Curriculum Vitae of Maria Battista
PO Box 51332, Colorado Springs, CO 80949
719-351-6495
EDUCATION
Academic
- Spanish literature and culture, University of Valencia, Spain, 1977 www.uv.es
- B.A. Spanish, Douglass College of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 1979 www.rutgers.edu
- M.A. Spanish, Kansas University, Lawrence, KS, 1981 www.ku.edu
Post-graduate study – Sculpting
- My primary training is under Russian sculptor Valentin Okorokov in Denver, CO, 2011-present www.valetinokorokov.com
- Ali Ghassan at the Real Academy of Art in Denver, CO, 2021-present.www.realacademyartco.org
- Marble/marble Stone Sculpting Symposium with Madeline Weiner, Marble, CO, 2003, 2006, 2008 www.marbleinst.org
- Marbleworks Institute with Kyle Smith, Pietrasanta, Italy, 2004 www.marbleworkshop.com
- Figure Sculpting with Clay Enoch, Cottonwood Center for the Arts, Colorado Springs, CO, 2006 www.clayenoch.com
- Stone Sculpting with Wolfgang Sandt, Umbria, Italy, 2009 www.atelier-wolfgangsandt.de
- 3D Design, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO, 2009 www.uccs.edu
- Figure Sculpting with Philippe Faraut, Loveland, CO, 2010 www.uccs.edu
- Anatomy of the Core with Sabin Howard, 2017 www.sabinhoward.com
- Sculpting the Figure in Stone with Myles Schachter, Lawrence, KS, 2019 www.2sculpt.com
- Sculpting the Figure with Vala Ola, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, AZ, 2020 www.scottsdaleartschool.org
- Sculpting the Figure with Drapery with Zoe DuFour, St. Gaudens Memorial, 2022 www.zoedufoursculpture.com
- Figure Modeling: Designing the Pose, with Alicia Ponzio at Scottsdale Artists' School, 2024, www.aliciaponzio.com
- Écorché, with Patrick Stevenson, Art Students League of Denver, 2024 www.asld.org
Post-graduate study – Metalsmithing and Craft
- Metalsmithing with Kathryn Romberg, Business of Art Center, Manitou Springs, CO, 1992 www.manitouartcenter.org
- Goldsmithing with Bud Stafford, Manitou Springs, CO, 1992-1994
- Navajo Weaving with Dine artist Mary Drake, Bemis Art School, Colorado Springs, CO, 1997 www.artschool.csfineartscenter.org
- Plains Indian beadwork, with Dine artist Mary Drake, Bemis Art School, Colorado Springs, CO, 1997
- The Ceremonial Vessel, with Fred Fenster, Penland School of Craft, Ashville, NC, 1999 www.penland.org
- Advanced stone-setting with David Anderson in Taos, NM, 2006 www.goldenandersonstudios.com
- Advanced mechanisms with Marilyn Nicolson, Taos, NM, 2007 www.taosjewelryschool.com
Post-graduate study – Drawing and Painting
- Figure Drawing, Bemis Art School, Colorado Springs, CO, 1990
- Pastel Painting, Bemis Art School, Colorado Springs, CO, 1991
- Portraiture, Bemis Art School, Colorado Springs, CO, 1992
- Figure Drawing, with Merr Shearn at Pikes Peak Community College, 1992 www.pikespeak.edu
- Drawing, with Debra Rose at Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 1993 www.cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com
- Figure drawing, with Chuck Mardosz at Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 1993
- Drawing, with Dan Schultz at Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 1994
- Color Theory, Bemis Art School, Colorado Springs, CO, 1994
- Watercolor, Bemis Art School, Colorado Springs, CO, 1994
- Serigraphy, Bemis Art School, Colorado Springs, CO, 1996
- Anatomy for Artists, with Kay Jeansonne at Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 2000
- The Chemistry of Color, with Nathan Bower at Colorado College, 2003
- Figure Drawing with Michael Mentler, Cottonwood Center for the Arts in Colorado Springs, 2011 www.cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com
- Figure Drawing at the Alvarez Art School, Colorado Springs, 2012 www.alvarezschool.com
- Drawing atelier with muralist Eric Bransby, Colorado Springs, CO, 2012-2019 www.davidcookgalleries.com
- Fundamentals of Drawing with Robin Cole Adronaco, Colorado Springs, CO, 2019 www.robincoleart.com
- Muscular Anatomy with Robin Cole Adronaco, Arvada, CO 2020
