Debra M. Sachs

P.O. Box 592

Gloucester City, N.J.  08030

p (856) 209-6356

sjmoc@comcast.net  www.sjmoc.com  www.debrasachs.com

 

PROFILE

I have been a working artist with a focus on sculpture and painting my whole adult life.  I also make works of public art in partnership with the artist, Marilyn Keating.  We have completed works at the New Jersey Pinelands Commission Office Building, The Vineland Children’s School, Atlanticare Hospitals, Haddonfield PATCO Station, and the Philadelphia PATCO subway station (9th/10th & Locust Sts.).  I have received numerous awards for recognition in both sculpture and craft including a George & Helen Segal grant, two NJSCA fellowships, and an NEA Regional Visual Arts Fellowship from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.  I have exhibited in several solo and group shows.  I have work in many corporate collections, museums and the US embassy in Thailand.

 

EDUCATION

1976-1978 M.A. in Art, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.

1971-1975 B.F.A. in Painting, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, Pa.

1973 Tyler School of Art in Rome, Rome, Italy

 

PUBLIC ART

2011   Campus Center, Stockton College, Waders and Flockers; 5  carved and painted wood sculptures (w M. Keating)

2009  Moore College of Art and Design, Phila., Pa, “Charm Sticks”; wood and metal sculpture (w M. Keating)

2007 Atlanticare Harmony Pavilion Hospital Lobby, Atlantic City, NJ, wood applique tryptich (w M. Keating). 

2005 AtlantiCare Center For Childbirth Emergency Room, Mays Landing, NJ, wood applique (w M. Keating)

2003-04 Haddonfield Lotto; 2004; head house wall is 24”x108”, escalator wall is 72”x72”, remaining wall is 72”x54”; this project depicts specific and general images relating to the town of Haddonfield, NJ.  Each 18”x24” image consists of jigsaw mosaic tiles set in steel pans.  Inspired by the game of lotto, each wall is designed to look like giant game boards. (with Marilyn Keating)  Commissioned by PATCO and DRPA for NJ station.

2002 Checkered Columns:  2002; 90”x22”x22” ea; patinated cast aluminum blocks, which reflect the surrounding architecture, including the scalloped ceilings and steel railings, combined with Mayan imagery.  Commissioned by PATCO and DRPA for a Philadelphia subway station.

2002 This Way Out:  9th/10th and Locust Sts. Subway Station, Phila., Pa.; 2002; 10”x3oo’x1”; hand made tiles interspersed with commercial tiles and set in steel pans.  Hand carved tiles depicts 20 different styles of shoes exiting the station, as well as signage.  The images of feet crowd the area where passengers exit the turnstiles and become increasingly less frequent near the exits. Commissioned by PATCO and DRPA for a Philadelphia subway station.

2003 River Rail Revival, consultant:(art elements for 19 train stations constituting the Southern New Jersey Light Rails, Trenton-Camden, NJ (Marilyn Keating, Katherine Hackl and Hiroshi Murata)

2005 Learn, Thrive, Grow; 2005; 9’x50’x3’; A union between a low relief tile wall mural and a living garden.  The mural is made of dimensional tiles applied to three areas of the Learning Center’s exterior wall.  Hardy perennial grasses and low growing evergreens were planted to compliment the mural design.  Plants are just becoming established and complimentary gardening is being included in the curriculum. Commissioned by the State of New Jersey for the Vineland Children’s School (emotionally disturbed children). (w M. Keating)

2001 New Jersey Pinelands Commission Office Building, New Lisbon, New Jersey), wood applique for vestibule wall and reception desk areas; (with Marilyn Keating)

2000 Consultant to Art Soup; Rutgers University, Camden, N.J., for a tile facade on the entryways of passenger tunnel under Benjamin Franklin Bridge

1999 Consultant to Art Soup; Rutgers University, Camden, N.J.,  for suspended sculptures at the Walt Rand Transportation Center

 

 

 

 

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

AmSouth Bancorporation, Birmingham, AL.

