Holly A. Senn


home
installations
sculptures
bio + resume
statement

 

Holly A. Senn | senn@ryksenn.com | www.ryksenn.com

Bio

Holly A. Senn is known for her sculptures and installations created from discarded library books. In these labor-intensive works she explores the life cycle of ideas—how ideas are generated, dispersed, referenced or forgotten. She received a M.L.I.S. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. from Mills College.

Recent installations include "Inhabit" at Gallery @ the Jupiter in Portland; "Link" at Tollefson Plaza in Tacoma; "Cover" at Doppler PDX in Portland; "Re-Present" at Spaceworks in Tacoma; "Tale" at 23 Sandy Gallery in Portland; and "Windows on Nature and Knowledge" at Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn. Awards include the Artist Trust Grant for Artists Projects and a Tacoma Arts Commission Tacoma Artists Initiative Program grant.

Since 2001 Senn has lived and worked in Tacoma, Washington. She has worked in corporate and academic libraries since 1992.

contact
 

 

Resume

SOLO EXHIBITIONS & INSTALLATIONS
2013
"Scavenged," Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA (upcoming)
"Elements," Niwa House, Tacoma, WA

2012
"Inhabit," Gallery @ the Jupiter, Portland, OR
"Collective," Anderson University Center, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA

2011
“Link,” Tollefson Plaza, Tacoma, WA – collaboration with Janet Marcavage & Bret Lyon
“Composites,” Spaceworks Tacoma, Tacoma, WA

2010
“Cover,” Doppler PDX, Portland, OR
“Re-Present,” Spaceworks Tacoma, Tacoma, WA

2009
“Windows on Nature and Knowledge,” Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY
“Tale,” 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR
“Dispersed,” University Gallery, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA – collaboration with Kyle Dillehay

2008
“(un)written,” Collins Memorial Library, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

2007
“Textural,” Belltown Gallery, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA

2006
“Enchanted Forest of the Mind,” The Gallery, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA
“Volumes Reconfigured,” Art on Center Gallery, Tacoma, WA

2005
“Forbidden,” Tacoma Contemporary, F.W. Woolworth Building, Tacoma, WA
“Lost Libraries, Lost Memory,” Mortvedt Library, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2012
“Hide//Seek//Difference//Desire//Northwest,” Queering the Museum Project at The Space, Tacoma, WA
"The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation Art Award Culminating Exhibit," B2 Gallery, Tacoma, WA

2011
“Urban Forest Project Tacoma,” Tacoma, WA

2010
“Here & Now: A Show of Generations,” Fulcrum Gallery, Tacoma, WA
“The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation Art Award, 2008-2010,” Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

2008
“Hybrid,” 19th Annual Juried Exhibition, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA – Riko Nakasone, juror

2007
“Square Foot 2007,” AWOL Gallery, Toronto, Canada
“Hot of the Press! Prints and Other Text,” Sea-Tac International Airport, WA
“Envirohouse Inaugural Exhibit,” City of Tacoma EnviroHouse, Tacoma, WA

2005
“The Bookmark Project 2005: Outpost,” Koffler Gallery, Toronto, Canada
“Art & Literature,” The Gallery, Tacoma Community College, WA

2004
“Carry-On,” Tacoma Contemporary, Sea-Tac International Airport, WA

2002
“South Sounds 2002,” Commencement Art Gallery, Tacoma, WA


GRANTS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2011
Public Art: In Depth (PA:ID) Program, City of Tacoma, Tacoma, WA

2008
Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) Grant, Artist Trust, Seattle, WA

2007
EDGE Professional Program for Visual Artists, Artist Trust, Seattle, WA
Tacoma Artists Initiative Program (TAIP) Grant, Tacoma Arts Commission, Tacoma, WA


REVIEWS & RECOGNITION
2012
"Tacoma's Holly Senn is Going Places," feature article by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, August 20, 2012.full-text article
"Northwest Artists Respond to Tacoma Art Museum's Gay Art Show 'Hide/Seek' with an Illuminating Group Show at The Space," review of group exhibition "Hide//Seek//Difference//Desire//Northwest" by Rosemary Ponnekanti, Tacoma News Tribune, May 8, 2012

