Esther Kirshenbaum 2559 Blueberry Lane
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
734-996-1420

Work as Fine Artist

Media

 

Sculpture, mixed media, metal, paper making, printmaking, painting

Gallery Affiliations

 
  • Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Synchronicity Gallery, Glen Arbor, Michigan
  • Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, Michigan
  • 16 Hands Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • T'Marra Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Collections (present and past)

 
  • Southshore Companies, St. Joseph, Michigan
  • St. Joseph Mercy Health System, Pediatric ER, Ypsilanti, Michigan
  • Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
  • Sports Illustrated, New York City (past)
  • E.F. Hauserman, Chicago, Illinois
  • Frank Lloyd Wright House (Harper House), St. Joseph, Michigan
  • Manhattan Park, Roosevelt Island, New York City
  • Atallah Heart Clinic, Rochester, Michigan
  • Beaumont Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
  • Macomb Hospital Center, Warren, Michigan
  • Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • United Container Corporation, St. Joseph, Michigan

Exhibits and Installations

 
  • Kerrytown Concert House, March-April, 2007. Buenos Aires / Tango a series of oil pastels
  • Feminist Art Project of Michigan, facilitated by Rutgers University Fall 2006, Off the Wall group show
  • Cafe Zola, November 2006, one person show of monoprints, Four Seasons Along the Huron River November, 2006
  • Director of Art Installations for the Ann Arbor Film Festival, 1998-2007
  • Stage set for Odes, Peter Sparling Dance Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2005
  • Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2002
  • Art shown and sold at Gumps, San Francisco, California
  • Gifts of Art Program, University of Michigan Hospitals, 1994
  • J. Walter Thompson, Inc., Detroit, Michigan
  • Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Site de la Création Franche, Bélges, France
  • Artists' Association, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Arnold Klein Gallery, Detroit, Michigan
  • Recent Group Shows:
    • Works in Collage , Washington Street Gallery, Ann Arbor, October, 2005
    • The Print , Ann Arbor Art Center, 2004
    • World Trade Center: Reactions, 100 artists participating in fundraiser for Service Employees International Union, September, 2002
    • A Room of Your Own, 200 Artists, funded by Grandmother Winifred Foundation. Curated by Ellen Wilt.
    • Views: A Multimedia Group Show, of University of Michigan faculty, students, and local artists

Recent Work Experience

Owner, Fun and Functional Art, a business producing and selling functional steel sculpture, 2004-Present

Gallery Director, Michigan Guild Gallery, 1998-2003

 
  • During tenure, curated 45 shows, 450 artists in solo and group shows, receiving extensive media coverage (23 outstanding reviews in local press)
  • Responsible for all aspects of exhibition schedule and budget
  • Conducted search for artists
  • Arranged publicity
  • Arranged contracts with artists and handled sales
  • Installed shows
  • Organized gallery talks and receptions
  • Led workshops for high school and elementary students
  • Hosted poetry readings and musical events

Juror

 
  • Annual Competition for the Ann Arbor Women Painters, June, 2000
  • The Annual Student Art Exhibition, Eastern Michigan University in cooperation with Ford

Teaching Experience

 
  • Printmaking workshops, 2003
  • Workshop, Creative Journaling, 2002
  • Glenroy High School, Melbourne, Australia, 1974-1977
  • Flint Southwestern High School, Flint, Michigan, 1973

Education

 
  • Painting at La Liga de Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2001
  • Welding, Washtenaw Community College, 1996-1997
  • Bhutan trekking tour of Himalayan culture and landscape, 1989
  • Papermaking, with Laurence Barker, Barcelona, Spain, 1987
  • Workshop in paper making with University of Michigan School of Art, Barcelona, Spain, 1986
  • Tour of traditional and cottage art, Indonesia, Philippines, 1977
  • Tour for artists and educators, Mainland China, (one of first US artists to tour), 1977
  • Graduate study in biology, University of Michigan, 1978
  • Elliot Lake Arts Program, Ontario, Canada, 1973
  • Study in Design, Melbourne University, Melbourne, Australia, 1973
  • B.S., Biology, University of Michigan

Other Experience

Community Service

 
  • Board of Directors Huron Valley Neighborhood Association 2006 to present
  • CRS Citizens for Responsible Schools, Ecology Committee, 2005
  • Wild Swan Theater, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2001-2003
  • Environmental Advocacy, Friends of Pickerel Lake, 2001-Present
  • Volunteer at Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, 1991
  • SOS Crisis Intervention Center, Ypsilanti, Michigan, Counselor, 1988-90

Travel

 
  • Extensive travel and residence in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, China, Bhutan, New Zealand, Philippines, Macao, Spain, England, France, Mexico, Argentina

Professional Memberships

 
  • Michigan Guild of Artists and Artisans
  • Michigan Business and Professionals Association
  • Ann Arbor Art Center

Miscellaneous

 
  • Documentary Screener Ann Arbor Film Festival 2007
  • Voted one of best artists in Wastenaw County by readership of Current Magazine, 2007
  • Photojournalism: San Juan Star, Puerto Rico, 1999
  • Member of Board of Directors, South Shore Development Company, LLC, 1990-1996
  • Member of the Australia-China Society, 1977
  • Member of the Board of Directors, Michigan Guild of Artists and Artisans