Post-graduate study – Business/Communication
- Marketing for Artists with Bruce Baker at Cottonwood Center for the Arts, c. 1996 www.handmade-business.com
- Marketing for Artists with Rose Fredrick, at the Real Academy of Art, Denver, CO, 2022 www.rosefredrick.com
- On-going group study and practice of Non-Violent Communication based on the work of Marshall Rosenberg, 2010-present
- Financial Management for Artists with Emily Dyer-Wolfe at Pikes Peak Arts Council, 2022 www.pikespeakartscouncil.org
- Sales for Creatives, lecture by Maria Bay, photographer, Pike’s Peak Arts Council Art Boss series, March 2024
PUBLIC SCULPTURES
- "Ocean Initiatiion," Randolph High School, Randolph, New Jersey, 8ft. aluminum and stone sculpture in the library, 1975
- "Five Elements," Tai Chi Association of Colorado Springs, CO, 3ft. black and white marble water feature, 2018
- "Life on Earth," University Shopping Center, Colorado Springs, CO, 13.5ft. steel abstract sculpture, 2021
- "Mama Bear," white marble sculpture in Fields Park, Manitou Springs, CO, 2021
- "Peace Pole," cedar painted pole with words for "peace" at Benet Pines Monastery, Colorado Springs, CO, 2022
SELECTED EXHIBITS
- “Myth and Magic” Metalwork Invitational, Manitou Springs, CO, 1998
- "The Last Enchantment" with Dani and MIchael Greer Gallery, 1998
- Opera Festival Exhibit, Gilpin County Art Gallery, Central City, CO, 1999
- Solo Exhibit Colorado Springs Airport, 2002
- Chico Basin Ranch Artist Gallerying Exhibition, Hanover, CO, 2003
- Pike Peak Studio Tour, Colorado Springs, CO, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2001, 1016, 2017, 2018
- “Quaternity” exhibit of 4 sculptures, 4 drawings, 4 jewelry works, Manitou Springs, CO, 2010
- Peak at the Arts Global Artists Exchange Festival, San José, Costa Rica, 2010
- "Bossa Nova Art Fest," Michael Garmen Second Floor Studios, Colorado Springs, CO, 2011
- "Altars," Commonwheel Artists Gallery, 2011 www.commonwheel.com
- COMA (Colorado Metal Smiths Association) at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 2013
- Solo Exhibit “Renaissance,” of sculpture, drawings, jewelry, Manitou Springs, CO, 2014
- Cover and feature artist for Colorado Journeys Magazine, 2015
- "Artists of Colorado," Santa Fe, NM, 2017
- "Expressionism," Cottonwood Center for the Arts, Colorado Springs, CO, 2017
- “Gratitude” at Kreuser Gallery, Colorado Springs, CO, 2018 www.kreusergallery.com
- “The Future is Feminine” at the Denver Art Students League, 2019 www.asld.org
- Creede Sculpture Show, Creede, CO, 2019 www.creedeartscouncil.com
- “Women of Influence” at the Ent Center for the Arts, Colorado Springs, CO, 2020 www.entcenterforthearts.org
- “Fakes and Forgeries” at the Alvarez Art School, Colorado Springs, CO, 2022
- Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, CO, 2022 www.sculptureinthepark.org
- “Gratitude” at Kreuser Gallery, Colorado Springs, January 2023
- “Masculine Places” at Commonwheel Artists, Manitou Springs, March 2023
- “Playful Resistance” at Kreuser Gallery, duo exhibit of sculpture and batik, July 2023
- Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, CO, 2022, 2023, 2024
- National Sculpture Society 91st Annual Awards Exhibit at Brookgreen Gardens, Pawley's Island, SC, Indianapolis Art Center, and NSS Gallery in New York City, 2024
GALLERIES THAT HAVE REPRESENTED MY WORK
- McCall's Fine Art on Canyon road – Santa Fe, NM
- Shidoni Gallery – Tesuque Pueblo, NM www.shidoni.com
- Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Museum Shop – Colorado Springs, CO www.fac.coloradocollege.edu
- Hunter-Wolff Gallery – Colorado Springs, CO www.hunterwolffgallery.com
- Stephen Quiller Gallery, Creede, CO www.quillergallery.com
- Creator Mundi – Denver, CO www.creatormundi.com
- Gallery Última – Durango, CO
- Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Museum Shop – Pueblo, CO www.sdc-arts.org
- Center for Creative Leadership – Colorado Springs, CO www.ccl.org
