Connie J. Frisch-Cherniak

Connie J. Frisch-Cherniak

 Connie J. Frisch-Cherniak is an artist from Staten Island, New York.  Originally from Virginia,  Minnesota, she received a B.S. in Visual Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, attended the M.A. in Visual Arts Program at New York University; receiving her M.F.A. from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University; New Brunswick, New Jersey.  Ms. Frisch-Cherniak is an Adjunct Full Professor of Art at St. John's University in New York City and  an Adjunct Professor at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Online. Ms. Frisch-Cherniak has shown in various galleries and museums in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Artist Statement

I work predominately in color landscape and nature photography. I also have been exploring self portraits, montages and the impact of black and white photography.  The landscape themes are based on personal experiences, travel and the effects of light and color.  They show the similarity of nature between places that have captured my heart and are a compilation of numerous trips showing the changing landscapes and scenery, in a certain sense a time lapse. The natural beauty of the areas, although extremely different, can appear so similar. Photography to me is being in the right place at the right time and having my camera to capture the experience. The color photographs fuse my love for color with my love for nature.

Nature cannot be duplicated. I do not manipulate my nature or landscape photos or use filters to change the colors. I believe in the purity of the subject and try to capture the colors and textures which so often take my breath away. They create a sense of calm in an often chaotic world; take you to a different place, a sense of solitude.

I also work in black and white photography both traditional and some experiments with montage photographs. Black and white can have a tremendous impact on the image that color can often detract from.  The montages to me work in a sense like drawing or painting, compiling images and creating something fresh and new. Many of the images are self portraits.

In addition to photography, I create paintings and drawings. The themes are based on personal experiences, literature and dreams, often satirical and humorous.  Life is so serious; we all need a chuckle in our daily life. The titles of the works are often clues to the underlying images. Color, is also a very important factor in all of my works. I love lush, bright colors interacting together. It wakes us up, creates a balance between intensity and calmness. This idea translates in all of my photography, my paintings and my drawings. I also do occasional installations including light and sculpture to go along with the themes of the drawings and paintings.

Connie J. Frisch-Cherniak

ART EXHIBITION RECORD

ONE WOMAN SHOWS

Solo Photographic Exhibit “Wish You Were Here”

 Loretto Memorial Library, St. John’s University, Staten Island, NY

November 5, 2009-February 15, 2010

Academic Lecture Series—Ask the Artist November 5, 2009

Kiernan Suite, Kelleher Center ; St. John’s University, Staten Island, NY

 

Solo Photographic Exhibit-Color Landscapes

Wisconsin Union Galleries; Lakefront on Langdon Gallery

University of Wisconsin, Madison

September 26-November 11, 2008

Reviewed by the Badger Herald and Daily Cardinal

 

Solo Photographic Exhibit-Color Landscapes

Atrium Gallery—Bergen County Y, a JCC

Washington Township, New Jersey June 7-July 1, 2007

Artist Talk June 7, 2007 Atrium Gallery Opening Reception

 

Solo Photographic Exhibit-Nature Photographs

Blue Heron Park Nature Center

Staten Island, NY Feb. 4-28, 2007

 

Solo Photographic Exhibit-Color Landscapes

Loretto Memorial Library; St. John’s University, Staten Island, NY

December 1, 2005-February 28, 2006

 

Solo Photographic Exhibit

University of Medicine and Dentistry; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ March 15--April  22,  1999

 

“Tropical Paradise and Other Occurrences” October 25, 1995-January 14, 1996

University of Dentistry and Medicine; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School,

Piscataway NJ  Paintings, Drawings & Sculptures

 

“Tropical Paradise and Other Occurrences” January 1989

Birmingham Loft Gallery; Pittsburgh PA

Paintings, Drawings, Sculptures and Installation

Recipient of an Individual Artists’ Grant from Artists’ Space, NY, NY

Reviewed by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette & Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

Window Installation June 27-July27, 1983

Mason Gross School of the Arts--Rutgers University; New Brunswick, NJ

 

MFA Thesis Show:  “Running From...” May 2-6, 1983

Mason Gross School of the Arts--Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

 

 “Illusions”--Solo Photographic Exhibit March 3-April 4, 1981

Art Department--6th fl. Window Gallery

University of Wisconsin; Madison, Wisconsin

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITS

"After Hours"  Creative Photographer's Guild Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY September 8-October 14, 2012

