A r t I s t S t a t e m e n t

 

My current body of work was created using large black and white silver prints produced from pinhole cameras. The images are captured on film by using either a 4x5 Leonardo pinhole camera or a pinhole camera made from a Tide detergent box. Both these cameras are modified to allow the attachment of a Polaroid 645 film back. Since the camera lacks a viewfinder, I rely on Polaroid Positive Negative 55 film to produce a positive ‘reference' image--this particular Polaroid film also provides a black and white negative at the same time.

 

After the silver print is made, I build upon each print by using various art mediums such as painting, drawing, and image transfers. Often, multiple photographs are juxtaposed together to evoke narratives connecting one image to another, not unlike chapters in a book.   I feel most comfortable photographing possessions associated with my home, family and everyday life. Occasionally, I incorporate hand or machine-sewn verses or writing into select areas of the print to act as dialog. The writings, both from personal journals and verses from popular 20th century poets, push the narrative capabilities of the image. All of my finished pieces are distinctive works on paper that move beyond the boundaries of a traditional photograph.

 

 

Rebecca Sexton Larson is a Tampa based studio artist/photographer and educator working with alternative photographic processes. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Fine Arts and Mass Communications. In 1998, Rebecca was awarded her first Florida Individual Artist Fellowship from the State of Florida and in 2002; she was awarded her second Florida Fellowship. Other major awards include an award from University of the Arts in Philadelphia to lecture and exhibit, an Artist Enhancement Grant from the State of Florida, and in 2005 she was commissioned to be the City of Tampa’s Photographer Laureate.

 

R E B E C C A · S E X T O N · L A R S O N

www.sextonlarson.com

 

C u r r e n t R e s u m e

 

Grants, Fellowships and Awards

 

2008 Florida Individual Artist Fellowship

2006 Florida Artist Enhancement Grant

2005 Photographer Laureate, City of Tampa

2002 Florida Individual Artist Fellowship

1999 Featured artist for Polaroid Corporation “Test” On Line

1997 Florida Individual Artist Fellowship

1996 Honorable Mention, Florida Individual Artist Fellowship

1995 Emerging Artist Grant, Tampa-Hillsborough Arts Council

1990 Emerging Artist Grant, Tampa-Hillsborough Arts Council

 

 

Selected Collections and Commissions

 

Polaroid International, Boston, MA

Progressive Corporate Art, Mayfield Village, OH

Graham Nash, Nash Editions / Crosby, Stills & Nash

The Pinhole Resource, San Lorenzo, NM

PharMerica, Inc., Tampa, FL

Holland and Knight Law Firm, Tampa, FL

Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL

Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL

Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Belleair, FL

City of Orlando , Florida Artists Collection, Orlando, FL

Coopers & Lybrand, Tampa, FL

Arthur Anderson, Tampa, FL

First Fidelity Investments, Tampa, FL

Hillsborough County Commission, County Building, Tampa, FL

Chamber of Commerce, Tampa, FL

Rick Mears, 4-Time Indianapolis 500 Champion, Jupiter, FL

South Trust Bank, Orlando, FL

Thermal Ceramics, Augusta, GA

Orlando County Commission, Orlando, FL

Amsouth Bank, Tampa, FL

TECO Reality, Tampa, FL

Tampa Bay Business Committee of the Arts 2004 Artwork/Award recipients

The St. Petersburg Times

Norma Gene Burr, F.E Lykes Foundation

Walter Loebenberg, Florida Holocaust Museum

Edward Hoffman Jr., Hoffman Architects

William R. Hough, RBC Dain Rauscher

Marty Schaffel, Audio Visual Innovations

 

Exhibition Record (*solo shows marked by asterisk)

 

2007 *Rebecca Sexton Larson, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA.

2007 Small Works Exhibit, Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

2006 *Photographer Laureate Exhibition, University of Tampa, Tampa, FL.,

2006 Artwork by Rebecca Sexton Larson and Anna Tomczak, Lake Wales Art Center, Lake

Wales, Fl.,

2006 The Narrative Tradition, The Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL.,

2006 Pictures of Words: The Use of Text in Art, The Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL.,

2006 “Booty” Tampa’s First Contemporary Art Expo, Skypoint Center, Tampa, FL.,

2005 *Rethinking the Possibilities: Rebecca Sexton Larson , The Polk Museum of Art,

Lakeland, FL.,

2005 Hot Summer Show, Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

2005 Pinhole Photography Group Show, The Upstairs Gallery, Tyron, North Carolina

2004 *New Work, Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

2004 Fixed in Time: Matt Larson & Rebecca Sexton Larson, The Arts Center,

St. Petersburg, FL

2003 Pure Light: Southern Pinhole Photography, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art,

Winston-Salem, NC

2003 Group Show, Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

2003 Florida Individual Artist Fellowship Traveling Exhibition,

Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL

Okaloosa-Walton Community College

Lowe Art Museum

2002 Boca Raton Museum Show, Boca Raton Museum, Boca Raton, FL

2002 *New Work, Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

2001 “Why Pinhole? International Exhibition of Lens-less Images,

The Visual Studies Workshop Rochester, N.Y.