- Commonwheel Artists Cooperative – Manitou Springs, CO
- Gipin County Art Gallery – Central City, CO www.gilpinarts.org
- Helstrom Studio Artwear Gallery – Colorado Springs, CO
- Pat's People – Manitou Springs, CO
- Auric (formerly Kreuser) Gallery – Colorado Springs, CO
- Galleries in Telluride and Salida, CO
- San José, Costa Rica
- Outnumbered Gallery, Littleton, CO
NEWS ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS
- Colorado Springs Gazette, article by Mark Arnest, July 20, 2001
- Fresh Ink (formerly Your Hub) at coloradosprings.com, article by Bill Sommer, November 22, 2007
- Colorado Springs Art Examiner, feature by Rhonda VanPelt, July 9, 2010
- Colorado Springs Gazette, article, November 9, 2012
- The Woodmen Edition, article by Charise Simpson, December 14, 2012
- "Calypso" on the cover of Colorado Journeys magazine, feature article by Elizabeth Martin, May 2015
- Colorado Fun Magazine, p. 21 article by John Hazelhurst, 2018 annual guide
- Maria Battista: A Linguist in Sculpture, Vernelle Studio blog, November 15, 2020, feature by Marjorie Vernelle /https://www.vernellestudio.com/post/maria-battista-a-linguist-in-sculpture
- Pikes Peak Bulletin, Nov. 4, 2021, www.pikespeakbulletin.com/news/bears-find-a-home/
- Cover image of “Narcissus” on the book Kohut’s Self Psychology for a Fractured World: New Ways of Understanding the Self and Human Community by John Hanwell Riker
LECTURES / PRESENTATIONS
- “Proceso y significación en las obras de Claudio Rodríguez,” Mid-America Conference on Hispanic Literature, University of Kansas, 1990
- Images of God in Spiritual Direction, Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, CO, 2002-2010
- Art as Beneficial Jungian Complex, member presentation, Colorado Springs Jung Society, 2017
- Sculpting the Portrait at the La Veta School of the Arts, 2022 www.thelvsa.org
- Sculpting the Portrait at the La Veta School of the Arts, 2023
- Sculpting the Figure at the La Veta School of the Arts, 2024
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT
- Owner of First Circle Studios, 1992-present
- Spanish Instructor, Kansas University, Lawrence, KS, 1979-1981
- English as a Second Language Teacher, Midland Independent School District, Midland, TX, 1982
- Spanish Teacher, Harrison School District, Panorama Middle School Colorado Springs, CO 1983
- Spanish & Italian Teacher, District 20, Air Academy High School, Colorado Springs, CO 1984-1997
- Translator for Pronto Com, Colorado Springs, CO, 1996
- Supervisor of Student Teachers, Colorado College Education Department, 1997-1999
- Spanish Teacher Douglas Valley Elementary School, 1998-2000
- Spanish Teacher, Pikes Peak Community College, 2000
- Spanish Teacher Woodmen Roberts Elementary School, 2000-2008
- Board President, Commonwheel Artists Cooperative, Manitou Springs, CO, 2011-2012 (member 1996-2014)
- Studio Assistant to muralist Eric Bransby, Colorado Springs, CO, 2014-2017
- Teacher of portrait and figure sculpting, La Veta School of the Arts, La Veta, CO, 2022-present
- Gallery Representative, Hunter-Wolff Gallery, Colorado Springs, CO, 2015-present
AWARDS / PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Boettcher Foundation Scholar Award recipient for teaching, 1996
- Colorado professional teaching license, grades 7-12
- New Jersey state teaching license, grades K-12
- Certified Spiritual Director, Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, CO, 2000
- Third Place Award, Creede Sculpture Show for "Seduction," 2019
- National Sculpture Society
- Colorado Metalsmith Association
- American Women Artists
- Portrait Society of America
- Pikes Peak Arts Council
- Phi Beta Kappa Society, Academic Honor Society
- Sigma Delta Pi, Spanish Honor Society
- Art Students League of Denver
- Winner in the Portrait Society of America's member contest, non-commissioned portrait category, 2024
"What we need is attentive engagement, cultivated awareness, and a taste for wisdom."
Charlene Spretnak from The Resurgence of the Real