Mari Kono

design - illustration - fine-art

4037 Phelan Road Ste. A-267

Phelan, CA 92371-8915

www.marikono.com info@marikono.com

Born and Raised

1967 Los Angeles, CA    

Education

1991               FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY, San Francisco Art Institute, BFA                      

Upcoming Exhibitions and Works in Progress

2008               OPEN STUDIO, Spring

                        Wrightwood, CA

                        CHIHOKO NAKASHIMA, a biography in pictures

                        Photo Documentary project

                        WOULD YOU KISS A FAERIE

                        Fantasy Collage Photo book in collaboration with Kimberly Jordan,

                        Annie Sprinkle and Vaginal Davis

                        SAN FRANCISCO IN THE 1990'S

                        Photo Book Project

                        FEEL LOVE, Solo project consisting of Digital and paper cut out collages

                        Space yet to be determined

One-Person Exhibitions

2007  MOUNTAIN LOVE, Site specific installation of Digital and hand made collages on paper,

            Hodges Mountain Studio, April/June, Wrightwood, CA, Curated by Rennette Hodges

2006   PETALS, Site specific installation of Digital and hand made collages on paper,  

            Petals Salon, July/August, Los Angeles, California, Curated by Vivian Seki

            PAPER MACHINES FOR INNER TRANQUILITY, Site specific installation of over

            32 original collages of found paper images and mixed media exploring art as a

            medium for creating positive vibration, Blue Hen, April/May, Eagle Rock, California,

            Curated by Diep Tran

1998   AN EXPLORATION INTO THE ORBIT OF SENSUALITY, Site specific

            installation of mixed media collages and photographs all made and

            displayed to encourage a positive exploration of all the facets of sexuality,

            Magick and Fetish Gallery, May/June, Los Angeles, California, Curated by Edie IIshi

1993   TATTOO PORTRAITS, Tattoo portraiture 6-16x20 C-41 prints of Aesop Hantman, Luke Atkinson,

            The Cosmic Commander of Wrestling, Morioka, Man w/ Red Shirt, and Nao Nakayama,

            Brainwash Gallery, San Francisco, California

1991   COLLAGE, Exploring themes about sexuality using decoupage techniques with wood,

            found media, Xerox copies, photos and boxes, Still Lights Gallery,

            December 11, 1990 – January 15, 1991, San Francisco, California

1990   COLLAGE & PHOTOGRAPHY, Art Institute Cafe,

            October 14-20, San Francisco, CA, Curated by Jeff Matt & Rene Rodriguez

1986   PLASTER CASTINGS,

            Hag Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Curated by Vaginal Davis

1987   COLLAGE & DRAWINGS, Photographs, collages and oil pastel images

            Lhasa Club, October, Los Angeles, Calfiornia, Curated by Vaginal Davis

Group Exhibitions

2007   FEEL GOOD STORE, Collage work,

            Mountaineer Days, Tri Community Art Association Members Show

            Wrightwood Community Center, June 30-July 1, Wrightwood, CA 

            APRIL GROUP SHOW, Collage work,

            Featured Artists: Andrew Robinson, Sheri Lee Robinson, Kai Samuel Davis,

            Matt Foote, Gregory P. Rodriguez, Deborah Blanco and others,

            Gallery at the End of the World, Altadena, CA, Curated by Ben McGinty

            FEBRUARY GROUP SHOW, Collage work

            Featured Artists: Andrew Robinson, Sheri Lee Robinson, Kai Samuel Davis,

            Matt Foote, Gregory P. Rodriguez, Deborah Blanco and others,

            Gallery at the End of the World, Altadena, CA, Curated by Ben McGinty

FIRST CUP CAFE, Collage work

            Los Angeles, CA, Curated by Susan Onodera

2006   FASHION CIRCUS, GROUP ART SHOW, Collage work, Pasadena Civic Center,           

            December 16, Pasadena, CA, Curated by Deborah Blanco

            NOVEMBER/DECEMBER GROUP SHOW, Collage Work,

            Featured Artists: Andrew Robinson, Matt Carter, Matt Foote, Ben McGinty, Ngene, 

            Kai Samuel-  Davis, Mark Prudeaux, Rachel Wong, Alice Grevilius, Sherdeb Akadan,

            Gallery at the End of the World, November 30-December 3, Altadena, CA,

            Curated by Ben McGinty   

            OCTOBER GROUP SHOW, Collage Work,

            Gallery at the End of the World, Altadena, California, Featured Artists: Andrew Robinson,

Matt Carter, Matt Foote, Ben McGinty, Ngene, Kai Samuel-Davis, Mark Prudeaux, Rachel Wong,

            Alice Grevilius, Sherdeb Akadan, October 5-8, Altadena, CA, Curated by Ben McGinty

2004   MIND OVER MATTER STUDIO BENEFIT, Collage work, July,

            San Francisco, CA, Curated by James Goode

2001   L.A. CACOPHANY GROUP ART SHOW, Photography

            Holly Matter Gallery, March, Los Angeles, CA, Curated by Reverend Al

1999   OAKMORT DELUSIONS, Photography

            Storefront Gallery, San Pedro, CA, Curated by Richao Polysorbate 60

1998   GEORGE'S 2ND ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST, Photography

George's, December 1-18, Los Angeles, CA, Invitational  

            FRIGHT OR FLIGHT, Installation

National and regional artists confront their ability/inability to cope with or overcome fear.