Bell Atlantic, Phila., Pa.

CB Commercial/Interstate Realty Corp, Memphis, Tn.

Camden County Collection, N.J.

Hechinger Collection, Washington, D.C.

Hotel Parisi, LaHoya, Ca.

Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Tx.

Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, N.J.

Johnson & Johnson Corporate Headquarters, New Brunswick, N.J.

New Brunswick Cultural Center, New Brunswick, N.J.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Trenton, N.J.

New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, N.J.

Newark Public Library, Newark, N.J.

Noyes Museum, Oceanville, N.J.

Montclair Museum, Montclair, N.J.    

Morris Museum, Morristown, N.J.

Mrs. Smith (Mrs. Smith’s Pies), Pa.

RPR Company, St. Louis, Mo.

South Jersey Museum of Curiosities

Stedman Art Gallery, Rutgers University, Camden, N.J.

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Clinical Academic Building, New Brunswick, N.J.

U.S. Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand

Jane Vorhees Zimmerly Museum, New Brunswick, N.J.

 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS: SOLO AND TWO PERSON

2014  Going Solo and Tandem, Stockton College Art Gallery, Pomona, NJ, (with Marilyn Keating)

1994, 1991, 1987, 1986  Nexus, Foundation for Today’s Art, Philadelphia, Pa.

1990  Hopkins House,  Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Haddon Township, N.J.

1982  Kling Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa.

1981  Okanagan College, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS-GROUP

2020 Cross Currents: Water/Art/Influence: browngrotta arts; Virtual Exhibit; https://www.artsy.net/show/browngrotta-arts-cross-currents-water-slash-art-slash-influence

2019  Artists from the Grotta Collection: browngrotta arts; Wilton, Ct.
2019  Crafting Narratives; Art-In-City-Hall: Bruce Hoffman, juror

2019 Moore Alumni Exhibition; Phila, Pa. Emily Zilber, juror, (Best In Show Award)

2018  Blue/Green: browngrotta Arts, Wilton, Ct.
2016-2018 Art in Embassies, US Embassy, Panama City, Panama

2016   ARTBOOM, browngrotta arts, Wilton, CT.

2014   Small…but not restricted, Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, Pa.

2013-2014  Collaboration, Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, Philadelphia, Pa. (with M. Keating)

2012   Retro/Prospective: 25+ Years Of Art Textiles and Sculpture, browngrotta arts, Wilton, Ct.

           Materiality, Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, Pa.

2010   Southern New Jersey Artists Redux, Stedman Art Gallery, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, Nancy       McGuire, curator

NJ Arts Annual, 2010 New Jersey Arts Annual:  Fine Art, “Reality & Artifice.” NJ State Museum, Trenton, NJ

2009  10th Wave III: browngrotta ARTS; Wilton, Ct

2008  Art of the Table: Artifact Design Group; Wilton, Ct.

7 Visions: Wood as Fiber, Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

Receive React Respond, Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, Pa., Paul Hubbard, Jeanne Jaffe, Jennie Shanker, jurors

2005  SOFA  New York, brown/grotta ARTS, NYC, NY

          Palm Beach Contemporary, brown/grotta ARTS, West Palm Beach, Fla.

2004  SOFA Chicago, brown/grotta ARTS, Chicago, Il.

          SOFA  New York, brown/grotta ARTS, NYC, NY

          Palm Beach Contemporary, brown/grotta ARTS, West Palm Beach, Fla.

