Artist Lecture Series

AMANDA PALMER

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• www.tabularasa.gallery

Being the child of a newsman, we moved frequently – I grew up mainly in San Francisco and Tokyo, Japan. In my thirty-year career as an artist I have prioritized experiential learning over advanced degrees. While seeking a BA in Printmaking at San Francisco State University I filled my non-school hours with an art internship at Mother Jones Magazine, and an apprenticeship in etching and lithography from a fine arts book printing press in San Francisco.

I have continually honed my skills as a teacher of art and outdoor ethics. For many years I have taught art to students of all ages through residencies, summer camps, and community arts programs. I have owned galleries and art studios. These paths have pushed me into graphic design, exhibit design and to a career as a museum Director/Curator. I make a living from my art and in my own way hope to spread my form of stewardship of the earth through my work.

I often create Place-Based art – translating my flashes of wonder and impressions of place onto the printed page through the laborious and time-consuming ancient art of relief printing. To this end I have fulfilled eight artist residencies since 2015, most in National Parks.

“Amanda’s connection to ‘America’s Best Idea’, our National Parks, has been of mutual benefit to both her and the parks: she gleans inspiration and subject matter from these special places, while inspiring visitors to become park advocates and foster their own creative endeavors… Amanda brings the ancient art of woodblock printing to a new generation, where her relief prints of incredible flora and fauna and her educational interactions with visitors aids us with our important mission of promoting relevancy and stewardship into our next century of service and beyond. Amanda brings 30 years of experience as an artist, art teacher, and environmental educator…”(NPS Ranger Carlin Fenn, Padre Island Ntnl Seashore)

The summer of 2018 I was rocked by the sudden passing of my soul-mate... Embracing the opportunity to begin a new chapter in life I accepted a three-month artist residency at the History Museum in Trinidad, Colorado – and was deeply inspired by the town and the beauty of Southern Colorado. I now live in Trinidad where I run Tabula Rasa Studio and serve as Executive Director of Art Cartopia Museum and Artocade, Inc. Art Cartopia Museum is a nationally known art car museum and produces the second largest art car parade in the US. I have helped to create seven art cars since 2019. Art cars, and creating them with kids, has become a new outlet for my love of teaching and making art with young people.