Resume

Selected Upcoming Exhibitions:

Alumni Gallery, Manhattan College, New York, NY
Washington Theological Union, Washington DC
Hanover College Art Gallery, Hanover, IN
Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME
Anne Kittrel Gallery, University of Arkansas, AR
Delaplaine Visual Arts Center, Frederick, MD

Selected One-Person Exhibitions:

2007

Dayton Peace Museum, Dayton, OH
Fisher Gallery, Northern Virginia Community College, Arlington, VA
Trisolini Gallery, Ohio University, Athens, OH
Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Johnson State College, Johnson, VT
Heliport Gallery, Silver Spring, MD
Herndon Gallery, Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OH
Mendenhall Gallery, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

2006

Project 06 Arts Festival, Galway, Ireland

2005

HNTB Gallery, Washington D.C.
Phillips Museum, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Beneficial-Hodson Library, Hood College, Frederick, MD
Tessera Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC
Saville Gallery, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD

2004

HNTB Gallery, Washington D.C.
Fine Gallery, Bethesda, MD
Gelman Library, George Washington University, Washington D.C.
Eckles Gallery, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Artspace, Richmond, VA
Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, Laurel, MD

2003

Eckles Gallery, George Washington University, Washington D.C.
Pearl Conard Gallery, Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH
Ratner Museum, Bethesda, MD
A.R.C. Gallery, Chicago, IL

2002

Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery, Detroit, MI
Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, IL
AFL-CIO, Washington DC

2001

Kresge Museum, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
A.R.C. Gallery, Chicago, IL
Gallery 10, Washington DC

2000

Spanish Embassy, Washington DC
Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY

1999

Gallery 10, Washington DC

1998

Arts Club of Washington, Washington DC
Athena Gallery, Savannah, GA

1997

Artists' Museum, Washington DC
artsJAM! Gallery, Washington DC

1995

Galeria Labirintho, Oporto, Portugal

1994

Espacio Chiado, Lisbon, Portugal
Camara Municipal do Castelo da Vide, Castelo da Vide, Portugal
Galeria Traviata, Caceres, Spain

1993

Corral de las Ciguenas, Caceres, Spain
Camara Municipal do Castelo da Vide, Castelo da Vide, Portugal
Biblioteca Publico del Estado, Caceres, Spain

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2007

Fine Arts Gallery, Washington Theological Union, Washington DC
Wein Gallery, Presentation College, Aberdeen, SD
Fine Arts Gallery, Westchester Community College, NY
Artscape, Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
Human Rights Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY
Tevis Gallery, Westminster County Arts Council, Westminster, MD
An Investigation of Contemporary Drawing, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN

2006

Houghton Gallery, Cooper Union College, New York, NY
Marlboro Gallery, Prince George's Community College, Laurel, MD

2005

ArtSpace, Richmond, VA
Ratner Museum, Bethesda, MD
Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Silver Spring, MD
Gavilan College Art Gallery, Gilroy, CA
Howard County Arts Center, Ellicott City, MD
Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA

2004

Phillips Museum, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Olin Fine Arts Center, Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, PA
Fine Gallery, Bethesda, MD
Athens Institute of Contemporary Art, Athens, GA
Mid-Atlantic New Painting 2004, Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, VA

2003

Fine Gallery, Bethesda, MD
Artists for Peace, Justice and Civil Liberties, online gallery, Boulder, CO
ARTery, Washington D.C.

2002

Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, Coshocton, OH
A.R.C. Gallery, Chicago, IL
Jewish Museum of Maryland, Annapolis, MD
Washington Project for the Arts/Corcoran, Washington DC

2001

Biella Gallery, Vienna, VA
Galeria Via Venezia, Venice, Italy
Marino Marini Museum, Pistoia, Italy
Galeria Assioma, Prato, Italy
Contemporary Art Museum of Montecatini, Montecatini, Italy
Maryland Art Place, Baltimore, MD
Gallery 10, Washington DC

2000

Courtyard Gallery, Washington DC
Four Directions Gallery, Grand Junction, CO
Galeria Assioma, Prato, Italy
Palm Springs International Art Fair, Palm Springs, CA
Art Without Walls, New York, NY
Gallery 10, Washington DC

1999

Wente Gallery, Livermore, CA
Galeria Assioma, Prato, Italy
Galeria Riva Sinistra, Florence, Italy
Gallery 10, Washington DC

