Museum Exhibits
Stephen has done both site specific installations for museums as well as a traveling exhibition, depending on the museum.
Traveling Exhibition
Stephen Knapp Lightpaintings is a traveling exhibit that consists of fourteen lightpaintings –usually seven installation pieces and seven lightpainting panels. It is updated and changed when possible and has been exhibited under different titles. It has been shown at:
2105:
The Bascom, Highlands, North Carolina
2014:
Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL
2013:
Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
The Lowe Art Museum, Miami, FL
2012:
The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, NY
The Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH
Vero Beach Museum of Art, Vero Beach, FL
2011:
Naples Museum of Art, Naples, FL
2010:
Boise Art Museum, Boise, ID
Naples Museum of Art, Naples, FL
2009:
Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA
Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Brattleboro, VT
The Dahl Art Center, Rapid City, SD
2008:
Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City, MI
South Dakota Art Museum, Brookings, SD
2007:
Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH
Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art of the Midland Center for the Arts
2005:
Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, MI
Site Specific Lightpainting installations
The lightpainting installations have all been in response to a specific request or need by the museums involved.
2010
Boise Art Museum, Boise, Idaho
“Lightpaintings is the third in a series of exhibitions presented at BAM that focus on the theme of human perception. The series, initiated in 2008, has examined inventive practices of three artists, the team of Lead Pencil Studio: Annie Hahn and Daniel Milhalyo, Devorah Sperber and Stephen Knapp, all of whom are recognized for their innovative use of unconventional media to explore perceptual issues. We extend our deepest appreciation to Stephen Knapp, who spent more than a year in the development of BAM’s site-specific installation “Social Commentary”. The result of a long and complex process, the completed artwork, suited perfectly to BAM’s Sculpture Court, is the culmination of Stephen’s pioneering vision and steadfast commitment to his unique medium.” Sandy Harthorn, curator, Boise Art Museum
2009
Chrysler Museum of Art , Norfolk, Virginia
“Heritage Jitter” was commissioned by the Chrysler Museum of Art for the front of the museum as part of their “Art of Glass 2” exhibit, celebrating the tenth anniversary of a very successful Art of Glass exhibit. The museum was looking for an artist who used glass in their work but were not considered glass artists.
This historic building presented problems, as nothing could be attached to the stone face of the building. Working closely with the Chrysler staff, Stephen had them do a rubbing of the façade of the building, delineating all the mortar joints. This was reinstalled in his studio and “Heritage Jitter” was created by placing the glass only within the mortar joints. An added bonus was a stunning daytime show as sunlight moved through the pieces of glass, creating an ever changing pattern of color on the wall. In addition to the exterior piece, “Serenata” was installed in a single gallery within the museum.
2005
Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan
“Temporal Meditations” is a permanent installation at the Flint Institute of Arts. It was commissioned for the wall of their auditorium, the most visited space in the museum. In Discussing “Temporal Meditations” at the Flint Institute of Arts, critic Vince Carducci said: “That the complexity of colors and forms, as intricate as the densest Jackson Pollock drip painting, is created by using only two halogen lamps mounted at the top whose light is reflected and refracted by the arrangement of glass and metal below is all the more stunning for its simple yet elegant virtuosity”