Sylvie is a painter and mixed media artist. she works as a document compliance specialist while maintaining her studio practice in Portland oregon.
sylviehuhn@gmail.com
statement:
I attempt to make illustrations of brain fog and tunnel vision. Mental fatigue and clutter can manifest as a consolidated landscape, torn/rotting paper hanging from power lines, trashed toys, chaotic weather, branches, an incomplete house, or some unclear creature. Along with symbolism in subject matter, I find myself intrigued with compositions of partially obscured scenery ~ looking through the jungles but never fully seeing the forest for the trees.
I ritualistically build up the surfaces of my paintings with layers of acrylic paint, archival adhesive, paper and collected remnants. These little ecofacts and artifacts can include pieces of my hair, written ephemera, moss/lichen, found objects, and fragments of personal photo-transfers ~ the visual and verbal information I can never retain in memory. With a red ballpoint pen, I scribble down the air pockets created from the bonded paper into cuts and lines. I cover up these markings and assemblages in a skin of tissue paper. I then apply oil paint and (at times) wax to contain the chaos within an incrustation.
The use of myopic landscapes and vegetation occasionally continues in my other practices, such as toy camera photography, video/sound distortion, and some ongoing sculpture/installations.
CV
Education:
Master of Library Science
Concentration in Archive Studies 2016
Emporia State University, School of Library and Information Management, Distance Learning Program – Portland, OR
Bachelor of Art (Honors)
Concentration in Painting 2012
Humboldt State University – Arcata, CA
Associate in Arts
Concentration in Studio Art 2009
Santa Rosa Junior College - Santa Rosa, CA
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Bibliography:
Huhn, Sylvie D. Flowering Dogwood. 2022. This Is Portland: A Buxman Journal Publication. Buckmxn Journal, 2022: p. 30
Huhn, Sylvie D. Domestic. 2020. Buckmxn Journal 006: Anthology of Portland Writers & Artists. Buckmxn Journal, 2021: pp. 106-107
Humboldt State University. Art Department Brochure. Arcata: Humboldt State University, 2011. (Image of artwork published).
“Arts! Arcata.” North Coast Journal 9 Feb. 2012: p. 23.
Sylvie Dakota Huhn: “Remove Completely” Dir. Eva Rismanforoush. Documentary. Humboldt State University Production, 2012. DVD.
“Arts! Alive.” North Coast Journal 5 Jul. 2012: p. 27
“Sylvie Dakota Huhn.” First Street Gallery Artist Profile. First Street Gallery, 2012. Web. <http://www2.humboldt.edu/first/exhibitions/2012/dragon/huhn.html>
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Exhibitions:
2018 - 2023
3 Solo Exhibitions, Tiny’s Coffee NE, Portland, OR
Solo Exhibition, Extracto Coffee, Portland, OR
Solo Exhibition – Guest Artist, Fishbowl II at Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
Solo Exhibition, Concordia University George R. White Library & Learning Center, Portland, OR
Solo Exhibition, Backstory Books, Portland, OR
Solo Exhibition, Vtopia Cheese Shop & Deli, Portland, OR
2016 - 2017
Solo Exhibition, Tiny’s Coffee SE, Portland, OR
The Nervous System: Rachel Mulder & Sylvie Dakota Huhn, Bare Bones Cafe, Portland, OR
The Mnemonic Whale, Working Library, Portland, OR
Funeral for Old Portland, AFRU Gallery, Portland, OR
2013 - 2014
Solo Exhibition, Community Market, Sebastopol, CA
Solo Exhibition, Gaia’s Garden, Santa Rosa, CA
Mix It Up, Occidental Center for the Arts Gallery, Occidental, CA
Earth, Wind and Fire, Occidental Center for the Arts Gallery, Occidental, CA
November Group Art Show, Lifvendahl Fine Art Gallery, Guerneville, CA
Sweet and Seedy, Big Umbrella Studios, San Francisco, CA
Assistant Experience: Artist’s Studio Assistant for Jenny Honnert Abell, Santa Rosa, CA
2010 - 2012
2012 Annual Juried Student Exhibition (Arthur Gonzalez, Juror), Reese Bullen Gallery, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Senior Art Show, Karshner Lounge Gallery, Humboldt State University
Honor’s Collective, Foyer Gallery, Humboldt State University
Dragon Summer: alumni artists emerging from Humboldt State University, First Street Gallery, Eureka, CA
Remove Completely: paintings of the awkward and ephemeral by Sylvie Dakota Huhn, (solo student exhibition) Karshner Lounge Gallery, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
2011 Annual Juried Student Exhibition (Jon Rajkovich, Juror), Reese Bullen Gallery, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
E2 8th Annual Invitational, Empire Squared Gallery, Eureka, CA
Hog Wild!, Karshner Lounge Gallery, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Empire Squared 8th Annual Card Show, Humboldt Carpet Showroom, Eureka, CA
Art3 Fundraiser, Reese Bullen Gallery, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
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Awards:
2012
HSU Art Department’s 205 Painting Award
Painting Award – Senior Art Show
2011
Animal-themed Painting Award – Hog Wild! Show
Martin Wong Scholarship for Painting