Art by Marilyn Califf

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A short biography
Having won a fire prevention poster contest while in the 8th grade, along with writing and acting in school plays and musical revues, Marilyn Califf continued sharpening her expressive skills throughout college at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL and the University of Memphis, in her hometown. Marriage and motherhood interrupted those endeavors only briefly when she earned her BFA in painting from the Memphis College of Art and subsequently, her MFA in painting at the University of Memphis.
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Marilyn J. Califf

Marilyn's resume'
Education

One Woman Exhibitions

Gallery Representation

Work in Public and Private Collections

Public Commissions: Italian Glass Mosaic Murals

Painting or All Media Exhibitions

Drawing Exhibitions

Invitational Exhibitions

Other Career Information

A short biography - continued
Marilyn's work is expressionistic and shows her love of color and motion. She has spent many hours studying animals, painting them, researching them, even taking a photographic safari to Kenya to record wild animals in their own habitat. But she did not neglect domestic animals, hence her pig series "Mona Lisa of Pigdom".

With a resume listing numerous exhibitions in Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri and California. Califf's work hangs in many private and public collections. Included in "Who's Who of American Women" since 1975, she has had 17 one-woman exhibitions and been invited to show in 15 group exhibitions.

Beginning with oils on canvas, Marilyn progressed through pastels, watercolors, prints and collage. Many of her works are humorous, surreal, or unexpected - such as the paper collages - a world, part of which you recognize, and part which is totally questionable. Cloth Collages, as in "Stained Fabric with Macrame" shows another side of Califf's expressionistic personality where "found objects" and unprimed canvas are used to convey her ideas.

Intuition plays a major role in Marilyn's artwork. Feeling as if she is a conduit for a universal energy, when she heeds that intuition, she becomes more creative, more generous, more determined to take risks, and more willing to share her unique ideas with the world through the visual arts.

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Marilyn's resume'

Education

1988 Master of Fine Arts, University of Memphis, in Painting
1970 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Memphis College of Art, in Painting
1968 Attended Internacional Universidad of Saltillo, Mexico
1951-52 Attended University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
1950-51 Attended University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL

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One Woman Exhibitions

2001 Germantown Performing Arts Center, Germantown, TN
2001 Wimbleton Sportplex, Memphis, TN
2000 Germantown, TN Public Library
1999 The Morocco Cafe, Memphis, TN
1997 Salem College, Winston-Salem, NC
1995 Stamp Francisco, Rubber Stamp Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1991 Oak Ridge Cultural Arts Center, Oak Ridge, TN
1991 Memphis Jewish Community Center
1990 University of N. Alabama, Florence, AL
1989 Earth Art Gallery, W. Palm Beach, FL
1983 Memphis Jewish Community Center
1981 Meridian Museum of Art, Meridian, MS
1980 Theater Memphis
1970 Mid-South Fair and Exposition, Memphis, TN
1970 The Gallery Upstairs, Nashville, TN
1966 Carnegie Public Library, Clarksdale, MS
1965 Memphis Athletic Club
1965 Seabrook's Gallery, Memphis, TN

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Gallery Representation

1996 Midtown Galleries, Memphis, TN
1995 Wilde Gallery, Memphis, TN
1994-2004 Paul Edelstein Gallery, Memphis, TN
1993 Bell Gallery, Memphis, TN
1990-93 Creative Spirit Studio, Jackson, MS
1990 ARTSPACE, INC., Atlanta, GA
1989 Galleria Alexander, Delray Beach, FL
1989 Apropos, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

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Work in Public and Private Collections

Tennessee State Art Museum, Nashville, TN
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Leo Bearman, Sr. Collection, Memphis, TN
Boyle Investments, Memphis, TN
Nathan Walberg Collection, Miami, FL
The Pie Lady Corporate Collection, Memphis, TN

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Public Commissions: Italian Glass Mosaic Murals

