About

Bio

Born in New Orleans, then raised in Ontario, Canada, David Clarke Smith’s childhood was influenced creativity through his commercial artist father. He also gained a strong sense of human values, through his mother and stepfather who were both medical professionals. In 1990 he relocated from Kitchener Ontario, to Jamestown New York. He earned his Associates in Humanities, with a concentration in fine art, from Jamestown Community College in 1995.
That same year, he relocated to Central New York to help with a family coffee venture. A hiatus from artistic pursuits began, as he worked in various fields including security, computer hardware, and commercial transportation. In 2005 he enlisted in the the Army National Guard as a forward observer. He spent a year on combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2007-2008. He was honorably discharged, at the rank of sergeant, in spring 2013.
With many experiences to access for inspiration, he resumed his artistic aspirations, first with inclusion in several exhibitions by The Promise Breakers art group, and then through additional education in art.  He gained a BFA, in studio art from Cazenovia College in 2017, and a Masters of Science in Arts Administration from Le Moyne College in 2019.
As with many, the Covid epidemic caused a period of relative inactivity, however, in the years since the crisis, he has created work for individuals, participated in community and state activism, has begun writing and publishing arts and culture articles, and has been conducting or coordinating arts workshops and education for veterans and local youths. These workshops have been in subjects from drawing and painting media, to less traditional, such as, westernized kintsugi, up-scaling items into art, and creating community based public art.
The future involves continued efforts of encouraging and educating the appreciation and participation in art as a means of, personal growth, activism, community engagement and a wider world perspective.  Opportunities in adjunct positions and a PHD program are being considered. 

 photo by Samantha Davis

 

Statement

I was surrounded by art as a child, and was expected to pursue it as a profession. Thus, for my own identity, I explored other fields, from computer technology to military service. After taking a hiatus for over a decade, I returned to art with a more realized voice, a range of new applicable skill sets, and a value for risk.

Much of the conceptual focus of my work results from observations of common commentary and cultural perceptions. These considerations are often social, political, historical, ethical and metaphysical in nature.

Be it subtile or obvious, I sometimes incorporate elements of humor, irony or outright absurdity. These are attempts at wider considerations to encourage overcoming idealogical futility or purposeful ignorance, using some intended ambiguity mixed with relatable familiarity.  Some work, or portions of, are intended to encourage the viewer to participate beyond the sensory, and inspire viewers in other forms as well, from participating in discussion or debate, to appropriate activism, or engaging in creativity of their own.

Though I work often in traditional media, more of my work, is mixed media. Depending on conceptual context, resource availability, dimension or form; the process and medium involves some level of experimentation. The relation between concept and medium is also determined according to emphasis on elements within a given piece, how representative I want the work to be, or what level of  ambiguity is desired. The mediums used range from traditional, to found, readymade or re-shaped objects. I often source from hardware and building material suppliers, other than traditional art or hobby stores (I could list “Home Depot” or “Lowe’s” as mediums).

I welcome and encourage, once presented, viewers interpretation of ambiguous aspects within my work.  I intend my work to reach beyond the cultural ‘bubble’ of arts academia or establishments, and be accessible to the wider public as intellectually egalitarian.

Curriculum Vitae

Arts Education

MS Arts Administration, LeMoyne College. Syracuse NY.

BFA Studio Art. Minors in Art History and Arts Management. Cazenovia College. Cazenovia NY 

AA Humanities with concentration in Fine Art. Jamestown Community College. Jamestown NY

Exhibitions 

2026 

March, Off The Wall, ArtRage Gallery, Syracuse NY

2025

September Veterans Creative Arts Competition, (Wins: Best Colored Drawing, Judges Choice, Peoples Choice.)

2017

April, After America, BFA Solo Thesis Exhibition, Art Gallery in Reisman Hall, Cazenovia College NY.

March Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Art Gallery in Reisman Hall, Cazenovia College, NY.

2016

June -Aug Juniors Rising, Art Gallery in Reisman Hall, Cazenovia College NY.

April Walpurgis Night, The Promise Breakers, Lost Horizon Syracuse NY.

May Graphic Forms Exhibit, Stone Quarry Hill Art Park. Cazenovia NY.

Feb -March Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Art Gallery in Reisman Hall, Cazenovia College, NY.

2015

Oct, Danse Macabre The Promise Breakers. The Locker Room, Syracuse NY.

May Flying Circus, The Promise Breakers. The Locker Room, Syracuse NY.

Feb -March, Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Art Gallery in Reisman Hall, Cazenovia College,NY.

2013

Oct, Devil Dinosaur, The Promise Breakers. Dinosaur BBQ, Syracuse NY.

April, Dr Smeads Magic Medicine Show, The Promise Breakers, The Fusion Room, North Syracuse, NY.

2012

Oct, Satan’s Little Helpers, The Promise Breakers, The Fusion Room, North Syracuse NY.

March. Sham-Rock, The Promise Breakers, The Fusion Room, North Syracuse NY.

2010

Spring, Deconstruction 3, Deconstruction. The Half Penny, Syracuse NY.

1995

April, Juried Student art Exhibition ’95, Forum Gallery (currently ‘Weeks Gallery’) Jamestown Community College, NY

1994

April, Juried Student art Exhibition ’94, Forum Gallery (currently ‘Weeks Gallery’) Jamestown Community College, NY

1993

April Juried Student art Exhibition ’93, Forum Gallery (currently ‘Weeks Gallery’) Jamestown Community College, NY

Arts Employment and Volunteer Work

2026 – Present Arts Programing Coordinator/Manager Northside Arts 315 (an affiliate project of Hopeprint/Northside Cultural Heritage District)

2023 – Present Volunteer Arts Workshop Educator, Various organizations within Syracuse NY: HopePrint/Westpond Alliance, Vet Center of Syracuse, Syracuse VA.

2017- 2018 Gallery Assistant, Oneida Sky Gallery, Turning Stone Resort. Verona NY.

2015- 2017 Gallery Assistant, Art Gallery in Reisman Hall, Cazenovia College NY.

2015 June- July Development Intern, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse NY.

1994-1995 Pre-press tech, photojournalist, Jamestown Post-Journal. NY.

1993-1995 Student Gallery Assistant, Forum Gallery (currently ‘Weeks Gallery’), Jamestown Community College. Jamestown NY.

1989-1990 Art Apprentice , Al Wilson Studios, Cambridge Ont. CA.

Published  Articles

2025 – February, “Wabi-Sabi, Kintsugi in Art and Outlook”.  Article in VA monthly; Wellness Connection Issue 12.

Selected Collections 

Vet Center, Syracuse NY

Lanpher/Patton Private Collection, Jamesville, New York US.

Kinsella Private Collection, Alison, Ontario Canada.

Hughes Private Collection, Burlington, Ontario Canada.

Ward Private Collection, Bowdoin, Maine US.

Davis Private Collection, Syracuse, New York US

Pearce Private Collection Syracuse, New York US