2011
"Holly Senn for the Win: How Rescued Library Books Become Art" feature article by Kristin Kendle, Weekly Volcano, December 15, p. 15 full-text article
"Walking the Walk on the Prairie Line Trail," article about temporary installations, including "Link", Tacoma Arts Blog, November 13, 2011
"Peer into Magical Windows," review of "Composites" installation by Rosemary Ponnekanti, Tacoma News Tribune, April 22, 2011. p. Go 8-9
"Artist Holly Senn," artwork featured in photo on p. 3, City Arts Magazine, April 2011
"Composites on Broadway: Holly Senn's Latest Installation," review of "Composites" installation by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, March 24, 2011, p. 13
"Senn Brings New Installation to Woolworth Windows," review of "Composites" installation by Dave Davison. Tacoma Weekly, March 18, 2011, p. C2
"Paper Garden," article about "Composites" installation by Lisa Kinoshita, Spaceworks Tacoma Blog, March 12, 2011

2010
"Elegance, Irony, Honesty: Tacoma Spaceworks Project Fills Empty Downtown Windows," review of "Re-Present" installation by Rosemary Ponnekanti, Tacoma News Tribune, November 19, 2010. p. Go 8
"Spaceworks Tacoma: Re-presenting Barbara De Pirro and Holly Senn," review of "Re-Present" installation by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, October 14, 2010, p. 17
"Holly Senn on Broadway," article about "Re-Present" installation by Lisa Kinoshita, Spaceworks Tacoma Blog, October 7, 2010 full-text article
"Kittredge Gallery Hosts Best of Greater Tacoma Community Foundation Award," article about group exhibition by Rosemary Ponnekanti, Tacoma News Tribune September 1, 2010. p. Go 9
"A Rapture of Words," feature article by Lisa Kinoshita, Spaceworks Tacoma Blog September 1, 2010
"More Than Two Dozen of Tacoma's Finest Artists Show Their Work at Kittredge," article about group exhibition by Dave Davison. Tacoma Weekly, August 26, 2010, p. C4
"Tacoma Art Galleries Bursting with Creativity," article about "Here and Now" group exhibition by Rosemary Ponnekanti, Tacoma News Tribune July 23, 2010
"'Here and Now': Generations of Art at Fulcrum," review of group exhibition at Fulcrum Gallery by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, July 21, 2010
"Ten to Watch: A List of Up and Coming South Sound Artists," article naming top ten artists (Holly Senn #2) by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, February 17, 2010

2009
"Hot Damn! It's Art at Work Month in Tacoma," article about studio tours by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, October 29, 2009, p. 16
"Channel Surfing: Television Can Be Creative Too," article about documentary videos, including "Windows on Nature and Knowledge," running on local cable channel by Virginia Bunker, City Arts Magazine, October 2009, p. 11
"Now See This," artwork featured in photo in Portland Monthly Magazine, September 2009, p. 137
"Best of Tacoma 2009," article naming top arts and entertainment (Holly Senn as Best Book Artist) by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, July 30, 2009, p. 8-9
"Foundation of Art Award," article about Greater Tacoma Community Foundation Art Award nominees by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, July 9, 2009

2008
"From Book to Art." artwork featured in photo on p. 24, American Libraries, Vol. 31, no. 11, December 2008
"The Curator's Eye: Holly Senn," feature article by Naomi Strom-Avila, City Arts Magazine, November 2008, p. 38
"Holly Senn: Narrative Redux," chapter in Alec Clayton's book As if Art Matters, 2008, p. 104-106

2007
"Art from Artful Recycling," review of Envirohouse Inaugural Exhibit group exhibition by Rosemary Ponnekanti, Tacoma News Tribune, June 17, 2007, p. E 1

2006
"Meaning of Life," review of "Enchanted Forest of the Mind" installation and exhibition by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, December 21, 2006, p. 2
"Artist's 'Life Cycle' Not Fully Fleshed Out," review of "Enchanted Forest of the Mind" installation and exhibition by Rosemary Ponnekanti, Tacoma News Tribune December 18, 2006, p. D 1
"'Enchanted Forest' Gives Ideas Life," review of "Enchanted Forest of the Mind" installation and exhibition by Shannon Schrecengost, Tacoma Weekly, December 7, 2006, p. 3
"Senn of Art," review of "Volumes Reconfigured" installation and exhibition by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, May 25, 2006, p. 2
"Sculptor Explores Life Cycle of Books and Ideas," review of "Volumes Reconfigured" installation and exhibition by John Larson, Tacoma Weekly, May 11, 2006, p. C1

2005
"Bookmark Makes its Mark," artwork featured in photo in The North York (Toronto) Mirror, November 25, 2005
"Clone Her!" review of "Forbidden" installation by Alec Clayton, Weekly Volcano, May 19, 2005, p. 2


VIDEOS
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/HollySenn

2012
"Inhabit." http://youtu.be/A11f7dbts0o
"Collective." http://youtu.be/lioDWdWwbMA

2011
“Link.” http://youtu.be/ICJprwSx990
“Composites.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cK66Yofr4Q

2010
“Cover.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwXw3CnOJgY
“Re-Present.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3NXxuDvWvw

2009
“Windows on Nature and Knowledge.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm3zgoSocOY
“Tale.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xulN2XrkV4w
“Dispersed.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThHcRMnrNEo

2008
“(un)written.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw7qZFgeDeI
“W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory Centennial Drawings.”  www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_oXNCiDacg

2007
“Textural.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqX5Bdp-Upk


PUBLICATIONS
2012
“Fostering Library and Art Partnerships.” Association of College & Research Libraries Washington Newsletter, Winter, 2012, No. 69, p.8.

