JAMES W. MONTFORD, JR. (Ari)
1365 Westminster St. Providence, RI 02909
300 Summer St. #65 Boston
860.608.3816 C
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS, PROJECTS AND PERFORMANCES
2024–26 (Forthcoming)
Freedom Arrows installation, Castellani Art Museum, Niagara University, Lewiston, NY
2023
Freedom Arrows, Installation, Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA
2022
PLC Southern Poverty Law Center at Knowlton Space Gallery, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA
2021
Indigenous Voice, Howard Yezerski Gallery, Boston, MA
Freedom Arrows, Project Space URI, Kingston, RI
2019
Hair-piece/peace, Pao Arts Center, Boston, MA, BHCC Faculty exhibition
Hair-piece/peace, Artspace, New Haven, CT
2018
Hair-piece/peace, RISD Museum, Providence RI (Collection exhibition / Performance)
New Work, Winfisky Gallery, Salem State University, Salem, MA
2015
Black Indians in Space, Beard and Weil Galleries, Wheaton College, Norton, MA
Persuasions – a Career Retrospective, Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA
(Vera Grant curator; catalogue “Persuasions”)
More Black Indians in Space, Miller Yezerski Gallery, Boston, MA
2014
New Work, Yellow Peril Gallery, Providence, RI
2013
Black Indians in Space, Howard Yezerski Gallery, Boston, MA
2012
Artist Dollars, Kenkeleba Gallery, NYC
This is My Wife, Newport Art Museum, Centennial Exhibition, Newport, RI
2009
Quotidian Arts and Letters, Cultural Crisis Residency Program, Milwaukee, WI
PTSD performance, UMass Lowell Gallery, Lowell, MA
2007
Black Indians / Nigger Speaks performance, Michigan State University, Detroit, MI
Lynching etc., URI Down City Gallery, Providence, RI (performance and installation)
Difficult Dialogues, Clark University, Worcester, MA (performance, exhibition)
2006
Black Indians in Space, CCRI Warwick Campus Gallery, Warwick, RI
2004
African+Indian=American, Castellani Art Museum, Niagara University, NY (Installation, performance)
2002
More Forbidden Fruit, New Space Gallery, Manchester Community College, Manchester, CT (accompanied by performance/talk and symposium on issues of censorship related to the exhibition.)
Crossing the Line “Pancarta” installation, Queens Museum of Art, NYC on site and in the community.
2001
Weather or Not installation, New/Now Gallery, New Britain Museum of Art, New Britain, CT (Andrea Miller Keller Curator, with FAX machine)
Artist Dollars installation, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA. Art of Protest performance 2000-01
Nigger Speaks, Emporia State University, Emporia, KS (Performance, visiting artist)
2000
Forbidden Fruit, Lyman Allyn Museum, Connecticut College, New London, CT (Digital Imagery)
Nigger Questions, Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, CT (Installation, Lecture/performance)
1999
Artist Dollars II Site-Specific Installation, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA (Lecture on AA artist and patronage)
Artist Dollars, Homage to H.O. Tanner, Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh, PA – Dec 1998 – Sept 1999. (Lecture, performance, interactive community outreach component. Artists on Call and Forum: Is/ Patronage/Isn’t. Project on MF website)
New Constellation Paintings, Lenore Gray Gallery, Providence, RI
1998
Paintings from the Eighties and early Nineties, Slater Museum, Norwich, CT (lecture)
1997
Installation with paintings, AS220 Gallery Providence, RI
1996
Throw-a-way Word, Red-White and Blue ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL (installation)
1995
Legacy Golf, DeCordova Museum, Strokes of Genius, Lincoln, MA
Lost in the Myth of America Unrecognized Contributions of Black art and Culture installation, The Scottsdale Center for the Arts , Scottsdale, AZ
Artist Dollars, The Taft Museum, Cincinnati, OH (installation, lecture)
1994
N Word Questions and Answers installation, URI Gallery, Kingston, RI (lecture)
Classical and Neo-Classical Black Heads, Macy Gallery, Teachers College, Columbia University, NYC (lecture)
1992
Two Icons, Corridor Gallery University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Praying Shoes/Preying Shoes II & Nigger Bread, Arno Maris Gallery, Westfield State University, Westfield, MA (Lecture, video installation, performance)
Immortal Words installation, Zone Art Center, Springfield, MA (Panel discussion. Visitor removes work from wall as protest. Professor makes public statement denouncing work. Exhibit funded in part by NEA. Lynching piece first done.)
