I have been a fine artist for over 30 years. In 2000, and 2002, I was awarded the Illinois Arts Council Fellowship for my photo/painting diorama series, and I have exhibited in the United States and most recently, Paris, France.
What I have discovered in the art form of diorama is it's power to evoke a memory. The miniaturization of an image allows the viewer to see what was once overlooked, as if seeing it for the first time. It becomes a catalyst, forming a memory of what one "thought " they had seen, expanding in the mind to a place where time stops, life is safe. Understanding the power of memory to over ride truth is at the core of this work. Photographing and recreating my "emotional memory" of nature through the format of a diorama has given me invaluable insight into why an image in miniature often evokes a memory response in people. What is it about the "past" in the mind that makes one love it more?
Why does memory become stronger than truth?
Celeste Sotola, 2009
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Professional Arts Activities/Achievements
Education: Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois
Group Exhibitions
1970 Kalamazoo Vicinity Exhibit Kalamazoo, Michigan
1980 WEB Scholarship Oxbow, Michigan
1983 Illinois Painters III Illinois Arts Council
1986 Art Institute Vicinity Show Art Institute of Chicago
1988 The Architecture Show Oak Park Illinois
1989 "Working From The Other Side" Ludwig Drum Factory, Chicago Illinois
1989 Erie Street Gallery Group Show Chicago, Illinois
1994 "Sooner Salon" Chicago, Illinois
1996 Loyola Cancer Research Center Maywood, Illinois
Solo Exhibits
1992 "Death by Fire", Enid Okla Homa Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1993 "Wolves in Sheeps Clothing" Enid Okla Homa Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1994 "Recycle Ballet", Museum of Centemporary Art Season Opening Show Chicago, Illinois
1995 "Psychological Holy Cards" Enid Okla Homa Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1996 "Squawk", Enid Okla Homa Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1997 "HDTV", Enid Okla Homa Gallery Chicago, Illinois
2000 "de la peinture...a la photo" Callu Merite Gallery Paris, France
Grants and Fellowships
1980 Illinois Painters III Traveling Exhibition and grant
1981 WEB Scholarship, Oxbow, Michigan
2000 Artist Fellowship, Illinois Arts Council
2002 Artist Fellowship, Illinois Arts Council
2002 Montana Arts Council Opportunity Grant
2002 National Endowment for the Arts Grant
Collections
UpJohn Chemical Company
McDonald Corporation
Canfields Corporation
Maria McCormick, Chicago
Habitat Corporation, Chicago
Urban Search Corporation, Chicago
Edward Tyler, Chicago
Cardinal Bernadine Cancer Center, Maywood, Illinois
Jannes Development Corporation, chicago
Jerry Gleason, Chicago
Watts Wacker, Futurist, Author, Connecticut
Dr. Andrew Weil
Gerald Adelmann, Openlands Project, Chicago
Berwyn Public library, Berwyn, Illinois
Butte Silver Bow Public Library, Butte, Montana
St. Peter’s Cancer Center, Helena , Montana
Benefis Hospice Center, Great Falls, Montana
Helena Regional Airport, Helen, Montana
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