Carianne Mack Garside was born in Coldspring, NY, grew up in the woods of Northwestern CT, and has lived in many cities across the U.S. since. She received a B.F.A. from Alfred University and an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa. Carianne also studied at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice, Italy. Carianne is a practicing artist currently working in large-format watercolors, with studio experience in oil painting, gouache, printmaking, book binding, metal forging, bronze casting, glass blowing, glass casting, plaster sculpture, and video. Her exhibitions include Lo River Arts Gallery in Beacon, NY; Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA; A.I.R. Gallery in NYC; Wendy Cooper Gallery in Madison, WI; the INOVA center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; ArtLab space at the University of Memphis Museum of Art, Memphis, TN. Her work is installed in numerous private and corporate spaces worldwide including Hilton Hotels (Columbus, OH, Houston, TX, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sandestin, FL) Windham Hotel, Atlanta, GA and Missouri State Bank and Duke University. Her work has also been featured in multiple editions of Studio Visit Magazine. Carianne has taught at The University of Iowa, The University of Northern Iowa and The University of CT, as well as other institutions. She is currently a Professor of Fine Arts at Tunxis Community College in Farmington, CT, and is living in the CT woods with her husband, 3 children and 2 cats.
“My work has always been informed by the natural world and the changing structures I discover there. I paint best outside, immersed in wilderness. Nature is my place to discover meaning and metaphor, and it is my grounding place.
Watercolor has been my medium of choice in recent years. It can go with me anywhere, is non-toxic, and has minimal impact on our environment. It’s spontaneity and translucency is perfect to capture the action-filled moments I find outdoors. Watercolor also has mind of its own, creating incidents as it pools and dries that are more graceful than I could conscientiously draw. Watercolor itself is a unique force, affected by wind, gravity, and temperature.
Something I have always found balancing is a walk in the woods. No matter what chaos may be going on in my home, classroom, community, country- the trees are always there. Despite all this other noise, there’s a gorgeous little nugget of earth to be found. Personally, these paintings are about finding the moment and connecting with my wilderness. Within these painted spaces the viewer can reflect on their own relationship to the conditions of our natural world.”