2001 Images from the Permanent Collection, The Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL

2000 *New Work, Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

2000 *Rebecca Sexton Larson: Women’s History Month,

Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL

2000 Larson & Tomczak, Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola, FL

1999 Artistic Waters, The Florida Aquarium, Tampa, FL

1999 Nostalgic Glances, Museum of Arts and Science, Melbourne, FL

1999 Undercurrent/Overview, The Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL

1999 The Photograph as A Point of Departure, Palm Beach Photographic Workshops,

Delray, FL

1999 Small Works Exhibition, Valencia Community College, Orlando, FL

1999 Florida Individual Artist Fellowship Traveling Exhibition,

Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL

University of West Florida Gallery, Pensacola, FL

Selby Gallery, Ringling School of Art & Design, Sarasota, FL

Museum of Art, Tallahassee, FL

Deland Museum of Art, Deland, FL

1999 *One Person Exhibition, Arts on The Park (Gallery), Lakeland, FL

1998 Florida Biennial III, Gulf Coast Museum, Belleair, FL

1998 *Solo Exhibition, Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

1998 Group Exhibition, Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

1998 Permanent Collection, Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL

1998 MAYSHOW, Lakeland, FL, Awarded Best In Show

1998 Group Exhibition, St. Petersburg Art Center, St. Petersburg, FL

1998 Florida Photographers, Coral Springs Museum of Fine Art, Coral Springs, FL

1998 Photography from the Permanent Collection, Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL

Artists Collaboration, The Florida-Wyoming Tarot Project

1998 Group Exhibition, Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

1998 Group Exhibition, St. Petersburg Center for The Arts, St. Petersburg FL

1996 *Rebecca Sexton Larson, Lee Scarfone Gallery, University of Tampa, Tampa, FL

1996 Florida Biennial II, Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Belleair, FL

1996 “HouseSpirits,” Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

1996 Artist As Activist, Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Belleair, FL

1996 Fourth Biennial of Contemporary Southern Art, Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL

1996 Recent Works, Clayton Galleries, Tampa, FL

1996 Hot Shots, Duncan McClellan & Rebecca Sexton Larson,

Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, FL.

1996 Current Works, TECO Plaza Gallery, Tampa, FL

1996 Glass and Light, Duncan McClellan & Rebecca Sexton Larson,

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

 

Selected Bibliography

 

2007 Saw Palm Florida Literature and Art, University of South Florida, Literary Magazine,

Volume 1 2006-2007

2006 Wrobleski, Debbi. “In Pieces” Industry Magazine, Aug/Sep 2006 Issue.

2006 Bennett, Lennie. “Laurels of a Photo Laureate.” The St. Petersburg Times 10 August 2006

2006 Voeller, Megan. “Muted Moments.” Weekly Planet 09 August 2006

2006 Carey, Jenny. Flair Magazine, The Tampa Tribune, June 2006

2006Tampa Review 30, University of Tampa’s Literary Magazine

2006 Bennett, Lennie. “ New Booty Art.” The St. Petersburg Times 2 Mar. 2006

2005 Bennett, Lennie. “ Small Lens, Big Picture.” The St. Petersburg Times 7 Aug. 2005

2005 Mulhurn, Mary. “Best Public Art” The Weekly Planet

2005 Bostic, Connie. “Slow Hand.” Mountain Xpress 20 Apr. 2005

2004 Eric Renner. Pinhole Photography: Rediscovering a Historic Technique.

Third Edition, Burlington: Focal Press, 2004

2004 Bennett, Lennie. “ His and Hers Artwork.” The St. Petersburg Times 17 Dec. 2004

2004 Golub, Adrienne. " What to Watch For." The Weekly Planet 25 Aug. 2004

2004 Warner David. " Let It Snow." The Weekly Planet 17 Nov. 2004

2004 Hammer, Ester. " Exposing The Art of Education." The Tampa Tribune 12 Feb. 2004,

2004 Carey, Jenny. "Photographer's New Work Will Not Disappoint." South Tampa News

4 Feb. 2004

2004 Mars, Marilyn. "Metro Art." Tampa Bay Metro Magazine February/March issue

2003 Patterson, Tom. "Take a Pin…Box-light Photography on Exhibit." Winston-Salem Journal 26 Jan. 2003

2003 Patterson, Tom. " Medium and Message Pinhole-photography show raises some

Chicken-or-egg questions." Winston-Salem Journal 30 Mar. 2003

2003 Carolina Arts, "Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, NC, Offers

New Exhibitions," February Issue 2003.

