Balam Fine Art Resume
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Balam Soto
860.251.8224
www.balam.us
Honors and Awards
2010• Recipient of the Hartford Arts & Heritage Jobs Grant, Hartford, Connecticut
• Massachusetts Governor and Lt. Governor presented “Governor’s Citation” (Celebrating Diversity Exhibit)
• Attleboro, Massachusetts Mayor presented “Certificate of Recognition” (Celebrating Diversity Exhibit)
• Solidarity Chapina Foundation presented “Certificate of Recognition”
2009
• “Latino de Oro” [Golden Latino] Award for Arts & Culture in Connecticut
In addition:
o City of Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez presented the award and an “Official Citation . . . in recognition of [Balam’s] outstanding contribution in art”
o Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell sent an “Official Statement” of congratulations
o Connecticut State Treasurer Denise Nappier sent a “Public Leadership Citation”
• Co-recipient of a project grant from the Westchester Arts Council, White Plains, NY
• Guatemalan Consul in Rhode Island presented official thank you for Balam’s support
• Rhode Island Governor “Extends His Greetings and Appreciation” (State Latin American Visual Arts Exhibit)
2008
• Guatemalan National Congress awarded a “Diploma of Recognition” and the title of “Maestro,” or Master Artist, for “being a valuable and outstanding artist with international success”
• Guatemalan Cultural Office in New York presented award for his “outstanding artistic career in the visual arts”
• Guatemalan Consul in New York sent a “Diploma of Recognition”
2006 Scholarship Recipient, Arte Inc., New Haven, CT
2005 October Artist of the Month, Liquitex Artist Materials
Education and Professional Credits
Educational credentials:• MCSA Certification 2002
• A+ Certification 2002
• Network + Certification 2002
• UNIX OS, FREEBSD, LINUX OS Administration, Mac OS
• Physical computing, robotics, electronics, software development
• 2000 – 2001 Porter and Chester Institute, Wethersfield, Connecicut
o Received diploma in Computer and Industrial Electronics, G.P.A. 94.7
Owner of Balam Soto Studio in Hartford, Connecticut since 2005
• New media artist
• Web Developer www.balam.us
Solo Exhibitions
2010• Guatemala Consulate, Providence, RI
• “Re.invent”, Traveling exhibit
o West Charleston Library, Las Vegas, NV, 2010
o Sahara West Library, Las Vegas, NV, 2009
2009
• “e-voluciòn: del arte guatemalteco” [“e-volution: of guatemalan art”] Miraflores Museum,
Guatemala City, Guatemala
• “2012 Interact” Colo-Colo Gallery, New Bedford, MA
• “Guatemalan Art Beyond Borders” City Hall, Providence, RI
• Guatemalan Consulate, Providence, RI
• “Tzolkin 0.1: An Interactive Exploration of the Mayan Calendar” Charter Oak Cultural
Center, Hartford, CT
• “Tzolkin 0.1: Version 2” Director’s Gallery, Hartford, CT
2008
• “Solo: Myth 0.1”, Colo Colo Gallery, New Bedford, MA
• “Origins”, Latins in the Borough Art Gallery, Stonington, CT
• Hartford Hospital Gallery, Hartford, CT
• “Perceptual,” Director’s Gallery, Hartford, CT
2007
• “Ofrenda 2: A Day of the Dead Installation,” Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT
• “A Rainforest of Color,” The Art Station, Hartford, CT
2006
• “Ancient Voices,” ETC Gallery, Hartford, CT
• “Mystic Within,” Pegasus Gallery, Middlesex Community College, Middletown,CT
• “Realms of Color,” Exposure Ltd., Manchester, CT
2005
• “Cultural Spirit”, Director’s Gallery, Hartford, CT
• "Mysticism," Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT
• La Paloma Sabanera, Hartford, CT
• Webster Bank, New Haven, CT
• Kafe, New Haven, CT
2004 "Fifth Sun," Wethersfield Public Library, Wethersfield, CT
1998 "Misticismo," DeSales Hall Ballroom, Hartford, CT
Group Exhibitions
2010• “Art + Tech Corridor at the Three Rivers Arts Festival” Pittsburgh Technology Council, Pittsburgh, PA
• “Celebrating Diversity” Attleboro Museum, Attleboro, MA
• “3er Mayan Festival” Queens Museum of Art, Queens, NY
• “Immigrants’ Art Exhibit”
o Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, Long Branch, NJ, 2010
o Rio II Gallery, New York, NY, 2009
o Arts Horizons LeRoy Neiman Art Center, New York, NY, 2009
o Suffolk County Community College, Long Island, NY, 2009
o American Friends Service Committee, Newark, NJ, 2009
o South Ocean Art Gallery, Freeport, NY, 2009
• “Alive with History” Connecticut Historical Society Museum, Hartford, CT, since 2006
• “Customs and Traditions of Guatemala” Westchester Arts Council Gallery, White
Plains, NY
• Farmington Library, Farmington, CT
• “Global Online Event” Interactive online group show located on facebook.com
2009
• “AmericAura”
o Centre Cultural, Brussels, Belgium, 2009
o Teatro Cesare Volta (digital images), Pavia, Italy, 2009
o “AfricAura”, National Library of Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon, West Africa, 2008
o Augusta Savage Gallery, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 2007
• “Day of the Dead: Art and Culture in the Americas” Everhart Museum of Natural
History, Science & Art, Scranton, PA
• “Media Fluid” Queens Museum of Art, Queens, NY
• “Media Lounge” Room 404 Media, Brooklyn, NY
• “Sensorial” Colo-Colo Gallery, New Bedford, MA
• “Something Old- Something New”, 8TH Annual State Latin American Visual Arts Exhibit
Atrium Gallery, Providence, RI
• “Museum After Dark Summer Art Auction”, New Britain Museum of American Art, New
Britain, CT
• Hartford Open Studios, Hartford, CT, annual participation since 2004
• Farmington Valley Arts Center, Avon, CT 2006 - 2009
2008
• “Hispanic Heritage Art Show, Elmhurst Hospital, Queens, NY
Curated by the Queens Museum of Art
• “Ancestors: A Day of the Dead Celebration”, Institute for Community Research, Hartford,
CT, Organized and curated by Balam Soto
• "The Latin Perpective... a touch of Contemporary Art," New Brit. Art League, New
Britain, CT, Curated by Latins in the Borough Art Gallery
• “Forgeries,” Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT, Art auction fundraiser
• “Menage A7,” New Haven, CT
2007
• "Interwoven," ArtSpace Gallery, Hartford, CT, curated, organized and participated in by
Balam Soto
o 2007: “Interwoven 3: Avant-Garde”
o 2006: “Interwoven 2”
o 2005: “Interwoven: Cultural Identity of 3 Latino Artists”
• "Mùsica! Mùsica! Mùsica”, Arte Inc., New Haven, CT
• The Pump House, Hartford, CT
• Farmington Unity Day Cultural Festival, Farmington, CT
• “Apartment # __ ,” ArtSpace Gallery, Hartford, CT
• “Ofrendas: A Day of the Dead Celebration,” Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT
Organized, curated and participated in by Balam Soto
2006
• “no.mad,” Park Street, Hartford, CT
• “Ancestral Spirits,” Director’s Gallery, Hartford, CT
• “Inaugural Opening,” The Art Station, Hartford, CT
• “Holiday Show,” Farmington Valley Arts Center, Farmington, CT
• “Jazz Up the House,” Hartford, CT
2005
• "Through the Eyes of Culture and Tradition," Capitol Community College, Hartford, CT
• “Dia de los Muertos,” Rocking Horse Cafe, New York, NY
