Bernice Ficek-Swenson

Bio

Minneapolis based artist Bernice Ficek-Swenson is known for her exploration of natural phenomena in both photography and printmaking. She has exhibited nationally and internationally and has had artist residencies at Benton Projects, Benton, WI, Anchor Graphics, Chicago, ILL, Athens School of Fine Arts, Greece, Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Veracruz, Mexico. Ficek-Swenson has been the recipient of two Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Grants and was a finalist for the prestigious Minnesota McKnight Fellowship for Book Artists. Recently she retired as a Professor Emerita at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where she taught printmaking for 25 years, having received the College of Arts and Science Excellence in Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activities Award. Public collections that include her work are the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Museum of Contemporary Photography @ Columbia Chicago, Scripps College - Claremont, CA, the Wittliff Collections-San Marcos, TX .

Artist Statement 

Drafting geological maps early in my career introduced me to many rock specimens, culminating in the opportunity to hold a moon rock in my hand. That moment was a revelation enlarging my perception of deep time. Since that point I have explored natural phenomena (stone, fire, water) in my studio using an intersection of processes involving photography, printmaking, book arts. My imagery has expanded from using stone as a metaphor suggesting landscape, to a concern about environments touched by human presence, an interest in the stories shared about each site and in how a sense of place encourages environmental awareness. Authenticity of materials and experiences is important to me. I am drawn to landscapes that reveal the origins of the earth, where I can observe the elemental forces of nature altering the land, exposing the bare bones of topography. A stone needs to "speak" to me, not needing to be beautiful, but hinting at the surrounding geology or the sites' history. I’m interested in the interplay between the physical geography and the geographies of the mind and spirit.