1968 Memphis Jewish Community Center
1964 Baron Hirsch Synagogue, Memphis, TN
1962 Memphis Hebrew Academy Day School

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Painting or All Media Exhibitions

2001 "Best of Tennessee", Tennessee Art Museum, Purchase Prize, Nashville, TN
2001 "Photography Ś01", Tennessee Valley Art Center, Tuscumbia, AL
2000 "Seven", Levy Gallery, Buckman Performing & Fine Arts Center, Memphis
1999 Artists' Link Summer Exhibition, Part 2, Wild Oats Cafe, Memphis, TN
1999 Regional Link - Memphis to Humboldt, West Tennessee Regional Art Center, Humboldt, TN
1999 Second Nature, Memphis Botanic Garden, Memphis, TN
1998 Arts on the River, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA
1998 .National League of American Penwomen Biennial, Univ. of Tampa, Lee Scarfone Gallery, Tampa, FL
1998 Texas National 98, Nacogdolches, TX
1998 "Art With a Southern Drawl", Univ. of Mobile, Mobile, AL
1997 National League American Penwomen, Tennessee State Competition, First Prize in Photography, Honorable Mention in Mixed Media
1997 10th Annual ARTstravaganza, Hunter Museum & AVA, Chattanooga, TN
1997 First International Fe-mail Artistamps Exhibition, Rubber Stamp Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1996 Memphis College of Art, First Alumni Exhibition, Memphis, TN
1996 Miniatures Ś96, Coastal Center for the Arts, St. Simons Island, GA
1996 Coca-Cola River Place Festival, Greenville, SC
1996 Arts in the Park, Memphis Arts Festival, Juried Exhibition
1996 "Lots of Little Art", ARTLINK Contemporary Art Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN
1996 43rd Artist's National, Coastal Center for the Arts, St. Simon's Island, GA
1995 National League of American Penwomen, TN State Art Competition, Chattanooga, TN, First and Second Prizes in Photography
1995 38th Annual Delta Art Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR
1995 Living In the South Exhibition, Manget-Brannon Alliance for the Arts, Newnam, GA
1995-96 Fogelman Executive Center, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
1994 Artists' Link Group Exhibition, Playhouse on the Square, Memphis, TN
1993 Taproots School of the Arts, St. Louis, MO
1992 Delta Artists' Rising Exhibition, The Coalition for Visual Arts, North Light Gallery, Memphis City Hall, Memphis, TN
1991 National League of American Penwomen Tenn State Art Competition, Jackson, TN, 1st-oils, 2nd-acrylics, 3rd-mixed media
1991 National League of American Penwomen 6th Annual Miniature Art show, Jackson State Community College, Jackson, TN
1990 National League of American Penwomen Fifth Annual Miniature Art Show, Jackson State Community College, Jackson, TN
1989 National League of American Penwomen, Tennessee State Art Competition, Memphis, TN, First Prize and Honorable Mention
1987 Biennial Arkansas Exhibition, Pine Bluff, AR, Juror-Thomas R. Torperzer
1985 Delta Painting Exhibition, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, Ark., Juror-James Surls
1983 National League of American Penwomen, Tennessee State Art Competition, First Prize
1973 18th Annual Mid-South Exhibition, Memphis Brooks Museum, Juror-Dr. Stephen Prokopoff
1972 17th Annual Mid-South Exhibition, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Juror-Walter Hopps
1971 16th Annual Mid-South Exhibition, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Juror- Richard Fargo Brown
1970 15th Annual Mid-South Exhibition, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Juror-Martin Friedman
1970 All-Tennesseans Exhibition, Parthenon, Nashville, TN Little Rock, AR, Juror-John Canaday
1969 14th Annual Mid-South Exhibition, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Juror-Lloyd Goodrich
1968 13th Annual Mid-South Exhibition, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Juror-Gordon Mackintosh Smith, First Prize
1968 12th Annual Delta Painting Exhibition, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR, Juror-James McGarrell
1968 All-Tennesseans Exhibition, Parthenon, Nashville, TN
1966 Juried Arts National Exhibition, Tyler, TX
1966 Winston-Salem Gallery of Fine Arts, Winston-Salem, N.C.
1966 9th Annual Delta Painting Exhibition, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR, Juror-Van Deren Coke
1965 Golden Isles Annual Art Exhibition, Jekyll Island, GA
1965 Winston-Salem Gallery of Fine Arts, Winston-Salem, N. C.
1965 10th Annual Mid-South Exhibition, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, Tn. Juror-Allen S. Weller
1964 9th Annual Mid-South Exhibition, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
1964 2nd National Art Competition of B'nai B'rith Women, Washington, D.C., Honorable Mention
1962 Juried Arts National Exhibition, Tyler, TX, Juror-James Johnson Sweeney
1962 7th Annual Mid-South Exhibition, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, TN, Juror-Bartlett H. Hayes, Jr.
1961 6th Annual Mid-South Exhibition, Memphia Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, TN, Juror-Emily Genauer

