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Marlene A. Boonstra MA, AWS-TWSA

PROFILE

I am a studio artist, educator, and performing artist who loves creating art and helping others find their creative voice. My work is predominantly about the relationships between people, places and the things that matter most to them. My principal interests and concerns in teaching and making art is recognizing that, for me, creating art is an act of both profound importance and visual reflection as it is revealed through nature and our relationships with each other.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Timothy Christian Schools, K-8 Art Specialist, Elmhurst IL 2002-2016

Chicago Christian High School, Painting/Drawing/Ceramics

Trinity Christian College, Adjunct Professor in Drawing/Painting/Figure Drawing                      

Peninsula Art School, Door County, WI, Watercolor

Holland Arts Council, Holland MI, Watercolor

Hinsdale Art League, Watercolor Workshop

LaGrange Art League, Watercolor Workshop

Elim Services for Special Needs, Palos Heights, IL Art for Special Needs

SOLO EXHIBITS AND INSTALLATIONS

“Reclaiming Eden” - 2nd Christian Reformed Church of Grand Haven, MI 

“Beyond the Garden Gate" - Western Michigan Community Bank

"Magnolias" - Lemmen-Holton Cancer Center, Grand Rapids                                                            

"Found" - Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids

"Twice Blessed" - Trinity Christian College                               

"Mosaic Sculpture Garden" - Timothy Christian Schools

"Interactions: Light and Shadow" - Northwestern College

"Introspection: The Gaze and the Space" - Governor's State University                                       

"Flatley Center Murals" - Elim Christian Services

EDUCATION

Painting and Drawing, The Palette and Chisel, Chicago, IL

Continuing Studies in Art, The Art Institute of Chicago               

Certification - K-12 Art Specialist, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL

MA in Studio Art, Governor's State University, University Park, IL, Graduate Assistant and Gallery Manager

BA, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL

PUBLICATIONS

Watercolor Magic - Artist Magazine "Featured Artist" - 1999

Best of Watercolor 2 - Rockport Publishers - 1997

Splash 4 and 5 - Northlight Books - 1996-7

Watercolor: A Step-by-Step Guide - M. Beckwith, Rockport Publishers - 1996

DISTINGUISHED AWARDS

Edgar A. Whitney Award

Grumbacher Gold Medallion

Neville Public Museum, Permanent Collection, Green Bay, WI

American Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit

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