MARTHA DONOVAN OPDAHL
EDUCATION
1985 M.F.A., Hope School of Fine Arts, Indiana University-Bloomington
HONORS
2005 New Mexico Arts finalist, Art in Public Spaces Program
2000 Individual Artist Grant, Indiana Arts Commission/NEA
1995 Individual Artist Grant, Indiana Arts Commission/NEA
1989 Individual Artist Grant, Indiana Arts Commission/NEA
1987 Individual Artist Grant, Indiana Arts Commission/NEA
SOLO AND DUO EXHIBITIONS
2006 Eric Dean Gallery, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN
2005 Prima Gallery, Bloomington, IN
Coleman Contemporary Art Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
2002 LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
2000 The Gallery, Bloomington, IN
In Indiana Gallery, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN (solo)
Emison Art Center, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN (solo)
1999 Gayle Willson Gallery, Southampton, NY
University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN (solo)
One Buckhead Plaza, Atlanta, GA (solo)
1998 Zephyr Gallery, Louisville, KY (solo)
The Gallery, Bloomington, IN (gallery artist)
1997 Emison Art Center, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN (solo)
1996 Hodges Taylor Gallery, Charlotte, NC
The Honeywell Center, Wabash, IN (solo)
1995 The Gallery, Bloomington, IN
1992 The Gallery, Bloomington, IN
1991 Javier Puig Gallery, Minneapolis, MN (solo)
1990 Turman Art Gallery, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
1989 American States Insurance Companies., Indianapolis, IN (solo)
1988 Pro-Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
1987 Hodges Taylor Gallery, Charlotte NC (solo)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (selected)
2007 Prima Gallery, Bloomington, IN (gallery artist)
“Breaking New Ground,” Surface Design Journal
2006 International Triennial of Textile Art, Tournai, Belgium
Cheongju International Craft, Cheongju, Korea
Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN (invited)
Ruschman Art Gallery, Indianapolis, IN (gallery artist)
2005 Space 301 Gallery, Mobile, AL (invited)
Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI (invited)
2004 Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts, Houston, TX
St.Louis College-Meramac, St. Louis, MO (invited)
Mesa Art Center., Mesa, AZ
2003 Center for the Visual Arts, Denton, TX
Sedgwick Cultural Center, Philadelphia, PA
Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA (travels)
The Gallery, Bloomington, IN (gallery artist)
2002 Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass, OR
The Gallery, Bloomington, IN. (invited)
2001 LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM (invited)
Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY (invited)
New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, New Harmony, IN (invited)
Society of Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA.
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA.
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum, Utah State University, Logan, Utah.
2000 Snyderman/Works Galleries, Philadelphia, PA. (invited)
Zoller Gallery, Penn State University, University Park, PA.
Jean Paul Slusser Gallery, U. of Michigan School of Art and Design, Ann Arbor, MI.
The Gallery, Bloomington, IN. (invited)
American States Insurance Co., Indianapolis IN
Evansville Museum of Arts and Science, Evansville, IN.
1999 SOFA Art Exposition, Navy Pier, Chicago, Represented by
Gayle Willson Gallery, Southampton, NY. (invited)
Spruill Art Center, Atlanta, GA. (invited)
South Bend Regional Art Museum, South Bend, IN.
The Gallery, Bloomington, IN. (invited)
Zoller Gallery, Penn State University, University Park, PA.
South Bend Regional Art Museum, South Bend, IN.
1998 Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN.
Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN.
Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA.
1997 Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN. (invited)
Creative Arts Guild, Dalton GA.
Artfibers Gallery, San Francisco CA.
1996 Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN.
Evansville Museum of Arts and Science. Evansville, IN.
1995 Mill Gallery, Guilford, CT.
Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA
1994 Midwest Museum of American Art, Elkhart, IN.
Emison Art Center, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN.(invited)
Exhibits USA. (travels)
Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN.
1993 Churchman-Fehsenfeld Gallery, Indianapolis, IN.
Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, MI. (invited)
John Waldron Arts Center, Bloomington, IN. (invited)
Evansville Museum of Arts & Science, Evansville, IN.
Creative Arts Guild, Dalton GA
Emison Art Center, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN (invited)
1992 Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center, Baylor University, Waco, TX. (invited)
Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA.
1990 Patrick King Contemporary Art, Indianapolis, IN. (invited)
Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA. Merit award.
1989 Artlink Contemporary Artspace, Fort Wayne, IN, (invited).
Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, Owensboro, KY, (invited).
New Harmony Gallery, New Harmony, IN, (invited).
Liberty Gallery, Louisville, KY, (invited).
Evansville Museum of Arts & Science, Evansville, IN.
1988 Emison Art Center, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN. (invited)
Patrick King Contemporary Art, Indianapolis, IN. (invited)
Evansville Museum of Arts & Science, Evansville, IN.
Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA.
McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL.
Kraus Sikes, Inc., New York, NY. Merit award.
1987 Society for Art in Crafts, Pittsburgh, PA. (invited)
Earlham College, Richmond, IN, (invited).
