artist statement
Through a diverse understanding and application of many different disciplines, my creative direction takes on many forms. I am a material and process-based artist, which is the foundation of any artistic and creative endeavor. I work to instill this in both my viewers and my students. By having worked as a sculptor, painter, 3D digital designer, graphic designer, furniture designer, and jewelry designer, among many other things, my work is guided by the idea and not limited to a small subsection of processes.
In my fine-art work, I seek to reveal what we know but cannot visualize, those feelings and emotions that lie within our subconscious. To release these items lying under the surface, one must come from a place of open-mindedness and a willingness to accept change. I achieve this by allowing the work to find realization through me instead of directed by me. It is about the reaction to materials and forms to create the next reaction. To react, to be a tool for these ideas to flow, requires the release of control, allowing the aesthetic decisions to come under the guidance of the piece and not necessarily my will as an artist. This work engages the viewer through familiarity with its formal qualities. Dealing with familiar materials and forms, the viewer can project their own understanding and experience to produce something knowable in the unfamiliar. I have found that creating nonobjective work allows the piece to continue to grow and evolve past my original intention and direction.
My creative activities have explored small gallery works, large group shows, solo exhibitions, and large-scale commissions. I have also had the opportunity to show both nationally and internationally. Fine-art work has not been my only mode of creative production but has included the production logos, short animations, poster designs, and advertisements for private companies. My most recent creative endeavor has been building a house; this challenge has pushed me in another direction to expand upon my multi-disciplinary work. In my creative pursuits, I do not feel limited by anything; this allows me to take on any new opportunity.
Info
Crowell A Pate IV
contact@cp4art.com
North Alabama
Crowell Alexander Pate IV
Education
2016 MFA , Sculpture, Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, GA
2012 BFA, Sculpture, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2010 BA Summa Cum Laude, Studio Art and Art History, University of Alabama Huntsville, Huntsville, AL
2009 UGA Studies Abroad, Cortona, Italy
Related Professional Experience
2021-2023 Professor of Foundation Studies, Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, GA
2022 Speaker at “Beg, Borrow, Steal” Event, SCAD Academic Integrity Council Atlanta, GA
2021 Adjunct Professor of Art, Northwest Shoals Community College, Muscle Shoals, AL
2018-2021 Adjunct Foundations Professor, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
2019 Speaker at UNA STEAM Robotics Competition, “The Importance of Art in STEAM”, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
Course Creation: Digital Media Multimedia: CAD/CAM, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
2018-2019 Commission: The Dance, Pepper Vine Restaurant, Charlotte, NC
2016-2018 Adjunct Sculpture Professor, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
2018 Plant it Forward: Educational Garden, Recycled Sculpture Project, Hanahan Elementary School, Hanahan, SC
2017 Course Creation: Digital Technologies in Sculpture, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
2016 -2017 Visiting Artist, Gibbes Museum, Charleston, SC
2016 Adjunct Professor, Interactive 3D Printing, SCAD Atlanta, GA
Assistant to Allen Peterson, Crosspollination, Montague Sculpture Park, Chattanooga, TN
Teaching Assistant - Visual Design Systems, SCAD Atlanta, GA
