About
Video courtesy of the Jane Franklin Dance Company from “Form and Void” at the Athenaeum, Alexandria, VA, 2018.
Ellyn is interviewed about her collaborative exhibition with Richard Dana at Artist & Makers Rockville. Best viewed on Youtube (click the link when video starts to go to Youtube).
Ellyn Weiss is a visual artist in two and three dimensions and an independent curator. She has had over 25 solo or featured shows and has participated in numerous juried and curated exhibitions. Ellyn works with a wide variety of materials; the materials used in recent shows include wax, oil bar, dry pigment, wire, plastic dip and tar.
Weiss’s work has for many years been inspired by the imagery of biological and natural structures. Much of her recent work deals with the effects of global climate change. With various collaborators, she has created installations dealing with the effects of the melting of the polar ice cap (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2014; McLean Project for the Arts, 2015), the destruction of coral reefs worldwide (Artists and Makers, 2016) and the migration of infectious diseases (Otis street Arts Project, 2017). She is currently working on a project focusing on the climate change-caused migration of people.
Ellyn is the co-founder of ArtWatch, a group of DC-area artists committed to using their visual communication skills to assert the best values of democracy: inclusion, openness and tolerance. She led a collaboration of 300 artists on the One House Project, an installation celebrating the unique strength that diversity brings to America. It was exhibited at the Touchstone Gallery in Washington, DC, in November, 2017 and at the Black Rock Gallery in Germantown, MD in November-December, 2018.
Ellyn is committed to engagement with the world around her. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Union of Concerned Scientists, is Co-Chair of the Board of the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill and was a founding member of the Board of the Touchstone Foundation for the Arts.
Artist Statement
I work with a wide variety of materials in 2 and 3 dimensions, including wax, oil bar, dry pigment, wire, recycled plastic bags, plastidip and tar. I allow the materials to show me their properties, Much of my work over the past 10 years has been informed by environmental and political issues, some involving collaborative installations and curating.
I am committed to engagement with the world around me. I serve on the Board of Directors of the Union of Concerned Scientists, am Co-Chair of the Board of the Truro Center for the Arts at on Cape Cod and was a founding member of the Board of the Touchstone Foundation for the Arts in DC. I am the cofounder of ArtWatch, a group of DC-area artists committed to using our visual communication skills to resist the erosion of the most important values of democracy: inclusion, openness, and tolerance.
RESUME
Ellyn R. Weiss
born Philadelphia, PA
Home:
1661 Crescent Place NW Apt. 205
Washington DC 20009
PO Box 106
6 Erlimba Road
Truro, MA. 02666
Studio:
3706 Wells Avenue
Mt. Rainier, MD 20712
eweiss@ucsusa.org
Education
BA, Smith College
JD, Boston University School of Law
Further study at the Corcoran College of Art, Washington DC, and the Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Solo and Featured Shows
2024
The Human Flood, with Sondra N. Arkin, American University Katzen Arts Center, Washington, DC, January-August 2024
Genesis Volume 3, Brentwood Arts Center
2023
Rage Births Riots, AIR Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2022
Hands Off, AIR Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2019
Re-Visions, with Richard Dana, District of Columbia Art Center
2018
Form and Void, Athenaeum, Alexandria, VA
The One House Project, BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD
2017
The One House Project, Touchstone Gallery, Washington, DC
The Migration of Pestilence, Otis Street Projects
Curating: Zeitgeist IV, Preconceptual, Hillyer Art Space, Washington DC
2016
White Hot, collaboration with Richard Dana, Artists and Makers, Rockville, MD
2015
I Can’t Make Up My Mind, Montpelier Art Center, Laurel, MD
Density Fluctuations, American Center for Physics, College Park, MD
Unmapped, Gateway Center for the Arts, Brentwood, MD
2014
Voyage of Discovery, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC
Voyage of Discovery II, McLean Project for the Arts, McLean, VA
2013
Longing to Eavesdrop on the Conversation, Adah Rose Gallery, Washington DC
2012
Primordial Soup Kitchen, McLean Project for the Arts, McLean, VA
Wax Works, Athenaeum, Alexandria, VA
Contemporary Work, Wohlfarth Gallery, Washington DC
Micro-organismic, Woman’s National Democratic Club, Washington DC
2011
Abstraction, Louisa Gould Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Big Ideas, Gateway Arts Center, Brentwood, MD, collaboration with Sondra Arkin and Susan Finsen
Axis, Washington, DC
Dispersed, Hillyer Art Space, Washington, DC
2’ x 10’, Gallery 555, Washington, DC
2010
Ancient Life, Wohlfarth Gallery, Provincetown, MA
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
2009
Dark Matter, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington, DC
Summer, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Riverdale, MD.
