Resume

Selected Published and Produced Work
(all by Tom Block):
2011(Upcoming) Stroyka Theater Company (DC). Production of "White Noise."
2010Shalom/Salaam: A Tale of a Mystical Entanglement" (Book),
Fons Vitae Publishers, Louisville, KY.
  "Shalom/Salaam: A Tale of a Mystical Entanglement" (Book; in Turkish),
Bilim Artı Gönül Yayıncılık Ltd. Şti., Istanbul, Turkey.
  Wanderlust Theater Company (DC), "White Noise;" staged reading at the Kennedy Center.
2009 The Panoptikon (United Arab Emirates), "Art for Art's Sake: The Dawn of Art Criticism."
  Stroyka Theater Company (DC), "White Noise;" reading of full-length play.
  Remote Control (CA). "Identity as Conflict: Art can Redirect People's Sense of Belonging."
2008 Art and Society Journal (Australia), "Prophetic Activist Art."
  Calliope Theater Company (MD), "White Noise;" staged reading of full-length play.
  Popular Culture Association Almanack (NY), "War as Love."
  The Panoptikon: A Journal of Visual Culture (UAE), "The Relevance of the Beautiful?"
  Sophia: The Magazine of Traditional Studies (VA), "Sufi Influence on the Kabbalah."
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: Thoughts on Democracy."
  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), "A Key Out of the Palestinian/Israeli Labyrinth."
2003 Sufi Magazine (London, England), "Sufis and Hasids: Shared Teaching Tales."
  Revista Sufi (Madrid, Spain), "Avraham Maimonides: un Sufi-Judio."
2002 Detroit Jewish News (Detroit, MI), "The Jewish Gift to Islamic Mysticism."
2001 Sufi Magazine (London, England), "Abraham Maimonides: A Jewish Sufi."
  Washington Review (Washington, D.C.), "Maxine Cable: Art Review"

Selected One-Person Exhibitions:
2011 (Upcoming)Boxheart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2010 Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Silver Spring, MD
  Cafritz Art Center, Montgomery College, Silver Spring, MD
2009 American Institute of Contemporary German Studies, Washington DC
  Gallagher Gallery, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
  Gallery Aferro, Newark, NJ
  Hamiltonian Gallery, Washington DC
  Washington Project for the Arts, Washington DC
  Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Silver Spring, MD
  Visions Gallery, Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD
2008 Martinetti Gallery, Johnson State College, Johnson, VT
  HUB Robeson Gallery, Penn State University, State College, PA
  United Nations, Tanenbaum Center for Inter-religious Understanding, NY
  Delaplaine Visual Arts Center, Frederick, MD
  Anne Kittrell Gallery, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
  Alumni Gallery, Manhattan College, New York, NY
  Ciferni Gallery, Washington Theological Seminary, Washington DC
  Hanover College Art Gallery, Hanover, IN
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.
  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
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:

2010 Phyllis Weston Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
  Boxheart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2009 Washington Project for the Arts, Washington D.C.
  US Congress, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington D.C.
  Garage Gallery, San Diego, CA
  Boxheart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
  Hamiltonian Gallery, Washington D.C.
  Northern Lights Gallery, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Boxheart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
  Scope Art Fair, Art Basel, Miami, FL
  Alpha/Omega Gallery, Columbus, OH
  James Backus Gallery, Maryland State Arts Council, Baltimore, MD
  Temple Judea Museum, Elkins Park, PA
  Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME
2007 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
  Athens Institute of Contemporary Art, Athens, GA
  Mid-Atlantic New Painting 2004, Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, VA
2003 Fine Gallery, Bethesda, MD
  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
  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 Estado, Caceres, Spain

 

Selected Bibliography:

