Political, social, conceptual -- real and imagined artworks by Norm Magnusson

"Very few artists have so consistently looked at the society around them (and the government around that society) with as insightful and creative an eye as Norm Magnusson. After four decades of looking forward to each new series, it's become clear that his painting, sculpture and conceptual work will continue to resonate and get sharper, smarter, and more inspirational."

- Harley Spiller, Ken Dewey Director, Franklin Furnace

 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  

"Throw Rug", 2024. 39" diameter.  

U.S. dollar bills woven and coiled. To be displayed on the floor.

Detail shots below:

"Slider" Planned piece 2024.

A kid's slider puzzle highlighting economic/political distraction/misdirection.

"Redistribution", Planned 'historical' marker sculpture on the same topic.

(Click here to see more of this series.)

"The Feeling that Capitalism is Perversely Indomitable", 2002. 12 x 17 x 19"

Topps "Operation Enduring Freedom" trading cards on wood.

From "After the 11th". (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"Dirty hands-Beautiful hands", a proposed piece about the perversities of our contemporary capitalist society. Click the link above to read more.

"Peace of Mind", 2002. 120 cans of "Peace of Mind". 

Installation view: stacked in an impossible inverted pyramid.

From "After the 11th". (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

Text on back label of "Peace of Mind"

"Loss of Innocence", 2002, 36" x 54" Map of the world interwoven with map of the U.S.

From "After the 11th". (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"The Willingness to Trade Concrete Civil Liberties for the Illusion of Protection", 2002,

child's gas mask covered with the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

From "After the 11th". (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"Wayne LaPierre" planned sculpture.

"thoughts and prayers", 2019. Needlepoint thread on linen napkin.

The plan is to have 535 x 2 of these made, one to be delivered to each member of congress,

and one for each collector who donates to support the project.

"Yosemite Sam" 2000, 48 x 25 x 20",  Acrylic paint, lead and copper on wood.

Our national handgun cartoon character.

 From "Youth Culture in America" (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"Baby Blanket" planned 2023.

To be constructed from bulletproof Kevlar®. Mock Etsy listing.

"The Gettysburg Address Segregated by Letter" 2019, 20 x 17" unframed.

(In some stroke of bizarre luck, there are exactly three "k"s and the ended up at the very top.)

 From the "kuh-myoo-nih-kay-shun" show. (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

Planned piece, 2017. To take the decommissioned statue of Taney and to plant it 20 feet down in the shadow of the Thurgood Marshall Federal Courthouse.

"Fake News" 2019, 48 x 20", etched glass, wooden stand.

(The word 'facts' appears on one side, the word 'lies' on the other)

Study for larger public art piece.

 From the "kuh-myoo-nih-kay-shun" show. (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of congress" 2017.
archival computer print, 40" x 30" 

(verbatim from prepared transcript - below: highlighted words only)

 From the "kuh-myoo-nih-kay-shun" show. (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

Tonight, as we mark the celebration of our vandalism of truth, liberty and justice --I am here to deliver a message to the middle class. It’s been a little over a month since my inauguration, and I want to take this moment to announce the government corruption and deregulation that threatens the future of their financial dreams.  For the American family that loses their jobs, their income, or a loved one, because my Administration — a network of lawless Christians — will be making it easier for companies to abandon protective policy and depress wages, we do not truly care.  Mandating no choice is the plan for women’s health, and to advance the common good, a woman should not be free to choose and must not have a voice. Finally, to keep America Safe we must, as the Bible teaches us, all share faith in and all salute the same God. From now on, America will be guided by our vision. God bless you, and God Bless these United States.

"Communications Modulator" 2019. 11 x 20", archival computer print

Factors depicted in "Communication Modulator" which affect how communication happens are things such as: desired outcome of interaction; actual/perceived strengths of the speaker; likability of the speaker; personal distractions; etc.

History with the speaker, the speaker's tone of voice, etc., there are so many things that can influence how words are heard. Personally, though I consider myself to be a very sincere person, I see my innocent (and even sweet) words being taken as sarcastic or snarky much more often than I ever mean them to be that way. 

