CV and Statement
“Eloquent, transcendent entities, with an almost spiritualized expressiveness, the glow of which reads like an utterance.”
~Gary Michael Dault, Artists’ Odysseys
Dana Ranke holds an MFA in Painting with a Minor in Textiles from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a BFA in Painting from University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. She works representationally, interpreting a variety of subjects in oil, gouache, and charcoal.
Statement
Spirit of place is the primary inspiration for my work. I paint objects and locales that I have directly experienced. Painting from life is my preferred way to paint portraiture, botanical, figure and object studies, where my intention is to express the essence of a subject through its formal qualities. Paintings of more complex natural and built environments arise from my own photography or on-site studies when possible. Reference imagery is, for me, conducive to investigating compositional changes to effect meaning in my work.
My current body of work, Where No One Lives or Visits, expands on my earliest paintings of interiors to explore what makes a place unappreciated or iconized, and considers the role point of view plays in the way we understand and interact with environments.
CV
Dana Ranke
MFA in Painting, Minor in Textiles, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994
BFA in Painting, University of New York at Buffalo, 1989
Selected Exhibitions
Small Works 2022, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY. 2022 (juried)
ASI Annual Faculty Exhibit, Atrium Gallery, Buffalo, NY. 2014-2019
Artists’ Odysseys: The Arctic, Varley Art Gallery, Markham, Ontario, CA. 2006 (invitational)
Women’s Invitational Exhibition, Steiner Gallery, SUNY Genesee Community College. 2005 (invitational)
Niagara Artists Company, St. Catharines, Ontario, CA. 1999
Faculty Exhibit, SUNY Buffalo Center for the Arts Gallery. 1997
63rd Annual Regional Exhibition, Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, NY. 1996 (juried)
Everson Biennial, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse NY. 1994 (juried)
71st Annual Spring Show, Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA. 1994 (juried)
1993 Finger Lakes Exhibition, Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY (juried)
Interiors, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Bevier Gallery, Rochester Institute of Technology. 1993
Gossip, Campos Photography Center Gallery, Buffalo, NY. 1990 (solo)
In Western New York, Biennial Invitational, Albright-Knox Art Gallery. 1989 (invitational)
Winners of the Rumsey Fellowship, University at Buffalo. 1988 (two-person)
Selected Commissions/Collections/Awards
Stewart Financial, Oakville, Ontario, CA
Daniel, Black, and Partners, St. Catharines, Ontario, CA
Ridley College, St. Catharines, Ontario, CA
Griffith Electric, Patron Purchase Award, Erie Art Museum
Wallace Library Art Collection, Rochester Institute of Technology Purchase Prize
Evelyn Rumsey Lord Fellowship, University at Buffalo
Bibliography
Scott Scanlon. “Artist Lets His Portraits do the Talking.” The Buffalo News. January 30, 2019. Artist with autism – and few words – lets his portraits do the talking (buffalonews.com)
James Groh. “Giving a Voice to the Voiceless.” WKBW 7 News. August 30, 2018. https://www.wkbw.com/news/an-art-exhibit-highlighting-people-with-autism.
The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming. “A Rare Pearl.” November 20, 2011. http://lwarc.blogspot.com/2011/11/rare-pearl-autistic-services-student-re.html.
Dault, Gary Michael. Ideas of the North, essay, photo fig. 4-1. Artists’ Odysseys: The Arctic, Markham, Ontario: Varley Art Gallery, 2006. Catalogue.
Chayat, Sherry, The 1994 Everson Biennial, Syracuse Herald American, Sept. 25, 1994, p.16.
Everson Museum of Art Bulletin, Autumn, 1994. Syracuse, NY: Everson Museum of Art, 1994. Cover.
In Western New York, Buffalo, NY: Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1989. Catalogue.
Art Department Names Two Prize Winners, The Reporter, May 5, 1988. Vol.19, No. 27, p.19.
Professional Experience
2007-present, Director of Arts/Teaching Artist/Curatorial projects, Autism Services of Western NY/People Inc.
1998-99 Gallery Assistant/Art Lending Coordinator, Rodman Hall Arts Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
1996-97 Adjunct Professor of Intermediate and Advanced Figure Drawing, SUNY Buffalo, NY
1992-95 Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY
1993 Teaching Assistant, Rochester Institute of Technology