2003  SOFA Chicago, brown/grotta ARTS, Chicago, Il.

          ISC@GFS, Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ., Helen Escobedo, Steve Nash, Carter Radcliff, jurors

          SOFA New York, brown/grotta ARTS,  NYC, NY

          The Common Thread, Westport Arts Center, Westport, Ct., brown/grotta curators

2002-2003  100 New Jersey Artists Make Prints,  New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ; The Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ; The Noyes Museum, Oceanville, NJ 

2002  SOFA Chicago, brown/grotta ARTS, Wilton, Ct.

          SOFA New York, brown/grotta ARTS, NYC, NY

          Other Materials Other Forms, Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, Ct., Jackie Abrams, curator

2001   Wired Works, brown/grotta Gallery, Wilton, Ct.

          SOFA New York, brown/grotta ARTS, NYC, NY

1999  Handmade For The New Millennium:  Messiah College,  Grantham, Pa.

          Joie Lassiter Gallery, Charlotte, N.C. 

          Art in the Open:  The Peters Valley Gallery Without Walls, various sites, Morristown, N.J.

1998  Modus Operandi; A Survey of Contemporary Fiber, Snyderman/Works, Philadelphia, Pa.

          N.J. Arts Annual, Noyes Museum, Oceanville, N.J.

          SOFA Chicago, Albers Gallery, Memphis, Tn.

1997  Treasures From the Stacks, Albers Gallery, Memphis, Tn.

          SOFA Chicago, Albers Gallery, Chicago, Illinois

          Contemporary Art Baskets, The Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, Ohio, JoAnn H. Stevens, curator

          Baskets Revisited, Nancy Sachs Gallery, St. Louis, Mo.

          Seven from the Seventies, Levy Gallery, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, Pa., Deborah Allen, curator

          Breaking the Mold: New Forms for Traditional Arts, Stedman Gallery, Rutgers University, Camden, N. J.

1996  In and Out of THE BOX (art work using the computer), Nexus, Philadelphia, Pa.

          N.J. State Council on the Arts Fellowship Exhibition 1994-95, The Noyes Museum, Oceanville, N.J.                                                                                                                

          Connections: Nexus Foundation for Today’s Art at Cheltenham Art Center, Cheltenham, Pa.

1995  New Jersey Arts Annual; Celebrating Diversity in Crafts”, The Newark Museum, Newark, N.J.

          “I.D.”, Nexus, Foundation for Today’s Art, Philadelphia, Pa.  

          “Dreamscapes for the New Millennium”, Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, Camden, N.J.

          “In Search of Excellence”, New Jersey Designer Craftsmen, New Brunswick, N.J.,

           Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J.

1994  A Group of Grids”, Sande Webster Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa.

          “Unbound”, Harmony Hall Regional Center, Fort Washington, Md., Jill Romanoke, juror

           Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh, Pa., Madeleine Grynsztejn, juror

          “Experiential Fiber”, Nexus, Foundation for Today’s Art, Phila., Pa.

           Images of the Family”, Borowsky Gallery, Phila., Pa., Anne Raman, curator

          “Nexus at Viridian”, Viridian Gallery, N.Y., N.Y.

1993  The Art of Dressing: From Costume to Sculpture”, Borowsky Gallery, Phila., Pa., Anne Raman, Curator

          “Alternatives”, Nexus, Foundation for Today’s Art, Phila., Pa.

1992   New Jersey Arts Annual: Crafts”, New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, N.J.

          “Visions for the ‘90s”, CIGNA Museum and Art Collection, Philadelphia, Pa.

          “SCULPTURE: Explorations”, Borowsky Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa., Anne Raman, Curator

          “Sculptural Variations”, Nexus, Foundation for Today’s Art, Philadelphia, Pa.

1991  Partners in the Arts in Southern N.J.”, Perkins Center for the Arts,  Moorestown, N.J.

Annual Juried Art Show,  Hopkins House Gallery, Haddon Twp.,N.J.,Deborah Jordy,Denver Art Museum, juror

1990  Nexus Steps Over Jesse Helms into the Nineties”,  Nexus Gallery, Phila., Pa.

          Amos Eno Gallery, New York City, N.Y.

1989  New Expressions”, Noyes Museum, Oceanville, N.J., Deborah Allen, Curator

          “Art Around the Edges”, Port of History Museum, Phila., Pa.