Featured Artists: Christine Shields, Richao Polysorbate 60, Larry Wessel, Larry Tominaga,

Gallery By the Sea: San Pedro Art Association Gallery, September 20-October 17,

San Pedro, CA, Curated by Larry Wessel and Kim Berry

1997   TRACES OF LIGHT ART AUCTION FOR SAN FRANCISCO’S BUTOH FESTIVAL,

            2 C-Print images of tattooed men in Japan: Luke Atkinson and Nagaoka, Photography,

            Vorpal Gallery, May 10, San Francisco, CA.

1995   ASIAN ATTACK: ASIAN PUNK ARTISTS: ART & MUSIC, Collage work, Epicenter Zone Gallery, 

            February 3, San Francisco, CA, Curated by Marlena Sonn

            FINALE, Collage work, Figure 5 Gallery, November 10-30, San Francisco, CA,   

            Curated by Laura Heyman

1994   FIVE AND DIME: 1994 ROSTER GROUP ART SHOW, Collage work, Figure 5 Gallery,

            November 11,1994-January 8,1995, San Francisco, California, Curated by Laura Heyman

            COMBINE EFFORT: 24 OF THE BEST UNREPRESENTED ARTISTS IN S.F., Collage work,

            Figure 5 Gallery, January 23-March 6, San Francisco, CA, Curated by Laura Heyman

            PHOTOGRAPHY, Camerawork Gallery,

            Curated by Photo Department faculty of San Francisco City College and San Francisco Art Institute

1993   CLARION ALLEY MURAL PROJECT, Large scale paper and paint collage of women in

            city alley beautification project, San Francisco, CA,

            Curated by Rigo‚’93 and Clarion Alley Mural Project members

            VALENTINE’S SHOW, Collage work,

            Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA, Curated by Sal Garcia

            DIA DE LOS MUERTOS ALTARS, Altar of my Aunt Chihoko Nakashima,

            Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA, Curated by Sal Garcia

1992   FOREVER YES THE ART OF THE TATTOO: A GROUP PHOTO SHOW AND      

            BOOK ABOUT THE ART OF THE MODERN TATTOO, Photography of tattooed young people in Japan,

            Curated by Don Ed Hardy

Bryce Bannetyne Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

                        5501 Columbia Gallery, Dallas, TX

                        San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA

                        Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, HI

                        Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC

Press Mention:

LA Times

                                   Honolulu Weekly

                                   Dallas Morning News,

                                   Artweek

1991   WORKS IN PROGRESS: MARI KONO AND ROBERTO GALINDO,

            Collage work, Still Lights Gallery, December/January, San Francisco, CA

1989   WOMEN'S HISTORY WEEK, Collage work exhibitor organizing team member,  

            Diego Rivera Gallery, February, San Francisco, CA

Performance   (Photography and collage presented in a live projection show format.)

            In the early 90's I began presenting live slide shows to make my collage work visible on a larger scale and

            to have a more immediate relationship with an audience.   At the time, slide projections offered, incredibly

            high quality image resolution at a reasonable price.  It was fun to photograph images and then find a guerilla

            situation in which to project them.  Each show was sequenced in advance but dissolved from one image to

            another using a manual dissolve unit and up to 3 Kodak carosel projectors. This allowed a live quality to the work.

            I was fortunate to collaborate with great musicians who created original music to accompany the images.

            Together, we merged audio and visual entertainment on a soulful, psychedelic level.

2004 THE LOS ANGELES COAST, Images from the Pacific Ocean were taken and projected on the same day

using Polaroid instant slide film, Cabaret Voltaire, Highways Artspace, September 2, Santa Monica, CA,

Curated by Christian Meoli 

2003   SKID ROW, Images taken while visiting one of the world's largest homeless districts photographed and

            projected the same day using Polaroid instant slide film, Sitting Pretty, Featured artists include Janet Klein,

Dame Darcy, Satanica and Darcy Leonard, Cole's Cafe, July 11, Los Angeles, CA, Curated by Darcey Leonard   

2001   THE SECRETS OF URANUS: GOD'S DREAM, Part of the Body of Man: Anus Project,

            Commissioned for Burningman 2000 by Larry Harvey and Burningman Core Organizers, Black Rock City, NV,

            August/September, Original Music by Estradasphere and David Normal, Created and Produced by David Normal

2000   SCRAMARAMA, Psychedelic Slide Show with Lisa Sutton on liquid lights for the Seeds and Radio Bird Men

            concert segments, Palace Theatre, November 2-3, Los Angeles, CA, Organized by Kim Cooper

           SECRET CHIEFS & ESTRADASPHERE US TOUR, Original projected images live and prerecorded for both

           bands during 23 Major cities music tour.

                                    May 19           Palookaville, Santa Cruz, CA

May 20           Slim's, San Francisco, CA

                                    May 23           The Starlight, Fort Collins, CO

                                    May 24           The Bluebird Theatre, Denver, CO

May 25           Knickerbocker's, Lincoln, NE

                                    May 27           The Double Door, Chicago, IL

                                    May 28           The Magic Bag, Ferndale, MI

May 30           Peabody's Down Under, Cleveland, OH

May 31           Lee's Place, Cleveland, OH

                                    June 1            Les Foufounes Electriques, Montreal, Canada

                                    June 2            Pearl Street, North Hampton,

June 3            Met Cafe, Providence, RI

                                    June 4 &n