Gary Cialdella / C.V.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Documentary, fine art, professional photographer and teacher dedicated to the advocacy of photography through education, artistic expression, and contributing to the culture of the community, experienced educator and program director.

• Experienced educator and professional photographer
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Project manager
• Professional and community collaboration
• Published author: The Calumet Region: An American Place–Photographs by Gary Cialdella, University of Illinois Press 2009
• Experienced in HABS-HARE photographic documentation
• Chicago Park District and The Chicago Conservation Center historic mural documentation project

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

• Master of Fine Arts, University of Notre Dame / 1989
  Attended on a full teaching fellowship. Studied with Professor Dick Stevens. MFA thesis: “The Descriptive Photograph.” Thesis based on research of historical and contemporary theories arguing the essential nature of photography as an informed document possessing personal and cultural significance.

• Master of Arts in History, Western Michigan University / 1973
  Tailored course of study to emphasize American Studies and Popular Culture interest. Combined oral history and photography for local history projects. Received graduate assistantship and fellowship.

• Bachelor of Science, Western Michigan University / 1970
  Major: History; Minor: Political Science

EDUCATOR AND LECTURE PRESENTATION EXPERIENCE

• Visiting Artist and Instructor / Kalamazoo College / 2018-19
• Visiting Artist and Instructor / Western Michigan University / Photography: Medium Format & Darkroom / 2018
• Visiting Artist and Instructor / Kalamazoo College / Imagining the American West / Freshman Seminar / 2017
• Visiting Artist and Instructor / Kendall College of Art & Design / Photography in the Narrative Form / 2017
• Guest Curator / Monroe Arts Center / A Sense of Place: Wisconsin Landscape Photography /  2016
• Visiting Artist and Instructor /Kalamazoo College / Intro to Photography, Advanced Digital Photography / 2016
• Visiting Artist and Instructor / Western Michigan University / 2014-15
• Visiting Artist and Instructor / Kendall College of Art & Design / A Sense of Place / 2012
• Portfolio Reviewer / Society for Photographic Education Regional Conference / Western Michigan University / 2010
• Guest Curator / Kalamazoo Institute of Arts / Light Works: Photographs from the Permanent Collection /  2010
• Society for the Study of Midwest Literature / Panel Discussion / The Making of the Calumet Region / Michigan State University / 2010
• Kendall College of Art and Design / Instructor / 2008-10
• Kendall College of Art and Design / Photography Department Academic Advisory Board / 2008-09
• Academy of Art University / San Francisco / 2009-12
• Kalamazoo Institute of Arts / Lecture / The Calumet Region: An American Place–Photographs / 2009
• Society for Photographic Education National Conference / Dallas, TX / Image Maker Presentation / 2009
• Society for Photographic Education Regional Conference / Flint, MI / Image Maker Presentation / 2007
• Society for Photographic Education / Regional Conference / Omaha, NE / Portfolio Reviewer 2006
• Society for Photographic Education / National Conference / Chicago, IL / Portfolio Reviewer / 2006
• Instructor / Western Michigan University / 1985-86, 1988, 2005
• National Conference Peer Review Panel / Society for Photographic Education / Chicago, IL / 2005
• Image-Maker Presenter / Society for Photographic Education Midwest Conference / St. Louis, MO / 2005
• Image-Maker Presenter / Society for Photographic Education Midwest Conference / Detroit, MI / 2000
• Lecture – Recent Work / Michigan Friends of Photography / Detroit, MI / 1995
• Advisory Panel Member / Urban Interiors Project / Wayne State University, Detroit, MI/ 1989-1990
• Visiting Artist / Center for Creative Studies / Detroit, MI / 1999, 2004
• Visiting Artist / Kendall College of Art & Design /  1994, 2004
• Instructor / Kalamazoo Institute of Arts / Kalamazoo, MI / 2003, 2002,1994
• Visiting Artist / The University of Michigan / Ann Arbor, MI / 1994
• Visiting Artist / Lansing Community College / Lansing, MI / 1993
• Visiting Artist / Bradley University / Peoria, IL / 1985
• Visiting Artist / Michigan State University / East Lansing, MI / 1983
• Visiting Artist / Siena Heights College / Adrian, MI / 1983
• Head of Photography Program / Kalamazoo Institute of Arts / 1977-1985
  • Developed curriculum and specialized course offerings
  • Hired and managed part time faculty & darkroom assistant
  • Trained darkroom and studio staff
  • Procured and maintained equipment; purchased supplies
  • Planned and managed department budget
  • Taught four levels of photography classes
  • Planned and implemented annual workshops attracting internationally known photographers
  • The Stuart Street Project / A Field Classroom Documentary Project / Kalamazoo, MI / 1979
  • Funded with grant from the Michigan Council for the Arts.
  • Resulted in a publication of participant photographs
• Instructor of Photography / Kalamazoo Valley Community College / Kalamazoo, MI / 1975-77