"What is a Photograph"? Creative Photographer's Guild Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY July 14-August 19, 2012

The Billboard Art Project "Albany, NY" July 2-15, 2012

http://www.billboardartproject.com/index.html

"Yin/Yang"  Creative Photographer's Guild Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY June 2-July 8, 2012

The Billboard Art Project "Richmond, VA" April 2-29. 2012

http://www.billboardartproject.com/index.html

Co-Curator:  Creative Photographer's Guild (CPG) Black and White Exhibition

St. John's University Loretto Memorial Library Gallery

St. John's University, Staten Island, NY  March 17-May 5, 2012

Creative Photographer's Guild (CPG) Black and White Exhibition

JCC of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY  March 8-April 30, 2012

“Heat” Creative Photographers Guild Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY January 7-February 12, 2012

       Reviewed by NY1 TV & Staten Island Advance

"Non-Figurative" Creative Photographer's Guild (CPG) Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY  February 25-April 1, 2012

Co-Curator: "Island of Art" Juried Exhibition, St. John's University Loretto Memorial Gallery

Staten Island, NY  November 19, 2011-January 27, 2012

The Billboard Art Project "Baton Rouge, LA" Nov. 5, 2011

http://www.billboardartproject.com/index.html

"Superstitous"

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY  October 22-November 27, 2011

The Billboard Art Project "Chicago, IL" Sept. 26-Oct. 23, 2011

http://www.billboardartproject.com/index.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/billboardartproject/sets/72157628031703592/with/6304207342/

"Vacation Locations" A National Juried Exhibition

The Rye Arts Center, Rye, NY September 11-October 15, 2011

Prize Winner

"Red" Creative Photographers Guild Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY September 10-October 16, 2011

The Billboard Art Project "Duluth, MN" August 20-21, 2011

http://www.billboardartproject.com/index.html

"Pieces" Creative Photographers Guild Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY August 6-September 4, 2011

“Poem” Creative Photographers Guild Group Exhibition

 CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY June 25-July 30, 2011                                  

“IPhone Obscura” Juried Exhibition

 Wagner College Spotlight Gallery, Staten Island, NY June 24-July 23, 2011                    

“Significance of Grace” Juried Exhibition

Minnesota Discovery Center Museum, Chisholm, MN May 21-July 31, 2011

Featured on PBS WDSE “The Playlist”, June 16, 2011

Reviewed by the Mesabi Daily News, July 7, 2011

"Out of Focus" CPG Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY May 14-June 19, 2011

"Common Objects, Uncommon Views" CPG Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY April 2-May 8, 2011

"Abandonment" CPG Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY Feb. 19-March 27, 2011

"Work" CPG Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY January 8-February 13, 2011

 

“DOFA”  Faculty Exhibit  Department of Fine Arts, St. John’s Univeristy

Chung-Chen Gallery, Sun Yat Sen Hall;  Queens, New York

November 16, 2010-January 8, 2011

 

"Flow" CPG Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY October 23-November 14, 2010

 

“Illusions” Featured Photographer Connie J. Frisch-Cherniak

Creative Photography Guild Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY Sept. 11-October 17, 2010

 

“1 +1” Creative Photography Guild Group Exhibition

CPG Gallery, Staten Island, NY June 12-Aug. 1, 2010

 

“Art at Bay” Creative Photography Guild Group Exhibition

Art at Bay Gallery, Staten Island, NY  May 1-30, 2010

Reviewed by the Staten Island Advance

 

Art Institute Faculty Juried Exhibition

Art Institute of Pittsburgh Gallery; Pittsburgh, PA  March 1-April 30, 2010

 

Creative Photography Guild Group Shows: CPG Gallery Staten Island, NY:

“Chiaroscuro” April 24-June 12, 2010

“Found Objects” March 27-April 18, 2010

“Skin” February 20-March 21, 2010 

“Body Politics” October 17-November 4, 2009

“Music for My Eyes” September 12-October 11, 2009

“Portals” August 8-September 9, 2009

“Eclecticism” June 13-July 26, 2009 

“Selections from the Artists’ Portfolios” May 2-June 7, 2009

" Group Show" March21-April 26, 2009

Reviewed by the Staten Island Advance 

Creative Photography Guild Group Show “10301”