2002 Carey, Jenny. " Larson Artwork Is A Credit to Art Education." South Tampa News

6 Mar. 2002

2002 Tampa Review 21, University of Tampa’s Literary Magazine

2001 Clear, Marty. "Exploring the Florida Landscape." Flair Magazine Fall 2001

2001 Various authors." Why Pinhole," Afterimage, Spring 2001

2000 Golub, Adrienne. "Florida and the Southeast." Art Papers July/August 200.

2000 "Best of The Bay Issue," The Weekly Planet Voted Tampa Bays’ Best Photographer

2000 Milani, Joanne. "Undercurrent/Overview." The Tampa Tribune June 2000

1999 Milani, Joanne. "Area Artists Assess Successes, Shortcomings, Evolutions," The Tampa

Tribune 4 July 1999

1999 Alternative View, "Rebecca Larson's Pix of Home," Vol. 1 #1

1997 Tampa Review 14, University of Tampa’s Literary Magazine

1995 New American Paintings, Open Studios Competitions

1995 Johnson, Lizabeth. "Visual Diaries." View Camera Magazine. Sept.Oct 1995, pp.4-8

1995 Renner, Eric. "Rebecca Sexton Larson." Pinhole Journal

Contemporary Images 3, Vol.11#1

1995 Marger, Mary Ann. "Show of Renewal." St. Petersburg Times. 19 May 1995

1993 Marger, Mary Ann. "Double Takes." St. Petersburg Times. 5 Mar. 1993

1993 Stewart, Laura. "Masters Meet the Mouse." The Tampa Tribune 7 Nov. 1993

1993 Stewart, Laura. "Art of Creative Dialogue," The Tampa Tribune 14 Nov. 1993

1991 Belmonte, Joan. "Making Common Objects Special," Orlando Sentinel, 21 April 1991

 

Professional Activities

 

2008 Juror, 37 th Annual Lake Wales Art Festival, Lake Wales, FL.

2008 Public Lecture, Camera Obscura, Museum of Photographic Arts, Tampa, Fl. Sponsored by

the Tampa Museum of Art, Art for Lunch Program

2008 Visiting Artist, McLaughlin Middle School, Winter Haven, FL.

2007 Juror, 33 rd Annual Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce Fine Arts Festival, St. Petersburg

College, Tarpon Springs Campus, Palm Harbor, FL.

2007 Juror, 33 rd Annual Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival, Spring Bayou Park Tarpon Springs,

FL.

2007 Juror, “7 th “Annual Members Exhibition” Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Tampa, FL.

2006 Panel Member, "The Art of the Documentary Project," Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL.,

2006 Public Lecture, Photo Laureate Project Tampa Museum of Art, Art for Lunch Program,

Tampa, FL.

2006 Transfer Techniques for Educators Workshop, Florida Art Educators Conference,

Jacksonville, Florida

2005 Hand Coloring Black and White Photographs: You Choose the Colors Workshop, The Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL.

2005 Public Lecture Pinhole Photography, Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL.

2005 Panel Member, "Tampa Photo Laureates," Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL.

2005 Pre-Juror, Mayfaire by the Lake Art Festival, Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL.

2004 Santa Fe Center for Photography, Review Santa Fe Participant

2002 Public Lecture Pinhole Photography, Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL.

2002 Handcoloring Workshop and Lecture, sponsored by the McGonagall Trust, University of the

Arts, Philadelphia, PA.

2001 Public Lecture, Visual Literacy, University of Tampa, Tampa, FL.

1999 Visiting Artist, Blake High School, Tampa, FL.

1999 Public Access T.V. Program, “Art Off The Wall” The Education Channel, Tampa, FL.

1999 Public Lecture, The Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Belliar, FL.

1999 Television Interview, “Good Morning Tampa Bay, Channel 13, Tampa, FL.

1999 Public Lecture, Friends of Photography, The St. Petersburg Museum, St. Petersburg, FL.

1999 Public Lecture, Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL.,

1998 Public Lecture, (Keynote Lecturer) “Pinhole Photography” Florida Art Educators

Conference, St. Petersburg, Florida

1993 Radio Interview, Pin Hole Photography, WMNF Radio, Tampa, FL.

1992 Public Lecture, American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), Tampa, FL.

 

 

 

Education

1982 B.A. Degree, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

College of Fine Arts - Painting

College of Arts and Letters – Photojournalism

 

Professional Experience

 

2006 – 2007 Polk Museum of Art

Curator of Education

 

2004 – 2006 Tampa Museum of Art

Museum Educator for Community Programs

 

2002 – 2004 Tampa Museum of Art

Curatorial Administrative Assistant

 

1997 – 2002 Photography and Computer Arts Instructor

Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts

1989 - 2002 Visiting Artist /Photography Instructor

Hillsborough Community College/visiting artist

Melbourne Museum of Art and Sciences

Dunedin Fine Art Center

St. Petersburg Fine Arts Center

Gulf Coast Museum of Art

Polk Museum of Art

 

Professional Memberships

 

American Association of Museums (AAM)

Florida Association of Museums, Inc.

Florida Art Education Association (FAEA)

Tampa Museum of Art

Polk Museum of Art