I’m passionate about the deep meaning expressed in a glance, how voluptuous open spaces and the effects of atmosphere color emotions, and the attempt to communicate these moments through art. I’m influenced by the paradox of tragic joy in Irish landscape, history, music, dance and spirituality. Soon after my first trip to Ireland, a ten-dollar garage sale vintage mirror frame inspired my first Irish landscape. I chose a composition that would suit the unusually shaped frame. Since the success of this piece I now spend quality time in Ireland and in antique shops and thrift stores, hunting for inspiration. There is a synergy between my artistic style, the timeless Irish subject matter and these shabby chic frames. I enjoy the feeling of being in touch with the work, and use my fingers to “paint” the pure pigments of pastels over my entire paper surface. I choose to depict the reality of people and places here and now, but my goal is to use skill and imagination to produce works that portray the more enduring qualities of the world and of the human condition. Alice McMahon White

Solo Exhibitions



2006 "The White Album", Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago, IL



"Green Groves of Erin", McCord House Gallery, Palos Park, IL, the Beverly Arts Center, Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier, and the Irish American Heritage Center, Chicago, IL



2005 Passport to Ireland, Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier, Chicago, IL



2000 Celtic Spirituality Symposium, St. Cajetan Church, Chicago, IL







Selected Group Exhibitions







2006 Chicago Artist’s Coalition Open, Zhou B. Center, Chicago, IL



The Last Picture Show, Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago, IL



Municipal Art League of Chicago, Beverly Arts Center, Chicago IL



Pastels USA, Pastel Society of the West Coast, Auburn, California



Strokin’, Chicago Pastel Painters Member’s Show, Old Town Arts Center, Chicago, IL



Pastels Only Invitational, McCord House Gallery, Palos Park, IL



Face to Face Portrait Show, McCord House Gallery, Palos Park, IL



14th Annual Artists in Residence Group Exhibition, Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago



2005 Plaza Art Competition, Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, IL



Chicago Artist's Coalition Open, Chicago, IL



Gallery 2005, De Caprio Gallery, Moraine Valley College, Palos Hills, IL



Emerald Art, Four Person Show, Beverly Arts Center Gallery, Chicago, IL



13th Annual Artists in Residence Group Exhibition, Fine Arts Building Gallery; Chicago, IL



2004 Self-Portraits 2004, Northwest Cultural Council’s International Juried Exhibition; Rolling Meadows IL



Sacred Art Juried Exhibit, First United Methodist Church; Evanston, IL



Chicago Artist's Coalition Open, Vietnam Veteran's Museum; Chicago, IL



Art Comp 2004, Chesterton Art Center; Chesterton, Indiana



9th Annual Artists Who Teach Exhibition, Beverly Arts Center; Chicago, IL



Gallery 2004, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL



12th Annual Artists in Residence Group Exhibition, Fine Arts Building Gallery; Chicago



2002 Gallery 2002, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL



The 9/11 Show, Fulton Street Gallery; Troy, New York



The Art Project, Artists Visions of 9/11; On-line Gallery



2001 I Madonnari Outdoor Gallery Street Painting Festival, Sutherland School, Chicago, IL



Gallery 2001, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL



Alice and Arthur Baer Art Competition, Beverly Art Center; Chicago, IL



Awards



2006 Canson Merchandise Award, Pastels USA, Pastel Society of the West Coast, Auburn, California



2005 Best Drawing, Plaza Art Competition, Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, IL



Best of Show, Gallery 2005, De Caprio Gallery, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL



2004 Honorable Mention, Self-Portraits 2004, Northwest Cultural Council’s International Juried Exhibition; Rolling Meadows, IL



2002 Third place, Gallery 2002, De Caprio Gallery at Moraine Valley Community College; Palos Hills, IL







Education/Professional Affiliations and Memberships







St. Xavier University, Chicago, IL



Independent study: Dingle, and Beara Peninsulas, Ireland



The Art Institute of Chicago



Curator, Irish American Heritage Center Gallery, Chicago, IL



Beverly Arts Center, Chicago



Chicago Pastel Painters



Chicago Artist's Coalition



Fine Arts Building Council, Chicago, IL



Teaching Positions



Private Lessons, Alice McMahon White Studio, Chicago, IL



Pastels for Adults, Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, IL



Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier, Chicago, IL



Corporate/Permanent Public Collections



The Irish American Heritage Center, Chicago, IL



St. Cajetan Roman Catholic Church, Chicago, IL



Hinsdale Flower Shop, Hinsdale, IL



World Folk Music Company, Chicago, IL



Thompson - Kuenster Funeral Home, Oak Lawn, IL



Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District, Alsip, IL



AMS Mechanical Systems, Inc., Barrington, IL



Donellan Funeral Home, Chicago, IL



Fireside Restaurant Beverly, Chicago, IL



French Kitchen Restaurant, Chicago, IL







Private Collections



Various private collections in Chicago, Illinois; Las Vegas, Nevada; Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, New York; and Dingle and Kinsale in Ireland.