Biography
Edna Dapo has been painting for over a decade, bringing together tragic and compassionate images to achieve harmony. Her imagery articulates a vision of her observations of the world as she chronicles the ways in which people assimilate and deal with tragic events.
Edna has lived in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina through turbulent ex-Yugoslavian war, and left Dubrovnik, Croatia in 1997. She briefly lived in Norrkoping Sweden, and then moved to Arizona, United States in 1998.
She received her MFA in painting from Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA, and her BFA in painting from Arizona State University. She now again resides in Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Edna Dapo has exhibited nationally and internationally. She has won numerous awards, and is represented in NEW AMERICAN PAINTINGS magazine, Issue 70. This issue comes out in June 2007 in all major bookstores.
About Work
After being displaced to different countries and atmospheres, Edna has embraced her memories believing that the war experience, her travels and culture shocks have all had a purpose and directly relate to her work - to draw people together.
"One might not have been born in Bosnia and Croatia as I was, or have relatives in a war zone; attacks happen everywhere. Our everyday is tainted with emotional violence. But grief is a universal human emotion, as is love. Violence leaves us alienated and disturbed, yet paradoxically, draws us closer together."
Exhibitions
2007
"31st Bradley International Print and Drawing Exhibition," Bradley University, The Peoria Art Guild and The Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, Peoria, IL (Juror: Judith K. Brodsky)
2006
"AFTERMATH, paintings, drawings and prints," MFA Painting Thesis Exhibition Solo, Alexander Annex Gallery, Savannah, GA "15th National Juried Show at the Art Center of Northern New Jersey," Marcella Geltman Gallery, New Milford, NJ (Juror: Henriette Huldisch, Assistant Curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City)
"12th Annual Art Fair," Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA
"Atlanta Fall Open Studio Exhibition," SCAD-Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
"Art Can Cure," Orleans Hall, Savannah, GA
"Small Works," Red Gallery, Savannah, GA
"Winter 2006 Invitational," SCAD-Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
"Fall, and Spring Open Studio Night Exhibitions," Alexander Hall, SCAD, Savannah, GA
"Do Not Be Afraid of the Floatsam with John Bjerklie and The Happy Flaneurs," La Galerie Bleue, Montgomery Hall, Savannah, GA
"Do Not Be Afraid to Dance" - Traveling Video Installation/Performance in Collaboration with John Bjerklie, All Over Town during First Friday Gallery Hop, Savannah, GA
2005
"Fall Open Studio Night Exhibition," Alexander Hall, SCAD, Savannah, GA "Spring Open Studio Night Exhibition," Alexander Hall, SCAD, Savannah, GA
2004
"Fall Open Studio Night Exhibition," Alexander Hall, SCAD, Savannah, GA
"13th Annual Art Auction: AIGA Arizona and the Business Volunteers for the Arts," MonOrchid Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
"24th Art Detour including First Fridays," Studio 711, Phoenix, AZ "Studio Art Tours," Guided Tour organized by Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Studio 711, Phoenix, AZ
"Isnt It Grand," 3carpileup Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
2003
"Dapo, Spalding & Lyon," Studio 711, Phoenix, AZ
"Mastering Masters," Step Gallery, Tempe, AZ
"Juried Undergraduate Exhibition," Harry Wood Gallery, Tempe, AZ
2002
"A Salon Style Exhibition," Arizona Room, Mesa Contemporary Arts Center, Mesa, AZ
2000 "Drawing from Within," Scottsdale Community College Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
1998 "Eftertanke," Cafe Fargagarden, Norrkoping, Sweden 1997
"Luka Sorkocevic Graduates Show," Inter University Center, Dubrovnik, Croatia
1996 "Luka Sorkocevic Student Group Show," Inter - University Center, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Web Site
See more of Edna Dapo's work at her primary web site: http://www.ednadapo.com