• “Winter Treasures,” Exposure Ltd. Art & Framing, Manchester, CT
• Oddfellows Playhouse, Middletown, CT
1998 – 2000 "Individual Concerns," Gallery of Social and Political Art, Boston, MA
1999 "Violence and Society," Gallery of Social and Political Art, Boston, MA
1998
• Barnes & Noble, Farmington, CT
• City Store, Hartford, CT
1991 University of San Carlos, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Upcoming Exhibitions
• ** "Digital Transition" Augusta Savage Gallery, 15 Curry Hicks, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, September 13 - October 4, 2010
• Maker Faire, The New York Hall of Science, Queens, NY, September 25 and 26, 2010
• ** "Immigrant" Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT, October 8 - November 30, 2010
• “Subversive Manipulations of Technology”
Performance only:
⁃ Billings Forge, Hartford, CT, Friday, October 22, 2010, 8 pm, Sponsored by the Office of Cultural Affairs for the City of Hartford
Exhibition and performance:
⁃ aluCine Latin Media Festival, Toronto, Canada, November 18 - 21, 2010
• Open Studio Hartford, ArtSpace, Hartford, CT November 13 and 14, 2010
• ** “Re.invent”, Traveling exhibit, Los Angeles library system, Los Angeles, CA, 2010
• “Immigrants’ Art Exhibit,” Traveling exhibition, 2010
Murals
2010• Westchester Arts Council and HAGUA, Port Chester, NY
Directed mural as part of a grant project funded by the Westchester Arts Council
2008
• Office of Cultural Affairs for the city of Hartford, CT
Directed two mural projects for the Pope Park Community Center
2007
• Montessori School of Greater Hartford, West Hartford, CT
• Artists Collective, Hartford, CT, Directed 5’ x 18’ mural
• Hartford Public Library and the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak
Neighborhood, Hartford, CT, Directed 5’ x 42’ mural
• Office of Cultural Affairs for the city of Hartford, CT
Directed two 5’ x 12’ murals for Hartford City Hall and Pope Park Community Center
2006
• Hartford Public Library and the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak
Neighborhood, Hartford, CT, Directed a 36’ x 8’ mural for the Hartford Public Library
• Cross-Cultural Academy of Arts and Technology, Hartford, CT
Directed 16’ x 5’ mural for the school
1993
• Collaborated in the creation of four murals, University of San Carlos, Guatemala
City, Guatemala
Lectures and Gallery Talks
2010• Queens Museum of Art, Queens, New York
• Classical Magnet School, Hartford, CT
2009
• Sahara West Library, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Greater Hartford Arts Academy, Hartford, CT
2008
• St. Peter’s Church, Port Chester, New York
• “A Review of Contemporary Central American Art and its Anthropological
Roots,” Latins in the Borough Art Gallery, Stonington, CT
2007
• New Britain Art League, New Britain, CT
• “Modern Art and the Day of the Dead,” Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT
2006 “The Day of the Dead,” Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT
2005
• “Art in the Mayan Religion”, Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT
• “Natives”, Department of Health and Human Services, Hartford, CT
• Capital Community College, Hartford, CT
• Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT
2004 Lecture, Wethersfield Art League, Wethersfield, CT
Publications
2009• Article in Book, “The New Renaissance in the Digital Age of Art,” Balam Soto, Art is Dead by Ted Mikulski
2008
• Cover Art, Manchester Community College Continuing Education Winter catalogue
• Cover Art, The Hartford Courant: i Towns, June 22
