Théodora Jonsson-Curraín

Artworks for environmental and cultural awareness

Théo has been working as an artist and anthropologist. Her work makes visual comparisons in the relationships between mammals and humans in the environment. Since 2005, she has been working on projects in living cultural heritage that involve immersing herself in another culture and collaborating with native people in an endeavor of their own making, see above “Art in Community.”

Théo works from a direct connection with the land. “Exploring the geology of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia coastline, by foot and by boat, have shaped me.” between highest peaks and the deepest fjords I find a fragility and balance on the thin, human plane we occupy.

She has collected tree saps and resins from the Pacific Northwest and worldwide to reduce into paint resins which she uses in her paintings and printmaking to express the essence of the ancient trees she has traveled to visit. Her unique research into ancient paint binders is reflected in her work and master studies at Simon Fraser University, BC.

Théo makes prints from sound vibrations in whales and nature incorporated with her visual vocabulary expressed in glass and paint evolved through observing shapes transformed by moving water, rock and ice. The material process of transformation due to heat, cooling and tension interests me, speaking of eons of evolution and the climate changes affecting us today and mirror experiences of reduction, decay and regeneration.

Her work has been exhibited at the Museum of Northwest Art, The Whatcom Art Museum, Pilchuck Glass School, Cygnus Gallery, Perry Carlson Gallery, Smith and Vallee Gallery, the University of Washington, The National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, OMAI International Exhibition, Mendoza, Argentina, Studio One International Art Festival in Kinsale Ireland, Wellington International Arts Festival, Arte Contemporanea in Rome Italy, and the International Sculpture Exhibition in Munster Germany.

www.theodorajonsson.com/ofmethodandmeaning.com 

 

 
  • Books

    The Barn Shows, Mystic Artists of Skagit Valley. 2019

    http://www.lavonenewellreimfinearts.com/the-barn-shows-a-living-time-capsule/the-barn-shows

    In The Valley of Mystic Light. An oral history of Skagit Valley artists. 2017

    https://www.amazon.com/Valley-Mystic-Light-History-Skagit/dp/1640081615

    Publication

    Stylistic Abstraction and Gesture in Pecos River Style Pictographs, Lower Pecos Region, Texas. Conference Presentation by James Burr Harrison Macrae, M.A. and Theodora Jonsson-Macrae

    Papers

    Cross Cultural Ingredients and Scientific Analysis Techniques for Identifying Old World and Ancient Paint Mediums 2021

    Possible paint binder in the Pecos River style Rock art of Southwest Texas, dating 2,500-4,000 years ago and methods for testing for binders. 2021

  • Perry Carlson Gallery

    Cygnus Gallery

    https://gallerycygnus.com/artists/nggallery/page/2/image/theodora-jonssons

    Museum of Northwest Art/Mindful Waters: Life in the Salish Sea

    Whatcom Museum

  • Théodora Jonsson-Curraín

    www.ofmethodandmeaning.com

    206-612-9446

    Resume

    Education

    2024 MA Archaeology. Worldwide Survey of Paint Binders. Simon Fraser University, B.C. Canada

    2003 BFA Painting, University of Washington

    2003 BA General Arts and sculpture, UW

    2003 Minor Art History, UW

    1998 Apprenticeship Printmaking with Mario Teleri, Rome, Italy.

    Exhibitions:

    2022 Equinox, Canopy Art Space, Blanchard, WA

    2021 Perry Carlson Gallery, Solo Exhibition. Arroyas. February

    2020 Perry Carlson Gallery, A delicate Balance:Life in the Skagit. March 2020

    2019 Winter Electricity Series, Cygnus Gallery Online, April, 2019

    2017 Resident Artist, University of Hawaii Manoa. Honalulu, HI. Collaboration with Marine Biology Dept. with printmaking whale calls.

    2017 Resident Artist, Gurreneasig Irish School, Ballenspittle IR. Directed Film “Water at my Doorstep.” Mural painted, “Traditional Currachs and Shark Whale Harvest.”

    2017 “Resist,” Perry Carlson Gallery. Mount Vernon WA. “History Repeats Itself.” Anti-War Posters, Vitreography Printmaking. August 017

    2017 “Peace In Peace Out,” 16 large scale paintings with at risk youth in Skagit County. Barns across Skagit County.