 From the "kuh-myoo-nih-kay-shun" show. (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"Fish", 2010. archival computer print. 40 x 38"

"GHOTI" is an interesting word construction that illustrates some of the inherent difficulties of the English language, and, by extension, communication using it. The word uses the "gh" sound from "enough", the "o" sound from "women" and the "ti" sound from "emotion". Ffff, iiiii, shh.  Fish.

 From the "kuh-myoo-nih-kay-shun" show. (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"Oct. 2, 2016 - Feb. 13, 2017"  2019, 36" x 13" Neon.

(click to play)

 From the "kuh-myoo-nih-kay-shun" show. (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"MISTAKES WERE MADE", 2019.  21" x 17" hand embossed archival paper.

When I was a kid, in 1970 or so, Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon said, with regards to the Watergate fiasco, and by way of a non-admission admission of culpability, "Mistakes were made." Even as a youngster, this phrase seemed peculiar. Not the least of it being that if I had ever tried to use this "king of non-apologies" with my mom or dad, I woulda been grounded for life! Here, I take the desire to say "something that SEEMS to be saying the right thing but in fact actually isn't" one step further, presenting the mere shadow of the words, pressed into paper.

 From the "kuh-myoo-nih-kay-shun" show. (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"I'm sorry, a thousand times I"m sorry", 2019. 19 x 26"

"I'm sorry" written 1,000 times in graphite on a piece of watercolor paper.

 From the "kuh-myoo-nih-kay-shun" show. (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"horse" 2019. Archival computer print on acid-free board. 24" x 20"  edition of 25. 

 From the "kuh-myoo-nih-kay-shun" show. (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"Antithesis" 2017. Deer mount, acrylic paint.

Pink polka dots on someone's macho trophy.

"A Sense of Imperialism" 2002.

Dolls made from fabric printed with maps of countries in the Middle East.

From "After the 11th". (Click here to see more from this exhibition.)

"Proposal for border wall at the U.S. - Canada border" 2018.

A few years ago, I was invited to submit a proposal to the GSA for art at the U.S.-Canada border.

I proposed a classic, dry-stacked stone wall about 30 inches high that would be a meditation on walls and fences and borders and xenophobia and how we treat people who look like "us" vs. how we treat people who don't. The plan was to paint the red and blue stones with a semi-permanent paint so that, eventually, those colors would fade way and all that would be left would be white.

Below: one made and one planned from my "On This Site Stood" series.

"Illegal Immigrants" 2008. 96 x 36 x 4", cast aluminum, acrylic paint.

"Tim Rands", Planned 'historical' marker sculpture on the same topic.

(Click here to see more of this series.)

"13 attempts to photograph a red ball thrown up against a blue sky - October 21"

Archival computer print. 30" x 24".

"pess/op"  dimensions variable.  Archival computer print.

"Kimberly and Monica", 2013. Archival computer print

Social media held out the promise of allowing us to all get closer, and it gave us that, to some degree, but also allowed us to do so while staying further apart. This series, "Proximity and Distance" is about all that.

(Click here to read more and to see the entire series.)

"Glasses" 2020, 44" x 44" unframed, archival computer prints on acid free paper,

cut into strips and woven together and mounted on acid-free foam core.

From "PORNWEAVINGSEXHIBITION". (See more of it here.)

"Miss March/Miss July", 2020, 31" x 16" framed, Playboy magazine centerfolds,

cut into strips and woven together, mounted on acid free foamcore.

"SSBBW", 2020. 66" x 44", archival computer prints on acid-free paper,

cut into strips and woven together and mounted on acid-free foamcore

America's explosive issues, 2000. Mixed media on canvas, each 24" x 24"

from top: "Abortion rights", "Homosexuality", "The death penalty" and "Racism"

From "The Coloring Book Paintings" exhibition. (See the entire series here.)

"Kitty C." planned sculpture. (Part of the 'Future Conditional' series, which imagines the lives that might have been lived by people had they not been lynched. Read more about this series here.)

"Orion M." planned sculpture. (Part of the 'Future Conditional' series, which imagines the lives that might have been lived by people had they not been lynched. Read more about this series here.)

"Lawn Chair" 2020, dried leaves, folding aluminum frame, acid free glue

"Vessel", 2021. Broken ceramic dish, jute twine.

Guerrilla AR(t)* . . . 

