Beth Giacummo

Education:

             September, 2006- 2008 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
                         Masters in Fine Arts
             May-August 2007, Danish Design School, Copenhagen, Denmark            
                         Graduate Summer Study Program: Scandinavian Glass Design and History
             May, 2004, School of Visual Arts, Manhattan, NY
                          Bachelor of Fine Art
             June-August 2004, Pilchuck School of Glass, Stanwood, WA
                         Summer Session 1 & 2
             June-August 2002, Escola d’Arts Plastique I Disseny, Barcelona, Spain 
                         School of Visual Arts Study Abroad Program

1999 Brentwood Library, Brentwood, NY; group exhibition
1999 Adelphi University, Garden City, NY; group exhibition
2000 School of Visual Arts, Westside Gallery, New York, NY: selected works
2001 Bellport Gallery, Bellport, NY: “A Child’s world juried group exhibition
2002 School of Visual Arts, Eastside Gallery, New York, NY: selected works

2002 Heckscher Museum of Art: “Long Island Artists”, juried exhibition
2002 Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Oakdale, NY: group exhibition
2002 Islip Art Museum, Islip, NY: “Copy Cat” juried exhibition
2002 Visual Arts Gallery, SoHo NY: “Reality Check”, invitational exhibition
2002 East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY: “Contact! Art and Science”: juried exhibition             
2003 Smithtown Township Arts Council, St. James, NY: juried exhibition
2003 East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY: juried exhibition and reception installation
2003 East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY: “Members Self Portraits”, juried exhibition

2003 East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY: “Relationships” juried exhibition
2004 Smithtown Township Arts Council, St James, NY: “Women’s Show”, juried exhibition
2004 School of Visual Arts, Chelsea, NY: BFA Group Show
2004 School of Visual Arts, Chelsea, NY: BFA Thesis Show
2004 SAPS Gallery, Manhattan, NY: invitational exhibition
2004 East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY: invitational window installation
2005 Stacy Stewart Gallery, Brooklyn, NY: “Female Trouble”, invitational exhibition
2005 East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY: “Three Views”, invitational exhibition
2005 East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY: “Biographies”, member’s show
2005 Phoenix Gallery, Bellport, NY; “Small Works”, juried exhibition
2006 East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY: “What Have You Been Up To?”, exhibition
2006 Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, NY: “Waste Not, Want Not”, juried exhibition
2007 East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY: “Masks”, member’s exhibition
2007 Pratt Studios, Brooklyn, NY: “ U-Pick”, studio exhibition
2007 Center for Visual Arts, Blue Point, NY: “Anything But People”, curator
2008 East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY: “Simplicity”, member’s show
2008 Huntington Arts Council, Huntington, NY: “Visage”, juried exhibition
2008 Steuben West Gallery, Brooklyn, NY: “Sexing Games”,  MFA exhibition
2008 Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, NY: “Long Island Artists”, juried exhibition 
2008 Smithtown Township Arts Council, St James, NY: “Juried Fine Arts Show”, juried exhibition

 Awards and Honors:
                          

2001-First Prize: Bellport Gallery, Bellport, NY: “A Child’s world” juried group exhibition
2003/2004-NY State Decentralization Grant Committee, Huntington, NY: judged grant applications and distributed   
         funds to local art organizations as a panelist member
2004-SOS Grant NYFA: Summer
2004-Pilchuck School of Glass Scholarship: Summer
2005-Huntington Arts Council Dix Hills, NY: “Waste Not Want Not”,
         Honorable Mention for Most Wearable Art Work
2007-SOS Grant for Daniel Lachacz: Writer and Curator for Daniel Lachacz, first solo show “Anything But People”  
2008-Pratt in Venice program scholarship

2009- NYFA MARK Artist: One of twelve artists chosen from LI to participate
 

Glass Working Experience:
 

Over the past 15 years I have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to experiment with many different forms of glass working techniques. Some of the classes and workshop I have participated in include the following:

Pilchuck School of Glass: Elin Christopherson, Fred Tschida, and  Ruth King
Danish Design School: Charlie Meaker, Eric Meaker, Lotta Peterson, Maj Winther Christensen, Ole Victor
Private Flame Working Lessons: Blair Green Glass Fusing:  Jane Irvine Juianna Kirk, Art League of Long Island, Huntington NY
Glass Bead Workshop: Barry Laffler, Art League of Long Island, Huntington NY
Stained Glass Workshops: Color Visions Studio, Bayport, NY
Mosaics and Non-Leaded Stained Glass Design: Chip Hunter of Mosaica, Patchogue, NY
Private Glass Blowing Lessons: Colby Glass Studio: Port Washington, NY

     
Experience:

Assistant Art Director and Instructor                              October 1999 - Present
        Center for Visual Arts, Blue Point, NY
       
        Instructor of fine art and contemporary media enrichment programs for children and adults.
                             Conduct and coordinate daily lessons and projects focusing on the use of
various media and techniques. Curate and install exhibitions featuring local artists in efforts to broaden and expose the local arts community to new media and advangarde ideas.
             Accomplishments
•    Assist the director in organization of class schedules, events and visual displays.
•    Design and instruct classes specializing in cartooning, pottery, sculpture, drawing, watercolor, oil painting, acrylic painting, science and art and adult                     

      contemporary media (ages 5-86)
•    Curate various art exhibitions by contacting and supervising local artists
•    Graphically design, compose, produce and distribute all media related to exhibitions i.e.: Press releases, postcards, announcements, newsletters, exhibition

      catalogues, artist statements and artwork inventory lists using programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and PageMaker
•    Planning and coordination of artist receptions
•    Developing new lessons and activities to be incorporated into summer programs, thus creating a more meaningful experience for students unfamiliar or new to

      various art mediums
•    Creating an environment that is non-competitive and nurturing, so that students of all skill levels are able to participate
     