1991
HateWords, Hartford Courant Newspaper. And RAW Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT. Newspaper piece inspired by Amistad Rebellion. Funded in part by the NEA’s Museum program, and the CT Commission on the Arts.)
A Myth a Metaphor and More, Old State House Hartford CT. (The Montford Incident public forum examined issues of race and representation. Exhibit was negotiated settlement by ACLU and Hartford’s RAW CT commission on the Arts provided funding support for programs.)
1990
In your Face. A series of 10 emerging or underexposed artists in person, face to face The Kitchen Center for Video, New York, NY (screening, discussion)
Praying Shoes Preying Shoes, Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, Boston, MA. (Site-specific installation)
1985
Paintings from Homeland Series, Cinque Gallery Inc., New York, NY
1984
Wave, Commissioned Wall Installation, Wadsworth Athenaeum, Hartford, CT
Cinque Gallery New York NYC
Paintings from Homeland Series, Lyman Allyn Museum, New London, CT
1983
New Work, Cummings Art Center, Connecticut College, New London, CT
1982
Paintings from Homeland Series, Art Council Gallery, New London, CT
1976
Grad Exhibition, Macy Gallery, Columbia University, New York, NY
1975
Dwight Englewood School, Englewood, NJ
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
What’s love got to do with it?, Winfisky Gallery, Salem State University, Salem, MA
2022
Us Them We / Race Ethnicity Identity, Worcester Art Museum, MA
2021–2022
re collections, Six Decades at the Rose Art Museum, Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
2021
What’s love got to do with it?, Winfisky Gallery, Salem State University, Salem, MA
2020
Case Rising , Jamestown Art Center, Jamestown, RI
2018–2019
In Plain Sight/Site, Artspace, New Haven, CT
2019
Isolation, Skye Gallery, Providence, RI
2018
Legacy of the Cool: A Tribute to Barkley Hendricks, Bakalar & Paine Galleries, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
2017
Will She Pee on Herself? “3 Decades of Change”, Artspace, New Haven, CT (performance)
2016–2017
Gathering NA, Fifield Gallery, BHCC, Boston, MA
2016
Phantom of Liberty, RISD Museum, Providence, RI (Curated by Dominic Molon)
Jolt-Guns, Race and Immigration, Trustman Art Gallery Simmons College, Boston, MA
Change Agents: Personal Art at Political Tactic, Lamont Gallery Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH
2013
Black Male’d, BHM at BHCC College, Boston, MA (Curated by Laura Montgomery)
2012–2013
A Decade of Top /Spin, Castellani Art Museum, Niagara University, Lewiston, NY
2011
Art I Think is Conceptual: 50 years of art and culture, John Slade Ely House Center for Contemporary Art, New Haven, CT
2010
New Media, Chazen Gallery Wheeler School, Providence, RI
2009
Intersexions, Stonehill College, Easton, MA (Catalogue)
2008–2009
Family Business, The Parachute Factory Gallery, NH, CT (Curated by el-Yasin and Debbie Hesse. Yale-affiliated gallery space.)
2007
Art Unites Communities, Pawtucket Arts Collaborative, Pawtucket, RI
2005–2006
Blue Babies, Being Good: Women’s Moral Values In the New Millennium, Alva Gallery, New London, CT
2005
Simonds, Mashentucket Pequot Museum, Ledyard, CT (New England Contemporary Native Art)
2003
About Freedom Democracy Under Siege: Inside the Declaration of Independence, Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI (Catalogue)
2002
My Mammy, “Body Language”, John Slade Ely House of Contemporary Art, New Haven, CT
2000
Red Hand & Dead Indian, Revealing the Indian in US, Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI (performance)
1998
Hair Mask, About Face: An exhibition of Masks from near and Far, Charter Oak Temple Gallery, Hartford, CT
1997
Another Homeland series, Alternative Home Show, Sara Doyle Gallery, Brown University, Providence, RI
1996
A Consideration of Juneteenth Day, Pennies on the Floor, Project Row Houses, Houston, TX
Invitational: Palladiums, Dismantling of Safe Havens of Critical Thought. Three-person exhibition of censored Artists, Mobius, Boston, MA (Curated by Kathleen Bitetti of the Artist Foundation)
1995
Open to the Public, Big Lipper drawings, Artspace Gallery, New Haven, CT
Investing in Dreams, The William Benton Museum of Art, Storrs, CT (Commission on the Art exhibition)
Then and /Now, Faculty Exhibition University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
1994
African American Art Educators Exhibitio, DeLuce Gallery, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MI
Don’t ask Don’t Tell, Artists respond to Censorship, Hampton Gallery, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (lecture)
1993
Will he pee in his pants? Subversive Images In the Media, Teckno Installations at Artspace Gallery, New Haven, CT (A video installation/performance with paintings)
Big Lipper Constellation, Hampshire College Gallery, Amherst, MA. (Lectured on work. Faculty vote to re-affirm freedom of expression fails due in part to discussion raised by the work.)