. . . is augmented reality 'historical' markers installed in various places. My "On This Site Stood" series has always been a little bit subversive - when my friend Jennifer Breslin explained Augmented Reality to me I saw that it could allow me to easily ratchet up the level of subversiveness and immediacy. She helped me learn this new technology and when protests erupted at the Whitney museum over a trustee's ties to defense contractors, I was able to place this piece (below) on the scene immediately . . . 

. . . and earlier, when peaceful BDS protests at Columbia were met with violence from that administration, I was able to put the piece above and these two below right on the main lawn, right where the protests were happening.

I did this using the “Scavengar – Easy AR creation” app. (it’s free and works on most ios devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision pro.) If you want to see for yourself click here  https://scvngr.app/kUceqN9PnJb and you'll be prompted to download the app and have the AR "experience".  It should take you right there, but if not, simply search for: “AR 'sculptures' ”. Then follow the arrows and see my sculptures in the space of wherever you are. 

 

*Augmented Reality (AR) is a transformative technology that overlays/integrates computer images onto/into the physical world, enriching our perception of our surroundings. "AR(t)" or "Guerrilla AR(t)" is what I call my particular series of AR interventions. 

Here's a video of a recent AR installation in front of the CCS/Hessel museum at Bard College: 

(click twice)

* * * * 

 Norm Magnusson, b. 1960, American

 

Awards / fellowships

Josh Baer Fund Grant, 2020

Ulster County Executive Award for Art in Public Places, 2017

Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (sculpture) 2016-2017

NYFA (sculpture) 2015

NYSCA through CSRC (installation) 2014

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (installation) 2008

Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (painting) 1998-1999 

 

Performance art

2024    “Whale hater”,Sawkille Gallery, Rhinebeck, NY

2023    “Norm’s Memory Sale”WAAM, Woodstock, NY

            “Morton Monologue Madness”,Rhinecliff, NY

2022    “Norm’s Memory Sale”O+ Festival, Kingston, NY

            “Norm’s Memory Sale”Morton Memorial Meeting House, Rhinecliff, NY

            “Norm’s Memory Sale”Holland Tunnel Gallery, Newburgh, NY

2021    “The Definition of Pornography”11 Jane Street Arts Center, Saugerties, NY

2021    “Kill the Head (Losing my Self on a Zombie Movie)”Cocoon at the Cuneen-Hackett,                                 Poughkeepsie, NY

2017    “Swipe Right (Looking for Love in the Digital Era)”Cocoon at the Cuneen-Hackett,                                               Poughkeepsie, NY

2016    “The Signs in our Lives/Swipe Right”Cocoon at the Cuneen-Hackett, Poughkeepsie, NY

2015    “The Signs in our Lives”Hudson Opera House, Hudson, NY

 

Public art projects

2024    “Invisible lives/Untold Stories”,Rhinebeck, NY

2023    Porchfest mural, Rhinebeck, NY

2020    “Make America Kind Again”Billboard, Rhinebeck, NY

            “O+ Pop Up Pedestrian Art Exhibit”,Kingston, NY

2019    “Habitat for Artists 2”, Woodstock, NY

2018    “Habitat for Artists”, Woodstock, NY

            Inaugural exhibition, Emporium Sculpture Park, Hyde Park, NY

            The Wassaic Project, Wassaic, NY

2017    Wilderstein Biennial, Wilderstein Estate, Rhinebeck, NY

2016 – 17 “High Falls sculpture park”c/o Wired Gallery, High Falls, NY

2014    “O, pioneers”The Lawn on D, Boston, MA

            “Miners” Snyder House Historical Site, Rosendale, NY

            “On this site stood”Center for Sustainable Rural Communities, Schoharie, NY

2013    “Hidden gallery walk”Palenville, NY

            “I want to sleep with America”Woodstock, NY

2012    “Far and wide”Woodstock Artists Association Museum, Woodstock, NY

            “Historical tense”, Artspace, New Haven, CT

2011    “O+ Festival”, Kingston, NY

2010    “The art of inspiration”,Sculpture installation, Time Warner Bldg, N.Y., NY

            “Sculpture Key West Invitational,”Key West, FL

2009    “Sculpture Key West 2009,”Key West, FL

2008   “Strange bedfellows” Le Petit Versailles, NYC

2007    “On this site stood,”The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, CT.

2006    “The Byrdcliffe Outdoor Sculpture Show,”Woodstock, N.Y.