2010
“Curriculum Guide: Glimmering Gone Exhibition.”  Tacoma, WA: Museum of Glass. Co-authored with Amy Ryken.
http://www.museumofglass.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Glimmering-Gone-with-visuals.pdf

2005
“Artist/Librarian Exposes ‘Lost Libraries, Lost Memory.’” Association of College & Research Libraries Washington Newsletter, p. 57
“W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory Sculpture Tour.” Co-authored with Amy Ryken. www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=562


COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
2012
Pacific Lutheran University. Presenter: Art 499 Senior Capstone. March 12, 2012

2011
City of Tacoma. Panelist: Art at Work Month Arts Symposium. November 20, 2011
City of Tacoma Art at Work Studio Tours. Studio Artist. November 5-6, 2011
Artist Trust. Presenter: Donor Dinner. October 29, 2011
Pacific Lutheran University. Presenter: Art 299 Sophomore Keystone. October 4, 2011
City of Tacoma Artscapes. Juror. June 3, 2011
Pacific Lutheran University. Presenter: Art 499 Senior Capstone. March 10, 2011

2010
Artist Trust/Traver Gallery. Panelist: “Sustaining Your Art on Your Terms.” November 18, 2010
Pacific Lutheran University Juried Student Art Exhibition. Juror. November 12, 2010
City of Tacoma Art at Work Studio Tours. Studio Artist. November 5-6, 2010
Artist Trust. Presenter: “I am an Artist” Program. May 9, 2010
Urban Grace/City of Tacoma Poet Laureate Competition. Juror. April 17, 2010
University of Puget Sound. Presenter: Art 201 Visual Concepts. April 5, 2010
Pacific Lutheran University. Presenter: Art 499 Senior Capstone. March 4, 2010
University of Washington iSchool. Artist Talk. January 29, 2010

2009
Downing Elementary School PTA Reflections Program Cultural Arts Competition. Juror. December 2, 2009
City of Tacoma Art at Work Studio Tours. Studio Artist. November 7-8, 2009
23 Sandy Gallery. Artist Talk. September 26, 2009
Tacoma Arts Commission’s Tacoma Artists Initiative Program (TAIP) Grants. Juror. March 9, 2009
Annie Wright School. Artist Talk. January 22, 2009

2008
City of Tacoma Art at Work Studio Tours. Studio Artist. November 8-9, 2008
University of Puget Sound. Artist Talk. October 9, 2008
Proctor District Summer Arts Festival Juried Art Show. Juror. August 2008

2007
City of Tacoma Art at Work Studio Tours. Studio Artist. November 11, 2007
Cityline, TV Tacoma (Channel 12). Panelist: “Art at Work Month” hosted by Carol Mitchell. October 25, 2007

2006
Tacoma Community College. Panelist: “How Precious are Books in the 21st Century?” December 7, 2006
City of Tacoma Art at Work Studio Tours, Studio Artist. November 12, 2006
4th International Conference on the Book, Boston, MA. Presenter: “Volumes Reconfigured: Sculptural Investigation
into the Life Cycle of Ideas/Books.” October 22, 2006
Pacific Lutheran University Librarians Symposium. Presenter: “Lifecycle of Ideas/Books: Repository to Recomposition.” May 15, 2006

2005
Pacific Lutheran University. Co-Curator with Jp Avila: “Reading Room: Jackets Required.” December 12, 2005
City of Tacoma Art at Work Studio Tours, Studio Artist. November 19, 2005.
Proctor District Summer Arts Festival Juried Art Show. Juror. August 2005

2004
City of Tacoma Art at Work Studio Tours. Studio Artist. November 14, 2004


EDUCATION
1992
M.L.I.S.  University of California, Berkeley, CA

1985
B.A.  Mills College, Oakland, CA


RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
2002-present
Resident Assistant Professor/Virtual Reference Services Librarian, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA

1992-2002
Librarian, MRW & Associates, Oakland, CA
Librarian, The GAP, Inc., San Bruno, CA



 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 

contact