There is a Nigger on the Lawn, Silvermine Guild for the Arts Center, New Canaan, CT (performance)
The Big Lipper Constellation, A Wealth of Grays; Uncommon Perspectives from Connecticut Artists: Personal Perspectives on Racial Identity, Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI
Nigger Speak, Hartford Art School (performance)
Excluded from Brandeis University Exhibition at Rose Art Museum, 0/93 was told the work was too cutting edge for first ever African American Artist Exhibition.
1992
Seeing Red White and Blue: Censored in the USA. Visual Arts Center, Anchorage, AK (Comprehensive exhibit exploring censored art in the USA. John Frohnmayer lectured. The center closed down in part due to the exhibit.)
Niggers in Washington, Recent Acquisitions: Selections from the Permanent Collection, DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA
1991
Boston Map, Maps in Contemporary Art, DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA (lecture, Coffee and Conversation with Dick Pleasents on Walden Radio)
Distinguished Alumni Exhibition, Macy Gallery, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY
Visions of Hartford Sponsored by the Greater Hartford Architecture Conservancy, Old State House Hartford, CT. (Work was removed from the exhibition ACLU, REAL ART WAYS. Others involved in resolution.)
1989
Monoprint with Mammy, Contemporary African American Printmakers, Lyman Allyn Museum, New London, CT
1988
Emerging artist Exhibition, Atelier Gallery of Mystic, Mystic, CT
Conn Artists Annual, Slater Museum, Norwich, CT (Installation Piece Peppy’s Garden)
1987
Five from CT. Charter Oak Gallery, Hartford, CT
1986
21st Annual Faculty Exhibition, Benton Museum of Art, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
1985
Minority Art Educators, The Interchurch Center, New York, NY
Faculty Exhibition, University of Connecticut, Avery Point, Groton, CT
1983
Connecticut Painters 7+7+7, Wadsworth Athenaeum, Hartford, CT (Andrea Miller Keller, Curator. Participated in Museum activities/programs)
1980
Mayors Art Auction Ball, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD (Invitational exhibition)
Connecticut Black Artist Exhibition, Slater Museum, Norwich, CT (invitational exhibition)
1978
New Talents and experiences exhibition, JCC Gallery, Baltimore, MD (Collector Israel Rosen)
Beautiful Walls for Baltimore. The Bal Mural Project. An exhibition at the BMA Baltimore, MD
1977–1978
Hoffberger School of Painting, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
1977
Faculty exhibition, Western Maryland College, Westminster, MD
1976–1978
Maryland Biennial Exhibition, The Baltimore Museum of Fine Arts, Baltimore, MD
FELLOWSHIPS, RESIDENCIES & AWARDS
2023
Artist Residency, Blue Mountain Center, Blue Mountain Lake, NY
2020–2021
Fellowship,Mellon Visiting Practitioner Fellow, Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America, Brown University, Providence, RI
2020
Artist’s Resource Trust individual artist grant, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Sheffield, MA
2019
Artist Residency and Fellowship at C-Scape Dune Shack, Provincetown, MA
Artist Residency, Blue Mountain Center, Blue Mountain Lake, NY
2017
Residency Fellowship, Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY
2015
Nominated for the Brother Thomas Fellowship Award, Boston, MA
Residency, Popop Studios, Nassau, Bahamas
2011
Nominated for St. Botolph Club Foundation artist grant, Boston, MA
2009
Quotidian Arts and Letters, Cultural Crisis Residency Program Milwaukee summer
2008
The Artist’s Resource Trust Grant, The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Sheffield, MA
2002
Achiever Award TRIO
2001
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant to Support independent work
2000
Residency Fellowship, Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY
1999
Exhibition Grant, Lyman Allyn Museum, Connecticut College, New London, CT
1996
Offered Artist Residency at Blue Mountain Center residency program, Blue Mountain Lake, NY
1995
Individual Artist Fellowship, Art Matters Inc. NYC