• Cover Art, “2008 Alternative Health Guide,” Spirit of Change Magazine, Uxbridge, MA
2007
• Catalogue, “Americaura,” Augusta Savage Gallery, University of MA, Amherst, MA
2006
• Cover art, The Door Opener, CT, Spring edition
• Cover Art, Manchester Community College Continuing Education,Fall catalogue
Media Interviews
2010 Press Coverage
Television Interview
• “Post Latino TV”, Carlos Masias and Maria Lino, Telemundo, Hartford, CT, May 6
Newspaper Articles
• Upcoming article, Carlos Masias and Maria Lino, Post Latino, Hartford, CT, May
• Upcoming article, Maria Amado, Westchester Hispano, White Plains, NY, May
2009 Press Coverage
Television and Radio Interviews
• “Viva Hartford,” Joyce Bolanos and Jose Vega, Hartford Public Access, Hartford, CT, November
• “El Show de Analeh,” Ana Alfaro, Univision, Hartford, CT, October 24
• “6 pm News,” Univision, Las Vegas, NV, September 23
• Rodrigo Gonzalez Yañez, Radio KRLV, Las Vegas, NV, September 23
• “La Hora Chapina,” Israel Fuentes, Radio KRLV, Las Vegas, NV, September 6
• “Full Bloom,” Zita Christian, Cox Cable Public Access Television, Hartford, CT, April 14
• Video interview on leafpile.tv
Newspaper, Magazine and Internet Articles
• “Arte Guatemalteco,” [Guatemalan Art], Hugo Caballeros, El Guatemalteco, Providence, RI, December
• “Noche de Fiesta en Hartford,” [Party Night in Hartford], Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT, November 26
• “Exhibit Inspired by Mayan Calendar,” The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA, November 13, p. B1
• “Latino de Oro: 5 Years of Rewarding Excellence,” Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT, November 5 – 18, p. 13
• “Se entregaron los Latinos de Oro 2009: Noche de Fiesta en Hartford,” [Golden Latino 2009 Awarded: Party Night in Hartford], Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT, November 16
• “Balam Soto: Un Artista Tecnològico,” [Balam Soto: Technological Artist] La Capiusa, Guatemala City, Guatemala, Oct., pp.24 - 25
• “Balam Soto,” Javier Estrada Tobar, La Hora, Guatemala City, Guatemala, October 26
• “Ya estàn los Ganadores del L atino de Oro 2009,” [Here are the Winners of the 2009 Golden Latino] Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT, Oct.
• “Guatemalan Artist Featured in Pennsylvania Art Museum,” ArtAntigua, Antigua, Guatemala, October 5
• Andrew Taylor, The View, Las Vegas, NV, October
• “Parkville Thrives on Cultural Diversity,” Andy Hart, Parkville, Hartford, CT, October, p. 1
• “Things To Do In Scranton When You’re Dead,” Michael Lello, The Weekender, Wilkes-Barre, PA, September 26
• “Artista Maya expondrá su obra en Las Vegas,” [Mayan Artist Will Exhibit His Artwork in Las Vegas], El Mundo, Las Vegas, NV, Sept. 19, p. C9
• “Artista Maya expondrà su obra en Las Vegas” [Mayan Artist Will Exhibit His Artwork in Las Vegas], El Mundo, Las Vegas, NV, Sept. 19, p. C9
• “Hoy abre exposiciòn de Balam Soto” [Balam Soto Exhibit Opens Today], Prensa Libre, Guatemala City, Guatemala, August 8, p.51
• “Guatemalan Dignitaries Join Mayor Cicilline at Art Opening at Providence City Hall,” Providence City News, Providence, RI, July 23, P.4
• “Guatemala’s Vice Minister, Consul General in RI Today for Art Event with Mayor Cicilline,” New England Ethnic News, Providence, RI, July 21
• “Balam Soto Exhibit,” Poder WPMZ 1110, Providence, RI, July 21
• “Raices mayas, tecnologìa moderna,” [Maya Roots, Modern Technology], Jaime Barrios Carrillo, Siglo 21 Magacìn, Guatemala City, Guatemala, June 21, p.10
