CHESELYN AMATO

cheselynamato@yahoo.com

847-840-6587

Cheselyn Amato is an interdisciplinary visual artist, spoken text & sound performer, and space/place designer and maker working across the disciplines – 2D, 3D and 4D – with an emphasis on enacting circumstances for the experience of sublimity, awe, wonder and delight via the orchestration of visual props and cues as well as sound and colored light phenomena along with interdisciplinary performance. Cheselyn’s work reflects and chronicles her lifelong spiritual, aesthetic and humanitarian journey. Cheselyn has been teaching art students for decades and has recently added spiritual care and bereavement counseling to her toolkit as light worker and doula for personal, social, societal and global transformation and for the triumph of justice, love, beauty and abundance.

Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions

2024

Radiant Fields Series, Post Montgomery Center, San Francisco, SLATE Art Consulting, Oakland, CA

Illuminating Perspectives: Exploring Light in Innovative Art, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, CA

Residency, Foundation for Spirituality and the Arts, Charleston, SC, 9.16.2024-10.26.2024

2023

The Space Between, curated by Karen Gutfreund, ARC Gallery, San Francisco

Genesis: The Beginning of Creativity, Curators: Richard McBee, Joel Silverstein and Goldie Gross, a three-venue exhibition: the Interchurch Center, Riverside Church and Jewish Theological Seminary, NYC

Ingenium Creatives, Think Tank Symposium, organized by Cathy Allen and Suzie Khalil, Las Vegas, NV

Radical Radiance, Solo Exhibition, Founders’ Gallery, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA

Marin Open Studios Show, Sausalito Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA

Tenth Anniversary Show, Verge Center for the Arts, Sacramento, CA

Altered Realities, MarinMOCA, curated by Chester Arnold, Novato, CA

Ingenium Creatives: Symposium Think Tank, Las Vegas, NV, organized by Cathy Allen and Suzie Khalil

Genesis: The Beginning of Creativity, Curators: Richard McBee, Joel Silverstein and Goldie Gross, Interfaith Church Center, NYC

2022

JADA Paris / JADA Miami, Online Gallery in conjunction with live exhibition events in both locations

Artists in the Community, Chochmat Halev Art Gallery, Berkeley, CA

Conney Project Online Exhibition in conjunction with the 2022 Conney Conference, Madison, Wisconsin

2021

#TakeMeHome, an exhibition included in the 2021 Jerusalem Biennale: Four Cubits

Hanukkah Lamp, (in honor of Susan L. Braunstein, curator Emeritus), acquired by the the Jewish Museum, NYC

Welcome Lantern, designed and constructed for the Chochmat Halev Community: Home for the Jewish Heart, Berkeley, CA

2020

JADA In Paris, Panel Discussion: The Death of Irony and the Birth of New Sincerity, October 24, 2020

Creativity in an Uncertain Time, JAS Open Studios Session presentation, October 13, 2020

Sacramento Open Studios 2020 Online Verge Center for the Arts, Sacramento, CA

Cheselyn Amato/Cherilyn Naughton Collaborate, Verge Center for the Arts, Sac, CA (postponed)

Quantum Illuminations, MAK Design Studio, Davis, CA (postponed)

Thriving in Place, curated by Gene Dominique and Becky Jaffe, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Albany, CA
COVID19: The Art of Isolation, Online exhibition, CVAP Curator’s Voice Art Projects

2019

Contingent Upon, Ridley Gallery, Sierra College, Rocklin, CA

2018

Big Issues: Time’s Up, JayJay Gallery, Sacramento, CA

Visions of the Chevra Kadisha, Chochmat Halev, Berkeley, CA

2017

The Golem Show, Brooklyn Jewish Art Gallery/CHL, Brooklyn, NY

The Speak Listen Milagros Project, organized by Roma Devanbu, AXIS Main Gallery, Sacramento, CA

Through the Lens of The Cured Romantic’s Telescope to Heaven, AXIS East Gallery, Sacramento, CA

Love Life Chaya Chesed Codex: A Mini-Retrospective 1987-2017, AXIS Main Gallery, Sacramento, CA

2016

All The Love, AXIS East Gallery, Sacramento, CA

Sacramento Open Studios, Verge Center for the Arts, Sacramento, CA

Flat File Show, AXIS East Gallery, Sacramento, CA

Uncontrollable Beauty|An Odyssey|Everything We Need Is Always With Us, AXIS Main Gallery, Sacramento, CA

