Gallery |
Artist
Statement: On Making
To answer the question ‘what do I want to make?’ is to have a vision,
to externalize, and to create a doctrine. But to answer the question
‘given these parameters, how will I make something?’ is to manifest
internalized experiences, to create poetry.
All things, under close enough observation, will reveal the complete
stories of their making. My objects simply reveal themselves much more
readily than most, and therefore hope to teach us something about
looking.
The spirit of science, of discovery and illumination, is central to my
art. Ultimately, everything made is first found. Yet, for both art
and science, successful work must allow others not to simply
rediscover what you have discovered, but to make, through the work,
their own discoveries. The work then remains alive. Every thing has a
source. When the order of things eludes us, we often mistake
complexity for chaos, and therefore miss the wonderful sources of
things.
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Education: |
M.F.A.
Sculpture, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
B.A. Visual Arts, Bowdoin College,
Brunswick, ME
School of the Visual Arts, New York, NY
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Residencies: |
Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, Artist Residency, Bethany,
Connecticut, 2009
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Residency, Omaha, NE, 2008
Art Omi International Arts Residency, Ghent, NY, 2005
MacDowell Colony, Artist in Residency, Peterborough, NH, 2004
Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT, 2004
Plane Space, Artist in Residence, New York, 2003
Dorland Mountain Arts Colony, Temecula, CA, 2001
Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT, 2000
Ucross Foundation, Clearmont, WY, 2000 |
Exhibitions: |
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2008 |
Zg Gallery,
"Ben Butler, New Sculptures & Works on Paper," Chicago, IL
see reviews |
2007 |
Ben Butler: Castles, Coleman Burke Gallery, Brunswick, ME
Whitney Art Works, Tiny, Portland, Maine
Zg Gallery,
"Summer Show," Chicago, IL |
2006 |
Bridge Art Fair – Miami, Zg Gallery, Miami, FL
(Un)Natural History,
group show, Zg Gallery, Chicago, IL
Bowdoin Alumni Print Exhibition, ICON Gallery,
Brunswick, ME
“Perfect,” Traveling Group Show, The Illinois State Museum, Lockport
Gallery, Lockport, IL
“Perfect,” Traveling Group Show, The Illinois State Museum, Southern
IL Art Gallery, Wittington, IL
“Ben Butler: New Work,” Suyama Space, Seattle, WA
Gallery Artist, Inaugural Show,
John Davis Gallery, Hudson, NY
Summer 2006,
Group Show, Zg Gallery, Chicago, IL
Art Chicago in the Park, participating artist with Zg Gallery,
Chicago, IL |
2005 |
Zg Gallery, “Working Process: A Glimpse into the Artist’s Studio
Practice,” group show, Chicago, IL
FermiLab Scientific Research Facility Art Gallery, “Perfect,”
Traveling Group Show, Batavia, IL
Plane Space, “Ben Butler: New Sculptures,” New York, NY
Art Museum of the Univ. of Memphis, “Perfect,” Traveling Groups Show,
Memphis, TN
Quogue Library, Ben Butler: Sculpture on the Grounds, Quogue, NY
Contemporary Arts Center, “Perfect,” Traveling Group Show, New
Orleans, LA
Zg Gallery, “Summer Show 05’,” Chicago, IL
Northeastern Illinois University Art Gallery, “Ben Butler: New
Sculptures”
Urban Institute of Contemporary Art, “Perfect,” Traveling Group Show,
Grand Rapids, MI
Zg Gallery,
"Ben Butler, New Sculptures & Works on Paper," Chicago, IL
see reviews |
2004 |
Plane Space,
"Drawings," New York, NY
Zg Gallery,
"Summer
Show '04" Chicago, IL
Chicago
Cultural Center, Michigan Ave. Galleries, "Perfect" a
group show, Chicago, IL |
2003 |
Zg Gallery,
"As
Small As Possible," A Group Show, Chicago, IL
Plane Space,
"Ben Butler, New Work," New York, NY
Evanston Art Center Sculpture on the
Grounds,
“Waiting,” (with Rena Leinberger) Evanston, IL
Gallery 400, "Depiction,” University of Illinois,
Chicago, IL
Zg Gallery, “Species &
Sediment,” Installation & Sculpture by Ben Butler, Chicago, IL
see review |
2002 |
Zg Gallery, “12” x 12” A Group
Show”, Chicago, IL
MN Gallery, The Stray Show,
Chicago, IL
University
of W. Alabama,
“Glacial
Erratics,”
2 yr. Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, Livingston, AL
Evanston Art Center, “16th
Evanston & Vicinity Biennial,” Evanston, IL
Gallery
2, School of the Art Institute Chicago, “Group
Show,” (with Rena Leinberger)
Chicago,
IL
Apartment
1R,
“Variations,”
Chicago, IL
MN Gallery,
“Topologies,” Chicago, IL
The Storefront,
“Fittings,” Chicago, IL
Gallery 2, School of the Art
Institute Chicago, “Group Show,”
Chicago, IL |
2000 |
Maine Center for Contemporary Art,
“Maine
Coast Artists Biennial,”
Brunswick ME |
Publications:
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2004 |
Monadnock Ledger,
“Sculpture times two: Ben Butler”
Interview by Brendon Tapley, p.11,22, 2/26/04
Sculpture Magazine, “Waiting” Evanston Art Center,
Jan./Feb. 2004, picture |
2003 |
Chicago Artists’ News, “Reclamation: Themes in the Work of
Three Emerging Artists,” John Brunetti, pgs.6, 8, Oct. 2003
New City,
“A House is Not a Home”, Review by Michael Workman, pg. 18,
September 18, 2003
Chicago Tribune, “‘Depiction’ of Art for Art’s Sake,”
Art Review by Lisa Stein, August 1, 2003, picture
Chicago Reader, “Critic’s Choice: Ben Butler,” Art
Review by Fred Camper, April 11, 2003, picture |
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