    2017 Perry Carlson Gallery, Mount Vernon Wa. Exhibiting Whale Call prints with Skagit Women Print. March 2017 OMAI International Exhibition, Mendoza, Argentina. November 2017.

    2016. “SURGE,” Museum of Northwest Art. September. Partnership with scientists and artists. Jonsson and Oceanographer Tarang khangaonkar

    2016 “From the Heart,” Cygnus Gallery. August through September. 2016

    2016 “Skagit Women Print/Guy Anderson: Painter as Printmaker,” Shack Art Center. Everett WA. Jan-Feb 2016

    2015 “Paul Heald Retrospective and Friends,” The Barn Show. Mount Vernon WA. August

    2015. “Friends of Fish,” Edison Eye Gallery. Edison Wa. May 2015

    2015 “Skagit Women Print,” Shoreline Community College. January 2015

    2014 “Excellence Award in Painting”, Anacortes Arts Festival, Juried Exhibition. August 2014

    2014 Anchor Art Space, “Skagit Women Print,” Collective Exhibition. Introduction by Sheila Farr. July-August 2014.

    2014. Smith and Valee, “Atmospheres” Edison Wa. March 2014

    2013. Solo Presentation, “Arts Alive,” La Conner WA. November 1,2,3 2013.

    2013. Glasplastik und Garten, International Exhibition and outdoor sculpture Garden. Munster, Germany. August 17-Sept. 8th 2013.

    2013. “Nature in the Balance.” Whatcom Museum, Bellingham WA. July 6-Sept 22, 2013

    2013. “From Here to There.” Smith and Vallee Gallery, Edison, WA. June1-30,

    2013. Skagit Valley College Gallery Exhibition of blown and etched glass and Vitreography.Jan. 15, 2013- March 3, 2013

    2012 COCA Seattle, Alive/Dead Exhibition, COCA Gallery, November-Dec.

    2012. Arts Alive, La Conner City Council Arts Exhibition, Opening Nov. 2nd,

    2012 Pilchuck Glass School Gallery. Printshop Coordinator, cast glass and print. August 2012

    2012. “Deep Listening,” Five Skagit Women artists. Cygnus Gallery, La Conner, WA. July-Aug. 26th.

    2012. “On to the Next One,” NW Printmakers. Exhibition and demonstration. Smith and Vallee Gallery, Edison, WA. June 2-30th.

    2011. Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle. 19th Annual Art Marathon

    2011. Arts Alive: Juried Northwest Arts Exhibition. Nov. 4-6, 2011 La Conner

    2011. Museum of Northwest Art, Permanent Collection. The First Thirty Years: Mona Collects. Oct 8-Jan 1, 2011

    2011. 10x10x10 Tieton. Juried Exhibition of Art, Craft, Print & Photography. Mighty Tieton Gallery, Wa

    2011. Cygnus Gallery Exhibition Solo with Maggie Wilder: Seeking Source, video installation, cast and printed glass. September/October 2011

    2011. Whatcom Museum of History and Art. Fate of the Forest Exhibition. June 4 -September 18, 2011. Bellingham, WA.

    2011. Finding Source: Video/Blown Glass Installation. Pilchuck Glass School. July 2011

    2011 Pilchuck Glass School Gallery. Printshop Coordinator, vitreography. July

    2011. Salish Sea Exhibition. Smith and Vallee Gallery, Edison, WA. June, 2011

    2011. Skagit County Historical Museum: Paint Me A River, Sept. 23-Dec 31

    2011. Glass Whale Bones exhibited at Smith and Vallee Gallery, Edison WA

    2011 National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, Generation to Generation Glass Show. Pennsylvania. March 24 - April 24, 2011. Selected ten artists including Paul Marioni and Keke Cribbs.

