Painting - Photography - Poetry
Artist Bio
I was born in Eureka Springs, Arkansas but grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida. I was a creative child surrounded by creative people who supported my artistic interests. In 1967 I attended the Art Students League in Woodstock, New York, and then went on to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia from 1968 to 1972. As a Philadelphia artist I also worked in various art galleries and frame shops before becoming manager of the Graphics Department at Drexel University from 1974 to 1980. My first one person show was held at the original Painted Bride Gallery on Philly's legendary South Street in 1975. During the Old City Arts Renaissance Movement in Philadelphia from about 1975 to 1980 I was Film Maker in Residence at ETAGE - Experimental Theater and Gallery.
Throughout the 1980’s I lived in Orlando, Florida where I taught photography at the Crealde School of Art in Winter Park and conducted a watercolor class at the Maitland Art Center from 1984 until 1990. In 1991 I moved back to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and was a special feature writer/photographer for the local newspaper while painting, drawing and operating Fithian Studios as a commercial and fine art photography studio.
In 2000 I returned to Florida and briefly opened a fine art gallery before becoming Curator of Art and Exhibitions at the Museum of Art – DeLand, Florida. In 2020 I retired after 19 years but remain an independent Museum curator for special exhibitions. Over the last 15 years I have had the privilege of being invited to judge or co-judge many state wide exhibitions. This experience has given me a real appreciation for so many other artists and their unique works.
I currently maintain an active painting studio and regularly exhibit locally and nationally. Freelance curatorial and consulting services are available upon request. Check out Fithian Art on Facebook, Instagram and the FITHIAN ART YouTube channel.
Resume
Resume - David Fithian
Education – 1967 to 1975
Art Students League, Woodstock, NY
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Exhibitions
Englewood Art Center - Englewood, FL - Solo Exhibit - 2021
Jane's Art Center - New Smyrna Beach, FL - (ongoing)
Art League of Daytona Beach, FL - ( 2 exhibits) 2021
Penn. Academy of the Fine Arts Fellowship Juried exhibit – Philedelphia, PA 2020
Combined Talents Juried Exhibit – Florida State University – Tallahassee, FL 2019
Solo Show – Blake Elliot Salon and Gallery – DeLand, FL – 2017
The HUB, New Smyrna Beach, FL - 2016
The Art Alliance, Fort Myers, FL - 2014
Art Space at SWA – New Smyrna Beach, FL – 2010
Peabody Auditorium – Daytona Beach, FL – 2009
Portrait – Loyola University - Diboll Gallery - New Orleans, LA– 2009
More Postcards from Paradise – Maitland Art Center, Maitland, FL – 2006
Gibran Gallery – DeLand, FL – 2005
DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts – Featured Artist and Merit Award – DeLand, FL – 2003
Central Florida Juried Show – Mt. Dora Center for the Arts – Mt. Dora, FL 2002
Wolfe Gallery – DeLand, FL – 2001
Penn. Academy of the Fine Arts Juried Fellowship Exhibit – Philadelphia, PA – 1998
Juried Regional Exhibition – Springfield Museum of Art – Springfield, MO - 1997
Zarks Gallery – Eureka Springs, AR – 1996
Arkansas Press Association - Excellence in Photography Award – 1994
Strawberry Spring Art Festival – Merit Award – Winter Park, FL – 1989
Maitland Art Center – Maitland, FL – 1984
PBS Channel 29 Art Auction and Exhibit – Best of Show – Orlando, FL 1982
Casements Cultural Center – Ormond Beach, FL – 1981
University of South Dakota – Viridian, SD – 1979
Painted Bride Gallery – Philadelphia, PA – 1975
Numerous juried exhibitions throughout the Philadelphia area from 1968 – 1980
Collections
Woodstock Artists Association – Woodstock, NY
Governor Kimura – Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Porter Paint Company
Maitland Art Center, Maitland, FL
RCA Corporation
Orlando International Air Port
Birmingham Museum of Art
Crealde School of Art, Winter Park, FL
Volusia County Parks and Recreation – DeLand, FL
Dr. Dale Batten – DeLand, FL
Linda Pinto – DeLand, FL
Judy Thompson – DeLand, FL
Historic Arkansas Museum – Little Rock, AR
Bibliography
The DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts Supplement – DeLand, FL – November 2014
Inside Art New Orleans – June, 2009
West Volusia Magazine – Featured Artist – Daytona Beach, FL - September 2008
Backstage Pass Magazine – Featured Artist – Daytona Beach, FL – July 2007
At Home in Arkansas – May 1998
Coin Age Magazine – Cover Photograph – February 1998
Central Florida Magazine – Orlando, FL - 1990
Winter Park Outlook – Winter Park, FL - 1983
Arts Exchange – Philadelphia, PA – 1979
Vile International Art Magazine – San Francisco, CA – 1977
Philadelphia Review – Philadelphia, PA – Summer Edition – 1975
Professional Experience
Curator of Art and Exhibitions – Museum of Art, DeLand, FL – 2001 – 2020 (retired)
Fithian Studios Fine Art and Commercial Photography – 1984 – 2000
Photographer/contributing writer– Times Echo Newspaper -
Eureka Springs, AR – 1993 – 1996
Watercolor instructor – Maitland Art Center – Maitland, FL – 1984 – 1991
Graphics Department Head – Drexel University – Philadelphia, PA – 1974 – 1980
Selected Judging Invitations
Leesburg Fine Arts Festival – Leesburg, FL – 2005
Visual Arts Center – Annual Juried Photography Exhibit - Pamama City, FL – 2007
Canaveral Port Authority, Parking Garage Mural Juror - Brevard Cultural Alliance – Brevard County - FL – 2008
Thomas Center Annual Juried Exhibition – Gainesville, FL – 2010
28th All Florida Juried Exhibition – The Art Alliance, Fort Myers, FL
Uptown Art Expo – Altamonte Springs, FL - 2013
St. Johns River Festival of the Arts – Sanford, FL – 2014
Villages Members Exhibit –The Villages, FL - 2015
Under The Oaks – Vero Beach, FL – 2016
Gainesville Downtown Festival and Art Show – Gainesville, FL - 2017
41st Annual Leesburg Art Festival – Leesburg, FL – 2018
Ridge Art Association - Dress Code Juried Show - Winter Haven, FL – 2018
Flagler County Art League – Textures Juried Show – Palm Coast, FL – 2018
Cocoa Beach Art Show – Cocoa Beach, FL – 2018
Florida Women’s Art Association – Fabrication – Ormond Beach FL – 2019
35th Melbourne Art Festival – Melbourne, FL – 2019
Villages Members Exhibit –The Villages, FL – 2019
45th Mount Dora Arts Festival – Mount Dora, FL – 2020
One Daytona Festival – Daytona Beach International Speedway – 2020
Flagler Art League Animal themed exhibit – 2020
Florida Women’s Art Association – Ormond Beach, FL – 2021
Artists’ Workshop Members Show – New Smyrna Beach, FL - 2021
Apopka Art and Foliage Festival – Apopka, FL - 2021
Winter Park Autumn Art Festival - Winter Park, FL - 2021
Florida Women's Arts Association - Ormond Beach, FL - 2022