Residency, Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY
1994
Individual Artist Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts
Hero Award, Boston Coalition for Freedom of Expression
Residency, Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY
1993
Individual Artist Grant New Genres Connecticut Commission on the Arts
Nominated for Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grant, NYC
Artist Grant, Pollock Krasner Foundation
VT Studio Residency with Grant, Johnson, VT; mentoring experience with Robert Colescott
Residency, Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY
1992
Individual Artist Grant New Forms, New England Foundation for the Arts
Visiting Artist/Lecture, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA (Graduate Studies)
1991
Residency, Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY
Professional Development Grant, Wilbraham and Monson Academy, Wilbraham, MA
1989
Individual Artist Award for Installations, Connecticut Commission on the Arts
Media Residency Grant, Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT (Peppy video)
1987
Artist Residency, Vermont Studio Center Program, Johnson, VT
Professional Development Grant, Mohegan Community College, Norwich, CT
1978
National Endowment for the Arts grant for study with Palo Soleri and Arcosanti Project AZ
1976–1978
Fellowship, MICA Graduate School, Baltimore, MD
1976
Residency Grant, Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, Taos, NM
1974–1976
Minority Scholarship, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY
1974
Rosland W. Levine Award for outstanding Achievement in Fine Arts, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
1970–1974
Brandeis University Scholarship
EDUCATION
1992–95
Teaching Fellow, Columbia University Teachers College Art and Education NYC
Ed.D. course work (abd), Dr. Judith Burton, advisor.
1976–78
MFA, Maryland Institute College Art Hoffberger School of Painting, Baltimore, MD
Grace Hartigan, instructor; met and worked with Dr. Leslie King Hammond.
1974–76
MA, Teachers College, Columbia University, Art & Education, New York, NY
Educational Theory and practice, Maxine Greene and studio work/assistant with painter Joseph Steffanelli.
1985
One semester, Yale University Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning, New Haven, CT
1976
Seminar Program, Whitney Museum, NYC
1975
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME
1973
Summer Study, Harvard University Carpenter Center for Visual Studies, Cambridge, MA
1970-74
AB, with Honors in Fine Arts, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Other course work in architectural planning and education. Worked with Artist Paul Brown as senior advisor and as his studio assistant.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Visiting Artist, My Mechanical Sketchbook — Barkley L. Hendricks & Photography, Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA March 2022
Faculty, Dean’s Office, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA 2019 – present
Visiting Artist, Department of Art, Clark University, Worcester, MA 2020
Visiting Artist, Provocative Art: Outside the Comfort Zone, Department of Art, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA Spring 2018
Director, Edward Mitchell Bannister Gallery, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI, 2005–2007, Art Department teaching, Co-Chair of Campus wide Diversity committee, Committee member RI State Commission on the Arts
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Art & Art History, University of Rhode Island 2010 – present
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Visual & Media Studies, Bunker Hill Community College 2010 – present
Visiting Artist, Fine Arts Department, Stonehill College, Easton, MA, Fall semester 2009
Adjunct Faculty, Art Department, Community College of Rhode Island 2006 –2011
Coordinator of Community Programs/Faculty, The RISD Museum, Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI 1997–2005
Adjunct Faculty, Art Department, Three Rivers Community College Norwich, CT 1995–2005.