Art and Design Fellow, Atlanta Beltline, Inc., Atlanta, GA
2015 Guest Furnace, GSU Holiday Pour, Atlanta, GA
Final Design Team, Radiant Awakening, Hotel Indigo, Savannah, GA (2016)
Assistant to Allen Peterson, Atlanta Globe, Northwest Atlanta Public Library, Atlanta, GA
Rooted 1 & 2, commission for SkyHouse Midtown, Atlanta, GA
Assistant to Andrew Marsh and Gerry Masse, Sawgood? Hellsnow!, NCCCIA, Sloss
Furnace, Birmingham, AL
Student Cupola Contest, NCCCIA, Sloss Furnace, Birmingham, AL
Contestant - Chairish the Future Design Contest, Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
2014 Paint Love Metal Artists at Kate’s Club, Demonstrating the Grief Journey Atlanta, GA
Assistant to George Beasley, Master and Acolyte, 7th ICCCIA, Pedvale Open-Air Art Museum, Talsi, Latvia
2012-13 Arts, Graphics, and Print Chair, CHYPAA, Chicago, IL
Shop Assistant, Sharp Woodshop, SAIC, Chicago, IL
2009-12 Volunteer Graphic Designer, ALCYPAA, Huntsville, AL
Exhibitions
2022 SCAD Faculty Exhibition SCAD Atlanta, GA
2021 UNA SOTA Faculty Show University Art Gallery, Florence, AL
2020 Works on display: UNA Robotics Competition, UNA Flowers Hall, Florence, AL
2019 Pop-up Local Artists Exhibition Wood Street Lofts, Florence, AL
UNA SOTA Faculty Show Gallery 126, Florence, AL
2018 Faculty Show University Art Gallery, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
2017 South Carolina Palmetto Hands North Charleston, SC
2016 Ingrained Gallery L1, Atlanta, GA (solo)
Niche Awards Show Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
2015 Breakfast for Dinner West Side Provisions District, Atlanta, GA
Art 18 Gallery L1, Atlanta, GA
2014 Cast Iron Traveler Sabile, Talsi, Latvia
Works on Display Plante Morane, Chicago, IL
2013 Works on Display Blackstone Library, Chicago, IL
2012 Works on Display Winzeler Gear, Chicago, IL
Works on Display Kamama Gallery, Mentone, AL
Art at the Barn Sweet Seasons Farm, Valley Head, AL
SAIC BFA Show Sullivan Gallery, Chicago, IL
2010 Recent Works By Alex Pate Wilson Hall Gallery, Huntsville, AL (solo)
UAH Student Art Show Wilson Hall Gallery, Huntsville, AL (Juror: John Powers)
Scholarship Dinner Show University Center Exhibition Hall, Huntsville, AL
UGA Cortona Studies Abroad: Lamar Dodd School of Art, Athens, GA (2009 Exhibition)
2009 Holiday Art Show and Sale Union Grove Gallery, Huntsville, AL (invitational)
Mostra Palazzo Vagnotti, Cortona, Italy
Awards
2017 Palmetto Hands Traveling Exhibition Selection, North Charleston, SC
Honorable Mention, South Carolina Palmetto Hands Exhibition, North Charleston, SC
2016 Top 5 Finalist 2016 Niche Awards, Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
2015 Student Cupola Contest "Beauty Queen" Award Winner, NCCCIA, Sloss Furnace, Birmingham, AL
2014 Binders Art Supply Scholarship
1st Place SkyHouse Midtown Design Competition
Student Incentive Scholarship, SCAD Winter, Spring, Fall
2013 Student Incentive Scholarship, SCAD Fall
2012 Gruber (Barre) Seid Scholarship, SAIC, Spring, Summer
2011 Gruber (Barre) Seid Scholarship, SAIC, Fall
2010 Summa Cum Laude, UAHuntsville, Fall
Dean’s List, UAHuntsville, Spring, Summer, Fall
Phi Kappa Phi, Honor Society Kappa Pi, Art Honor Society
2009 Dean’s List, UAHuntsville, Fall
Dean’s List, UGA, Cortona, Italy, Summer
Ina B. Clark Studies Abroad Scholarship, UAHuntsville
Banca di Cortona Scholarship, Cortona, Italy
Honor Scholar, UAHuntsville, Spring
2008 Honor Scholar, UAHuntsville, Fall
Dean’s List, Calhoun Community College, Spring
Phi Theta Kappa, Honor Society
2007 Dean’s List, Calhoun Community College, Fall
Organizations
Mid-South Sculpture Alliance
Paint Love Artist
SOPO Bicycle Co-op
UAHuntsville Art Club
Phi Kappa Phi – National Honor Society
Kappa Pi – Art Honor Society
Phi Theta Kappa – National Honor Society