1998

Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY
Gallery 10, Washington DC

1997

Gallery 10, Washington DC
Athena Gallery, Savannah, GA

1996

Aaron Gallery, Washington DC

1995

Aaron Gallery, Washington DC
Galeria El Gayo Arte, Madrid, Spain

1994

Galeria MAC, Lisbon, Portugal
Galeria YGREGGO, Lisbon, Portugal
Galeria Traviata, Caceres, Spain
Sala El Brocense, Caceres, Spain

1993

Galeria Traviata, Caceres, Spain
Biblioteca del Estaado, Caceres, Spain

Selected Bibliography:

Gazette Newspapers (MD), “A Voting ‘Block’,” Michelle Zenarosa, August 1, 2007
Gazette Newspapers (MD), "Give Salaam, Shalom and Peace a Chance," Karen Schafer, February 28, 2007
PeaceTalks FM (Calgary, Canada), Interview on my Peace Activist Art, February 12, 2007
CoffeeHouse TV (MD, VA, DC, PA, NC) "Convergences" interview, February 9, 2007
Gazette Newspapers (MD), "Art Helps Religions Converge, Emerge Enlightened," Meredith Hooker, January 31, 2007
Cincinnati.Com (OH), "Human Rights Exhibit with Amnesty International," Dr. Colette Palamar, January 26, 2007
Washington Jewish Week (MD), "Art Overcoming Politics," Aaron Leibel, January 25, 2007
Galway Bay FM 95.8 (Galway, Ireland), Interview, "Human Rights Painting Project," July 17, 2006
Galway Advertiser (Galway, Ireland), "Portraits of Heroes for Galway," July 13, 2006
Gazette Newspapers (MD), "Tom Block's Cousins Mixes Abstraction, Philosophy," Claudia Rousseau, August 31, 2005
Greesnboro News-Record (Greensboro, NC), "Tom Block's Human Rights Painting Project," Keith Buckner, July 28, 2005
Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD), "Struggles Reflected in Exhibit," Sandy Alexander, July 15, 2005
Winston-Salem Journal (Winston-Salem, NC), "A Vivid Look: Paintings Put Face on Human Rights," Leigh Somerville McMillan, July 12, 2005
Winston-Salem Journal (Winston-Salem, NC), "In the Struggle," Tom Patterson, July 3, 2005
Cumberland Times-News (Cumberland, MD), "Exhibit Displays Rights Struggle," December 31, 2004
Washington Jewish Week (Washington D.C.), "Activist Artist: Art in the Service of Politics," Aaron Leibel, September 9, 2004
Style Weekly (Richmond, VA), "Activision," Steve Jones, June 30, 2004
Washington Post (Washington DC), "Painter Mixes Art, Philosophy and Activism," Sara Gebhardt, April 29, 2004
WMFD TV (Mansfield, OH), Interview, Human Rights Painting Project, September 30, 2003
Washington Post (DC), "Human Rights Painting Project: Pick of the Week," August 2, 2003
Gazette Newspapers (MD), "Portraits of Pain," Karen Schafer, July 30, 2003
The Reader (Chicago, IL), "Human Rights Painting Project: Pick of the Week," May 2, 2003
The Detroiter (Detroit, MI), "Tom Block: Cousins," Nick Sousanis, December 2002
Metro Times (Detroit, MI), "A Commitment to Understanding," George Tysh, Nov. 27, 2002
Detroit Jewish News (Detroit, MI), "A Shared Spiritual History: Painter Captures Shared Spiritual Paths," Lori Weiss, October 4, 2002
Sojourners Magazine (Washington D.C.), "Stirring the Imagination: Tom Block's Human Rights Painting Project," Roberto Rivera, July-August 2002
National Public Radio "Talk of the Nation" (Washington DC), Interviewed by Neal Conan about the Human Rights Painting Project on the radio show heard in 150 cities, May 1, 2002
Copley News Service (National), "Prisoners of Conscience," Fyllis Hockman, April 7, 2002
Gazette Newspapers (MD), "Silver Spring Artist puts Human Face on Suffering," Chris Slattery, April 3, 2002
Detroit Jewish News (Detroit, MI), "Spiritual Abstractions: The Paintings of Tom Block," Suzanne Chessler, December 14, 2001
La Nazione (Montecatini, Italy), "(Bath of Art at the Spa)," Faustina Tori, September 6, 2001
Link 6 (Baltimore, MD), "The Tales We Tell," Elizabeth Donovan, Summer 2001.
WildHeart Journal (VA), "Tom Block: Art & the Mystical Vision," Eliezer Sobel, Summer 2001
Washington Times (Washington DC), "An Artist's Enigmatic Friends," P. Butters, February 8, 1997.
ABC (Madrid, Spain), "(Young Artists Group Show)," Consuelo Perez, September 29, 1995.
Correio da Manha (Lisbon, Portugal), "(Painting Live)," Joao Alameda, December 4, 1994.
Hoy (Caceres, Spain), "(The Purpose of Painting is to Reflect the Spiritual, the Ineffable)," Juan Domingo Fernandez, November 17, 1993.
Hoy (Caceres, Spain), "(In Modern Art, Technique is not as Important as it was during the Renaissance)," Juan Domingo Fernandez, June 27, 1993
Extremadura (Caceres, Spain), "('My Painting Doesn't Have Answers, Just Questions That Transmit Emotions')," Almudena Villar, June 16, 1993

