Karen Maness [email protected] | 512.799.7528 | www.karenmaness.com CURRICULUM VITAE EDUCATION Whittier College, Scholars Program B.A., Studio Art and Theatrical Design Cobalt Studios, White Lake, NY Advanced Studies in Translucent Backdrop Painting The Florence Academy of Art Academic Drawing, 19th Century Italian Landscape Painting, Human Anatomy, Academic Figurative Painting ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX Department of Theatre & Dance, Live Design Faculty, Lecturer 2003-Present School of Design and Creative Technology Faculty, Lecturer 2020-Present Scenic Art, Advanced Scenic Art, Environmental Rendering, Figurative Painting/Costume Rendering, Fabric Representation for Design, Performance as Collaborative Practice, Texas Applied Arts Courses: Enron Raptors, Practical Special Effects, Creek Monster Habitat Project – Creekshow 2019 and Earth Day 2020, Performance Robots 2020, Waller Creek Project 2021. Experiential Learning Initiative and Faculty Innovation Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX - Engaging Community Partners and Outside Audiences, “Performance and Fine Arts for Public Audiences” J.E. Johnson/Karen Maness, Dept. of Theatre and Dance (2020) The University of KY, Louisville, Presenting Guest Artist -Master Class, Translucent Backdrop Painting with Rachel Keebler, Jamie Clausius, and Bridgette Dennett (2018) The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX Department of Theatre & Dance, Guest Faculty Lecturer: Languages of the Stage, Theatrical Production and The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop (2015) California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA Guest Lecturer, Hollywood Motion Picture Scenic Art (2016) Presenting Artist for graduate Scenic Art program, silk painting (2013) University of Texas at Austin, Texas Performing Arts, Austin, TX Presenting Artist and Lecturer: Ultraviolet Light painting, translucent backdrop painting, and lighting team taught with professor Kathryn Eader of St. Edward’s University (2013) St. Edwards University, Austin, TX Guest Lecturer: Scenic Art in Regional Theatre (2006) University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL Presenting Guest Artist- translucent backdrop painting master class (2006) University of Texas at Austin, Texas Performing Arts - Master Class, “From Pixel to Bristol” Taught pneumatic paint techniques for interpreting digital imagery (2001) The Costa Rica Center for Science and Culture, Center for Advanced Study in the Arts, Institute for Digital Performing Arts, San Jose, Costa Rica Presenting Artist and Lecturer, ArtesAméricas Program From the Studio to the Stage: Scenic Art Master Class (2005) Cal State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA Presenting Guest Artist-Master Class, From Pixel to Bristol: Pneumatic Spray techniques. Artists: Bob Moody, Rachel Keebler, Karen Maness and Mary Heilman, (2001) Whittier College, Whittier, CA Guest Lecturer: Scenic Art in Regional Theatre (1998) University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA Guest Artist: Oklahoma, Miser of Mexico, independent study advisor and commissioned artist (1998) SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ART AND DESIGN APPOINTMENTS McNay Museum of Art- Design of Tim Burton exhibit backdrop (Feb 2020) McCombs School of Business, Austin, TX. Commissioned to design and lead student painting team in execution of 148’ mural “The Sky’s the Limit” completed (May 2019) Universal Creative, Hand painted concept art - interior mural - Hagrid’s Magical Motorcycle Ride Universal Studios Orlando themed attraction. (Nov 2018) Atelier Dojo Instructor, Painting the Costumed Figure, Austin, TX (May 2019) Co-Founded Atelier Dojo, LLC with Austin figurative artists Denise Fulton, Jennifer Balkan, and Karen Offutt, Austin, TX (2018) Bob Bullock Cool Summer Nights, Texas History Museum-Featured Artist (July 2018) The Enron Raptors, Texas Applied Arts Exhibition Design, Bass Concert Hall (2018) Texas Performing Arts -The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX Scenic Art Supervisor, overseeing scenic art for all theatrical productions for UT Department of Theatre & Dance and The Butler School of Music (1999 to date) Michael Raiford Design, Consultant for production of The Wizard of OZ (2018) The Art Directors Guild Archives - Backdrop Recovery Project Recover and document 207 MGM historic motion picture backdrops Sony Studios, Culver City, CA (2017) Walt Disney Imagineer Professional Development - Austin, TX Trompe l’oeil painting - scenic art weekend intensive (2017) Killis Almond Architect and WJHW, San Antonio, TX Historic Recreation of San Angelo Theatre Fire Curtain backdrop (2016) Paper Chairs, Austin, TX, Art Show Model Show- Artist, performer, poster art (2013) Michael Crowley Productions, Austin, TX Hayes Carll Lovers and Leavers tour backdrop (2016), Bruce and Kelly Willis tour backdrop (2013) American Taekwondo Association, Little Rock, AR Design and fabrication of 20’x60’ Korean Sumi-Style Masters