    2011. Museum of Northwest Art, Solo Exhibition, Benaroya Gallery.

    Mindful Waters: Life in the Salish Sea. La Conner WA January/March

    2011 Glass Whale Bones with Lanny Bergner, Anchor Art Space Anacortes WA. Febuary 2011

    2010 Arts Alive Exhibition, Artist Invitational, La Conner WA, November

    2010 Kinsale Arts Festival, Studio One, Group Show, July, Kinsale Ireland EU

    2010 River Landscapes, Water Shapes: Jonsson/ Wilder, Sept/Nov.

    Cygnus Gallery, La Conner

    2010 Morris Graves Invitational Exhibition with Charlie Kraft, August, Tashiro Kaplan Space, Seattle WA

    2010 Birds, August, Smith Valee Gallery, Edison WA

    2010 Anacortes Arts Festival, July, Northwest Image Gallery Commission

    2010 In The Hall of Light, Video editor, production assistant and music debut with Maggie Wilder at the Poetry Festival, May, La Conner WA

    2010 Texture Gallery, May, Selected Group Show, Anacortes WA

    2009. Cygnus Gallery, Febuary, selected show, Honoring Poetry Festival

    2009 Texture Gallery, Pollination, Solo show. Anacortes Wa. Dec/Febuary

    2009 Marc’s On Pine, Holographica, Solo Show. Mount Vernon Wa. November

    2009 Kinsale Art Festival, Studio One, Intaglio prints group show. July. Kinsale, Ireland

    2009 Glass House Project, etched glass, printmaking, Recovery Cafe Seattle May 2008-April 2009, glasshouseproject.blogspot.com

    2009 Arts Alive Group show, November. La Conner, Wa.

    2009 Paint Me a River, La Conner Historical Museum, Ocober-January

    2009 Seaside Gallery Group Painting show, August. La Conner Wa.

    2009 Skagit Valley Studio Tour July 2009

    2009 Edison Eye, Edison Wa. Decay, group show. August

    2009 Rexville Gallery, Solo show, May, Skagit Valley WA.

    2008 Skagit Valley Hospital Collective show, May, Mt Vernon, WA

    2008 Insights Gallery, Anacortes, Washington. June/July.

    2008 Sandpiper Gallery, Polson, Montana. Selected Group Show, June-July.

    2008 Insights Gallery, Anacortes, Washington. USA. January-Febuary.

    2005 Art Not Terminal, Seattle, WA. Selected Group Show, July 2005

    2004 Pilchuck Selected Glass Show, Pilchuck WA

    2003 Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Painting Exhibition and Installation

    Seattle, WA.

    2002 Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Juried Group Exhibition Seattle, WA.

    2002 Anacortes Arts Festival, Anacortes WA. Selected group exhibition. Juror Alden Mason.

    2001 Parnassus Gallery, Seattle, WA

    Solo Exhibition.

    2001. ForceMassVolume, Art Drill, Sandpoint Naval Base, Seattle. Selected group exhibition.

    2000 Café Culture, Wellington International Arts Festival, 2000

    1998. Arte Contemporanea, Mostra Di Pittura. Rome, Italy.

    1998 Campo di Fiori, Installation and Performance Show Rome, Italy.

    Bibliography:

    2019 The Barn Shows, “Theodora’s work inspired from working with mentors William Slater and John Simon.

    2018 La Conner Weekly, “Northwest Visionary Contemporaries.” March 14.

    2017 In the Valley of Mystic Light, “Theodora an upcoming Mystic Painter.” Published in October 2017

    2017 “Voices of the Children Mural,” Mount vernon WA. Skagit Herald, July

    2017 Faces of the Skagit, “Artist Theodora Jonsson works with youth and Voices of the Children...”April 2017. Skagit Herald

    2011 “The Great, Chilly Outdoors: artists lead a class of landscape and light drawing,” The Argus: Skagit Valley Publishing Co. Nov. 1, 2011

    2011 “Gathering Inspiration,” The Natural Enquirer: Skagit Valley Co-op/Augus

    2011 The Seattle Times, Forest Groves and Mountain Vistas, Fate of the forest exhibition at the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham. Theodora Jonsson’s work is highlighted as one worth seeing.

    2011 La Conner Weekly News by Amy Lynn Richards. Hard-court press rolls into La Conner: Steam Roller Art Project by Artist Theodora Jonsson and local artists and Swinomish Youth. June 8, 2011

    2011 The Argus: Skagit Publishing, The Great chilly Outdoors! Artists Theodora Jonsson and Sarah Detzer led a class on landscape and light drawing that captivated students’ attention...Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011.