• “Exposiciòn del artista Balam Soto,” [Balam Soto Exhibits], Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT, June 18 – July 1, p.19
• “Students Learn Art First Hand,” The Hartford News, Hartford, CT, June 11 – 18, p.9
• “Mayan Artist Balam Soto Re-creates His Origins,” The Hartford Courant I-Towns, May 17, p. H18
• “El final del mundo o un nuevo renacer?” [The End of the World or a New Beginning?], Amanda May, El Registro, New Haven, CT, May 15 – 21, cover and pp. 6 - 7
• “Balam Soto: A Great Guatemalan Artist,” Barbara Schieber, The Guatemala Times, April 23
2008 Press Coverage
Television and Radio Interviews
• “Viva Hartford,” Joyce Bolanos, Hartford Public Access, Hartford, CT, December 7, Included segment and interview on “Ancestors: A Day of the Dead Celebration”
• “The Dynamics of a Great Relationship #2 / Interview Balam Soto,” People, Places and Perspectives: www.blogtalkradio.com, September 14, New York, NY
Newspaper, Magazine and Internet Articles
• “Maestro Balam Soto: Modern Thinking, Modern Art,” Lisa Mikulski, Ink Magazine, Connecticut, November, pp. 38 – 47
• “Balam Soto,” Taryn Plumb, Artscope Magazine, Quincy, MA, November/December,
pp. 48 – 49
• “Subasta de arte de pintores locales a beneficio de jòvenes,” [Art Auction of Art by Local Painters to Benefit Youth], Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT, December 3
• Claudia Argueta, Nuestro Diario, Guatemala City, Guatemala, October
• “Artistas locales celebran el Dìa de los Muertos,” [Local Artists Celebrate the Day of the Dead], Amanda May, El Registro, New Haven, CT, Oct. 31 – Nov. 6, p.4
• “Balam Soto: celebrando el Dìa de los Muertos,” [Balam Soto: Celebrating the Day of the Dead], Bessy Reyna, Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT, October 16 – 31, pp.1 & 21
• “Maestro Balam Soto,” Lorena Mindiola de Gassner, Vida en Connecticut, Hartford, CT, Summer, p. 30
• Video interview of Balam, Tomaca Govan, Dance with Life Magazine
• “El Maestro en su casa, Balam Soto, espíritu del jaguar,” [The Maestro in His Home, Balam Soto, Spirit of the Jaguar], Medardo Arias Satizabal, Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT, May 16 – 31, pp.1 & 7
• “Artista Balam Soto recibe reconocimiento de ‘Maestro’,” [Artist Balam Soto Receives Recognition as ‘Maestro’], Bessy Reyna, Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT, May 16–31, p. 7
• “Balam Soto, pintor que pinta sus raíces,” [Balam Soto, A Painter Who Paints His Roots], Claudia Argueta, Nuestro Diario, Guatemala City, Guatemala, May 12, p. 22
• “Pintor guatemalateco Balam Soto abre las puertas de su estudio,” [Guatemalan Painter Balam Soto Opens the Doors of His Studio], Amanda May, El Registro, New Haven, CT, May 2 – 8, p.13
• “Guatemala Comes to Hartford,” The Hartford News, Hartford, CT, May 1 – 8, p.12
• “Balam Soto: pinta su èxito en Estados Unidos,” [Balam Soto: Paints His Success in the United States] Edwin Reyes, La Voz del Imigrante, Guatemala City, March 3, p. 1
• “And Here They Come! The Beautiful Joomla! V1.5 Websites- Here is Balam Soto,” Amy Stephen, Opensourcecommunity.org, January
2004 - 2007 Press Coverage
Television and Radio Interviews
2007
• “Salu2 Nueva Inglaterra,” Telemundo, Hartford, CT
• “Viva Hartford,” Joyce Bolanos, Hartford Public Access, Connecticut, Interview at Pump House Gallery exhibit
2006
• “Viva Hartford,” Joyce Bolanos, Hartford Public Access, Connecticut, Interview at “Interwoven 2” exhibit
2005