Ceremony Curtain, Conceptual Design for future ATA headquarter in Little Rock (2013) Zach Theatre, Austin, TX Charge Scenic Artist Les Misérables Backdrop, Tour Production Consultant (2013) Charge Scenic Artist and consultant for various productions (2000-2006) Chula Vista High School for the Creative and Performing Arts-Chula Vista, CA Guest Artist/Designer/Muralist of “Rhapsody in Blue”, 75’ mural in the City of Chula Vista Public Art Collection (2008) Harry Ransom Center, Austin, TX Designer and Artist, Arthur Miller Exhibition “Rehearsing the American Dream” (2007) Radisson Hotel and Suites Austin, TX Designer and muralist for Starbucks “Austin Bound Mural” (2005) South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, CA Staff Scenic Artist for forty-seven productions with leading national designers South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, CA Scenic Design and Scenic Artist (1995-1999), Latinologues, Director: Rick Najera (1998) Disneyland Entertainment, Anaheim, CA Assistant Charge Scenic Artist to Mary Heilman, MULAN Parade-floats (1998) Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA Scenic Artist/Sculptor (1993-1996) George and Goldberg Design Associates, Paramount, CA Scenic Artist: Industrial display, theme park, cruise ship, backdrops and stage setting for touring music groups. (1991-1999) Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, CA Scenic Artist, Nine Armenians-scrim backdrop, Designer: Ralph Funicello (1997) The State Theatre, Austin, TX Charge Scenic Artist, Proof, and The Dinosaur Within, Designer: Hugh Landwehr (2002) Charge Scenic Artist, Glass Menagerie, Designer: Christopher McCollum (2001) Charge Scenic Artist, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Designer: Richard Isackes (2000) Movie Magic, Universal City, Universal Studios, CA Scenic Artist, Tokyo Theme Park Attraction film (1999) San Diego Comic Opera, San Diego, CA Scene Designer/Scenic Artist Anything Goes (1997), The Chocolate Soldier (1995) SPEAKING APPEARANCES KTEP Radio, OnFilm Radio Interview “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” (March 2020) KXAN Austin, Todd Boatright Interview “Hollywood Backdrops” (April 2020) CBS Sunday Morning, “Behind the Scenes” – Hollywood Backdrops (Feb 9, 2020) The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre & Dance, KJ Sanchez MFA Directing Course Guest Speaker, “Composition for the Stage”, Austin, TX (Oct 2019) Austin Women’s Club, “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop”, Austin, TX (Sep 2019) Culver City Historical Society, “The Lost Paintings of MGM”, Culver City, CA (July 2019) Big 12 Teaching and Learning Conference, teaching collaboration and soft skills through project-based learning at Texas Applied Arts, Austin, TX (May 2019) The United Sates Institute of Theatre Technology, “The Lost Paintings of MGM”, Louisville, KY (March 2019) Infinity Film Festival, “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop, Preservation, and 4k Film Restoration” with Schawn Belston of 20th Century Fox. Preceding the screening of the newly restored Sound of Music, Beverly Hills, CA (Nov 2018) IAPPA presentation paper “Soft Skills with Teeth” Orlando, FL (2018) UT Austin Faculty Innovation Center, teaching collaboration through project-based learning at Texas Applied Arts (2018) AIAA Principles Breakfast, “Inspiring Creativity”, with J.E. Johnson Austin, TX (2018) LAMP and NOVA presentations at UT Austin “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” Austin, TX (2018) ROXY Cinema, “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” and screening of NXNW, Tribeca, NY (2018) “An Evening with Karen Maness- An historic look into The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” Georgetown, Texas (2017) LA Times Festival of Books, USC, Los Angeles, CA. “Hooray for Classic Hollywood” Moderated by M.G. Lord with authors John Lewis, Kenneth Turan, and Glen Frankel (2017) United States Institute of Theatre Technology, Kansas City, MO Scenic Art for Television (2017) United States Institute of Theatre Technology, Kansas City, MO Teaching Art Direction and Production Design (2017) The Getty, Los Angeles, CA “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” research presentation and lecture (2017) SXSW, Austin, TX Presenter “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” (2017) Austin Art League One, Austin, TX Guest Author and Lecturer “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” (2017) Spartscast, Portland, OR Interview with Geno Franco, “Scenic Art and The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” (2017) 829 United Scenic Artists, New York, NY Guest Author and Lecturer “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” (2016) Austin Film Society, Austin, TX Guest Author and Lecturer “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” (2016) ADG 800, MavenCraft Studios, San Fernando, CA “The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” Panel discussion with Hollywood Scenic Artists and Author Karen Maness,