2015

The Art Auction, benefitting Verge Center for the Arts, Sacramento, CA

The Jerusalem Biennale: Women of the Book Project, International Women’s Visual Torah, First Station Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel

The Preview Show, Sacramento Open Studios, Verge Center for the Arts, Sacramento, CA

Flat File Show, East Gallery, AXIS Gallery, Sacramento, CA

Swag with Love, AXIS East Gallery, Sacramento, CA

2013

The Pink Show, Contemporary Center for the Arts, Sacramento, CA

(Extra)ordinary Evidence, Chochmat Halev Gallery, Berkeley, CA

Visual Discourses on the Abrahamic Religions, Trio Interfaith Project, Islamic Cultural Center, Oakland, CA

2012

Flatlanders on the Slant, Nelson Gallery, UC Davis, CA

The End, Tangent Gallery, Sacramento, CA

Diverse Visions of Harmony, Islamic Cultural Center, Oakland, CA

2011

Women of the Book, International Visual Torah Project, currently online

Discourses in Color, Geometry, Swags & Swoons, Gallery A, Sierra College, Rocklin, CA

Sanctuaries in Time, JWAN, Kraft Center, Columbia University, NYC

2010

Dura Europos Project, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA

Reinventing Ritual, The Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA (travel from the JM, NYC)

The Fear Show, Tangent Gallery, Sacramento, CA

Generation D: Identities, Flomenhaft Gallery, NYC, 12/14/2010

Seduced by the Sacred. JCC/Charter Oak, Hartford, CT

Emanating Stars, Friedman Gala Tribute Event, Sacramento, CA

Group Show, Rockridge Library, Oakland, CA

Liberation Garden: Healing and Redemption After Slavery, Afikomen Judaica, Berkeley, CA

2009

Reinventing Ritual, The Jewish Museum, NY, NY

What Does It Say To You?, Spertus Museum, Chicago, IL

Faculty Exhibition, American River College, Sacramento, CA

Faculty Exhibition, Sierra College, Rocklin, CA

Old Story New Work: 80 Artists at the Passover Table, The Dorothy Saxe Invitational, The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM), San Francisco, CA

2008

Sierra College Faculty Show, Union Hall Gallery, Sacramento, CA

Flatlanders: Regional Roundup II, Nelson Gallery, UC Davis, Summer 2008

American River College Faculty Show, Union Hall, Sacramento, CA

2007-08

The New Authentics, Spertus Museum, Chicago, IL

2006

Three Artists from Chicago, Studio 18 Gallery, New York, NY

Vulnerability in the Presence of Love is Heaven, interactive performance, Evanston, IL

2005

The Hidden Garden, The Gershman JCC Y, Philadelphia, PA, curated by Miriam Seidel

2004

The Wild and The Tame & The Gestation of Mature Love, Pierro Gallery, South Orange, NJ

Scanners, Flatfile Gallery, Chicago, IL

Ner Tamid, Curators’ Choice, The Dorothy Saxe Invitational, Spertus Museum of Judaica, Chicago, IL

2003

Apparitions in the Backyard, Flatfile Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL

Fotowerks, Flatfile Photography, Chicago, IL

Anniversary Show, Unit B Gallery, Chicago, IL

2002

The Manna Redemption, Faculty Sabbatical Exhibition, Betty Rymer Gallery, SAIC, IL

 Behold Your Treasure, Transmit its Beauty, interactive performance ritual, Evanston, IL

Piece Process, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL

I Love American, Unit B Gallery, Chicago, IL

In Perpetuity, Studio 18 Gallery, New York, New York

2001

Behold Shekinah: Her Indwelling Presence Amongst Us, interactive performance, Evanston, IL

Vocalizing the Song of Shekinah: Improvisational Prayer, performance, Studio Pardes, Oak Park

Visualizing The Tree of Life, interactive performance ritual, Studio Pardes, Oak Park, IL

Honoring Shekinah: Jewish Feminine Voices, Pardes Studio, Oak Park, IL

2000

Cleaning House, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL

1998

Domestic Taboo, Suburban Fine Arts Center, Highland Park, IL

1996

A Temple in Honor of Life Lived Everyday-An Unfinished Song of Love, The Chicago Cultural Center