2008
Spectrum Theater, Arlington, VA
2007
Fortune Cookies, Touchstone Gallery, Washington DC
Time of War, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington DC
2006
Circular Reasoning, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington DC
New Work, Northern Virginia JCC, Fairfax, VA
Sharon Fine Gallery, Bethesda, MD
2005
No Bars Held, Touchstone Gallery, September 2005
2004
Mark Palmer Gallery, Paducah, KY
2003
Only Spores Live Forever, Touchstone Gallery, Washington DC
Worldspace, Washington DC
2002
Lipsett Gallery, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
2001
Glenview Mansion Art Gallery, Rockville, MD
J. Anthony Fine Arts, Charlottesville, VA
2000
COA Gallery, Truro, MA.
Selected Curated/Juried Shows
2023
Found, Washington, DC
Sun Showers, AIR Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, catalog available
2022
Structures of Feeling, AIR Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Castle Hill at 50 Years, Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Provincetown, MA
Future Tree, Anniversary Sculpture Garden, Edgewood Farm, Truro, MA
2021
Home, Harmony Hall, Ft. Washington, MD.
Fractals, AIR Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Symbiotic Presence, Gateway Arts Center, Brentwood, MD.
Three D, Selections from the Yellow Chair Salon, www.castlehill.org
ADMO Artist Walk, Washington DC
Abstraction Now, Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill
2020
Moments in Time—A Very Weird Time, Athenaeum Invitational, Alexandria, VA
Suffrage100, Mercy Gallery, Loomis Chafee School, Windsor, CT
Forever is Composed of Nows, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2019
Active Directions of the Mind, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Anything But Flat, Truro Center for the Arts, Truro, MA
Odysseys, Smith College Oresman Gallery, Northampton, MA
Freedom, Art As The Messenger, Cato Institute, Washington, DC
Wall, Otis Street Arts Project, Mt. Rainier, MD
By The Tracks, Off-Rhode Gallery, Washington DC
2018
Entitled, Third Floor Gallery, Washington DC
The One House Project, Black Rock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD
Disjunctions, AIR Gallery, NYNY
Across the Divide, The Art Museum, SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY
What Feminism Looks Like Now, DC Arts Center, Washington, DC
Artists Against Gun Violence, Washington, DC
Alchemical Vessels, Joan Hisaoka Gallery, Washington, DC
Truro Center for the Arts, Truro, MA.
Spring Group Show, Wohlfarth Gallery, Washington, DC
2017
Winter Group Show, Wohlfarth Gallery, Washington, DC
The One House Project, Touchstone Gallery, Washington DC, November 2017
Athenaeum Invitational, Alexandria VA,
Greetings from Adams Morgan, DC Arts Center, Washington DC
Emulsion, PEPCO Center, Washington DC
What’s Next, Touchstone Gallery, Washington DC
Creative Corridor, Marlboro Gallery, Largo, MD
Future Nostalgia, Maryland Capitol, Annapolis, MD
Alchemical Vessels, Joan Hisoaka Gallery, Washington DC
2016
Small Wonders, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD (winner, Juror’s Award)
Sip and Paint Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, District of Columbia Arts Center, Washington DC
Alchemical Vessels, Joan Hisaoka Gallery, Washington DC
Drawing, Wohlfarth Gallery, Washington, DC
Members, Truro Center for the Arts, Truro, MA
Alchemical Vessels, Joan Hisoaka Gallery, Washington DC
2015
Six Artists, Wohlfarth Gallery, Washington DC
Personal Patterns, Montgomery College, Silver Spring, MD
Drawing Room, Wohlfarth Gallery, Washington DC
Memory Flood, Anacostia Arts Center, Washington DC
Truro Center for the Arts, Truro, MA
Gateway Arts Center Fifth Anniversary Show, Brentwood, MD
Alchemical Vessels, Joan Hisaoka Gallery, Washington DC
2014
Alchemical Vessels, Joan Hisaoka Gallery, Washington DC
Appearances, Eco-Art Festival, Provincetown, MA
2013
Alchemical Vessels, Joan Hisaoka Gallery, Washington DC
Less is More, Mitchell Gallery, St. John’s College, MD
Appearances 2013, Eco-Arts Festival, Provincetown, MA
2012
Something or Nothing, McLean Project for the Arts, McLean, VA
Summer Group Show, Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD
Retrospectives, Hillyer Art Center, Washington DC
Black and White Ball, Rehoboth, MD
2011
2’ X 10’, Gallery 555, Washington, DC
Encaustics, Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Truro, MA
2010
International Arts and Artists, Washington DC
Gallery 555, Washington DC
People’s Choice, ArtDC, Hyattsville, MD
Delicacies, Studio B @ Biagio, Washington DC
Constructing Differences/Uncovering Connections, International Arts and Artists, Washington DC
Artists of the Gateway District, Gateway Arts Center Inaugural Show, Brentwood, MD
2009
The Art of Change, Artist’s Inaugural Ball, Warehouse Gallery, Washington DC
Zeitgeist II: What’s Important Now, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington DC
Lottoheart, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Holiday, Studio 4903, Washington DC
Stimulus, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington DC
Red, St. Valentine Bled for Us All, the Pink Line Project, Washington DC