  • WPFW 89.3 (DC). “Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival,” April 21, 2010
  • Gazette Newspapers (MD). “Activist art,” Karen Schafer, April 21, 2010
  • Washington Examiner (DC). “Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival,” April 16, 2010
  • CoffeeHouse TV (32 states). “Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival,” April 4, 2010
  • Comcast Local Edition (MD). “Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival,” March 26, 2010
  • Epoch Times (DC). “Artists Express 60 Years of Chinese People's Suffering,” G. Feuerberg, 10/5/09
  • Maryland Public Television (MD). “Art Scene with Lila Snow,” interview, July 22, 2009
  • Gazette Newspapers (MD). “Taking a Stand,” Karen Schafer, May 6, 2009
  • Gazette Newspapers (MD). “Silver Spring artist crafts portraits of courage,” Jeremy Arias, 4/29/09
  • Washington Post Express (DC). “Pieces of a Dream: Secret Garden,” Arion Berger, April 16, 2009
  • Sufism World Report (GA), "Exhibit explores spiritual journeys," Claudia Rousseau, April 8, 2009
  • Center Daily Times, (PA). “Block’s ‘Response’ Still Relevant,” Jared Swanson, October 3, 2008
  • Sephardic Heritage News (NY). Special Tom Block Edition, July 23, 2008
  • Frederick News Post (MD), “No Measly Easels for Big Ideas,” Lauren Larocca, May 15, 2008
  • Manhattan Magazine (NY), “Human Rights Painting Project Depicts Global Leaders,” Spring 2008
  • Fayetteville Morning News (AR), “Into the Realm of Social Impact,” Becca Martin, April 10, 2008
  • Madison Courier (IN), “Artist Calls Attention to Human Rights,” Pat Whitney, January 12, 2008
  • Gazette Newspapers (MD), “A Voting ‘Block’,” Michelle Zenarosa, August 1, 2007
  • Gazette Newspapers (MD), “Give Salaam, Shalom a Chance,” Karen Schafer, February 28, 2007
  • PeaceTalks FM (Calgary, Canada), Interview on my Peace Activist Art, February 12, 2007
  • CoffeeHouse TV (32 states) “Convergences” interview, February 9, 2007
  • Gazette Newspapers (MD), “Art Helps Religions Converge,” Meredith Hooker, January 31, 2007
  • Cincinnati.Com (OH), “Human Rights Exhibit,” 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), “Cousins Mixes Abstraction, Philosophy,” C. Rousseau, August 31, 2005
  • Greesnboro News-Record (NC), “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 (NC), “A Face on Human Rights,” L. 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 (DC), “Art in the Service of Politics,” A. Leibel, September 9, 2004
  • Style Weekly (Richmond, VA), “Activision,” Steve Jones, June 30, 2004
  • Washington Post (DC), “Painter Mixes Art, Philosophy and Activism,” S. 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 (MI), “Painter Captures Shared Spiritual Paths,” Lori Weiss, October 4, 2002
  • Sojourners Magazine (Washington D.C.), “Human Rights Painting Project,” R. Rivera, Summer 2002
  • National Public Radio “Talk of the Nation” (Washington DC), Interview, May 1, 2002
  • Copley News Service (National), “Prisoners of Conscience,” Fyllis Hockman, April 7, 2002
  • Gazette Newspapers (MD), “Artist puts Human Face on Suffering,” Chris Slattery, April 3, 2002
  • Detroit Jewish News (MI), “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 Ineffable)," Juan Domingo Fernandez, November 17, 1993.
  • Hoy (Caceres, Spain), "(Technique is not as Important as It Was)," J. D. Fernandez, June 1993
  • Extremadura (Caceres, Spain), "(Just Questions That Transmit Emotions')," A. Villar, June 1993


Selected Awards, Honors and Publications:

2010 International Domestic Violence Memorial, IN. Founding boardmember.
  Depaul International Human Rights Law Institute, IL. Research Fellow: Art Activism.
2008 Hamiltonian Fellow, Washington DC. Selected for art career incubator fellowship.
  Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD. Creative Project Grant.
  Marie Walsh Sharpe Space Program, NY. Selected as alternate for studio space.
  Maryland State Arts Council, MD. Individual Artist Award.
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
2002, 2004 Puffin Foundation, Teaneck NJ. Monetary grants for two different projects.
1998 Montgomery County Art Association, MD. Collaborative Art Program Grant.
1996, 1997 Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD. Outreach Program Grant.
1995 Fifth Annual Young Painters Competition, Sala El Brocense, Caceres, Spain.