The Tikkun Series:  Reparation and Redemption, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL

Above and Below:  The Human Heavenly Body, Indiana University, Northwest, Gary, IN

Group Exhibition, R.H. Love Galleries, Chicago, IL

Why Is This Night Different…?, DePaul University Gallery, Chicago, IL

Spoken Text/Poetry Performances

“Poetry Halev (of the Heart),” Chochmat Halev, Berkeley, CA 1.5.2024

“I Am,” an interdisciplinary performance in conjunction with solo exhibition, The Love Life Chaya Chesed Codex: A Mini-Retrospective 1978-2017, AXIS Gallery, Sacramento, CA, 2017

“Ballad of Uncontrollable Beauty,” an interdisciplinary performance in conjunction with solo exhibition, Uncontrollable Beauty | An Odyssey | Everything We Need Is Always With Us, AXIS Gallery, Sacramento, CA, 2016

“Swooning,” an interdisciplinary performance in conjunction with solo exhibition, Swag with Love, AXIS Gallery, Sacramento, CA, 2015

“Nitzavim Drash,” Jerusalem Biennale,  First Station Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel, 2015

Stay Amazed, poetry book release, JCC, Berkeley, CA, 2014

Poetry Reading, Liz Filmer Gallery, Berkeley, CA, 2014

The Huddle, interdisciplinary interactive performance, Berkeley, CA, 2013

Remembering Who I Am, Sierra College, Rocklin, CA, May 2010

Ah Ha Yah, Afikomen Judaica, Berkeley, CA, June 6, 2010

Ah Ha, Beamer Street Studio, Woodland, CA, 2008

Dollar Collar, Studio 18 Gallery, NYC, 2005

The Wild and the Tame, spoken text performance, Pierro Gallery, South Orange, NJ, 2004

Memberships and Affiliations

MarinMOCA, Artist Member, Novato, CA, 2022-present

Art Works Downtown, Artist Member, San Rafael, CA, 2023-continuing

Marin Open Studios (MOS), 2023-continuing

Parliament of the World’s Religions, 2023-continuing

Women of the Book International Visual Torah Project (WOB), https://www.womenofthebook.org/

Jewish Art Salon (JAS), htttps://www.jewishartsalon.org/

AXIS Gallery Collaborative, Sacramento, CA, 2015-2018

Verge Center for the Arts, Sacramento, CA, 2015-2018

Panels and Lectures

Artist Talk, AXIS Gallery, Sacramento, CA, 2015, 2016, 2017

Artist Talk, First Station, Jerusalem, Israel, 2015

Artist Talk, Chochmat Halev Gallery, 2013

Lecturer, Reflections on Identity, Cross-Cultural/Diversity Series, Sierra College, 2011

Artist Lecture, Afikomen Judaica, Berkeley, CA 2010

Visiting Artist, Columbia College, 2006, 2005, 2004

Panelist, Contemporary Art and Kabbalah, Gershman JCC, Philadelphia, 2005

Panelist, Women’s History Month:  Exploring Gender, SAIC, 2001.

Lecturer, Contemporary Art and Judaism, Kallah Convention, U of Oregon, Corvallis, 1999.

Residencies

Ragdale Foundation, Lake Forest, IL, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999

Present Company, Amherst College, Amherst, MA, 2000

Roger Brown Studio and George Veronda Pavilion, New Buffalo, MI, 1999

Grants

Faculty Sabbatical Leave, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Fall 2001

Faculty Enrichment Grant, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2001, 1997, 1995

Illinois Arts Special Assistance Grant, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago, 1996

Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, Chicago, 1995

Books, Reviews, Journals, Catalogs, and Cover Art

Our Fractured World, edited by R. Debra Smith, 2023

The Space Between, curated and edited by Karen Gutfreund, ARC Gallery, SF, 2023

Genesis: The Beginning of Creativity, catalogue, edited by Goldie Gross, 2023

Shoshana Gugenheim, Women of the Book, ongoing project, trade book anticipated in late 2019

Soltes, Tradition and Transformation, Three Millennia of Jewish Art and Architecture, 2016