2000    “Pull toy”Cow Parade, Riverside Park, N.Y., N.Y.

 

Solo Museum Exhibitions

2015    “Funism”SUNY Ulster, Muroff-Kotler Gallery, Stone Ridge, NY

2011    “Public service public art project”  The Pember Museum, Granville, NY

2007    On this site stood"The Main St. Sculpture Project of 

                The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, CT.

2003    “Metaphorical Menagerie” The Pember Museum, Granville, N.Y.

2001    “Image and Allegory,”The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS

2000    “Norm Magnusson -- American Painter”The Springfield Art Museum, MO

 

Solo Gallery Exhibitions

2022    “Monsters”,Betsy Jacaruso Gallery, Rhinebeck, NY

2021    “PORNWEAVINGSEXHIBITION”, 11 Jane Street Arts Center, Saugerties, NY

2020    “kuh-myoo-nih-kay-shun”, CMA Gallery, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY

2013    “Decorating nature”Evolve Design Gallery, Woodstock, NY

2009    “Descent into the political”  Bard College at Simon’s Rock, Great Barrington, MA

2008    “America's Seven Cardinal Virtues”Van Brunt Gallery, Beacon, N.Y.

             “Youth Culture in America”Varga@Muddycup Gallery, Kingston, N.Y.

2006    “America’s Seven Deadly Sins”Van Brunt Gallery, Beacon, N.Y.

2004    “Figures of speech in paint” Inquiring Mind Gallery, Saugerties, N.Y.

2003    “Vacation”Spike Gallery, N.Y., N.Y.

2002    “After the 11th”BridgewaterFineArts, N.Y., N.Y. 

2001    “The Animal Alphabet”  Bridgewater/Lustberg/Blumenfeld, N.Y. 2001  

1999    “Central Park Animals - Then and Now”The Arsenal Gallery, Central Park, N.Y. , N.Y.

1998    “American Paintings”Bridgewater/Lustberg Gallery, N.Y.

1997    “Norm Magnusson”J.J. Brookings Gallery, San Francisco, CA.

            “Travelogue”Bridgewater/Lustberg Gallery

1996    “Norm Magnusson”Picturesque Gallery, Akaroa, New Zealand

1995    “Bestiary”Bridgewater/Lustberg Gallery

1994    “The Normandy Paintings”  Bridgewater/Lustberg Gallery           

1993    “Recent paintings”The Gallery Upstairs at Flamingo East, NYC

1992    “Norm Magnusson”The Gallery Upstairs at Flamingo East, NYC

 

Group Museum Exhibitions

2023    “Behind the Veil”Woodstock Artist’s Association Museum, Woodstock, NY

2022    “Art and Social Justice”Woodstock Artist’s Association Museum, Woodstock, NY

2021    “Who Really Cares?”The Samuel Dorsky Museum, New Paltz, NY

2021    “New York Responds”The Museum of the City of New York, NY, NY

2015    “The Stories we tell”Samuel Dorsky Museum, New Paltz, NY

            “Nature Inc”The Rockland Center for the Arts , Nyack, NY

2013    “Current hues of the Hudson”The Museum at Bethel Woods, Bethel, NY

2011    “Far and wide”Woodstock Artist’s Association Museum, Woodstock, NY

2009    “Food”Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery, SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge, NY

2005    “Over the top - Under the rug”The Shore Institute of Contemporary Arts

2003    “Genetic expressions: Art after DNA”Hecksher Museum, Huntington, NY

2000    “Animals in Art”  The Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Alaska

 

Selected Gallery Group Shows

2024    “Voted the Best”,The Stable Gallery, Lake Hill, NY

2023    “Smoking, drinking,& behaving badly” Lockwood Gallery, Kingston, NY

            “50/50”Leake Street Gallery, London, England

2022    "FOCUS: Art & Social Justice", WAAM, Woodstock, NY

            “The Narrative of Things”,Holland Tunnel Gallery, Newburgh, NY

2020    “Infinite Uncertainty” Opalka Gallery, Albany, NY

            “Read to Me”, JJ Newberry Gallery, Saugerties, NY

2019    “Protest Art” Time and Space Limited, Hudson, NY

            “Ecollagical”. The Idea Garden, Kingston, NY.