 

Papers Presented:

2009 Exploring Human Rights through the Arts, DePaul College of Law, Chicago. Keynote speaker.
  Rumi Forum, Washington DC. Talk: “Shalom/Salaam: A Story of a Mystical Fraternity.”
  Al-Azhar University and the West, Cairo, Egypt. “The Maimonides of Cairo: Jewish-Sufis.”
2008 Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies, Villanova College, PA. “Maimonidean Prophecy.”
  Abrahamic Family Reunion, Fetzer Institute, MI. “Prophetic Activist Art.”
  Arts & Society, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, England. “Prophetic Activist Art.”
  Perspectives on Creativity, Holy Family University, PA. “Painting as Prayer.”
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, NY. “Prophetic Activist Art.”
  International Peace Research Association, University of Calgary. “Prophetic Activist Art.”
2004 George Washington University, DC. Symposium on the Shalom/Salaam Project.
  Committing Voice, Goddard College, Plainfield, VT. “Shalom/Salaam Project.”

 


Selected Academic Work

2009 Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Lecture, workshops and studio visits.
2008 Johnson State College, VT. Lecture, workshops and studio visits.
  University of Arkansas, AR. Lecture on “Prophetic Activist Art.”
  Manhattan College, NY. Lecture on “Prophetic Activist Art.”
  Hanover College, IN. Series of lectures, workshops and talks over three days.
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. Activist art 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. Taught a class on Hasidism and Sufism.
2000 University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD. Spoke on Spanish art and culture.

 


Selected Work Experience:

2001-present Shalom/Salaam Project. Creator, director, artist and writer of project.
  Human Rights Painting Project. Creator, director and artist of project.
2010 Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival, MD. Creator, producer of festival.
2009 Wei JingSheng Foundation, Washington D.C. Spoke at Art Exhibition and Press Conference.
2008 Alpha/Omega Gallery, Columbus, OH. Featured panelist for activist art symposium.
  St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, DC. Art & Spirit Coffeehouse featured speaker.
2007 Global Cultures Mural Project. Creative director of public art project.
  UNESCO Center for Peace, MD. Keynote speaker for International Model UN.
  Jewish Community Relations Council, Washington D.C. Presented Shalom/Salaam.
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.
1997-1998 National Children's Center, Washington, DC. Art teacher.
1997 Dwelling Place Homeless Program, Gaithersburg, MD. Workshops for homeless.
1995-1997 Longview School for the Handicapped, Gaithersburg, MD. Art teacher.
1995-1997 Montgomery County Alternative Program, Gaithersburg, MD. Art teacher
1992-1995 Caceres, Spain. Lived and worked in western Spain.
1988-1990 Photographic Resource Center Newsletter, Boston, MA. Editor-in-Chief.
1984-1988 Freelance Journalist. Published in major newspapers around the United States.
  Co-authored the Pelican Guide to Maryland, Gretna, LA, 1987.

 


Charity Fundraising with Paintings:

2008-present Abrahamic Family Reunion Project, Kalamazoo, MI
  Amnesty International, NY
2009 Arthritis Foundation, Washington DC
  Girls Gotta Run Foundation, Washington DC
  National Center for Children and Families, MD
2008 Arthritis Foundation, Washington DC
  Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, NY
2005 UNESCO Center for Peace, Frederick, MD
  Empowering Women International, Alexandria, VA
  National Center for Children and Families, Bethesda, MD
  Advocates for Survivors of Torture and Trauma, Baltimore, MD
2004 StandUp for Kids: Boston, Boston, MA
2003 Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, Washington DC
  Palestinian Children’s Welfare Fund, Austin, TX
2000 Pine Street Inn Homeless Shelter, Boston, MA
1999 Bread for the City, Washington, DC

 


Selected Public and Corporate Collections:

  • Irish Centre for Human Rights, Galway, Ireland
  • Contemporary Art Museum, Montecatini, Italy
  • Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Montgomery County, MD
  • George Washington University, Washington D.C.
  • Georgetown University Hospital, Washington D.C.
  • Hanover College, Hanover, IN
  • Portland Community College, Portland, OR
  • Washington Theological Union, Washington D.C.
  • Abrahamic Family Reunion Project, Kalamazoo, MI
  • HNTB Architecture, Washington D.C.
  • Anchor Appraisal Company, Boston, MA
  • Summit Art School, Gaithersburg, MD

 

Gallery Representation:

  • Phyllis Weston Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
  • Boxheart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA

 

Education:

1987 Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY. B.A., English.

 


  

Selected Published and Produced Work

Selected One-Person Exhibitions

Selected Group Exhibitions

Selected Bibliography

Selected Awards, Honors, Public Art, etc.

Papers Presented

Selected Academic Work

Selected Work Experience

Charity Fundraising with Paintings

Selected Public and Corporate Collections

Gallery Representation

Education