Rami Ozeri, The Jerusalem Biennale 2015

Elana Maryles Sztokman, The Men’s Section, Brandeis University Press, 2011, cover art

Sanctuaries in Time, exhibition catalog, 2011

The Dura Europos Project: An Ancient Site Revisited, exhibition catalog, 2010

Seduced by the Sacred: Forging A New Jewish Art, exhibition catalog, 2010

Promised Lands: New Jewish American Fiction on Longing and Belonging, Edited by Derek Rubin, Brandeis University Press, 2010, cover art

500 Judaica, Lark Books, 2010

Richard McBee, Reinventing Ritual, The Jewish Press, 10/7/2009

Daniel Belasco, Reinventing Ritual, Yale University Press, 2009

New Works/Old Story: 80 Artists at the Passover Table, The Dorothy Saxe Invitational, organized by the Contemporary Jewish Museum, SF, 2009

Flatlanders 2: Regional Roundup, UC Davis, The Richard L. Nelson Gallery, 2008

Diane Chin Lui, Dreamers and their Visions, The Davis Enterprise, August 11, 2008, A9

Sharon Cohen, The Arts: A Museum of Great Reflection, Hadassah Magazine, April 2008

Menachem Wecker, Post-Jewish Painting and Its Discontents, The Jewish Press, Jan. 23, 2008

Gloria Orenstein, Jewish Contemporary Women Artists, Nashim, Fall, Number 14, 2007

Alan Artner, New exhibit gives modern focus to Spertus tradition, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 5, 2007

Blair Kamin, Blades of Glass, Chicago Tribune, Arts and Entertainment, November 25, 2007

Kevin Nance, The 2007 Fall Preview: Visual Arts, Chicago Sun-Times, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007

Staci Boris, New Authentics, catalog published in association with exhibition, 2007

Leslie Kaufman, On the Metaphysical in Art, Inside Magazine, Winter 2005, pp.50-53.

Harriet Goodheart, The True Mysteries, Not Celebrities, of Kabbalah, The Jewish Exponent,Vol. 219/No.13, 12/22/05

Miriam Seidel, The Hidden Garden: Three Artists Explore Kabbalah, exhibition catalog, 2005

Gloria Orenstein, Contemporary Jewish Women Artists Visualize the Invisible, FEMSPEC, 2005

Dan Bischoff, The Star Ledger, October 1, 2004, p. 52.

NEWS-RECORD of South Orange and Maplewood, NJ, September 9, 2004, p. 3.

Tina Wasserman, Dialogue, Arts in the Midwest, Sept/Oct 1996

James Yood, New Art Examiner, 23, 10 (Summer 1996), pp. 41-42.

Lisa Stein, New City, May 16-22, 1996, p. 22.

Lori Gray, The Chicago Tribune, February 24, 1995

Contemporary Art Workshop 1949-1989, designed and written by Alex Nelson, Chicago, IL

Garrett Holg, Departures from Architecture, New Art Examiner, 16,10 (June, 1989), pp. 45-46.

Cara Glatt, Leopold Bloom ate with relish…,Hyde Park Herald, 3/15/89, pp. 10, 20.

Michael Bonesteel, Pioneer Press, Evanston, IL, 3/19/89

Larry Lundy, Interiors, New Art Examiner, 15,4, (December, 1987), pp. 48-49

Collections

  • The Jewish Museum, NYC
  • The Spertus Museum, Chicago
  • Numerous private collections

Education

  • Master of Theological Studies in Spirituality, Art, Healthcare, Justice and Social Transformation, Pacific School of Religion/Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, 2019
  • Clinical Pastoral Education: Spiritual Care for Health Care, UC Davis and UCSF Medical Centers, 2016-2018
  • MFA, Painting & Drawing and New Genres, Tyler School of Art of Temple University, Elkins Park, PA, 1984
  • BA, Visual Art, emphasis Painting & Drawing, Brown University with classes at RISD, Providence, RI, 1980
  • Junior Year Abroad, Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy, 1978-79

Teaching History Summary

Sept 2004-May 2019

Visual Art Faculty – Art schools, four-year univ/colleges, and CA community colleges

Jan 1985-May 2004

Adjunct Associate Professor, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL

Current Employment and Recent Education

April 2021-Present

Spiritual Support Counselor/Interfaith Chaplain, By The Bay Health, Larkspur, CA