Visiting Artist, Art Department, Mitchell College Studio New London, CT 2003
Curator, Community Choices, New Perspectives on Permanent Collection, Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, CT 2000
Arts Writer, The Norwich Bulletin, Norwich, CT 1995-2004
Instructor of Art, Art & Art History Department University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 1992–95
Instructor of Painting, TC Columbia University, Grad. School Instructor, 1994
Visiting Faculty, Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, CT 1990–92
Department Head, Fine Arts, Wilbraham and Monson Academy, Wilbraham, MA 1991 & 92
Summer Faculty, Holyoke Community College. Holyoke, MA 1991–92
Faculty, Art School, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA 1989–1991
Faculty / Dean of Students / Coordinator of Multicultural Affairs, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH 1985–1989
Faculty and Coordinator of Academic Programs. University of Connecticut at Avery Point. 1985–89
Adjunct Faculty, Mohegan Community College (now Three Rivers), Norwich, CT 1982–85
Director, B.P. Learned House, New London, CT 1979–82
Program Director, B.P. Learned House Cultural Arts programming and intervention with youth and families 1980–82
Adjunct Faculty, Mitchell College, New London, CT 1983
Visiting Instructor, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, Groton, CT 1978
Visiting Artist, Coppin State College, Baltimore, MD 1977
Visiting Artist, Community College of Baltimore, MD 1977-78
TA Teaching Assistant, MICA, Baltimore, MD 1977, undergrad courses
Visiting Artist, Western Maryland College, Westminster, MD 1976
WORK EXPERIENCE/LECTURES
- Dune shack residency admissions panel, Provincetown, MA, 2023
- Conversation with Co-Curators, Virtual Opening Celebration for “My Mechanical Sketchbook” — Barkley Hendricks and Photography, Rose Art Museum, February 16, 2022
- Work discussed in “Off the Wall: Session One, Rose Art Museum”, Virtual Program, February 18, 2021
- Wheaton College Evelyn Danzig Hass Visiting artist Program, October 2015
- Rhode Art League Panel, May 2015
- BCA Mills Gallery Boston Presentation about the work, May 2015
- Academic service Graduate school mentor RISD 2013–14, RISD Graduate Student Advisor 2014
- RISD Museum SoundCloud project audio Rock Head by David Hammonds 2014
- The Association of American Cultures conference host sponsor committee Providence, RI 2013
- RISCA Public Art panel Providence, RI 2013
- Senior studio reviews Massachusetts College of Art May 2013, 2014
- 2008–2013 Rappaport Prize Nominator, DeCordova Museum, MA
- The Association of American Cultures conference host sponsor committee Providence, RI 2013
- Senior studio reviews Massachusetts College of Art May 2013
- Phillips Academy, Exeter, NH Keynote Speaker 20th MLK Celebration Jan. 2011
- Creative Impact Series RISCA/Brown Providence, RI Presenter Jan. 2011
- Providence Art Club, Providence, RI Juror annual members exhibition Feb. 2011
- THINK TANK: 2010 and Beyond — New Directions in African American Art/Transformative Aesthetic Curriculum Design. Panelist/presenter, MICA 11/2010
- Judge, URI Student Exhibition. Kingston, RI Spring 2009
- Judge, Imagine Yellow The Portsmouth Arts Guild Spring 2009
- Visiting Artist Stonehill College, Easton, MA April 2009
- Curator, Summer Sculpture Exhibition, Four Corners Art Center, Tiverton, RI 2008
- Panelist VSA Washington, DC July 2008
- MASS Cultural Council Panel Boston, MA May 2007
- Newport Art Museum Nov. 2007 Lecture “Barbizon to Impressionism”
- Rhode Island School of Design Senior Portfolio Review April 2007
- Providence Fine Arts Task Force: Providence Public Schools 2007
- Juror, Wickford Art Association Member’s exhibition 7/06
- co-curator Arcosanti and Green at RIC October series 06
- Lecture on Arnold Prince at Mitchell College, New London, CT Feb 06
- Better-n-Indins; Panel Perishable Theater, What is Native Art Jan 05
- New Urban Arts Panel, Providence, RI “Artist in the Community” 2003
- NEMA Conference Committee 2005
- RISD Senior Sculpture Crits 2004 and 2005
- RISCA Panel Providence, RI, New Genres 2003
- Langston Hughes Residency, Yaddo Emerging artist residency 2002
- URI Kingston Campus Visiting Artist spring 2002
- Panel Member, Discussion on censorship at Manchester Community College. Linda Dente, CT Commission on the Arts, Will K. Wilkins, RAW, Sal. Scalora Dir. William Benton Museum. 4/2002
- UIA Judge for Regional Exhibition Norwich, CT 2002
- TRIO Achiever Award Presentation NEOA 2002
- Slater Memorial Museum Norwich, CT Community Advisor AAM/MAP program
2000–2001 - In November 2001 multimedia work by the half dozen up-and-coming black artists who showed in “Perspectives,” an exhibition at Cinque Gallery in NYC, drew an enthusiastic response from the public. The show evolved from an African American art course taught at RISD by James Montford, coordinator of community programs at The RISD Museum. Fine artists who participated were: Kathleen Brooks, Michael Edwards PT, Andrew Bain ’98 SC, Tracey Bey MFA ’01 PT/PR, Shawn Merchant ’03 TX and Lamar Peterson MFA ’01 PT.
