RAYE BEMIS
Born Raye Bemis. Dixon, Illinois
Moved to California in 2015
From Chicago, Illinois
EDUCATION:
1965 - 1967 2 year scholarship to School of the Art Institute of Chicago
ONE PERSON EXHIBITIONS:
2003 Morph, Fassbender/ Stevens Gallery, Chicago, IL
1997 ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL
1991 Raye Bemis, Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL
1991 Untitled, Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL Exterior project installation
1984 WPA Gallery, Chicago, IL
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020 Porch Series, 57W57ARTS, New York, NY (curated by Sue Ravitz)
2020 a6_murals_worldwide, No. 37, online exhibition (curated by Lidia Wierenga)
2020 SJ Art Collective, online exhibition (curated by Sally J. Rhudy)
2020 Painting Per Diem, online exhibition (curated by Tom Wilmott)
2015 Tierra del Ensueño, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago, IL
2014 Flamenco!, Skokie Theater, Skokie, IL
2009 BIOACTIVITY, Elmhust College Accelerator Artspace, Elmhurst, IL
2009 Soul and Duende- “Forever Flamenco”, NEIU Performing Arts Center, Chicago, IL
2007 WALLWRKS, James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, Grayslake, IL
2006 Tribute to Edo Sie: 50 Years in Dance, NEIU Performing Arts Center, Chicago, IL
2004 Art in the Park, Grant Park, Chicago, IL
2003 Art of Containment, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL
2002 Three of Us, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
2001 Untitled, Pier Walk, Chicago, IL
2000 Wall Objects, Fassbender/ Stevens Gallery, Chicago, IL
1999 Be-Hive, Fassbender Gallery, Chicago, IL
1998 Quiet, pop-up space, Chicago, IL (curated by Michele Feder-Nadoff)
1996 Redefining the Art Object, the: Installations, Rockford Art Museum, Il.
1995 Conjunct, Fassbender Gallery, Chicago, IL
1995 Protest installation at International Art Exhibition, Chicago, IL
1994 S.H.A.P.E. Supportive Housing and Protective Environments, The Peace Museum,
Chicago, IL
1994 Honorable mention, Architectural Design Competition for Cabrini Green Housing
Project, sponsored by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL
1994 Public Inquiries, Uncommon Ground, UMW Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
1994 No Intentions, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL
1992 Flo-tilla, Chicago River, Chicago, IL
1991 Untitled, Fermilab, Batavia, IL
1991 1800 Clybourn, Chicago, IL (curated by Victor Cassidy)
1990 Art Chicago, Chicago, IL1988 Artists on Board, NNWAC Gallery, Chicago, IL
1987 Face the Street, drive-in film installation NNWAC1987
Interiors, Prairie Avenue Gallery, Chicago, IL
1987 (Group Exibition), Axe Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
1986 Chicago International Art Exposition, Chicago, IL
1986 The Box Show, Klein Gallery, Chicago, IL
1985 Chicago International Art Exposition, Chicago, IL
1984 CURRENT WAR-VENTS, NAB Gallery, Chicago, IL
1984 ARTWHORES, Guerilla performance/ protest art at International Art Exhibition,
Chicago, IL (with Michelle Fire and Anita David)
1984 Untitled, Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
1983 Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, IL
1982 ART NOT ARMS, WPA Gallery, Chicago, IL
1980 MYTHTICISM, group exhibition in an alternative space, featuring Ben Bensen, Tony
Giliberto, Raye Bemis, Michiko Itatani, Dan Ramirez, and Dana Sievertson
curated by Raye Bemis)
1979 Arenas, Yuni Hoffman Dance Theatre, Chicago, IL
1979 Collaborative Exhibition, Untitled, alternative art space at 5412 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
1976 Participated in group show, showed offsite, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
1975 Showed offsite Bergman Gallery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
POSITIONS HELD
1985 - 1987 Chairperson Public Art Near Northwest Arts Council, Chicago, IL
1976 - 1979 Contributing Editor, New Art Examiner
1976 - 1979 Art Criticism Writer, New Art Examiner
1979 - 1981 Co-Founder, Yuni Hoffman Dance Theater
2006 - 2010 Lighting/ set design, Soul and Duende flamenco company
2013 - 2015 Lighting/ set design, Flamenco!
