Steve Toornman
Charlevoix, MI
www.merfnsteve.com

"Weasel" Oil on Panel $3000

"Untitled #3" Pencil $500

Artist’s Statement

A questionnaire for a local gallery once asked, “Why do you make art?”. I had to answer that I don’t know why because I have always made it. My parents gave me a coloring book and crayons in the crib but instead of using the book and coloring between the lines I made a wall mural, much to my parents chagrin. I would draw at home, at school, at church, I would draw all the time. I used all my allowance on comic books. So I suppose I’m as close to a “natural artist” as your likely to find. I consider myself a painter who also makes prints as opposed to a printmaker. I started making prints as a way of taking a break from constant painting which can become obsessive and physically tiring as well. Generally I am interested in the nature of existence as opposed to political or social issues and my art tends to be image based. What I mean by that is that the idea or concept of the work comes out more as a result of the doing the work than by having some grand intellectual scheme or a planned outcome or meaning. The image itself is the most important element. Sometimes I use symbolic references and sometimes I do not. Sometimes I simply paint what I see. I try not to pigeonhole myself. I am interested in possibilities. The drawings represent a return to my main strength as an artist and experimentation with intuitive abstraction of form.

Biography of Steven Burton Toornman

Born: 1954, Washington D.C.

WORK IN GALLERIES

• Michigan Artists Gallery, Suttons Bay, Michigan
• Vortex Gallery, Charlevoix, Michigan
• Crooked Tree Art Center Gallery, Petoskey, Michigan
• Gallery On Main, Bay Harbor, Michigan
• Tributaries Gallery, Central Lake, Michigan
• Firebrick Pottery & Gallery Studio, Rochester, Michigan
• Miskawabik Ed Gray Studio-Gallery, Calumet, Michigan

EDUCATION:

1975- Graduate, Kendall School of Design

EXHIBITIONS:

• 2007 Our Town Art Competiton, Birmingham, MI
• 2007 Nothern National Art Competiton, Rhinelander, WI
• 2007 Nationally Juried Works on Paper Exhibition, Long Beach Island Foundation, Long Beach Island, NJ
• 2007 Annual Fine Arts Competiton, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
• 2006 That Dam Box Show, Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, MI
• 2006 Seceret Places of Childhood, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
• 2006 Myself, Visions & Versions, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
• 2006 2 person show with Meredith Krell, Zazen Gallery,
  Charlevoix, MI
• 2006 Camp & Campy, 2 person show with Meredith Krell, Vesuvius Gallery,
  Glen, MI
• 2006 Campalot, 2 person show with Meredith Krell, Vertin Gallery
  Calumet, MI
• 2005 Shifting Gears, 2 person show with Robert Hubbach, Vesuvius Gallery,
  Glen, MI
• 2005 Camping Out, 2 person show with Meredith Krell, Mackerel Sky Gallery, East Lansing, MI
• 2004 Modern Visionaries, Mind, Spirit and the Imagination
  Caladan Gallery, www. caladangallery.com
• 2004 Twins, Gallery 704, Charlevoix, MI
• 2004 Annual Fine Arts Competiton, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
• 2004 Cabin Fever, Michigan Artists Gallery, Sutton’s Bay, MI
• 2003 Kendall 75th Anniversary Alumni Show, Kendall School of Design,
  Grand Rapids, MI
• 2003 The Collaborative Mail-Art Project, Petoskey Contemporary Arts,
  Petoskey, MI
• 2003 Sacred Shrines, Vesuvius Gallery, Glenn, MI
• 2003 Print Show, East Jordan Art Center, East Jordan, MI
• 2003 Annual Exhibit, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
• 2002 Two For One, Vesuvius Gallery, Glenn, MI
• 2002 Bug Show, Vesuvius Gallery, Glenn, MI
• 2002 Annual Exhibit, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
• 2002 International Book Arts Exhibit, East Jordan Art Center, East Jordan, MI

PUBLICATIONS

• 2005 self portrait paintings, Direct Art magazine, fall issue
• 2005 Produced art book project, “Ripping Oblivion”. 6 poems and 6 prints by Steve Toornman. Published by Deep Wood Press. Purchased by the University of Michigan for their collection.
• 2004 Dunes Review- cover art and interior illustrations
• 2002- Produced art book project, “Minisens” in association with Meredith Krell (lino cuts), Judith Hitz (poetry) and Chad Pastotnik (engraving & book design) with etchings by me. Published by Deep Wood Press, added to the Franklin Furnace Book Arts Collection at the Museum of Modern Art. Also collected by the University of Michigan.

AWARDS

• 2004 3rd place, Annual Fine Arts Competiton, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
• 2007 Patron Award, Nothern National Art Competiton, Rhinelander, WI
• 2007 Honorable Mention, Annual Fine Arts Competiton, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI

Tributaries Contemporary Gallery
2134 South Main St. - Central Lake, MI
(one block south of downtown on M-88)