2018    “Radius 50”  WAAM, Woodstock, NY

            “Reflected Spirit”Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY

            “Political Art”The Gallery@Chatham, Chatham, NY

            “Sol invictus - interregnum” Greenkill, Kingston, NY

2017    “Radius 50”  WAAM, Woodstock, NY

            “Smoke signals” Tivoli Art Gallery, Tivoli, NY       

            “Tear down relics”   Cross Contemporary Gallery, Saugerties, NY

            “11 Jane Happening” 11 Jane St. Gallery, Saugerties, NY

2016    “Exquisite porch”morean arts center, St. Petersburg, FL

            “abc@WFG: an exploration of text-based art” WFG Gallery, Woodstock, NY

            “O+Art”The Anvil Gallery, Kingston, NY

2015     “Group show“Wired Gallery, Stone Ridge, NY

2014    “re:Purpose“WFG Gallery, Woodstock, NY

            “Works on paper” Atwater Gallery, Rhinebeck, NY

            “Playing with a full deck” GCCA, Catskill, NY

2013    “Museum of controversial art” BAU Gallery, Beacon, NY

            “The Kingston Museum of Controversial Art”KMoCA, Kingston, NY

            “Cut & Paste”Muroff-Kotler Gallery, SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge, NY

            “These animals are driving me to abstraction” WFG Gallery, Woodstock, NY

            “Winter solstice show” AiEarthling Gallery, Woodstock, NY

2012    “FU”  WFG Gallery, Woodstock, NY

            “Zoom In”  imogen Holloway gallery, Saugerties, NY

            “From Wall St. to Main St.”GCCA, Catskill, NY

2011    “SpoOk”,Oo Gallery, Kingston, NY

            “SpOor”,Oo Gallery, Kingston, NY

            “Change of climate”, Suite 503 Gallery, NY, NY

            “Rock City Pop Up”,Van Brunt Projects, Woodstock, NY

             “Route 28 or thereabouts” Van Brunt Projects, Beacon, NY

2010     “Define the decade” GCCE, Catskill, NY

“SKW inside”Lucky Street Gallery, Key West, FL

 “Mill Street Loft invitational”, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

 “Group show”Kleinert James Art Center, Woodstock, N.Y.

2009    “Decorating nature”Gallery 668, Battenville, N.Y.

“spctclr vws”One Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, NY

“Inaugural”Van Brunt Gallery, Beacon, NY

2008    “Hudson Valley Invitational” Van Brunt Gallery, Beacon, N.Y.

“Animal allegories”Gallery 668, Battenville, N.Y.

            “Wild thing” Ira Wolk Gallery, Napa, CA

2007    “Variations on a rainbow”Le Petit Versailles, N.Y., N.Y.

            “About face: artists not afraid of U-turns” GCCA, Catskill, N.Y.

2006    “New Hudson” Van Brunt Gallery, Beacon, N.Y.

2005    “Compared to what” Gallery OneTwentyEight, N.Y., N.Y.

            “This is not an archive”Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.

2004    “Ambush”VanBrunt Gallery, N.Y., N.Y.

            “Happy Art for a sad world”  Spike Gallery, N.Y., N.Y.

2002    “Reactions”Exit Art, N.Y., N.Y.

2001    “Biennial”Bradford Brinton Memorial, Big Horn, Wyoming

2000    “Animals as Symbol” Curated online exhibition, Guild.com 

            “Salon”HereArt, N.Y., N.Y.

1999    “Urbiculture”  Sylvia White Gallery, N.Y., N.Y.

            “A big show of small work” Bridgewater/Lustberg/Blumenfeld, N.Y.                    

            “Portraits 2”Jorgenson Gallery, N.Y., N.Y. 

            “Wish you were here”  Elsa Mott Ives Gallery, N.Y., N.Y.

            “Framed” Elsa Mott Ives Gallery, N.Y., N.Y. 

1998    “Open your heart”  Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, N.Y.

            “A big show of small works”   Bridgewater/Lustberg, New York, N.Y.

            “Anima Mundi”  Bridgewater/Lustberg, New York, N.Y.

1997    “Whit, Whimsy & Humor”  Castle Gallery, New Rochelle, N.Y.

            “Winter show”  J. Cacciola Gallery, New York, N.Y.