2008
Zeitgeist I: Under Surveillance, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington DC
20 x 20, Coldwell Banker, Washington DC
Affordable Art Fair, NY, NY
Artists Respond to War, Truro Center for the Arts, Truro, MA
Members, Truro Center for the Arts
2007
Peace Now, Warehouse Gallery, Washington DC
Attainable Art, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington DC
Small Work, Touchstone Gallery, Washington DC
No Representation, Warehouse Gallery, Washington DC
Art Romp 2007, Washington DC
Encaustics, Truro Center for the Arts, Truro, MA
Inaugural Show, H&F Fine Art, Mt. Rainier, MD
2006
Millennium Center Artists, curated by Zenith Gallery, Washington DC
Attainable Art, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington DC
Shock and Awe, Warehouse Gallery, Washington DC
2005
Art Romp, Warehouse Gallery, Washington DC
Encaustics, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
Accessible Art, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington, DC
The Peace Scrolls, City Gallery, Charleston, S.C
Where’s the Peace?, Warehouse Gallery, Washington DC
Project: Painting, Washington DC
Montgomery County Commission on the Arts, Silver Spring, MD
2004
Handpicked, Museum of Modern Art, Arlington, VA
Anonymous, Washington Project for the Arts/Corcoran, Washington DC
Sharon Fine Gallery inaugural show, Bethesda, MD
Artomatic, Washington DC
2003
Small Work, Mark Palmer Gallery, Paducah, KY
Artswalk, Silver Spring, MD
2002
Artomatic, Washington DC
2001
washingtonart.com Fifth Anniversary, Washington DC
New Artists, Touchstone Gallery, Washington DC
2000
MOCA 2000, Museum of Contemporary Art, Washington DC
1999
Mixt Nerve, Del Ray Artisans Gallery, Alexandria, VA
Artomatic, Washington DC
Curating
Habitats, Target Gallery, The Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, VA, 2019
Odysseys, Smith College Oresman Gallery, Northampton, MA, 2019
The One House Project, BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD, 2018
The One House Project, Touchstone Gallery, Washington, DC, 2017
Zeitgeist IV: Preconceptual, Hillyer Art Space, Washington DC, March 2017
Alchemical Vessels, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, Washington, DC, 2013
Mentoring Curator, DC Arts Center
Heart of the Community, Rehoboth Beach, MD, 2013
Zeitgeist III: Too Much Information?, District of Columbia Arts Center, May, 2012, with Sondra Arkin
WaxWorks, Athenaeum, Alexandria, VA, September–November 2012
Zeitgeist II: What’s Important Now?, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington DC, 2009, with Sondra Arkin
Studio Gallery members shows, 2009, 2010
Red, sponsored by the Pink Line Project, Washington DC, 2009
Zeitgeist I: Under Surveillance, Nevin Kelly Gallery, Washington DC, 2008
No Representation, Warehouse Gallery, Washington DC, 2007
Residencies/Grants
Artist Fellowship, District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities, FY 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023
District of Columbia Arts Center curatorial mentorship, Warhol Foundation
Art Lives Here/National Endowment for the Arts, 2015
Residency, Zea Mays Printmaking, Northampton, MA, 2015, 2106, 2018, 2023
Residency, Greenbelt Center for the Arts, 2005 -6.
Awards
Jurors’ Award, Emulsion, Washington DC, 2018
Juror’s Award, Small Wonders, Maryland Federation of Art, 2016
HeART of the City: City Hall Art Collection, Washington DC, 2006
Featured Artist, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Volume 5, No. 4, Autumn 2004
Special Purchase Award, District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities, 2003.
Featured Artist, washingtonart.net, Autumn 2001
Special Purchase Award, District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities, 1999
All-Media National Competition, eklektikos Gallery, Washington DC, 1999, award
Art League juried shows, Torpedo Factory Gallery, Alexandria VA, 1998–2001, merit award, March 1999
Patron’s Show, Art League Gallery, Alexandria, VA, award, February 1999
Collections
HeART of the City: City Hall Collection, Washington DC
District of Columbia Art in Public Places
INOVA Hospital Center
American Society of Association Executives
Embassy Suites Hotels
National Institutes of Health Clinical Director
The Union of Concerned Scientists
The Sentencing Project
Teaching
Union of Concerned Scientists Webinar, Communicating Science to Non-Scientists, February 2017
Encaustic workshops, Washington Glass School, my studio and Prince Georges County Arts Program
Jurying
District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities, grant reviews, 2019
Art for Science Rising, Union of Concerned Scientists, 2018
Torpedo Factory Membership jury, Alexandria, VA, 2013
Thoreau’s Legacy, Union of Concerned Scientists, 2010
Earth in the Balance, Union of Concerned Scientists, 2008
Art Enables, Washington DC, 2007
Boards and Community Service
Union of Concerned Scientists, Board of Directors, 1990–present
Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Board of Directors 2014–present; Co-president 2018-2023
Art Enables, Board of Directors, 2009–2016.