Selected Awards, Honors and Publications:

2007

Takoma Park/Silver Spring Voice, MD. Voted “Artist of the Year” by readers.
Kennett Street Art Wall, MD. Commissioned to install permanent public art works.
Impact Silver Spring, MD. “Builder’s Award” for founding Space 7:10.

2006

Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation, NY. Monetary grant for Shalom/Salaam Project.
Cooper Union Residency, NY. One-month summer painting residency.
Nelson Talbott Foundation, MD. Monetary grant for Human Rights Painting Project.

2005

Sugarman Foundation, Novato, CA. Monetary grant for Shalom/Salaam Project.
Artist Adorned Transit Stops, Tempe, AZ. Commissioned to install public art in bus stops.

2003-2005

New York Foundation for the Arts, NY. Fiscal sponsorship for Shalom/Salaam Project

2004

Puffin Foundation, Teaneck NJ. Monetary grant for Shalom/Salaam Project.
Dudley Review, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Cover art and two interior images.

2002

Puffin Foundation, Teaneck NJ. Monetary grant for Human Rights Painting Project.

2001

Maryland Art Place, Critic's Residency, Maryland.

1998

Montgomery County Art Association, MD. Collaborative Art Program Grant.

1996, 1997

Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD. Outreach Program Grant. 1995 Vows from a Stranger, illustrations for a poetry collection, Manchester, NH.

1995

Fifth Annual Young Painters Competition, Sala El Brocense, Caceres, Spain.

Resolutions and Letters of Support:

2007

Congressman Chris Van Hollen, MD. Letter of congratulation for receiving “Builder’s Award.”
Montgomery County Council, MD. Resolution of congratulation for receiving “Builder’s Award.”

2005

Frederick County Commission, MD. Resolution of support for Human Rights Painting Project

2002

Takoma Park City Council, MD. Resolution of support for Human Rights Painting Project.
Mr. Wei JingSheng, Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition. Letter in support of HRPP.
Senator Paul Wellstone, MN. Letter in support of Human Rights Painting Project

Papers Presented:

2007

Mid Atlantic Popular Culture Association, Philadelphia, PA. “War as Love.”
Peace and Justice Studies Association, Elizabethtown College, PA. “War as Love.”
ACA/PCA Annual Conference, Boston, MA. "Spanish Jews Under Sufi Influence."
Rethinking Resistance 2007, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. "Machiavellian Resistance."

2006

Southeast College Art Conference, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Chaired session on using art for social change; presented: "Artist as Shaman in an Age of Uncertainty."
Peace and Justice Studies Association, Manhattan College, New York, NY. "Art Activism Beyond Oppositionality: Prophetic Activist Art."
International Peace Research Association, University of Calgary, Canada. "Art Activism Beyond Oppositionality: Prophetic Activist Art."

2004

George Washington University, DC. Participated in a symposium on the Shalom/Salaam Project, with heads of Islamic and Jewish Studies Programs.
Committing Voice: Interdisciplinary Art in the New Millennium, Goddard College, Plainfield, VT. "Shalom/Salaam Project."