1988  Altered Sites”, Fairmount Park, Phila., Pa., Marsha Moss, Curator

          Outdoor Sculpture Competition, Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.,

          Valerie Fletcher,  Hirshhorn Museum, Juror

          Essex County Annual Juried Art Show, Roseland, N.J., Judith Brodsky, Adolph Conrad, Jurors

1987  Sculpture 1987”, Johnson Atelier, Mercerville, N.J., Vivien Raynor, New York Times, Juror      

          New Jersey Fellowship Show, Morris Museum, Morristown, N.J.

         “Connections and Contrasts”, 1708 E. Main Street, Richmond, Va.

 

 

CRAFT SHOWS

1997, 1996, 95  Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia, Pa.

1997, 1996, 95, 94  American Craft Exposition, Evanston, Illinois

1999, 1997, 1996, 95  ACC Craft Fair, Baltimore, Baltimore, Md.

1997  Philadelphia Furniture Show

1995  Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, D.C.

 

SELECTED AWARDS AND GRANTS

2010  George & Helen Segal Foundation, grant for sculpture

2009  Distinguished Alumnae, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, Pa.

1997  Fellowship Recipient, Rutgers Center for Innovative Printmaking, New Brunswick, N.J.

          Excellence in Creative Concept and Execution Award, Philadelphia Furniture Show, Phila., Pa.

1996  Best of Mixed Media, American Craft Exposition, Evanston, Illinois

          Fellow’s Choice Award, ACC in Baltimore, Michael Monroe, juror

1995  NEA Regional Visual Arts Fellowship, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation

          Fellowship Recipient, New Jersey State Council on the Arts

1994  Best of Mixed Media, American Craft Exposition, Evanston, Illinois

          Prince George’s Arts Council Award, First Place; “UNBOUND”, Harmony Hall Regional Center,

          Fort Washington, Md., Jill Romanoke, juror

1989  Solo Show Award, Hopkins House Gallery, Camden County,  Margo Dolan, Juror

1988  Merit Award Winner, ASU Outdoor Sculpture Competition, Valerie Fletcher,

          Hirshhorn Museum, Juror

1987  Purchase Prize for  Camden County, Sande Webster, juror

1986  Fellowship Recipient, New Jersey State Council on the Arts

1982  Honorarium,  Please Touch Museum, Phila., Pa., in recognition of design proposal for

          young children.

1981  Honorarium,  Okanagan College, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, for site-specific installation in

          collaboration with students.

                                                                                                       

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Catalogues:

Blue/Green: browngrotta Arts, Wilton, Ct., 2018

Art In Embassies Exhibition: United States Embassy Panama, 2016

ARTBOOM: Celebrating Artists Mid-Century, Mid-Career, browngrotta arts, Wilton, CT., 2016

“Retro/Prospective: 25+ Years Of Art Textiles and Sculpture”, browngrotta arts, Wilton, Ct., 2012  

“Reality and Artifice”, NJ Arts Annual: Fine Art; NJ State Museum, Trenton, NJ, 2010

“10th Wave III”, browngrotta Arts, Wilton, Ct., 2009

“SOFA New York, 2004”, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, NY, 2004

“100 New Jersey Artists Make Prints”, RCIPP; Mason Gross School of Arts, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 2003

“WIRED: Fiber-Optic Weavings and Wire Sculpture”, brown/grotta Arts, Wilton, Ct., 2001

“New Jersey Arts Annual; Crafts Transcending Tradition”, The Noyes Museum, Oceanville, N.J., 1998

“SOFA Chicago,1998”, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, 1998

“Breaking The Mold: New Forms for Traditional Arts”, Stedman Gallery, Rutgers University,

Camden, N.J., 1997

“Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation/National Endowment for the Arts, Regional Visual Arts Fellowships,