            “PhotoSoho”  Buhl Foundation, New York, N.Y.

            “Art walk ‘97 Show”J.J. Brookings Gallery, San Francico, CA.

            “A big show of small work 2” Bridgewater/Lustberg, NYC

1996    “A big show of small work”  Bridgewater/Lustberg, New York, N.Y.

            “Summer exhibition”  J. Cacciola Gallery, New York, N.Y.

1995    “Creative Conflict”  Elsa Mott Ives Gallery, New York, N.Y.                              “High/Low/Art Soup”  Renee Fotouhi Fine Art, East Hampton, N.Y.

            “Animal Kingdom”  The Union League Club, New York, N.Y.     

            “Open your heart” Christinerose Gallery, New York, N.Y.

            “Preview of 1995”  J. Cacciola Gallery, New York, N.Y.

1994   “Then and Now”  Bridgewater/Lustberg Gallery, New York,N.Y.

            “Summer 1994”  J. Cacciola Gallery, New York, N.Y.

            “Accidental Tourist”  Bridgewater/Lustberg Gallery, New York, N.Y.

            “Garden in the Gallery”  Elsa Mott Ives Gallery, New York, N.Y.

1994    “Group Show”Galerie Antoinette, Paris, France

1993    “Celebration of Victor Hugo”Galerie Les Etelles, Villequier, France

            “Group Show”Galerie Antoinette, Paris, France

            "Apres New York"  Galerie Les Etelles, Villequier, France

 

Online Exhibition

2020    “Stay Home, Make Art”,The Samuel Dorsky Museum, New Paltz, NY

            “Future Conditional”Project for SouthWritLarge.com

 

Curation

2017    “Abstract Evocative”,WAAM, Woodstock, NY

2016    “abc@WFG: an exploration of text-based art”,WFG Gallery, Woodstock, NY

2016    “Beautiful Nonsense”,RoCA, Nyack, NY

2014    “re:Purpose”,WFG Gallery, Woodstock, NY

2013    “The Museum of Controversial Art”,BAU, Beacon, NY

2013    “The Kingston Museum of Controversial Art”,KMOCA, Kingston, NY

2012    “FU”,WFG Gallery, Woodstock, NY

 

Lectures/Workshops/Classes

2024    “Tactical Public Art”, United Nations ITU, worldwide

2024    “Hidden Lives, Untold Stories”, Rhinebeck Central School District, Rhinebeck, NY

2023    “Nature Based Art”,Rhinebeck Central School District, Rhinebeck, NY

2022    “Nature Based Art”,Rhinebeck Central School District, Rhinebeck, NY

2021    “Nature Based Art”,Rhinebeck Central School District, Rhinebeck, NY

2018    “Influences and inspiration”The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck, NY

2017    “The Hudson Valley Celebrity Series - Norm Magnusson”The Gallery in Rhinebeck, NY

2016    “Clarity vs. poetry”Morton Memorial Library, Rhinecliff, NY

            “25 years of artistic practice”Pecha Kucha, Online from Beacon, NY

2014    “Descent into the political”Kleinert-James Gallery, Woodstock, NY

            “Nature art”Rockland Country Day School, Congers, NY

2013    “Decorating Nature”Rhinebeck Science Foundation, Rhinebeck, NY

2010    “Define the decade”Greene County Council on the Arts, Catskill, NY

2009    “Animal alphabet”Woodstock Day School, Saugerties, NY

2008    “Art that’s changed the way I see the world around me”Woodstock Day School

2001    “Image and Allegory”The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS

2000    “Metaphorical menagerie” The Springfield Art Museum, MO

 

Concert Series – Creator and Producer *WAAM is in Woodstock, NY

 

2024    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Jessie Lee Montague, WAAM*

2023    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Mikaela Davis and John Lee Shannon, WAAM

2022    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Marshall Crenshaw, WAAM

2021    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Peter Dougan & Andrew Farnsworth, WAAM

2020    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Marco Benevento, WAAM

2019    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Perry Beekman and Lou Pappas, WAAM

2018    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by David Van Tieghem, WAAM

2017    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Jill Sobule, WAAM

2016    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Tracy Bonham, WAAM

2015    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by The Clear Light Ensemble, WAAM

2014    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Baird Hersey and Prana, WAAM*

2013    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Paul McMahon and Linda Mary Montano, WAAM

2012    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Karl Berger, WAAM

2011    John Cage’s 4’33” - performed by Mimi Goese and Ben Neill, WAAM

 

 

 

 

Selected Bibliography (Seriously, I’m sorry. I stopped keeping track of all the press.)

