Thursday, July 28, 2016

bio

 -Vav Vavrek was born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and grew up in the shadows of the rusting smokestacks of Pittsburgh.  A slight brain malfunction caused him to ride screaming into the wind on a faded steel horse until he lost his voice in Phoenix, Arizona.  In 2011 Vav violently dug up his roots and tried to cultivate a new existence in the smog belt of the increasingly misnamed city of angels.  The decade long drought in California caused him to cross the continent again in 2016.  Vav is now sharing his artistic ailment at Alfred State College as an adjunct professor and technician for the Digital Media & Animation department.


-Vav Vavrek is a creator of things as well as an instigator of events. He tends to delve deeply into the refuse piles of the fortunate to aid in the expression of his deep seated agitations and anxieties.  His works and his writing evoke some of the helplessness and anger of the new lost generation. His most recent works crawl through the grimy recesses of life through explorations of addiction, mental illness, poverty, gender roles, and politics.  Vav utilizes any and all materials that he can get to adhere with his greasy fingers, including: oil, acrylic, enamel, marker, spray paint, alternative photographic processes, computer languages, scrap metal, broken electronics, low quality video, splinters of wood, and anonymous detritus.

selected exhibitions

2018 
       "Videotheque", film/video/performance event, Holmes Auditorium, Alfred University
      "The 2018 Film and Video Poetry Symposium", Los Angeles, CA
      "net neutrality is DEAD", solo show, Bret Llewellyn Gallery, Alfred State College, Alfred NY
2017
      SUNYWide Film Festival, Faculty/Staff Reel, Buffalo State College, Buffalo NY
      "RAM ERROR", solo exhibition, Bret Llewellyn Gallery, Alfred State College, Alfred NY
2016
       End of an Era, group exhibition, the Firehouse Gallery, Phoenix AZ 
       "Transgender Realities", juried group show, Rogue Community College, Grant's Pass, OR
2015
       Electron Salon, International group show, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art (LACDA)
       Laptop Ensemble performance, Video Sculpture, University Art Museum, CSULB
       Laptop Ensemble and Modular Synthesis performance, live multichannel video installation, 
       Gerald R. Daniel Recital Hall, CSULB
 2014
       “server and protect the virus”, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Gatov Gallery East and 
       Gatov Gallery West, CSULB
       “Insights”, Juried Exhibition, University Art Museum, CSULB
       “Bring Your Own Beamer”, Group Show, Expo Arts Center
       “NetVav.Net”, Collaborative Installation, Dutzi Gallery, CSULB with Annette Heully
 2013
       “That Hologram Piece”, solo installation, Dutzi Gallery CSULB
       “The Truck Show”, Duo Installation with Annette Heully, for Long Beach Arts Month
       “Insights”, Juried Exhibition, University Art Museum, CSULB
       “Big and Small”, Group Show, Art Share L.A.
 2012
       “Now”, Group Show, EXPO Arts Center, Long Beach, Ca
       “2 Man Show”, Sidebar, Phoenix Az
       “Chaotic I”, solo show, Werby Gallery, CSULB
 2011
       “Shopping Cart Pirate Ship” one-year traveling Public Art Display, Phoenix & Miami, Az
       “Bent” solo show, A. E. England Gallery
 2010
       BFA Intermedia, group show, ASU
       New Works, solo show, The Firehouse
       “Outer Bounds of Sound”, guest sound artist, Revolver Records
 2009
       “BLAMO” visiting artist, The Artists’ Niche, Nederland, CO.
       “White Noise/After the Bombs” 3-day interactive public installation/performance
 2008
       “Artist Lofts; Lower Rise Lower Rent (Gypsy Village II)” 3-day public installation
       “Bent” solo show, Step gallery ASU
       “Insomnia, Nightmares, and Dreams” solo show, The Firehouse
       Group Show, Miami Artworks, Miami AZ.
 2007
       “Artist Lofts; Low Rise Low Rent (Gypsy Village)” 3-day public installation
       “Candy ‘n Sweets” Duo show with Tom Cooper, The Firehouse
       “Hindsight” solo show, The Lodge
       Selected Works solo show, The Paisley Violin
       “History Repeats Itself” commissioned public art, Stop 'n Look Gallery
       Juried Undergrad Exhibition, Harry Wood Gallery, ASU
 2006
         Selected Works solo show, Bikini Lounge
         “Polaroid Goes Digital Pop” solo show, Cone Gallery
         Open Studio, disinfo alternative arts
         “Western Eye” juried exhibition, Phoenix College Gallery
  2005
         Hurricane Katrina Benefit group show, The Icehouse Alternative Art Space
         Selected Works group show, Willow House


*All Exhibitions prior to 2012 in Phoenix, AZ. 
and afterward in Los Angeles, except where noted.

news and awards

   2015
        Distinguished Achievement in Creative Activity Award, CSULB
   2014
        Marilyn Werby Scholarship, CSULB
   2012
        OC Art Blog - It's Happening; Now
        http://www.ocartblog.com/2012/10/it-is-happening-now/
   2010
        Arizona Highways Television - 1st Fridays
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvS1CqVHhO0
   2008
        Arizona Republic - Street-Vendor Limits to Give First Fridays New Look - Front Page,
        (Uncredited) image of artist and work
   2007
        Arizona Republic - Detour Worth Taking:
        http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/0303phx-artdetour0303Z3.html
        New Times - Gypsy Kings: 
        http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-03-15/news/ankkkarlo-pride/full#a3
        New Times - Best of Phoenix 2007 - Best Stop on Art Detour - Gypsy Village:
        http://bestof.phoenixnewtimes.com/bestof/award.php?award=553774&year=2007
        ABC News 15 - History Repeats Itself:
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kLGto7kWxk
   2006
        Western Eye - Juried Exhibition: Honorable Mention, Phoenix College
   2005
        Scottsdale Community College - Literary Magazine: 3rd place Poetry, 
        Honorable Mention Creative Non-fiction, Honorable Mention Photography

Friday, July 1, 2016

education:


University at Buffalo
PhD in Media Study (2025)

Empire State University
Masters of Science in Information Technology (2025)

California State University, Long Beach
Masters of Fine Art in Sculpture and Time Based Media
with distinction

Arizona State University
Bachelors of Fine Art in Intermedia
Cum Laude