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About the Artist
As a book artist, Beej creates unique hand-constructed and hand-printed artist books that reflect and complement the subject matter found in her prints. She produces handmade artist’s books in a wide variety of styles and structural forms. Usually the books are contained in a handmade protective box. Beej also has 25 years of museum experience as a museum director and chief curator as well as an independent curator, administrator, educator, and consultant. For 22 years, Beej was the founding director and chief curator of Laumeier Sculpture Park and Museum, which is dedicated to experimental and contemporary art. Beej commissioned numerous contemporary sculptures, outdoor installations, and art exhibitions. She also produced private press books and wrote numerous exhibition catalogues on contemporary sculpture, contemporary Brazilian folk art and art curriculum. In her role as museum director, Beej created signature public art events such as “Fire and Ice” celebrating the winter solstice, Day of the Dead, and a Brazilian-African folk art celebration as well as international folk markets. She has organized musical festivals, contemporary art fairs, children’s events and summer camps, and fund-raising galas. Beej Nierengarten-Smith holds a BA from the University of Minnesota in art history and design, a MA from the University of Minnesota in art history and museum sciences, and an Ed. D. from Southern Illinois University in instructional theory and curriculum design with a minor in aesthetics. She was awarded a Doctor of Humanities from Maryville college in St. Louis for her contributions to the arts. After moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Beej worked as the first Museum Manager for the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum in Albuquerque establishing its collection, education program and, its catalogue, and researched and wrote its first catalogue. Though Beej has been a printmaker and book artist for several decades, she established a permanent print studio and Vanitas book press when she moved to Santa Fe in 2001. She currently lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico. |
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Beej Nierengarten-Smith is a contemporary printmaker and multimedia
artist, specializing in photolithography, Japanese woodcuts,
digital images and etching. Her subject matter includes geographic
icons, political and social commentary as well as fantasy and
humor.