 1994 & 1995”, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Baltimore, Md. 1995

“New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship Exhibition, 1994 &1995”, The Noyes Museum,

Oceanville, N.J., 1996

“New Jersey Arts Annual; Celebrating Diversity in Crafts”, The Newark Museum, Newark, N.J., 1995

“Dreamscapes for the New Millennium”, Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, Camden, N.J., 1995

“Unbound”, Harmony Hall Regional Center, Fort Washington, Md., 1994

“New Jersey Arts Annual:  Crafts”, New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, N.J., 1992

“Small Designs/Large Visions”, Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission, N.J., 1992

“New Expressions”, Noyes Museum, Oceanville, N.J., 1989

“Altered Sites”, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa., 1988

“Outdoor Sculpture Competition”, Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C., 1988-1989

“New Jersey Arts Annual”, Noyes Museum, Oceanville, N.J., 1986

“Ten Southern New Jersey Artists”, Rutgers University, Camden, N.J., 1984

Periodicals:

Johnson, Brent, “Going Solo and Tandem…..”, jerseyarts.com,

http://features.jerseyarts.com/content/index.php/nj-visual-arts/2014/09/going-solo-tandem-south-jersey-artists-debra-sachs-and-marilyn-keating-on-display-at-stockton-art-gallery/

Adelson, Fred B., “Art Season Offers…..”, Courier Post, Sep., 28, 2014, 6E

Riordan, Kevin, Their Museum of Curiosities, Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan 17, 2013, B1 & B8

http://articles.philly.com/2013-01-18/news/36396522_1_mosaic-tile-sculpture-pieces

Allen, Susan, Stockton Now, Winter 2012, Vol. 3 No. 1, pp. 12-13

Alumnae News, Moore Magazine, Spring 2009, front cover, inside cover, pp. 25-26

Scmertz, Wilma F. & Frances, Scott.  “Playing with Tradition”, Architectural Digest, Jul, 2006, pp.  88-91

Baxter,Robert. “The Art of Survival”, Courier-Post, Sun., Aug. 1, 2004, pp. 1A, 7A

Baxter,Robert. “Art and life become one....”, Courier-Post, Sun., Aug. 1, 2004, p. 6A

Haskin, Don & Lacy, Jill. “Public Art a Passion....”, Moore News, Issue XVII, Fall 2003, pp. 18-19

Graham, Kristen.  “The House that Art Built”, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sun., Nov. 23, 2003, pp. B1,B4

Lunin, Lois.  “Wired”, FIBERARTS, Summer 2002, p. 7, 57

Englander, Lisa.  ....ACE Evanston Show”, The Crafts Report, Dec., 1996, p. 42-44

Summersgill, Linda.  “Museum Quality Crafts”, Courier-Post, Nov. 8, 1996, p. 9 TGIF

Sozanski, Edward J.  “Computer Art”, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Feb. 16, 1996, p. 41 Weekend

Watkins, Eileen.  “Extending a Hand”, Sunday Star Ledger, Sep. 10, 1995, p. 1,4 Accent

brown, gerard.  “Debra Sachs:  Vessels and Woven Objects”, EYE LEVEL, Mar., 1995, p. 4-5

“Reviews, Shows & Events”:  FIBERARTS, Jan/Feb, 1995, p. 61

Collins, Karyn.  “Who’s Hot”, Asbury Park Sunday Press, Jan. 1, 1995, p. 1, 10 Sec. E

McCoy, Mary.  “Galleries”, The Washington Post, July 30, 1994, p. D2

Rice, Robin.  “Up, Down & Across”, Philadelphia City Paper, July 28, 1994.