GRANTS
Illinois Arts Council Special Assistance Grant, 1990.
Published Art Criticism:
2019. Bemis Raye, “MARCH to an Aesthetic of Revolution.”1977 Chicano and Chicana A
Critical Anthology, edited by Jennifer A. Gonzalez, et al. Durham, Duke University
SELECTED REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS:
Cassidy, Victor M. “Raye Bemis at Fassbender/ Stevens”. Art in America. Sept 2003.
Camper, Fred. “Art People: Raye Bemis Minds Her Own Beeswax”. Chicago Reader. 2003.
“Art of Containment: From High Concept to High Craft- Raye Bemis, Michelle Feder-Nadoff, Diane Simpson”. ???? 2003
Stein, Lisa. “‘WOM’ Finds Art in Light, and Nature: Veteran Chicago Artists Merge Work”. Chicago Tribune. 23 Aug 2002.
Schultz, Reid B. “A Day at the Pier”. Conscious Choice [Chicago]. Sept 2001.
Snodgrass, Susan. “Staying Alive”. Art In America. 1998
Cassidy, Victor M. “Chicago Report”. Artnet. 14 Nov 1996.
Schultz, Susy. “Cabrini Renovation Subject of Peace Museum Exhibit”. Chicago Sun-Times.
25 Feb 1994.
Stevens, Liz. “Designs for Living: Should Cabrini-Green Residents Have a Say in Shaping
Their Future?”. New City. 27 Jan 1996.
McCracken, David. “Gallery Scene”. Chicago Tribune. 21 Jun 1991. “Editor’s Choice: Art”. Chicago Tribune. Feb 1991.
Lundy, Larry. “Interiors”. New Art Examiner [Chicago]. Dec 1987.
Schlesinger, Toni. “Site-Specific”. Chicago Reader. 17 May 1985.
Piezak,Devonna. “Geometric Polarities: Chicago Mythicism”. The New Art Exminer [Chicago]. Apr 1980.
Pieszak, Devonna. “Raye Bemis-Mitchell”. The New Art Examiner [Chicago]. Summer 1976.
Born Raye Bemis. Dixon, Illinois
Moved to California in 2015
From Chicago, Illinois
EDUCATION:
1965 - 1967 2 year scholarship to School of the Art Institute of Chicago
ONE PERSON EXHIBITIONS:
2003 Morph, Fassbender/ Stevens Gallery, Chicago, IL
1997 ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL
1991 Raye Bemis, Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL
1991 Untitled, Klein Art Works, Chicago, IL Exterior project installation
1984 WPA Gallery, Chicago, IL
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020 Porch Series, 57W57ARTS, New York, NY (curated by Sue Ravitz)
2020 a6_murals_worldwide, No. 37, online exhibition (curated by Lidia Wierenga)