Selected Published and Produced Work
(all by Tom Block):

2007

The Panoptikon: A Journal of Visual Culture, (United Arab Emirates), “Real Artistic Style.”
Silver Spring Stage (MD), “Frank Johnson” produced as part of one-act play festival.
Sufi Magazine (London, England), “Early Kabbalists Under Sufi Influence.”

2006

Reflections (Hibbard, MN), "The Call for a Moral Ombudsman."

2005

Sufi Magazine (London, England), "Moses Maimonides and the Sufis of Islam."

2004

The Image Warehouse (Athens, TX), "Dear Julie."
Pedestal Magazine (Charlotte, NC), "Supreme Court, My Ass."
Sophia: The Magazine of Traditional Studies (VA), "Solomon Ibn Gabirol: A Jewish/Sufi."
Dystinct Art Magazine (New York), "Shalom/Salaam: A Key Out of the Palestinian/Israeli Labyrinth."

2003

Sufi Magazine (London, England), "Sufis and Hasids: Shared Teaching Tales."

2002

Detroit Jewish News (Detroit, MI), "The Jewish Gift to Islamic Mysticism."
Sufi Magazine (London, England), "Abraham Maimonides: A Jewish Sufi."

2001

Washington Review (Washington, D.C.), "Maxine Cable: Art Review"

Selected Academic Work

2007

Ohio University, OH. Lecture on “Prophetic Activist Art,” plus graduate studio visits.
McDaniel College, MD. Lecture on “Prophetic Activist Art.”
Grand Valley State University, MI. Invited panelist for “Power of Art?” symposium.
American University, DC. Workshop in conjunction with Creative Peace Initiatives.
Franklin College, IN. "Robert & Elizabeth Johnson Professorship in Leadership" lecture series.
Antioch College, OH. Lecture on "Prophetic Activist Art."
East Carolina University, NC. Lecture on "Prophetic Activist Art."

2005

Franklin & Marshall College, PA. Spoke about Human Rights Painting Project.
Hood College, Frederick, MD. Spoke about Human Rights Painting Project.
Brandeis University, Waltham, MA. Spoke to alumnae about my art, at Fine Gallery.

2003

George Washington University, DC. Spoke about Human Rights Painting Project.
Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH. Spoke about the Human Rights Painting Project.

2002

Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY. Spoke about the Human Rights Painting Project.
American University, Washington DC. Spoke about the Human Rights Painting Project.

2001

Michigan State University, Kresge Museum, East Lansing, MI. Spoke on my art.

2000-2001

Jewish Study Center, Washington DC. Designed and taught a class on the similarities between the Jewish Hasidism and the Sufi masters of Islam.

2000

University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD. Spoke on Spanish art and culture.

Selected Work Experience:

2007-present

Global Cultures Mural Project. Creative director of public art project.

2007

Jewish Community Relations Council, Washington D.C. Presented Shalom/Salaam.

2005-present

UNESCO Center for Peace, Frederick, MD. Arts and peace ambassador.

2005-2006

Space 7:10, Silver Spring, MD. Founder & director of alternative art space.

2003-2005

Takoma Park Arts & Humanities Commission, MD. Commissioner; Vice Chairman.

2004

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington D.C. Spoke about Shalom/Salaam.

2002

Arise, Washington DC. Featured speaker. Spoke on making art socially relevant.
The Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition, Washington DC. Guest Speaker.
Artists Against Ignorance. Washington, DC. Featured Speaker.

2001-present

Human Rights Painting Project. Creator, director and artist of project.
Freelance Writer. Publish art reviews, historical pieces, essays and other writing.

1997-1998

National Children's Center, Washington, DC Designed and implemented art programs for mentally and emotionally challenged children.

1997

Dwelling Place Homeless Program, Gaithersburg, MD. Workshops for homeless. children.

1995-1997

Longview School for the Handicapped, Gaithersburg, MD. Designed and implemented an art program for severely handicapped children.
Montgomery County Alternative Program, Gaithersburg, MD. Designed and implemented an art program for at-risk adolescents.

1992-1995

Caceres, Spain. Live and work in western Spain.

1988-1990

Photographic Resource Center Newsletter, Boston, MA. Editor-in-Chief.

1984-1988

Freelance Journalist. Published in the Los Angeles Times, New York Newsday, San Francisco Examiner, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Dallas Morning News etc. Co-authored the Pelican Guide to Maryland, Gretna, LA, 1987.

Charity Fundraising with Paintings:

2007-Present