 

“Museum Exhibit Celebrates the Diversity of Local Artists”  Poughkeepsie Journal, August 9, 2017

 

“Abstract Evocative at WAAM” Woodstock Times, April 13, 2017

 

“100 Amazing Ideas”  Rodale’s Organic Life, Feb/March 2017

 

 “Local Artist with big success”  Living Rhinebeck, October, 2016

 

“Double take: New art show highlights familiar incongruity”  Rockland Co. Times, Feb. 18, 2016

 

“Beautiful nonsense: a show at the Rockland Center for the Arts” Chronogram, Feb, 2016

 

“Art for the fun of it” Blue Stone Press, September 4, 2015

 

 “Funism at SUNY Ulster” Woodstock Times, September 3, 2015

 

“Magnusson’s Decorating Nature” Woodstock Times, January 15, 2015

 

“Edible imprint: ‘Historical’ marker: Scottie Webb” Edible Hudson Valley, Summer, 2014

 

“ ‘Historical’ signs are really an art installation” Times Journal, June 3, 2014

 

“Woodstock artist opens local exhibit at the Schoharie Hive”Schoharie News, June 2, 2014

 

“Animal allegories”,  Animal Imagery Magazine, Spring 2012.

 

 “The I-75 Project: Offering up food for thought at every rest stop”,  HolyKaw.alltom.com,Nov. 15, 2011.

 

“The I-75 Project”, ArtOlution (art/revolution)October, 2011

 

 “The I-75 Project”, Idea.IdeaBing.com, Sept. 27, 2011

 

“America’s Seven Deadly Sins: The Political Art of Norm Magnusson”, Tikkun.org, Sept. 24, 2011.

 

“Work in progress: Interstate 75”, CSPA Quarterlyissue 6, 2011

  

“#110 The I-75 Project, activism with a smile”, ThisGivesMeHope.com, Aug. 4, 2011.

                                                                                                            

“Political art dots local museums’ landscape” Granville Sentinel, May 12, 2011.

 

“Artist erects social markers in Granville, NY” Rutland Herald, May 6, 2011.

 

 “Rewriting history with a wink” Utne Reader, April 13, 2011

 

“Street signs and pixilated leaves: the art of Norm Magnusson”  Washington Post, Oct. 29, 2010

 

 “Art of Social Conscience: The I-75 Project by Norm Magnusson” LaughingSquid.com, Oct. 25, 2010

 

“Just a little bit subversive”,CommonDreams.org, Oct. 21, 2010

 

 “Gentle, public activism: Magnusson’s I-75 Project”,  TheSocietyPages.org, Sept. 22, 2010

 

“Markers of American Decline”,  ProvisionsLibrary.com, Sept. 22, 2010

 

“Signs of trouble on the I-75”, osocio.org, Sept. 9, 2010

 

“Decorating nature by Norm Magnusson”, Wine and Bowties, Feb. 20, 2010

 

“Artist adds colors to nature” GreenPacks, Feb. 19, 2010

 

“Mother nature’s forest canvases, kicked up a few colorful notches”Greenwala, Feb. 16, 2010

 

"Decorating nature series", GreenMuze, 15 February, 2010

 

“Political descent”, Woodstock Times, November 5, 2009

”Norm Magnusson’s ‘historical markers’”, Woodstock Times, July 31, 2008

 

“Norm Magnusson”  Sculpture, June 2008

 

“On this site stood a man with a message”  The New York Times, Sep. 30, 2007

 

"Signposting America,"Eyeteeth: A journal of incisive ideas, Aug. 18, 2007

 

“Standing ground – The Aldrich goes Americana, sort of”,Bedford Mag., July 2007

 

"Parting shot: Norm Magnusson,"Chronogram, August, 2007

 

“Magnusson’s markers highlight social issues,” Ridgefield Press, July 12, 2007

 

“I saw the sign”,Modern Painters, June 2007

 

”Norm Magnusson - On this site stood,” American Towns, June 3, 2007

 

“On this site stood: culture jamming history,” Art Threat, May 29, 2007

 

“Énoncé de l’artiste,”Esse arts + opinion, Spring-summer 2007

 

"Painting politics,"The Woodstock Times, August 3, 2006

 

“A blossoming of political art”The Huffington Post, June 6, 2006

 

“Art that pushes the limits of studio walls,”Atlanticville Press, September 7, 2005

 

“Caution: angry artists at work,”The New York Times, August 27, 2004

 

 “Vacation,”The New York Times, September 12, 2003.