2020 SJ Art Collective, online exhibition (curated by Sally J. Rhudy)
2020 Painting Per Diem, online exhibition (curated by Tom Wilmott)
2015 Tierra del Ensueño, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago, IL
2014 Flamenco!, Skokie Theater, Skokie, IL
2009 BIOACTIVITY, Elmhust College Accelerator Artspace, Elmhurst, IL
2009 Soul and Duende- “Forever Flamenco”, NEIU Performing Arts Center, Chicago, IL
2007 WALLWRKS, James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, Grayslake, IL
2006 Tribute to Edo Sie: 50 Years in Dance, NEIU Performing Arts Center, Chicago, IL
2004 Art in the Park, Grant Park, Chicago, IL
2003 Art of Containment, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL
2002 Three of Us, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
2001 Untitled, Pier Walk, Chicago, IL
2000 Wall Objects, Fassbender/ Stevens Gallery, Chicago, IL
1999 Be-Hive, Fassbender Gallery, Chicago, IL
1998 Quiet, pop-up space, Chicago, IL (curated by Michele Feder-Nadoff)
1996 Redefining the Art Object, the: Installations, Rockford Art Museum, Il.
1995 Conjunct, Fassbender Gallery, Chicago, IL
1995 Protest installation at International Art Exhibition, Chicago, IL
1994 S.H.A.P.E. Supportive Housing and Protective Environments, The Peace Museum,
Chicago, IL
1994 Honorable mention, Architectural Design Competition for Cabrini Green Housing
Project, sponsored by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL
1994 Public Inquiries, Uncommon Ground, UMW Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
1994 No Intentions, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL
1992 Flo-tilla, Chicago River, Chicago, IL
1991 Untitled, Fermilab, Batavia, IL
1991 1800 Clybourn, Chicago, IL (curated by Victor Cassidy)
1990 Art Chicago, Chicago, IL1988 Artists on Board, NNWAC Gallery, Chicago, IL
1987 Face the Street, drive-in film installation NNWAC1987
Interiors, Prairie Avenue Gallery, Chicago, IL
1987 (Group Exibition), Axe Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
1986 Chicago International Art Exposition, Chicago, IL
1986 The Box Show, Klein Gallery, Chicago, IL
1985 Chicago International Art Exposition, Chicago, IL
1984 CURRENT WAR-VENTS, NAB Gallery, Chicago, IL
1984 ARTWHORES, Guerilla performance/ protest art at International Art Exhibition,
Chicago, IL (with Michelle Fire and Anita David)
1984 Untitled, Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
1983 Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, IL
1982 ART NOT ARMS, WPA Gallery, Chicago, IL
1980 MYTHTICISM, group exhibition in an alternative space, featuring Ben Bensen, Tony
Giliberto, Raye Bemis, Michiko Itatani, Dan Ramirez, and Dana Sievertson
curated by Raye Bemis)
1979 Arenas, Yuni Hoffman Dance Theatre, Chicago, IL
1979 Collaborative Exhibition, Untitled, alternative art space at 5412 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
1976 Participated in group show, showed offsite, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
1975 Showed offsite Bergman Gallery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
POSITIONS HELD
1985 - 1987 Chairperson Public Art Near Northwest Arts Council, Chicago, IL
1976 - 1979 Contributing Editor, New Art Examiner
1976 - 1979 Art Criticism Writer, New Art Examiner
1979 - 1981 Co-Founder, Yuni Hoffman Dance Theater
2006 - 2010 Lighting/ set design, Soul and Duende flamenco company
2013 - 2015 Lighting/ set design, Flamenco!
GRANTS
Illinois Arts Council Special Assistance Grant, 1990.
Published Art Criticism:
2019. Bemis Raye, “MARCH to an Aesthetic of Revolution.”1977 Chicano and Chicana A
Critical Anthology, edited by Jennifer A. Gonzalez, et al. Durham, Duke University
SELECTED REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS:
Cassidy, Victor M. “Raye Bemis at Fassbender/ Stevens”. Art in America. Sept 2003.
Camper, Fred. “Art People: Raye Bemis Minds Her Own Beeswax”. Chicago Reader. 2003.
“Art of Containment: From High Concept to High Craft- Raye Bemis, Michelle Feder-Nadoff, Diane Simpson”. ???? 2003
Stein, Lisa. “‘WOM’ Finds Art in Light, and Nature: Veteran Chicago Artists Merge Work”. Chicago Tribune. 23 Aug 2002.
Schultz, Reid B. “A Day at the Pier”. Conscious Choice [Chicago]. Sept 2001.
Snodgrass, Susan. “Staying Alive”. Art In America. 1998
Cassidy, Victor M. “Chicago Report”. Artnet. 14 Nov 1996.
Schultz, Susy. “Cabrini Renovation Subject of Peace Museum Exhibit”. Chicago Sun-Times.
25 Feb 1994.
Stevens, Liz. “Designs for Living: Should Cabrini-Green Residents Have a Say in Shaping
Their Future?”. New City. 27 Jan 1996.
McCracken, David. “Gallery Scene”. Chicago Tribune. 21 Jun 1991. “Editor’s Choice: Art”. Chicago Tribune. Feb 1991.
Lundy, Larry. “Interiors”. New Art Examiner [Chicago]. Dec 1987.
Schlesinger, Toni. “Site-Specific”. Chicago Reader. 17 May 1985.
Piezak,Devonna. “Geometric Polarities: Chicago Mythicism”. The New Art Exminer [Chicago]. Apr 1980.
Pieszak, Devonna. “Raye Bemis-Mitchell”. The New Art Examiner [Chicago]. Summer 1976.