- MASS Cultural Council on the Arts, Boston, MA Visual Arts Panel Member 2000
- Conference Arts In Universal Environments VSA Providence, RI 2000
- Juror, 41st Annual Discovery Museum Juried Art Exhibition Bridgeport, CT May 1999
- Connecticut Docent Conference, Yale Museum of Art, Presenter March 1999
- The Arts Consortium, Westerly, RI, Lecture and Performance March 1999
- Board Member Providence Black Heritage Society, Providence, RI 1998–2000
- Advisor to International Gallery of Providence RI. 2000–2003
- Slater Museum Norwich, CT. American Museum Assoc. MAP Process. Fall 1998
- Quinnipiac College, Hamden, CT. Visiting Artist-Post Modernism: Art and Ideas that Cross Boundaries. Lecture April 1998
- Lyman Allyn Museum, New London, CT Feb. 98. Panelist, Critics Choice: arts writers discussed art criticism and writing
- The Developing Artist Program Lyman Allyn Museum Artist Mentor May 1998
- Sitings Program, The RISD Museum, Providence ,RI Juror Site Specific Installations in the museum. 1997
- Visiting Artist- Senior Crits and lecture on work University of RI, Kingston 1997
- ARTSmart, lecture on work at Lyman Allyn Museum, New London CT 2/97
- Scholastic Art Awards Judge Connecticut Assoc. of Arts Admin. 94, 95, 96, 01
- Juror for Confrontation Canton Artist Guild Inc. Gallery on the Green Canton, CT. July 1995 Show was reviewed.
- Phillips Exeter Academy. King Holiday Celebration lecture 94
- Presenter: Second Annual New England Artist Congress, MassMoca, and North Adams, MA. Title: Surviving Rejection, and censorship left and right 94
- Visiting Artist UMass Amherst, MA. 11/94 The Censored Artist.
- Visiting Artist/Critique RISD, Providence, RI Sculpture Dept. 12/93
- Visiting Artist MASS College of Art Boston MA. Grad School 2/92
- Board Member Zone Art Center Springfield, MA 1992
- Williston Northampton School, Easthampton, MA Lecture/performance 1992
- Art All-State, Artist Mentor, Worcester Art Museum. MA. June 1991 and 1992 Theme of collaboration: Procession
- Presenter at the New England League of Middle Schools Conference, Workshop title: African American Artist, Another look. Marlborough, MA 11/91
- Presenter at (NEAOPP) Conference, New England Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel. Diversity Workshop. Hate words and discipline codes Mystic. CT. 4/91
- Presenter at the 4th Annual conference for CAEOP Connecticut Association of Educational Opportunity Programs. Intro. to Diversity. 10/90
- Planning committee, Lyman Allyn Museum Exhibit, “Contemporary African American Printmakers”. Worked on all phases of exhibit, wrote introduction for exhibition catalog. 1989
- Panel Member for CT Commission on the Arts, Public Arts Program. 1998
- Board Member Norwich NAACP 1987–89
- Board Member Literacy Volunteers of Norwich, 1987–89
- Symposium: Art in Public Places, Co-coordinator of weeklong program examining the role of public art. Univ. of CT at Avery Point, Groton, CT 1987
- Visiting Artist Connecticut College, New London, CT senior crit. 1983
- RAW Sienna Walls Summer Mural Project Baltimore, MD Two private commissions completed 1997
- Commissioned Mural for the Marlboro Apts. Eutaw Place, Baltimore, MD 1977
- Baltimore Mural Program, Mural Painter CETA project 1976
- Walters Art Gallery, Museum Guard, Baltimore, MD 1976
- Fabricated Plexi-glass frames in SOHO, NYC. Framing for Robert Ryman and others 1975–1976
- Assisted Joseph Steffanelli on series of murals commissioned by the city of NY. 1975–76
- Brocton Art Center, Brockton, MA. Student Intern. Responsible for show installation worked with painter, Al Loving on major exhibition at the museum 1973–74
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, Boston, MA
Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
RISD Museum, Rhode Island School Of Design, Providence, RI
Beard and Weil Galleries, Wheaton College, MA
The Mashantucket Museum, CT
The Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA
The DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA
The Taft Museum, Cincinnati, OH
The Slater Museum, Norwich, CT
The Scottsdale Arts Center, Scottsdale, AZ
National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian, Visual Artists Fellowship Archive
Yale University, The Haas Family Arts Library & Artspace, “3 Decades of Change”
ART REVIEWS/PRESS
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/artspace_30th/ – c188315
http://www.nyartsmagazine.com/?p=19071
Take Magazine “Artist to Watch in 2016” Dec/Jan issue p. 43
Artscope, Sept/Oct 2015, Suzanne Volmer, “The Planetarium of Black Indian Constellations at Beard and Weil Galleries”
“James Montford’s Work Resonates” Artist profile Providence Journal Bill Van Siclen, Sunday Art April 26, 2015
Studio Visit, Art New England March/April 2015 Alexander Castro
Fighting the Power James Montford’s Confrontational Art Providence Phoenix June 2014 Review
Mary Bucci McCoy. “Black Indians in Space”, Review, Art New England, May/June 2013
“To seduce and disturb” Cate McQuaid Boston Globe Feb. 2013. Yezerski exhibition .