    2011 Kee Yoks Swinomish Tribal Newspaper. Theodora is new face and teacher. Robin Carneen, Vol 45 Issue 6. June 2011

    2011 La Conner Weekly News. Kathy Stevens Photodocumentation of Theodora Jonsson as the next generation of Skagit Artist at Cygnus Gallery, La COnner WA. Febuary 23,2011. Susan McKeehan.

    2011 Wild/Life, When nature isn’t natural. Cascdia Weekly News, Jan 8, 2011. Amy Kepferle

    2010 Remembering John Simon, Friend and Mentor, Theodora Jonsson, Skagit Valley Artists Together Review, July 2010

    2010 In The Hall of Light, Skagit Vally Film, The Skagit Herald, Anna Fernandes, May

    2008 “Artist Wins Film Award,” The La Conner Weekly News, WA. Nov. 19th

    2005 Cronin, Olga. “Campaign kicks off to raise funds for making of documentary: M.E.P. Kathy Sinnott backs film on autism.” The Echo, Cork Ireland, February 22, 2005

    2004 Bargreen, Melinda. “Twelve area Artists put their colorful variations on violins,” The Seattle Times, Seattle, WA July 26, 2004

    2003 Brook McKean. “Perception Construct installation at Parnassus Gallery.” The Daily Newspaper, Seattle, WA May 2003

    2002 Walbeck, Nancy. “Juried Fine Art Show....” Theodora selected artist.

    The Anacortes Review, September, 2002

    Residencies/Further Work Experience:

    2011 Pilchuck Glass School Glass Workshop with Charlie Cohen

    2004 Pilchuck Glass School Glass Workshop with John Reyntein

    2004 Vermont Studio Center Residency

    2000 Work with independent artists. Auckland, New Zealand.

    1998 Printmaking, Mario Teleri. Temple University, Rome.

    1997 UW Studio Arts Program, Rome.

    Honors /Awards/Grants:

    2012 Paul Allen Grant for La Conner Art Glass research and business dev.

    2011 Pilchuck Glass School Scholarship

    2011 La Conner Arts Counsel grant for teaching block printing, Journeys Project.

    2008 Best Short Documentary Award, Waterford Film Festival, November

    2005 Irish Member of Parliament funding for Autism Film Documentary, Kathy Sinnott

    2004 Pilchuck Glass School Scholarship

    2004 Vermont Sutdio Center Full Fellowship

    2004 Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra’s Ten Northwest Artists, Auction.

    2002 Milnor Roberts Scholarship in Art

    1997. Lambda Rho Scholarship to study in Rome.

    2002, 2001, 1997, 1996 Honors in Academics, University of Washington, Seattle

    Instruction/Presentation/Workshops

    2023 Elements in Creating an Archaeological Landscape in the Ancestral Lands of the Indigenous Peoples in the San Juan Islands, Washington. Talk given by Theodora J. Macrae at Simon Fraser University Seminar Series, September 14, 2023

    2019 Stylistic Abstraction and Gesture in Pecos River Style Pictographs, Lower Pecos Region, Texas. Presentation for 2019 90th Annual Texas Archaeology Society, Amarillo TX. James Burr Harrison Macrae, M.A. and Theodora Jonsson-Macrae M.A. Candidate Simon Fraser University.

    2015 Pilchuck Glass School, “The Glass Matrix,” Rayzist and Vitreography workshop. TA for Charlie Cohan. May 21-29th 2015

    2015 Pilchuck Glass School, Printmaking Instructor. “The Glass Plate,” Vitreography Workshop. Feb 21-22nd.

    2014-2015 Printmaking Instruction from Aeden Studios, La Conner WA

    2012 Vitreo Studios, Vitreography workshop. Printmaking from the glass plate. March 2012.

    2012 Vitreo Studios, Color History and mixing colors from earth in the skagit valley. Fieldtrip March 2012.

    2012. Vitreo Studios, Authentic Abstraction/Drawing: the structure of painting. March-April

    2012. Vitreo Studios, Expressive Printmaking. Monotype, the gesture of moving water. March- April.

    2011. Pilchuck Glass School. Printshop Coordinator, Vitreography. August/Sept

    2011. Pilchuck Glass School. Printshop Coordinator, Vitreography. June-July

    2011. Journeys Printmaking Event Director. Gathering Northwest and Native Artists for three exhibitions including the Canoe Journey and Anacortes Arts Festival.