Sozanski, Edward J.  MUSEUMS•GALLERIES, The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 15, 1994, p. 36 Weekend

Selected Bibliography

Sozanski, Edward J.  “Clothing as Sculpture....”, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Dec. 10, 1993, p. 40 Weekend

Rice, Robin.  ART.  Philadelphia City Paper, June 26-July3, 1992, p. 15

(periodicals) continued:

Halpern, Joyce.  “How Shall I Price My Painting?”  ARTimes, June, 1991, pp. 15-16

Nugent Jeanne.  “Art Around The Edges”.  New Art Examiner, June, 1989, p. 52

Eliot, Robert.  “New Expressions by Southern N.J. Art Faculties”.  Art Matters, May 1989, p. 12

Baker, Penny.  “Noyes Museum Show Proves...”.  The Press, Atlantic City, Apr. 23, 1989, pp. D1, D8

Stewart, Patricia.  “Art From the City.....”.  The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mar. 8, 1989, p. 4C

Friedman, Sally.  “The Bold, The Brash And The Daring”.  Bucks Courier, Mar. 5, 1989

Rice, Robin.  “Cutting Edges”.  The City Paper, Feb. 17, 1989, p.8

Donohoe, Victoria. “On Galleries”.  The Philadelphia Inquirer, Feb. 4, 1989, p. 3C

Donohoe, Victoria.  “Art”.  The Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 20, 1987, p. 20 Weekend

Raynor, Vivien.  “A Rich Array of Summer Art from Newburgh to Newark”.  The New York Times,

 Aug. 15, 1986 p. 1C

Zimmer, William.  “Something-But What?-Is Happening in New Jersey Art”.  The New York Times,

 Aug. 10, 1986 p. 22NJ

Williams, Kamika LH.  “They’re Off and Running...”.  Philadelphia Daily Muse, May 2-4, 1986 p. 4D

Donohoe, Victoria.  “On Galleries”.  The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mar 8, 1986, p. 4D

 

Media:

State of the Arts; New Jersey Network, Trenton, N.J.; 12/4/98; Angela Capprio, producer

Radio Times; ArtScape; WHYY Radio, Philadelphia, Pa.; 4/30/97; Karen Turner, interviewer

Books:

Kari Lonning,  The Art of Basketry (New York, NY:  Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2000),  pp. 112-113

Jane LaFerla,  Making the New Baskets (Asheville, NC:  Lark Books, 1999), p.118

 

GALLERY REPRESENTATIVE

browngrotta arts, Wilton, Ct.

 

 

RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
2002-2013, President, South Jersey Museum Of Curiosities (SJMOC LLP)

2011-2013, Future Artists Now, Inc., Gloucester City, NJ, Board of Directors        

2003  Presenter, Public Art Symposium, Gloucester County College, Sewell, N.J.

2002 Panelist for Fellowships in Crafts for Pa., Md. and De., Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Baltimore, Md.

1993-1997  Board Member,  Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Camden County, N.J.

1984-1997  Artist/Member, Nexus Foundation for Today’s Art, Philadelphia, Pa.

1994  Curator, “You Are What You Keep”, an exhibition of artists’ precious possessions for the Camden

          County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Camden County, N.J.

1993-95  Grant Review Panelist, Camden County Cultural & Heritage Commission Block Grant Program,

                Camden County, N.J.

1993  Curator, “Inside Out”, an exhibition of non-traditional portraits for the Camden County Cultural

          and Heritage Commission

1992  Curator, “Small Designs/Large Visions”, an exhibition of small sculpture for the Camden County

          Cultural and Heritage Commission

1986-1989  Senior Adjunct Instructor of Design and Drawing, Burlington County College, Pemberton, N.J.

1986-1988  Demonstration/Workshop Leader, Teen Arts Festival, Camden County, N.J.

1986  Curator, “Floor to Ceiling”, an exhibition of sculpture for the Camden County Cultural and

          Heritage Commission

1985-1988  Treasurer NEXUS--Now Foundation for Today’s Art, Phila., Pa.

1985  Artist-in-Residence, Lakeland Home, Camden County, N.J.

1976-1978  Teaching Assistant, Basic Art and Painting, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.