2009 Kara Walker- No/Yes/? Howardina Pindell Midmarch Art Press
Jill R. Deans, “Circling Adoption: The Art of Ann Fessler“, Adoption & Culture, The Ohio State University Press, Volume 1, Number 1, 2007, pp. 205–238
https://soundcloud.com/therisdmuseum/artist-james-montford-on-rock-head
http://www.triberi.com/2011/12/10/bannister-the-man-behind-the-name/
http://www.collect-magazine.com/interviews/interviews-5-questions-3-artists/
http://www.newportri.com/features/arts/skin-deep/article_dd14f66e-4309-5f8d-aaee-928a439c665b.html
http://events.thephoenix.com/boston/events/189217-james-montford-pow-wow-now/
http://topic.thephoenix.com/Topic/James+Montford.aspx?rel=inf
http://providence.thephoenix.com/arts/112088-uneasy-artifacts-at-the-chazan-gallery/
http://www.ric.edu/news/details.php?News_ID=1730
http://articles.courant.com/1995-05-14/entertainment/9505120040_1_wilkins-raw-arts-center/3
http://articles.courant.com/2001-07-05/entertainment/0107050391_1_american-art-fax-museum-members
http://purple.niagara.edu/cam/exhibitions/Past_Exhibitions/2003-2004/2003-2004.htm
“African American Visual Artists Database AAVAD.COM Nov. 2006
2005 Ben Dutka, Redefining Native Norwich Bulletin June 25th
2004 Karen Lee Ziner Providence Journal An Unlikely Reunion in RI: Artists shared War’s Trauma December 30
2004 Mattress Factory Crazy Facts Web site Artist Dollars
OUTSPOKEN: Free Speech Stories by Nan Levinson 2003 University of California Press Chapter 7
Revealing Untold stories: Voice in the work of Ann Fessler, Catalogue essay 2003 MICA Decker Gallery Baltimore MD.
2003 Channel 4 NBC TV News Buffalo NY October Castellani Museum Exhibition
2003 Richard Huntington The Buffalo News NY “Images of Pain” Oct 29
Howardena Pindell, Diaspora/ Realities/Strategies, ISSN 1462-0426 Oct 1997 (updated Jan 2002)
2002 CONTACT _Con-46218B1C1 \c \s \l James Montford Halway, Roy DeCorava (Looking and Learning) School Arts Mag. Feb. 2002
James Montford catalogue exhibition “The Last Supper” 2002 http://www.absolutearts.com/artsnews/2001/06/26/28764.html–
The Last Supper catalogue essay for group exhibition. Providence RI 2003
Thoreau Art Gallery, Franklin Pierce College, NH Catalogue, co-curator of exhibition, “Over and Under Crosscurrents” 11/2000
2001 CD Catalogue Crossing the Line Queens Museum NYC June 01
Hampton University International Review of African American Art News and Reviews 15.42000
Hank Hoffman New Haven Phoenix Mag. James G. Montford: More Forbidden Fruit Nov. 16
http://www.providencephoenix.com/archive/art/00/10/12/RIC.html 1999
Sheila Tunney Impulse Mag. Pittsburg PA Speaking against stereotypes through Art March 26
