Gary Mesa-Gaido

Education

• M.F.A., Ohio University
• B.A., University of Pittsburgh
• Adobe Certified Educator

Profile

Gary Mesa-Gaido, a faculty member in the Department of Art and Design at Morehead State University, teaches courses in digital art, animation, painting, foundations and advanced studies. Mesa-Gaido is currently working on two digital art series, People, Places and Spaces and Points of Departure. The former consists of large-scale panoramic, color photographs, which record human activity within historical spaces in North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Southern Asia, and Europe. These locations are documented in a wide rotation using a digital camera, with software being used to stitch multiple images into one final photograph. The latter series digitally captures takeoffs andlandings at night, from the inside of an airplane looking out, which are digitally manipulated and combined with scanned vintage negatives using Adobe Photoshop. These images hint at or simulate traditional wet plate and large format processes as well as painting techniques. The final digital images are  printed using dye sublimation on aluminum. Morehead State University recognized Mesa-Gaido's scholarly work in 2010, when he received the Distinguished Creative Productions Award.
 

An active artist for over twenty years, Mesa-Gaido has participated in exhibitions, including solo, two-person, and small and large group. Displaying his work in international, national and regional juried and invitational exhibits, Gary Mesa-Gaido's pieces have been viewed at numerous prestigious venues, including the Abraham Lubelski Gallery in New York City, Museo ItaloAmericano in San Francisco, Alexandria Museum of Art, Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts, Holter Museum of Art, Allentown Art Museum Southern Ohio Museum of Art, Avampato Museum, Huntington Museum of Art, Owensboro Museum of Art, New Jersey Center for Visual Arts, Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art, the University of Michigan Hospital, the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Arizona State University, Cleveland State University, University of Miami, and the Three Rivers Arts Festival.
 

The recipient of various grants and awards, Gary Mesa-Gaido's artwork has been recognized through two prestigious Kentucky Arts Council Al Smith Fellowships and four MSU Creative Production Grants. His pieces are held in the permanent collections of individuals, as well as, organizations, such as the Pittsburgh Plate and Glass in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Avampato Museum in Charleston, West Virginia, the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the Rowan County Library in Morehead, Kentucky. His original digital process, technique and images have resulted in multiple invitations to lecture, conduct workshops, and/or serve as a panelist, including the Southeastern College Art Association Conference, the Speed Art Museum, the Pennsylvania College of Technology, the University of Kentucky, Marshall University and Berea College.
 

Gary Mesa-Gaido earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Ohio University. 

Teaching Areas/Areas of Expertise

• Digital art and photography  
• Animation
• Painting and Color Theory
• Foundations
• Mixed-media Sculpture

Professional Activity

• Participation in exhibitions for over two decades, including solo, two-person, and small and large group.
• Displaying work in international, national and regional exhibits; venues include: the Abraham Lubelski Gallery in New York City, Museo ItaloAmericano in San Francisco, Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art (OH), Alexandria Museum of Art (LA), New Jersey Center for Visual Arts, Museum of Fine Arts (FL), Holter Museum of Art (MT), Allentown Art Museum (PA), Center for Visual Art (TX), Avampato Museum (WV), Huntington Museum of Art (WV), Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, and the Capitol Annex in Frankfort.
• Inclusion in exhibits juried by prominent professionals in the field, including: a contributing editor to Art in America ; internationally recognized artists; and curators or directors from the Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of Art, MOMA , Brooklyn Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Art, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, Knoxville Museum of Art, Huntington Museum of Art, and Mint Museum of Art & Craft.
• Mesa-Gaido is currently working on two digital art series, People, Places and Spaces and Points of Departure. The former consists of large-scale panoramic, color photographs, which record human activity within historical spaces in North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Southern Asia, and Europe. These locations are documented in a wide rotation using a digital camera, with software being used to stitch multiple images into one final photograph. The latter series digitally captures takeoffs andlandings at night, from the inside of an airplane looking out, which are digitally manipulated and combined with scanned vintage negatives using Adobe Photoshop. These images hint at or simulate traditional wet plate and large format processes as well as painting techniques. The final digital images are  printed using dye sublimation on aluminum. 

Honor and Awards

• Recognition through two prestigious Kentucky Arts Council Al Smith Fellowships, four Creative Production Awards, and Purchase, Jury and Placement Awards for juried exhibited work.
• Artwork held in the permanent collections of individuals and organizations, such as the Pittsburgh Plate and Glass in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Avampato Discovery Museum in Charleston, West Virginia, and the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport.
• Commissioned by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to create a public art sculpture for "Dinomite Days."
• Invitations to lecture and conduct workshops, such as at the Speed Art Museum, Pennsylvania College of Technology, and to serve as a panelist at the Southeastern College Art Association Conference.
• Received the MSU Distinguished Creative Production Award in 2010.

Related Links

• To view Gary Mesa-Gaido's photographic work, visit www.garymesa-gaido.com.
• For a complete list of accomplishments see attached Curriculum Vitae.