Wagner College, Spotlight Gallery; Hormann Library; Staten Island, NY

June 13-July 16, 2009

Reviewed by the Staten Island Advance

Creative Photography Guild Group Show

New York Public Library, St. George; Staten Island, NY   May 1-June 30, 2009

Creative Photography Guild Group Show

Fine Arts Foto Gallery; Staten Island, NY November 7-30, 2007

Benefit Exhibition for the Alzheimer’s Foundation 

Creative Photography Guild Group Show

“What America Means to Me”

St. John’s University; Staten Island, NY  October 1-30th 2006 

Creative Photography Guild Group Showfor Hurricane Katrina-Benefit exhibit

Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Avenue, Staten Island, NY October 16, 2005

 

Bumper to Bumper-International Bumper Sticker Show

Visual Arts League of New Jersey, sponsored by Eighteen Lumber Co.

Cork Gallery, Lincoln Center; NY,   October 1-15; 2005

 

“DOFA” Faculty Exhibit  Department of Fine Arts, St. John’s Univeristy

December 12, 2003-January 17^th , 2004  Chung-Chen Gallery, Sun Yat Sen Hall;  Queens, New York

 

“A Plastic Peace” Digital Painting Show   Christchurch, New Zealand;

July 6-17^th 2003

 

“Pipe Dreams” Cork Gallery Lincoln Center; NY,NY May 23-June 4, 2002

 

Faculty Exhibit Department of Fine Arts , St. John’s University;

 Chung-Chen Gallery, Sun Yat Sen Hall; Queens, New York  February 2001

 

“She Shows Now”

Cork Gallery, Lincoln Center; NY, NY  Dec. 1997-Jan. 1998

University of Medicine and Dentistry; Piscataway, NJ  March-April 1998

 

“The Hub with Magnetic Connections”

Cork Gallery, Lincoln Center; NY, NY  December 3-15, 1998

University of Medicine and Dentistry; Piscataway, NJ  January-February 1999

“R2001 Web Group Exhibition”

Trans-Hudson Gallery 416 W. 13th  St.  NY, NY June 14, 1998

 

“Dorothy’s Red Shoe”

Permanent display along with others at Fash-N-Fit Rx Shoes, Route 18 S.,

East Brunswick, NJ  April 1999

 

“Plastique the Ocean Show” A traveling Exhibit

Cancun, Mexico November 1998

Milltown Municipal Building; Milltown, NJ  September 1997

St. Bartholomew School; Chicago, Ill  December 1996

Creative Space Place, New Brunswick, NJ  October-November 1996

East Brunswick Public Library; East Brunswick, NJ  September 1996

Playhouse 22, East Brunswick, NJ  April 1996

Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center; New Brunswick, NJ  March 11-25, 1996

Cork Gallery, Lincoln Center; New Brunswick, NJ  November 1-28, 1995

Exhibited extensively at other venues 1995-present

 

“The Kite Show”

A Juried Show, Sullivan County Art Museum  August 1-27, 1995

Group Show

Studio Z Gallery; Pittsburgh, PA  August 1-30, 1988

Pittsburgh Society of the Arts Regional Juried Show

Studio Z Gallery; Pittsburgh, PA July 8-30, 1988

Honorable Mention Award

Group Sect--A Two Part Show

Part 2:  The Back Room Gallery at Paul’s Cafe; Long Island City, NY

June 9-23, 1983

 

Group Sect

Part 1:  The Back Room Gallery at Paul’s Cafe; Long Island City, NY

May 5-June 3, 1983

Recipient of an Artist’s Space Group Show Grant

Group Drawing Invitational

Ecole Nationale D’Art   DeCeugy-Pontoise Ave.  De La Grand Ecole

9500 Ceugy, France March 1-25, 1983

 

“Metro Show”  A Juried Small Works Show

City Without Walls Gallery; Newark, NJ  October 8-November 5, 1983

“Art in Site”  Invitational Group Show

 Somerset County College Art Gallery; Somerville, NJ  October 8-28, 1983

 

Window Installation June 27-July27, 1983

Mason Gross School of the Arts--Rutgers University; New Brunswick, NJ

MFA Thesis Show:  “Running From...” May 2-6, 1983

Mason Gross School of the Arts--Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