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 2012. 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.

 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 cultural and philosophical considerations are often social, political, historical, ethical and metaphysical in nature. Be it subtile or obvious, I will sometimes incorporate elements of humor, irony or outright absurdity, in attempts for viewer relate-ability, expressions of idealogical futility, or purposeful ambiguity. Some work, or portions of, are intended to have the audience participate beyond sensory. With these, I aim to inspire viewers through other forms as well, from engaging in discussion or debate, to appropriate activism.
Most of my work, regardless of form, 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 specific parts within a given piece, how representative I want the work to be, or the level of desired ambiguity. The mediums I use range from traditional paint on canvas or photography -to found, readymade or re-shaped objects. I often source from hardware and building material suppliers, rather then art or hobby stores. I could list “Home Depot” or “Lowe’s” as mediums.
I welcome and encourage, once presented, any viewers interpretation of ambiguous aspects within my work. I intend my work to reach beyond the cultural ‘bubble’ of academia or the arts establishment, and be accessible to the wider public in an intellectually egalitarian spirit.

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

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

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.

Selected Collections

Vet Center, Syracuse NY

Lanpher 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