1999 Mary Thomas, Post Gazette Arts Writer, Pittsburg, PA- Passing the Buck Feb 19
1999 Lethia Roberson, The International Review of African American Art, Vol. 15-No 4 pg. 63
1999 Joan Stanus, Work examines…. The Virginian-Pilot Sunday Feb 07
1998 Michael Rush, Art New England Publication –Installation Art- March 1998
1997 The Chronicle of Higher Education Art Professor’s ‘Wok’ Series Brews a Tempest in a Frying Pan New London, CT.
1997 Howardina Pindell, Diaspora/Realities/Strategies ISSN 1462-0426
1996 Jeff Perrot, ArtsMEDIA, Boston Review- Mobius-Palladia: OCT 96
1995 Steve Kemper, Northeast/The Hartford Courant Sunday Mag. cover story “Enough Rope” 02.95
1995 Vivien Raynor, Art; In Bridgeport, More Than a Touch of the 60’s Revisited, The New York Times May 07, 1995
Bettie Rinehart, Amazing Race, the Presence of Absence Phoenix New Times, May 4, 1995
Harpers Mag. Image Legacy Golf, June 1995
Bob Chatelle, Arts Bashing and Censorship at Hampshire College, Boston Coalition for the Freedom of Expression, September 08, 1995
1994 Owen Findsen African American Artists fit bill, The Cincinnati Enquirer Feb 18
Robin Cemablest, Sexist, Racist, or Otherwise Offensive, Art News, April 1994
People for the American Way, Art Save Project, Artistic Freedom Under Attack, Vol.2 1994
Sal Scalora, Review, Techno Installations, Art New England Dec. 93
Chris Poon, Artist defends work against racist tag. Prov. Journal Bulletin Oct. 21, 1993.
Bill Rodriguez, Review, Providence Phoenix, March, 11 1993
1992 People for the American Way, Art Save Project, Artistic Freedom Under 92 Attack, Vol.1,
Interview with MarkLynch of WICN FM, Worcester MA an NPR affiliate for program called Inquiry. Aired Sept 92
(NPR) National Public Radio Interview Immortal Words April 1992Conversation with Charlene Koe WFCR
Gloria Russell, Review, Sunday Republican, Springfield, MA February 16, 1991
Miles Unger, Review, Art New England, January 1991
The work was represented in a lecture “confronting Issues in Contemporary Art” at the Boston MFA in the keynote address presented by Edmond Barry Gaither, Dir. Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists in connection with the exhibition “Interrogating Identity” Oct. 1991
Larry Bloom, Mean Streets? Northeast/The Hartford Courant, February 17, 91
Artist’s ‘racist’ work removed from city exhibit’ the Hartford Courant Jan 23, 1991
Jude Schwendenwien, Review, The Hartford Courant, Sunday, May 26, 1991
Black Issues In Higher Education May 1990 Pub. By Cox Matthews Assoc.
Putting a noose around Aunt Jemima’ Union News Springfield MA. October 24, 1990
Carol Brown, Robert Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop The New London Day February 10, 1989
Catalogue Introduction for The Contemporary African American Printmakers Exhibition at Lyman Allyn Museum, New London CT 1989
James Montford OPED Haitian art deserves the term “traditional” not “primitive” The New London Day August 5, 1988
Karen Kaplan, Black Artist’s exhibit will aid NAACP, The New London Day March 11, 1988
Superheroes created for black youth, Review. The Day New London CT
State of the Arts, Published by Connecticut Commission on the Art, Speaking about the Commission Winter 1985
Bethe Thomas, Recognizing the worth of black artists, The New London Day, Sunday Feb. 24, 1985
Michele Kaye, With a L’ittle help house is restored, N’
Susan Zakin Art Emphasis/Gallery is start of new idea at Uconn campus, The New London Day October 09, 1984
Doris Whitbeck , Gallery Has Work… The Hartford Courant Sunday,July 8, 1984
Artists Champion other Artists, The New York Times Sunday, January 30, 1983
Black history and art blend at the Slater, The Day New London CT. Feb1982
Doris Whitbeck, Artists Judge Peers, The Hartford Courante January 14, 1`983
Interest in new Gallery abounds but crucial choices lie ahead: Arts Commentary, The Day, New London CT Friday Jan. 23, 1981