    2011 Journeys Printmaking. Instructor for relief printing and linoleum carving.

    Adults and Teens. April -June 2011 Swinomish Youth Center.

    2011. Instructor for “Expand your Horizons” with Watercolor on Vellum paper. Museum of Northwest Art, April 23

    2011. Instructor for “Cycle of Artmaking,” Art and Discussion, Febuary-march, The Red Barn, La Conner WA

    2011Co-Instructor for “Expect the Unexpected,” with Maggie Wilder. Seeing art making in a new ways. Cygnus Gallery, La Conner WA

    2010. Instructor for “Ceramics for the Abstract Mind,” Aeden studios, La Conner Wa, June-July

    2010 Instructor for “Outdoor Art Expereinces,” Aeden Studios, La Conner WA, January-July

    2008/9 Recovery Cafe Etching Circle. Art Club and Final Installation of works completed by individuals in recovery. Recovery Cafe Building, Belltown Seattle WA.

    2006 Instructor for Adult Figure Drawing Instruction. Aloha ArtsCenter, Kauai, Hawaii. c/o Carol Yotsuda

    2006 Production Assistant of “Kauai’s Great Weigh Out” Documentary, Hoola, Kauai

    2006-7 Producer of Film Documentaries, “Autism: A Call to Action,” and A Lion In the Room, Ireland

    2004-5 Art Director for art and sensory workshops with OT Linda Baker. Cork, Ireland

    2003-4 Instructor for Drawing and Painting, Aeden Studios, Fremont, Seattle

    2003-4 Glass Beading assemblage for artists Sabrina Knowles and Jenny Pohlman.

    2002 Sounds Underwater, Lake Union, Seattle WA. with visual artist Trimpin, 206-323-3471

    2001/2002 Rockwood Enterprises, Seattle WA. City of Kirkland and UW

    Public Sculpture Restoration. Linda Rockwood

    1998. Elliott/Brown Gallery, Seattle WA. Gallery Installation, glass handling and packing.

    Kate Elliott.

    Private and Permanent Collections

    2011 Museum of Northwest Art, "Night Mother,” permanent collection.

    2010 Northwest Image Gallery, Comission, opening Anacorters Arts Festival.

    2006 Coglan Summer House, Myrtleville, Ireland.

    2004 Janusz Walentynowicz private collection.

    2002 Springboard Productions Installation Corvallis, OR

    2002 Caroline Trindle, London, England, Private Collection

    2002 George Sale & Joan Sutliff, Bainbridge Is., WA. Private Collection

    2001. Lauren Kramer & Rion Dudley, Seattle, WA. Private Collection

    2000. Brigitte and Hughe Setter

    Auckland New Zealand. Private Collection

Of Method and Meaning began as a series of discussions and collaborations with fellow artists worldwide reflecting on their studio life, work and customs. Conversations sparked by curiosity and other esoteric discussions:

Théo and Johanna N. Marquis sought out ancient trees for over two decades. She sat among them and hiked and slept beneath their arbors. Entranced by their lifespans and growing ecosystems intertwining our lives, stories and futures….we engaged activism in our efforts to save them and to educate others of their significance.

Painting “every step a prayer” on the ancient remains of cedar and Doug fir giants washed up on our west coast beaches, making signage beneath ancients whose exposed roots were being trodden, collaborating in painting events beneath the trees and in public areas by creating large scrolls illustrating the gestures and movements these tree beings inhabit inspired awe and conversations with passers-by about them. In these moments, I was left with a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear and wonder for our lives and theirs.

An island off Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, hosts roughly twelve of these ancient trees. A short ride in a skiff from town will get a person there and a good pair of hiking boots for the rough trails strewn with trunks and branches from winter storms. This place is guarded by spirits and ancestors. You need permission to be here. These trees are so large that one can walk inside their room-size trunks. In past and present, native elders have visited these giants in order to gain insight and wisdom during times of challenge or change.

Théodora speaks with people, artists and elders, connecting through story, about their life’s work. This project is a series of discussions with creative people who share a method of working by drawing on a process from a sense of place.

 

 
 

Of Method and Meaning