Connie M. Landis
Artist Statement
"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket." (Chinese Proverb)
One-of-a-kind Artist's Books are my studio passion going back to the mid-1990s. These books synthesize the physical three-dimensional structure with a visual message. The messages in text and structure most often question ideas and practices taken for granted by "readers," and, at other times, are current ideas from my personal life or even global challenges. Also, I make some "pretty books" wholly concentrating on aesthetics. Thus, my books could be categorized in the modern as well as post-modern paradigms.
Often I make hand-made paper from Montana natural materials intermingled with the
use of commercial paper pulps. Hand-made papers from other papermakers are used also.
Whatever the paper source, I attempt to emphasize and to stretch the inherent
attributes of the paper.
Techniques used to illustrate the books' messages include: collage, painting, printmaking and the embedding or attaching of "found objects." I do appreciate that creating my Artist's Books permits use of many constructing processes that I have learned through my years in art. Some books have specially made containers: Constructing containers or reworking "found" containers for these books presents additional challenges. Combining traditional and unusual materials and processes in a playful yet very serious way is always the focus.
Spreading the structure and messages of Artists' Books is evident in the many ways that books become part of my instructional program here at Montana State University Billings. Beyond the classroom setting, workshops for all ages and abilities are given upon request at the local, regional and national levels. My books are entered in juried exhibit and gallery venues. With the above ideas in mind, I prefer that the "reader" wear those pesky white gloves to handle my Artist's Books when the books are in exhibits and galleries. Display cases and vitrenes are not my favorite ways to showcase my books.
Many satisfying hours are spent in my home studio creating Artist's Books.
"You can travel a great deal of country in books." (Andrew Lang)
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Degrees & Certification
1987 Ph.D. University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI
1977 M.S.Ed. Eastern Montana College/now Montana State University, Billings, MT
1968-2008 State of Montana Teacher Certification for Art (K-12) & Biology
1962 B. A. Lawrence University, Appleton, WI
Teaching & Leadership Experiences
Fall 2006-Spring 2008 Chair of the MSU Billings Department of Art.
1999-2007 MSU Billings Professor. I teach art education classes for art majors/minors and for elementary education, special education and graduate students. In 2006 received recognition from University for 30 Years of Service (formerly Eastern Montana College).
2005 Spring ART/CMPT/HONORS class titled The "Real" Message of the Written and Visual Text. Team-taught with Dr. Maggie McBride, Associate Professor in Department of Mathematics. MSU Billings.
1998-2002 Chair of the MSU Billings Department of Art.
Achievements with others include:
- 1. Ten Year Accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
- Computer graphics Area of Concentration established for art majors
- Major renovations of physical facilities in the art classrooms and gallery spaces in the Liberal Arts Building
- Student scholarship monies increased from previous years
- Continuation of Visiting Artists' Programs
2006-2007 Sabbatical from MSU Billings to research facets of Artists' Books including interviews of artists, private & public collectors of Artists' Books followed by curating of international-invitational exhibit titled Artists' Books: Visual and Verbal Expressions in Northcutt Steele Gallery, and creating hand-made papers for original one-of-a-kind Artist's Books in studio.
1984-1998 & 1978-1981 MSU Billings/EMC professor in art education and art studio.
1989 Rocky Mountain College, Billings, MT, art education part-time instructor.
1986 University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI, TA in art education.
1982-1984 University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI, PA in Office of Field Experiences.
1981-1982 University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana, IL, TA in Saturday Art School.
1968-1978 Billings West High School, Billings, MT, art instructor.
1964-1968 Neenah Joint School District, Neenah, WI, elementary art specialist.
1963-1964 Edgerton School District, Edgerton, WI, elementary art teacher.
1962-1963 Kenosha School District, Kenosha, WI, elementary art teacher.