Evansville Museum of Arts & Science, Evansville, IN. (invited)
New Harmony Contemporary Art, New Harmony, IN. (invited)
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE. (invited)
Patrick King Contemporary Art, Indianapolis, IN. (invited)
Huntington Galleries, Huntington, WV.
Evansville Museum of Arts & Science, Evansville, IN.
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA.
Upton Hall Gallery, State University of New York College at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
Churchman-Fehsenfeld Gallery, Indianapolis, IN.
Kraus Sikes Inc., New York, NY.
1986 Patrick King Contemporary Art, Indianapolis, IN. (invited)
National Craft Showroom, New York, NY. (invited)
Evansville Museum of Arts & Science, Evansville, IN.
Art Center, South Bend, IN.
Textile Arts Centre, Chicago, IL.
The Athenaeum, Alexandria, VA.
Wichita Art Association, Wichita, KA.
Adams Memorial Gallery, Dunkirk, NY.
Churchman Fehsenfeld Gallery, Indianapolis, IN.
Lawrence Art Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KA.
1985 Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN.
PUBLICATIONS/REVIEWS (selected)
2006 “Gallery Issue,” SURFACE DESIGN JOURNAL, September p.62
2005 “Exposure,” SURFACE DESIGN JOURNAL
2004 FIBERARTS DESIGN BOOK SEVEN, Asheville, NC: Lark Books
"Immigration and Integration," FIBERARTS MAGAZINE, Vol. 30, No. 4, Jan/Feb, p. 47.
2002 "Gallery," AMERICAN CRAFT MAGAZINE, Aug./Sept., pp. 70-1
2001 "Fiberart International 17th Biennial Exhibition," AMERICAN CRAFT MAGAZINE, Dec.'01-Jan.'02, p. 54.
2000 "IN REVIEW," The Practiced Hand: Surface Design & Textiles, by K. Johnson Bowles, Surface Design, Summer, pp.48-9.
"New Exhibition Examines Relationship Between Art and Craft," Lydia B. Finkelstein, Sunday Herald-Times, Oct. 1, D4.
1999 "On Line: An Interview with Martha Donovan Opdahl," Rita Kohn, ARTS INDIANA, Indianapolis, IN, Vol. 21, Number 4, September/October, pp. 42-46
FIBERARTS DESIGN BOOK SIX, Asheville, NC: Lark Books,p.181
"Gallery," AMERICAN CRAFT MAGAZINE, Aug./Sept., p.78.
1999 "Fort Wayne Museum of Art's Gallery Walls Await All," Amy Reece Connelly, ARTS INDIANA, Indianapolis, IN, March, p. 5.
1998 "Visual Rhythms," Julie Pratt McQuiston, Nuvo Newsweekly, Indianapolis, IN, November 5-12
"Art Center's Rich Potpourri Includes 5 Judged State's Best,"
Steve Mannheimer, The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, IN, November 1
“The Gallery features Opdahl Textiles,” Lydia B. Finkelstein, Sunday Herald-Tribune, Bloomington, IN, April 12
1995 “Opdahl Exhibition at THE GALLERY,” Lydia B. Finkelstein, Sunday Herald-Tribune, Bloomington IN May 7
SLIDE LECTURE, Beelke Gallery, Purdue University Galleries, West Lafayette, IN, Oct.16.
FIBERARTS DESIGN BOOK FIVE, Asheville,NC: Lark Books
“Wool Power: The Art of Martha Opdahl,” Jean Robertson, ARTS INDIANA, Indianapolis, IN, Vol.17, #8, November, pp. 24-25.
1994 “Charting a Positive Course,” Sharon L. Calhoon, Nuvo Newsweekly, Indianapolis, IN, Nov. 16-23.
“DIRECTIONS Focuses on Five Artists,” Steve Mannheimer, Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis IN, Nov. 27.
“Indiana Directions ‘94,” Steve Hohenboken, NEW ART EXAMINER, March.
1993 “Fiber Art Begs the Question: What’s a Female Aesthetic?” Steve Mannheimer,The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis IN, Jan.17.
1990 CONTEMPORARY HOOKED RUGS, Gloria Crouse, The Taunton Press, New Platz, NY.
“Martha Donovan Opdahl: Fiber Artist,” INDIANAPOLIS MONTHLY, Indianapolis, IN, August, p. 113.
“Textile Tensions,” ARTS INDIANA, Indianapolis, IN. May.
“Greencastle Artist Opening at Turman,” Craig McDaniel, The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute IN, May 20.
1988 “Exposure,” SURFACE DESIGN JOURNAL, Summer.
“Indiana Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship Recipients,” ARTS INDIANA, Dec.: Vol. 9, #9, p. 12.
“Needle Expressions ‘88,” THE FLYING NEEDLE, National Council of Embroiderers, November cover photo 1987 FIBERARTS DESIGN BOOK 3, Asheville, NC: Lark Books.
1986 “New Work,” FIBERARTS MAGAZINE, July/August, p. 27.