Professional Artist                                                                        September 2001 - Present
    Freelance Fine Artist, Patchogue, NY
            Giacummo Glass Works, Patchogue, NY
       
Successful professional artist working with mixed media, creating multi-sensory installations, accepting commissions, and lecturing at various venues; Vigorously participating in over 35 exhibitions and showing work extensively across Long Island and internationally.  Please see website for complete exhibition list
www.Bethgiacummo.org
Accomplishments
•    Various lectures on technique and artist development conducted at the School of Visual Arts as a guest of professor Tobi Kahn , Exit Art, Chelsea, NY
•    My work has been reviewed by multiple publications including the New York Times, Port Jefferson Beacon, Suffolk Times, and the North Shore Beacon during my   

      career as a professional artist.
•    Received SOS grant from NYFA to fund specialty summer program
•    2003/2004 Served as a panelist member for the NY state Decentralization Grant offered by the Huntington Arts Council. Reviewed applications and awarded funds

      to local arts organizations
•    Participated and created numerous works for over 35 exhibitions, including solo and invitational exhibitions
•    Commissioned by over 15 people to create various works of fine art
•    Specialty line called “Aqua Glass”, glass abstract sculpture for aqua-scaping
•    Established a glass studio and boutique offering my private line of fused art glass.
•    Hired as a freelance designer for “Mosaica”, Patchogue, NY: Design and help construct commercial and residential mosaic and non-leaded stain glass commissions
•    Chosen as 1 of 12 to participate in the NYFA “MARK” program 09’


Artist Consultant and Private Curator                                                    September 2005– Present
Patchogue, NY

Providing private consultation for artists who are transitioning from the amateur to professional stage of their career. Supervising and guiding artists in creating a portfolio, web presence and career goal planning. Serving as artists media contact as well as organizing and creating exhibition opportunities for emerging artists.

Accomplishments
•    Provided portfolio development resulting in completion of a professional portfolio ready for distribution
•    Located venues for exhibitions
•    Design and creating an internet presence in the form of a personal artist website i.e.;
•    www. Danlachacz.com, www.bethgiacummo.org
•    Creation of advertising and funding strategies by means of grants
•    Created numerous exhibition opportunities for local artists
•    Graphically design, compose, produce and distribute all media related to exhibitions i.e.:
•    Press releases, postcards, announcements, newsletters, exhibitions catalogues, artist statements and artwork inventory lists using programs such as Adobe

      Photoshop, Illustrator, and PageMaker
•    Organized and granted NYFA SOS funding on behalf of Dan Lachacz for a solo exhibition
•    Curate and organize bi-Monthly exhibitions at Purra-VItta, Patchogue, NY


 Art Installations and Handling                                                    September 2007- December 2008     
        Islip Art Museum, Islip, NY
       
             Assistant to the gallery manager, actively participating in the installing and un-installation of numerous fine art exhibitions. Following precise and specialized art handling guidelines to ensure the safe return of valuable art works to their owners.
Accomplishments
•    Accountability of care in receiving  and storage of artworks
•    Precise, efficient and proper packaging of prominent and valuable art works in preparation for their return to their owner
•    Assistance in successful installation for numerous exhibitions


  Arts Activism and Fundraising (Volunteer)                                  February 2008- Present    
        Patchogue Arts Council Inc. Patchogue, NY
       
The Patchogue Arts Council is dedicated to serving the community by encouraging, promoting and supporting the arts. As a trustee I actively help to create and seek funding to produce new programs and opportunities for out local arts community
Accomplishments
•    Working with fellow trustee’s and board members to raise funding by organizing events and opportunities for local artist to exhibit their work
•    Co-curator and artist coordinator for the Patchogue Arts Councils first “Winter Walking Arts Tour”, Assisting in coordinating and installing the work of over 40        

      artists and 25 local storefronts and empty spaces throughout the town of Patchogue
•    Participating in “Winter Walking Arts Tour” as an exhibiting artist in a collaborative installation with Jeffery Allen Price.
•    Working with “Winter Walking Arts Tour” committee to raise funding through sale of ads and sponsorships, for the program to be self sufficient
•    Co-Chair  and public relations chair for Patchogue Arts Council’s “Art in the Lobby”, an on going exhibition series presented in the Patchogue Theater for

      Performing Arts lobby
•    Co-Curator, public relations chair for “Patchogue Arts Biennial”, to be held in September 2009

Private Collections and Commissions
I have received commissions and successfully completed works for the following people; Kelly Amerstein, 
Brentwood, NY, John Spear, Riverhead, NY, The Hill Family, Springhill, FL, The School of Self Defense,
Medford, NY, Carole Pichney, Bayport, NY and Dr. Mary Maxwell, New York, NY. Linda Carlson, Holtsville, NY, 
Andrew Lachacz, Mary Lachacz and Brian Plite, Ken Strange, Blue Point, NY.   

 

Memberships and Organizations:

Patchogue Arts Council (Trustee, Advisory Board)
East End Arts Council
Art League of Long Island
Parish Art Museum
Smith Town Arts Council
NYFA