 

“Norm Magnusson,”  The Week, August 29, 2003.

 

"Images of a beautiful era, and of scientific breakthroughs,"The NY Times, July 27, 2003

 

"Pember Museum has Art Exhibit,"The Granville Sentinel, February 19, 2003

 

 “Artist’s ‘funism’ provides lesson behind each animal,”Springfield News Leader, Oct.18, 2000

 

"The Artist’s Way,"  Adweek,August 16, 1999

 

"Norm Magnusson,"  Review, March 1, 1997

 

"Travels with Magnusson,"  Where New York, February, 1997

 

"Ecological awareness with paint and a brush,"  The Villager, February 12, 1997

 

"From the Big Apple to Akaroa,"  The Press (Christchurch), March 27, 1996

 

"Fun-ism in art,"  The Beta Theta Pi Magazine,  Spring 1996

 

"Museum/Gallery Notes,"  Wildlife Art News, Sept./Oct. 1995

 

"Norm Magnusson,"  Cover, September, 1995

 

"Viel Rauch um nichts,"  Der Vogel,August 18, 1995

 

"Raw News,"  Raw Vision, Summer 1995

 

"Animal Rites,"  The Villager, June 28, 1995

 

“Norm Magnusson,"  The New Yorker, February 28, 1994

 

“Scene Change,”The Villager, February 16, 1994

 

“Dimanche, les ecoliers invitaient aussi a voter,"Le Courier Cauchois, March 27, 1993

 

 “La peinture sur le chemin des ecoliers,"Le Courier Cauchois,January 23, 1993

 

“A la decouvert d’un peintre americain avec les ecoliers de Villequier,"  

Paris Normandie,1/22/93

 

 “A Self-taught Village Artist Creates a ‘Funism’ Style,"The Villager,  Sept. 9, 1992.

 

“Enjoyable and Accessible Art,"  The  Villager, August 19, 1992

 

Museum Collections

 

Anchorage Museum of History and Art - Anchorage, Alaska

The Samuel Dorsky Museum, New Paltz, NY

The Museum of Modern Art - New York, NY

(Franklin Furnace/Artist’s book collection)

The Museum of the City of New York, NY, NY

The New-York Historical Society, NY, NY

The Pember Museum - Granville, NY

Woodside Heights Art Museum – Queens, NY

 

Public/Corporate Collections

 

AmSouth Bank - Birmingham, Alabama

Fidelity Insurance - Boston, Mass.

Graham & Co. Hotel - Phoenicia, NY

Kenneth Cole - New York, NY

Kohler – Kohler, WI

M&m – Rhinebeck, NY

Simmons, U.S.A. - Atlanta, Georgia 

 

 

Selected Private Collections:

 

Mr. and Mrs. Jason and Elyssa Ackerman                                    Woodstock, NY

Mr. William Burback                                                                       Garrison, NY            

Mr. and Mrs. Kristen and Johann Eveland                                   New Canaan, CT.                 

Mr. Kenneth Cole                                                                 New York, NY

Mr. and Mrs. Ione and Marshall Crenshaw                                  Rhinebeck, NY

Ms. Kim Dickens                                                                   Los Angeles, CA

Mr. and Mrs. Marty and Jen Flanagan                             Atlanta, GA

Alison and Stephane Gerson                                                            Woodstock, NY

Mr. Joe Reece                                                                      Los Angeles, CA

Ms. Jill Sobule                                                                      Los Angeles, CA

Mr. & Mrs. Andy and Kate Spade                                      New York, NY

Mr. Theo Spencer                                                                New York, NY

Dr. & Mrs. Harlan Waksal                                                 Telluride, Colorado

Tanya Wexler & Amy Zimmerman                                     New York, NY