Biography
Intrigued by the inner workings of a simple, mechanical SLR camera lent to him by his father with the fateful words- “son, turn the ring ‘till it’s sharp, put the needle in the circle, press here to shoot,” a lifelong obsession of image making was born. Scott earned a BA in Art History and an MFA in Fine Art from Florida State University after which he accepted a teaching fellowship in Florence, Italy. Since 2004, he has resided in Upstate New York with his wife and their two children pursuing adventures in tech startups, longitudinal art projects and endurance sports as a spiritual balance to the stresses of everyday life and to combat the long cold winter season. (Here is a page of commercial client work. )
Photo by Eli Brightwell, 2023
Artist Statement
Everyday, I see the light that is required to make lens formed images and am compelled to use that light to share ideas. Uniquely, photography tools tend to seduce creators that it is an easy pursuit, yet mastery is elusive and the deeper one delves into photography, the more practice it requires. The practice, through repetition and improvement, becomes a mantra that feeds the creative desire resulting in a compulsion. It is egocentric to think I have anything to say at all, but that’s the role of an artist in society, to say the things that need to be said. At my age, the compulsion is still strong to make lens-formed images even when there is no audience other than myself with which to share the images. Most of my works are shot with the intent of display- they are best seen as prints.
Education
Master of Fine Arts, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 1997
Bachelor of Arts, Art History, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 1992
CV
2000 - 2004 Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy, Head of Imaging Department
1998-2004 Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy, Instructor of Photography
2001 - 2003 The Institute of Fine and Liberal Arts in Palazzo Ruccellai, Florence, Italy, Instructor of Photography
1997-1999 Florida State University Study Abroad Center, Florence, Italy and Tallahassee, Florida, Adjunct Instructor of Photography &
Videographer, Student Recruitment
1996-1997 Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, Instructor of Photography I
Related Experience
2003 Future Firenze, photographer and production assistant on a multimedia presentation featured in the
Palazzo Vecchio,Firenze with Surproductions.
Monumental Tomb Sculpture of Italy, non-principle photography for a coffee table book by Sandra Berresford, Bob Friedus and Robert Fichter.
2001 The Weekend, Film short segment director for Julie Meyers, DA2 Digital Arts Development Agency & Arts Council of England, funded project with Julie Meyers, www.da2.org.uk, toured International Independent film festival circuit.
2000 Guest Lecturer at the American Institute of Florence, Photography in 20th C. America
2000 L’arte Lapidea a Settignano; Arnese, Opere, é Documenti. Cura di Matti Auvinen
(Exhibition and catalog images of antique stone carving instruments)
Collaborative Book and article project with Matti Auvinen, 1st published photo documentation of the chisels
of Antonino Canova,
1999 Renaissance Art History tour guide for Non-Art History majors in Tuscany & Umbria.
1999 Head Photographer for the Florida State University Cetamura Archeological Field School, Gaiole in Chianti
1992-97 Twin Palms Studio. Owner/Partner in a commercial photography studio
1992 Fellows Publishing. Principal Photographer for the Tallahassee Renters Guide.
1991-92 Tallahassee Magazine/Rowland Publishing. Assistant Photographer.
1988-92 Dickinson-Brouwer Photography. Custom Darkroom Technician.
Leukanech Photography. Assistant Photographer and Technical Advisor
1989 Capitol Photo Lab. Custom Darkroom Technician.
1986-87 Camera America. Lab Technician.
Honors and Awards
1997 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts.
1997 Teaching Fellowship Award, Florida State University Study Abroad Program, Florence, Italy.
1996-97 Teaching Assistantship Award, Florida State University.
1997 Finalist in the American Photography Institute's National Graduate Seminar, Tisch School of the Arts.
1996 Finalist in the American Photography Institute's National Graduate Seminar, Tisch School of the Arts.
1991-92 President of the Florida State University Art History Student Organization.
1990-91 Secretary of the Florida State University Art History Student Organization.
1987 Kodak Award for Excellence in Photography.
Selected Shows
2011 DRM lobby exhibition in Montpelier, VT, Castiglioncello series.
2010 Firehouse Gallery artist work sharing group, Castiglioncello series.
2009 Adirondack Art Association group exhibition
2008 Myopic Visions, Burlington International Airport Lobby Exhibition- Burlington, VT
2007 Porto -Café Bar Antidote-Vergennes, VT
2002 Myopic Visions, The Capetown Month of Photography, Inivted Artists exhibition.
2002 Myopic Visions, PhotoZA gallery Johannesburg, South Africa
2002 So Real, So Beautiful, So True, A Photographic Survey of Southern Culture and Life, Bare Hands Gallery, Birmingham, Alabama
2002 Sidereus Nuncius, Mostra Degli insegnanti, Studio Art Centers international, Florence Italy
2002 Premio Internazionale Caterina de Medici, group exhibition and auction, Florence, Italy.
2000 28 Giorni in India, One person show, Fotografia Due Mila
2000 Biennale di fotografia di Firenze, Invited participant
2000 Separation, Group photography exhibit, Webpuccino Gallery, Florence Italy.
1999 Park of the Future, Interactive Multimedia Installation Collaborative Project with Roberto Bocci, Amsterdam, Holland.
1999 Faculty Exhibition, Florence, Italy.
1999 Fractus Ocularis;Broken Visions of Italian Landscape, One man show, Florence, Italy.
1999 The City, Cdrom Interactive Group Collaboration, Florence, Italy.
1998 Group Exhibition, Marciano Alto, Elba, Italy.
1997 Id, Ego, Super ego Show, 3 person exhibition, Ogelsby Gallery.
On the Verge of Distinction, 621 Gallery.
Conspiratoria, Group Portfolio Exchange Florida State University.
1996 3rd Annual Photography Exhibition and Competition, Thomasville Cultural Arts Center, Thomasville, Georgia.