Donna M. McCullough

ARTIST STATEMENT

Fashion is well known as a reliable reflection of cultural trends and historical events. On a personal level, it has become my creative vehicle for exploring the emotional roller coaster of life.

My inspiration arose from contemplating the dichotomy between the perception of women as fragile, delicate creatures, and the reality that most women are defined by resiliency and steely resolve. I employ a juxtaposition of extremes such as lightness and gravity, suppleness and intransigence, to convey feminine sensibilities.

Crafted of steel and embellished with flourishes of wire mesh, screening, cut-outs and bits of found objects, the dresses are at once both elegant and imposing. I like the duplicitous nature of steel, which can be manipulated to appear feminine and soft while actually maintaining its strength and rigidity—an expression in contrasts and complements.

I work in series.

Two current series include: ”The Kitchen” - this series, woven of coffee, cookie and other tins, delves into the intimate textures of family and friends. The kitchen is the soul of the family, the gathering place, conjuring up delicious smells, and fond memories. The fabric of life is woven into my pieces.

“The Drill Team” - a whimsical take on our oil-driven culture and our passion to be members of a winning team. They are constructed of vintage gas and oil cans and resemble cheerleader outfits.

GALLERY SHOWS

Invitational Exhibitions Abroad
•2005 - 2006 - Museum of Contemporary Art, Merida, Yucatan, MEXICO

“Hermandades Escultoricas: Mexico - USA”

Selected One & Two Person Shows

•2007 - Zenith Gallery - “The Allure of Texture” - Washington, DC

•2006 - Ruth Morpeth Gallery - Hopewell, New Jersey

•2006 - Creative Partners Gallery - Bethesda, MD

•2005 - Ruth Morpeth Gallery - Hopewell, New Jersey

•2004 - Sculpture Garden at The Corporate Office Centre at Tysons II - McLean, VA

•2002 - Ruth Morpeth Gallery - Hopewell, New Jersey

•2002 - Creative Partners Gallery - Bethesda, MD

•2001 - Maryland College of Art and Design - Gudelsky Gallery - Silver Spring, MD

•2000 - Ruth Morpeth Gallery - Hopewell, New Jersey

•1999-2000 - Interim Gallery - The National Press Building - Washington, DC

•1997 - Ruth Morpeth Gallery - Pennington, NJ

Selected Invitational & Juried Shows

•2006 - Hickory Museum Of Art - “NASCAR Inspired” - Hickory, NC - curator Gina Mitchell

•2006 - Zenith Gallery - “Dimensions” - Washington, DC - curator Anne Surak

•2005 - Gallery of Functional Art - “The Group 2005” - Santa Monica, CA

•2004 - Zenith Gallery - “Ready To Wear” - Washington, DC - curator Anne Weber

•2004 - United States Botanic Garden - “Flora, Sculptures of the Natural World” - Washington, DC - curator Lillian Fitzgerald

•2004 - Gallery of Functional Art - “The Group 2004” - Santa Monica, CA

•2003 - Carla Massoni Gallery - Chestertown, MD

•2002 - WPA/Corcoran Invitational - CornerViews - Washington, DC

•2002 - Creative Partners Gallery - “Land Sculpture Studio” - Bethesda, MD

•2002 - Patricia Carlisle Gallery - “The Horse Through the Eyes of the Artist” - Santa Fe, NM

•2002 - Northern Westchester Center for the Arts - “The Horse Show” - Mt. Kisco, NY

•2002 - The Art Center, Steve Austin University - “Texas National” -  Nacogdoches, TX - curator Sandy Skoglund

•2002 - Washington Square -“Sculpture Now/2002” - Washington, DC

•2002 - 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue Sculpture Space - “Inaugural Exhibition” - Washington, DC

•2001- 2002 - Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts - “Out of Tradition” - Wilmington, DE

•2001- 2002 - Mill River Gallery - Ellicott City, MD  — Member’s Choice Award

•2001 - 57 N Fine Art - “The Other Texas” - Washington, DC - curator Lorraine Adams

•2001 - Northern Westchester Center for the Arts - “Spirit of the Horse” - Mt. Kisco, NY

•2001 - Studio 7 -“Through the Looking Glass” - Washington, DC

•2000 - The Ellipse Art Center “Way Off The Rack, Costume As Sculpture” - Arlington, VA - curator Trudi Van Dyke

•2000 - Grounds for Sculpture “Washington Sculptors Group”- Hamilton, NJ

•2000 - Washington Square -“Sculpture Now/2000 - Apocalypse”- Washington, DC

•1999 - The Corcoran Museum of Art - “4th Corcoran Alumni Hemicycle Exhibition” - Washington, DC

•1999 - William G. Kenton Gallery, International Museum of the Horse -“Fall Showcase of Equine Art” - Lexington, Kentucky — Museum Director’s Award

•1999 - Madison-Morgan Cultural Center -“Celebration of the Horse - The Horse in Fine Art”-  Madison, Georgia

•1998 - Washington Ballet’s Fannie May Gallery -“Interpretation of Dance in the Visual Arts” - Washington, DC

•1998 - The Target Gallery - “Portrait as Icon” - Alexandria, VA

•1998 - Museum of the Americas - “Neighbors: The Corcoran at the OAS” - Washington, DC

•1998 - Washington Square - “Sculpture Now / 98” The Figure - Washington, DC

•1996 - Washington Square - “Corcoran Faculty & Students” - Washington, DC

•1996 - The Corcoran School of Art - White Walls Gallery - Washington, DC

PUBLIC ARTWORK

COMMISSIONS

•2003 - St. Bede’s Catholic Church - Floor Mosaic - Williamsburg- VA

•2002 - Bowie City - Outdoor Steel Sculpture - Sussex Park - Bowie, MD

•2001 - Bowie State University - Outdoor Steel Sculpture - Bowie, MD

•2001 - Mater Dei School - Outdoor Wood Sculpture - Bethesda, MD

•1989 - Baltimore City Anti-Graffiti Program - Outdoor Mural - Baltimore, MD

GRANTS/AWARDS

•2002 - Member’s Choice Award - Baltimore Sculptors Group Annual Show - Ellicott City, MD

•1999 - Museum Director’s Award –

“Fall Showcase of Equine Art”William G. Kenton Gallery, International Museum of the Horse” - Lexington, Kentucky

•1997 - Money for Women/Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, Inc. - Brooklyn, NY

MEMBERSHIPS

•Washington Sculpture Group - Board of Directors

•Washington Project for the Arts

•Baltimore Sculptors Group - Sculptors Inc.

•International Sculpture Center

•Corcoran Alumni Association

TRAVEL STUDY

•1998 - Study with Mauro Berretinni - Serra de Rapolano, Italy

PUBLISHED

Books, Publications &Broadcasts

•Weekend Express

•HGTV

•Lark Books

•Crafts Report

•Santafean Magazine

•The Chronicle of the Horse

•Montgomery Cable Channel

•Montgomery Gazette

•Princeton Packet

•Equine Images Magazine

•THE ARTFUL PIE, By Renee Comet & Lisa Cherkasky - Chapters Publishing, Ltd.

•The Washington Post

•International Design Journal

•Publish Magazine

•The Baltimore Sun PUBLISHED