquired Symbolsâ, Virtual exhibition, Maine Art Gallery, Wiscasset, Maine
2020 âPortland 2020â, juried photography exhibition, Cove Street Arts, 71 Cove Street, Portland, ME
2020 âMaine Wood 2020â, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2019. âAll the Great Treesâ, juried photography exhibition, Creative Portland Gallery, 84 Spring Street, Portland, ME
2019 âNovember Memberâs Showâ, Union of Maine Visual Artists, Portland, ME
2019 âOur Life is One of Lights and Shadowsâ, juried photography exhibition, Union of Maine Visual Artists, Portland, ME
2019 âJune Memberâs Showâ, Union of Maine Visual Artists, Portland, ME
2018 âJourney with a Lensâ; photography by Clara Cohan; Stanhope & Spencer Gallery, Rockland, ME
2018 âMaine Wood 2018â, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2016 âMaine Wood 2016â, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
2014 âLet There Be Lightâ, juried sculpture exhibition, Maine Jewish Museum, Portland, ME
2014 âMaine Wood 2014â, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship
2012 âMaine Wood 2012â, juried exhibition, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
GRANTS:
2019 Maine Arts Commission PROJECT GRANT for âGATHERINGâ, a sculptural interactive installation
2015 Creative Aging Grant: âDrawing for Seniorsâ Creative Aging in America's Libraries, supported by a National Leadership Grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services in collaboration with Lifetime Arts, Inc., AARP Foundation, American Library Association and Westchester Library System. Peaks Island, Portland, ME
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS
2024 The Maine Arts Journal: UMVA Quarterly Spring 2024 issue;âThe Unconscious, the Unknown, the Unsaidâ
2023 The Maine Arts Journal: UMVA Quarterly SUMMER 2023 issue;âIn Balance/Imbalanceâ
2019 The Maine Arts Journal: UMVA Quarterly SPRING 2019 issue; âSanctuaryâ.
2018 The Maine Arts Journal: UMVA Quarterly SPRING 2018 issue; âOrigin Storiesâ
2010 âCollecting Rocks, Gems, and Minerals: Identification, Values, and Lapidaryâ, Patty Poke; Krause Publications. Photographs of Clara Cohanâs stone sculptures and Haiku poems.
1997 Anthology of women artist and writers âFrom the Listening Place: Languages of Intuitionâ; Edited by Margaret Blanchard, Astarte Shell Press; Pages 103-106
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES:
2023-2026 Sculptor in Residence, Pearl Gallery, Portland, ME
2008-2020 Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME: Department of Protective Services, Winslow Homer Studio Team Lead (2012-2020), Assistant Preparator (2017-2018)
2015 Creative Aging Grant:"Drawing for Seniors", Peaks Island, Portland, ME
2014-2016 MECA Pre-College Program; Life Drawing Instructor, Portland, ME
2015 MECA Continuing Studies Department; Instructor of "The Digital Sketchbook" and âDrawing for Seniors", Portland, ME
2015 "Island Drawing", Diamond Cove Art Gallery, Great Diamond Island, Portland, ME
2014 MECA Continuing Studies Department; Drawing Instructor;"Drawing at the Museum", Portland, ME
2003-2011 MAINE SCULPTORS, Co-founder and Co-curator, Portland, ME
2006-2009 Visiting Artist for the âCourtyard Sculpture Projectâ; Middle School, Cape Elizabeth, ME
2008-2010 Casco Bay Wood Carvers: Co-founder and Co-curator; Portland, ME
2001 Round Top Center for the Arts; Sculptorâs Lecture Series; Damariscotta, ME
GALLERY AFFILIATIONS:
2003-2026 Harbor Square Gallery, Camden, ME
2023-2026 Pearl Gallery, Portland, ME
2012, 2014,2016,2018,2020,2022,2023,2024 Messler Gallery at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME
EDUCATION:
2019 Welding Apprenticeship in the Anviljac Studio; Betsy Dawkins Instructor, South Portland, ME
2015 Maine College of Art; Continuing Education; Lost Wax Bronze Casting; Sandy Macleod
2012 Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport, ME; Hand-Tool Carving Tutorial; Instructor, Chris Pye, Master Carver from Hereford, UK
2011 Maine College of Art; Continuing Education; Encaustics; Instructor, Kim Bernard
1999-2000 Apprenticeship with Daniel Newman, Stone Sculptor, Sedona, AZ
1996,1997 Art Students League, New York, NY
1996-2002 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY Intensive 110 hour self-directed study and drawing of major works.
1976-2020 Independent travel and study of the arts and cultures of: Italy, France, Ireland, Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, Germany, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Society Islands of French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaâa, Huahine), Canadian Maritimes, Iceland, Alaska, US Native American tribes of the Southwest, Hawaii, Thailand, Bhutan, Finland, New Zealand, Japan.
1974-1976 Findlay University, Findlay, OH
1971 Chautauqua Art Institute, Chautauqua, NY; Sculptural studies with H.Richard Duhme
1960-1970 Formal Studies with Marie Cohan; Parent and Artist