FINE ART ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Portfolios

• Monuments: A New Orleans Elegy / Homes That Survived Hurricane Katrina / 2007
• The Calumet Region An American Place  / University of Illinois Press /  Brauer Museum of Art / 2009
• Picturing Pilsen: A Chicago Latino Neighborhood / 2004-present
• American Habitat/ Cultural Landscapes / 2003–present
• Public Eye: Signs of the Times / Advertising Landscapes / 2002–present
• Delta Blues: Landscapes from North Mississippi / 1997-2003
• Southwest Michigan Landscapes / 1985
• A Region In View: Photographs of the Eastern Shoreline of Lake Michigan / 1982-1983
  • Funded with a grant from the Michigan Council for the Humanities
• Paper Mills of Kalamazoo County / 1980
  • Funded with a grant from the Greater Kalamazoo Arts Council

Collections

• Bank of America Collection
• Brauer Museum of Art
• Pfizer
• Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
• Battle Creek Art Center
• Midwest Photographers’ Archive / Museum of Contemporary Photography / Chicago, IL / 2002-2006
• Private Collections

Solo Exhibitions

• Colby Gallery / Chicago, IL / October 2015
• Monroe Art Center / Monroe, WI / September 2010
• Brauer Museum of Art / Valparaiso University / Valparaiso, IN 2009/10
• Kingscott Gallery / Kalamazoo, MI / 2009
• Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo / 2008
• South Bend Regional Museum of Art / South Bend, IN / 2005
• Retro Gallery / Kalamazoo, MI / 2004
• University of Notre Dame / Notre Dame, IN / 2004
• Brauer Museum of Art / Valparaiso, IN / 2003
• Southern Oregon University / Ashland, OR / 2002
• Kalamazoo Institute of Arts / Kalamazoo, MI / 2001
• Western Michigan University / Gallery II / Kalamazoo, MI / 1997
• Kingscott Gallery / Kalamazoo, MI / 1995
• Carnegie Center for the Arts / Three Rivers, MI / 1993
• Northern Illinois Arts Association / Munster, IN / 1993
• Detroit Cultural Center / Detroit, MI / 1992
• Six Seventeen Gallery / Kalamazoo, MI / 1987
• South Bend Regional Museum of Art / South Bend, IN / 1985
• Bradley University / Hartman Center Galleries / Peoria, IL / 1985
• The City University of New York-Brooklyn / New York, NY / 1984
• Henry Ford Community College / Dearborn, MI / 1984
• Siena Heights College / Adrian, MI / 1983

Group Exhibitions

• West Michigan Area Show / Kalamazoo Institute of Arts / 2018
• Lowell Arts Center / Location, Location, Location / Lowell, MI / 2018
• Colfax Center for the Arts / Social Justice / South Bend, IN / 2017
• Ninth Wave Studio / Kalamazoo, MI / 2017
• West Michigan Area Show / Kalamazoo Institute of Arts / 2016
• South Shore Arts / Munster, IN / 2016
• Perspectives Gallery / LENS / Evanston, IL / 2015
• Colfax Center for the Arts / Social Justice / South Bend, IN / 2015
• Perspectives Gallery / LENS / Evanston, IL / 2014
• Southeast Oregon University / A Sense of Place / January 2010
• Kingscott Gallery / Kalamazoo, MI / 2009
• Northlight Gallery / School of Art / Arizona State University / 2009
• Colby Gallery / Chicago, IL / 2007
• Brauer Museum of Art / The Steel Show / Valparaiso, IN / 2006
• Lake County Indiana Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hammond, IN / 2002
• Maryland Federation of Art / National Juried Exhibition / Annapolis, MD / 2002
• Steven-George Gallery / Hammond, IN / 1998
• Mary Grove College / Detroit, MI / 1991
• North Dakota Museum of Art / Grand Forks, ND / 1987
• Northern Indiana Arts Association / Juried Invitational / Munster, IN / 1986
• Sioux City Center / Sioux City, IA / 1983
• The Art Institute of Chicago / An Open Land: Photographs of the Midwest 1852-1982 / Chicago, IL / 1982

Publications

• Shore Magazine / Through The Eyes of A Nostalgic Photographer / by Dave Hoekstra / March 2010
• The Calumet Region An American Place  / University of Illinois Press /  Brauer Museum of Art / 2009
• Fotophile, #48 / 2005
• American Scholar / Spring 2005
• Michigan Friends of Photography Newsletter, #105 / April 1996
• Properties and Imperatives: The Descriptive Photograph, Master of Arts thesis, University of Notre Dame / 1989
• Michigan Friends of Photography Newsletter, #103 / 1988
• Photography for Collectors / Vol. II: The Midwest / 1984
• New Art Examiner / December 1984
• An Open Land: Photographs of the Midwest 1852-1982 / Aperture / 1983
• New Art Examiner / Summer 1981
   

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY HISTORY

Co-owner / Carr Cialdella Photography / 1987-2015

• Professional photographers studio specializing in architectural and documentary photography
• Hired and managed staff, including marketing representative, darkroom technician and assistants
• Designed and implemented darkroom and studio facilities
• Procured and maintained equipment
• Clients include: Benjamin Moore, Diners Club, Haworth, Herman Miller, Pratt and Lambert, USG and Valario Dewalt Train, Marvin Windows and Doors, Chicago Conservation Center