Touchstone Foundation, Board of Directors, 2013–2018; Chair, 2014-2018
Alchemical Vessels Committee, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 2014-2020
Day Eight, Board of Directors, 2010–2011
Artomatic, Board of Directors, 2004–2007, Executive Committee, 1999- 2004.
Helped conceive and execute these unique “by-artists-for-artists” events in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2007, which bring hundreds of artists together to fill
vacant industrial space for 3–6 weeks with art, music, poetry, theater, and the rampant creative spirit.
Touchstone Gallery, 406 Seventh Street, Washington DC, Board of Directors, 2002–2005; President, 2004–2005.
A.Salon, cooperative studio building, Board of Directors, 1999–2000, President, 2001–2002.
Media
East City Arts, Target Gallery Presents Habitats, August 6, 2019
http://www.eastcityart.com/openings-and-events/target-gallery-presents-habitats/?fbclid=IwAR189S2PaEFT1amBN45UOchwh9NF35F1l2iXKZXkBHa7wNZWI_U3Wqvc_kQl
Voice of America video on The One House Project:, December 2018
https://www.voanews.com/a/one-house-art-exhibit/4693815.html
Washington Post, Sunday, November 16, 2017, reviewing The One House Project
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/in-the-galleries-the-eternal-cycles-of-decay-and-rebirth/2017/11/16/ef292fc4-c995-11e7-b0cf-7689a9f2d84e_story.html?utm_term=.c10807baadf0#onehouseproject
East City Art, Wednesday, November 22, 2017, reviewing The One House Project
http://www.eastcityart.com/openings-and-events/touchstone-gallery-art-watch-present-one-house-project/
Washington Post, June 8, 2017, reviewing Greetings from Adams Morgan
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/in-the-galleries-putting-flat-art-into-perspective/2017/06/08/becefb70-4a14-11e7-9669-250d0b15f83b_story.html?utm_term=.d23ad4d66e8d
Washington Post, February 3, 2017, reviewing Migration of Pestilence
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/in-the-galleries-these-landscapes-are-something-short-of-idyllic/2017/02/03/e77610f4-e718-11e6-b82f-687d6e6a3e7c_story.html?postshare&utm_term=.1b32316cc786#comments
Washington Post, In the Galleries, Arts And Style, p. E16, May 14, 2015.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/in-the-galleries-getting-personal-at-king-street/2015/11/13/3fcb8a02-86ff-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html
Washington Post, October 11, 2015, p. E3, Galleries, The Drawing Room.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/in-the-galleries-images-of-history-in-black-and-white-from-a-german-photographer/2015/02/05/de709d6c-aaf7-11e4-ad71-7b9eba0f87d6_story.html
Washington Post, May 25, 2014, reviewing Voyage of Discovery.
http://m.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/galleries-is-it-propaganda-or-is-it-political-art-voyage-of-discovery-alien-fanfare/2014/05/22/2b882558-dfa0-11e3-9442-54189bf1a809_story.html
Huffington Post, ‘Voyage Of Discovery’ Explores Climate Change Through Science And Art, March 16, 2014.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/16/voyage-of-discovery-climate-change_n_4965030.html?utm_hp_ref=green
SciArt
http://www.sciartinamerica.com/blog/a-voyage-of-discovery-through-art-and-science
Scientific American, ScienceArt on View in March/April 2014, Voyage of Discovery.
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/symbiartic/2014/03/04/scienceart-on-view-in-marchapril-2014/
VIDEO
New Art Explores Polar Transformations
http://www.aaas.org/news/new-art-exhibit-explores-polar-transformations
Voice of America on the One House Project
https://www.voanews.com/a/one-house-art-exhibit/4693815.html
Grist, March 13, 2014, These Artists Will Take You on a Journey to the Melting Arctic, Jessica Zimmerman.
http://grist.org/article/these-artists-will-take-you-on-a-journey-to-the-melting-arctic/
Inhabitat, March 10, 2014, DC’s Voyage of Discovery Exhibition Explores Climate Change in the Arctic, Jon Dioffa.
http://inhabitat.com/dcs-voyage-of-discovery-exhibition-explores-climate-change-in-the-arctic/