“Needle Expressions ‘86,” Susan J. Reinsel, FIBERARTS MAGAZINE, Jan/Feb, p. 53.
"Art of the Handmade" Annie Cunningham, The Indianapolis Star, May 4,p. 20E
"Arts in Review: 14th Biennial Michiana Regional," Carol Bradley, ARTS INSIGHT, Vol. 8, NO. 5, June.
"Art League Regional a Solid Show," Anne Cunningham, The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, IN, Oct. 19.
1985 "Twenty Years of Diversity: Fiber Images by Indiana University School of Fine Arts Alumni 1965-1985," (color poster) Special Exhibitions Gallery, Indiana University Art Museum, Bloomington, IN.
"Variety in MFA Thesis Works," Anita Bracalente, Sunday Herald-Times, April 14, Bloomington, IN
"On the Art Scene: Celebrating Fiber," Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, IN, May 31, p. F-8.
"Indiana Artists' Show Excels," Anne Cunningham, ARTS INSIGHT, Indianapolis, IN, Vol. 7, No. 5, June.
1984 “The Tufted Rugs of Martha Opdahl,” FIBERARTS MAGAZINE, May/June, pp. 15-16.
1980 FIBERARTS DESIGN BOOK, Asheville, NC: Lark Books.
AWARDS
2006 Cheongju International Craft, Cheongju, Korea
2003 Juror’s Choice, Center for the Visual Arts, Denton, TX
2001 Juror’s Choice, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum, Utah State U.
2000 Merit, Evansville Museum of Arts & Science, Evansville, IN
1998 First Place, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN.
Best of Show, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN.
First, American States Art Competition, Indianapolis, IN.
1997 Juror’s Choice, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton GA.
1996 Best of Show, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN.
Purchase (2), Evansville Museumof Arts and Science, Evansville, IN.
Merit, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA
1995 Merit. Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA
1990 Merit, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA.
1989 First, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton GA.
1988 Second place, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA.
Second place, McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL.
Merit, Kraus Sikes, Inc., New York, NY.
1987 Special Merit, Evansville Mus. of Arts & Science, Evansville, IN.
Second, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA.
Merit, Kraus Sikes Inc., New York, NY.
1986 Merit, National Craft Showroom, New York, NY. (invited)
First, Art Center, South Bend, IN.
Honorable Mention, The Athenaeum, Alexandria, VA.
First place,. Wichita Art Association, Wichita, KA.
Best of Show, Churchman Fehsenfeld Gallery, Indianapolis, IN.
Jurors’ Choice, Rosary College, River Forest, IL.
1985 First place, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN.
COLLECTIONS:
Corporate
Bowles Hollowell Conner & Company, Charlotte, NC
Butler Products, Park Ridge, IL
Commonwealth Bank and Trust Co., Louisville, KY
First Citizens Bank Plaza, Charlotte, NC
First Union Bank, Charlotte, NC
IRM Insurance Co., Charlotte, NC
Glorieta Geoscience, Inc., Santa Fe, NM
Lincoln National Corporation, Fort Wayne, IN
The Media Works, Chicago, IL
NationsBank Corporation, Charlotte, NC
Parthenon Capital Management, LLC, Louisville, KY
Tapisserie et Arts du Tissu, Tournai, Belgium
Wachovia Bank headquarters, Charlotte NC
WLEX, Lexington, KY
Private (selected)
Cornelius and Dorothy Alig, Indianapolis, IN
Dennis and Sherry Ahlman, Appleton, WI
William and Yates Barreda, Austin, TX
Cynthia and Andrew Barret, Coconut Grove, FL
Robert and Gwen Bottoms, Sarasota, FL
Tuey and Karen Connell, New York, NY
Dr. Steven G. Conant, Indianapolis, IN
Thomas and Carol Emery, Greencastle, IN
Catherine Fruhan, Greencastle, IN
Alex Fuhr, Oxford, OH
Gale Hale, Bloomington IN
Jack D. Hunter, Fort Wayne, IN
Molly Lamphear, Austin, TX
Mickey Longden Meehan, Greencastle, IN
Suellen Meyer, St. Louis, MO
Judith Murphy, Indianapolis, IN
Gerald and Dorit Paul, Indianapolis, IN
Linda Ripperger, Bloomington, IN
Sharon Percy and Sen.John D. Rockerfeller, Washington D.C.
Dr. Roger Roof, Greencastle, IN
Reinhart and Lois Sabee, Appleton, WI
Budd Stalnaker, Bloomington, IN
Donald and Barbara Tober, New York, NY
Renata and Barry Wolf, Glenco, IL
Public
Evansville Museum of Arts and Science, Evansville, IN Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN
Purdue University Permanent Art Collection, West Lafayette, IN
GALLERY AFFILIATION
Hodges Taylor Gallery, Charlotte, NC
Prima Gallery, Bloomington, IN
Ruschman Contemporary Art Gallery, Indianapolis, IN
Zephyr Gallery, Louisville, KY