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Drawing Exhibitions

1987 Biennial Drawing Exhibition, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, juror-Bill Richards
1971 Ball State University Drawing Exhibition, Muncie, Indiana,
1965 Atlanta Drawing Society Exhibition, Atlanta, GA, Jurors-Henry B. Caldwell, John Richard Craft, Hugh O. Williams

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Invitational Exhibitions

2000 "Spirited Threads", University of Memphis Art Gallery
1998 "Diverse Realms", Tate County Arts Council, Northwest Community College, Senatobia, MS
1997 "Texture Is the Thing", Walton Art Center, Fayetteville, AR
1990 Group Exhibition, Creative Spirit Studio and Gallery, Jackson, MS
1989 Germantown, TN Arts Collection Acquisition Invitational Exhibition
1989 Multi-media Month, Memphis Center for Contemporary Art, Memphis, TN,
1989 Group Exhibition, Designs By Us Gallery, Memphis, TN
1988 Inaugural Group Exhibition, Memphis Center for Contemporary Art
1986 Photography Group Exhibition, Memphis Jewish Community Center
1975 Sycamore Fair #3, Northwest Mississippi Junior College, Senatobia, MS

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Other Career Information

2001-04 Adjunct Professor, Art Appreciation, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Memphis, TN
2000 Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN feature article, Appeal Section, July 9
1999 Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, feature article, Appeal Section, June 25
1999 "Best Times", for Mature Memphians, feature article, August, p. 34
1999 "Best Times", for Mature Memphians, feature article, July , p. 34
1999 "Best Times", for Mature Memphians, May, p. 42
1999 The Penwoman", April, cover photograph
1997 "Memphis Magazine", Feb., Vol. XXI, No. 11, p. 68
1995 "USA Weekend", Aug. 25-27
1994 Publication: "The Fine Arts Trader, June, 1994
1976 Nihon Vogue Publishing Co., Ltd.,Tokyo, Japan, "Patchwork"
1975-2003 "Who's Who of American Women"
1976 Consultant for Women in Small Businesses, Small Business Agency, United States Government
1976 Consultant and lecturer, "Women in Business and Art Conference", for Brandeis Women and Memphis Jewish Welfare Fund
1975-85 Juror in quilt division at Mid-South Fair
1975 Opened retail shop, "Contemporary Quilts, Home of the Quilt Lady", Memphis, TN
1975 Recipient of Award from Memphis Chamber of Commerce, "Outstanding Women Who Work", Arts Category
1972-74 Taught Quilting and Patchwork for Coninuing education at Shelby State and University of Memphis
1971 Developed mail order business in quilt patterns and related items
1970 Taught painting, Senior Citizens Peabody Center, Memphis, TN
1969 Oil painting reproduced for cover of regional magazine, "Delta Review"

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