• “Asi es Guatemala,” Brenda Chacon, Channel 35, New York, NY (two interviews)
• “Fiestas de mi Tierra,” Carlos Rivers, Radio International, Boston, MA
• “America Canta,” Supermax Radio Station, Hartford, CT
Newspaper, Magazine and Internet Articles
2007
• “Las obras de Balam Soto vendràn a Nueva York,” [The Artwork of Balam Soto is Coming to New York], Carmen Villavicencio, 24 Horas, New York, NY, October 4, p. 9
• “The Art of a Tribute,” Shana Sureck, The Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Oct. 23, p.B3
• “To Learn by Doing,” Shana Sureck, The Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, May 2, p.B3
• “Connecticut celebra Mes de la Herencia Hispana con mùsica y arte,” [Connecticut Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Music and Art], Olga Vèlez, Registro, New Haven, CT, September 25 - 27, Cover and pp. 12 - 13
• “Pinceladas ancestrales y aires de modernidad conviven en la pintura de Balam Soto, artista hispano de Hartford,” [Ancestral Paintbrushes and Modern Art Together in the Art of Balam Soto, Hispanic Artist in Hartford], Alejandro Alvarez, Registro, New Haven, CT, July 3 – 5, Cover and pp. 6 - 7
2006
• “Greatness with Brushes,” Shana Surek, The Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT Jul 28, p.B1
• “Local Artists Give Time, Get Space at Union Station,” Melissa Pionzo, The Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT March 18, B3, B4
• “Colectivo ‘Matica Arts’ y su multifacètica expresión artìstica,” [The ‘Matica Arts’ Collective and its Multifaceted Artistic Expression], Juan Brito, La Voz Hispana, Hartford, CT, November 9 – 16, p.18
• “Pintor Nahual Balam Soto, un talento en Connecticut,” [Painter Balam Soto, a Talent in Connecticut], Bessy Reyna, Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT, October 16 – 31, p. 17
• “No.mad Exhibit Finds Home,” Greater Hartford News, Hartford, CT, October 4 – 11, p. 1
• “Cuatro jòvenes artistas hispanos presentaron su arte en la exposición ‘Interwoven’, en Hartford,” [Four Young Hispanic Artists Presented Their Art in the Exhibition ‘Interwoven, in Hartford], Jonathan Muñoz, Registro, New Haven, CT April 11 – 13, p. 8
• “Arte Latino en Hartford,” [Latino Art in Hartford], Elaine Rosales, Identidad Latina, Hartford, CT April 16 – 30, p. 20
2005
• “Lleva impregnado en las venas el arte maya,” [Carrying the Mayan Art in His Veins] Fred Rodas, The News Herald, Morganton, NC, December
• “Working for Peace and Finding Love", Anne M. Hamilton, The Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT September 4, Life Section H2
• “Balam Soto: Tangible Spirituality”, Artis, West Hartford, CT, August p.18
• "Meet the Artist Featuring Balam Soto", Stacey Yopp, Hartford Undercurrent, Hartford, CT, March, p. 6
2004
• "Local Artist Preserves and Re-interprets Mayan Art Forms", Sharon DiGioia-Daskal, Wethersfield Life, West Hartford, CT, March, pp. 36 – 7, 39
• “Resident Displays Colorful Artwork,” Brian Woodman, Wethersfield Post, Wethersfield, CT May 21, p.1
Permanent Collections
• Artists Collective, Hartford, Connecticut• Connecticut Historical Society Museum, Hartford, Connecticut
• City of Hartford, Connecticut, Pope Park Community Center
• Cross-Cultural Academy of Arts and Technology, Hartford, Connecticut
• Guatemala Consulate, Rhode Island
• HAGUA, Port Chester, New York
• Hartford Public Library, Hartford, Connecticut
• Montessori School of Greater Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut
• Office of Cultural Affairs for the City of Hartford, Connecticut