Constance E. Coleman

“Our work is filled with fun. It’s not meant to be drop-dead serious. But it seems like the way for us to say the most, and art is all about communication.”
-Connie Coleman

Video artist Constance (Connie) Coleman uses the camera as a drawing tool, collecting source imagery which she transforms electronically into single channel videotapes. Her work addresses issues of personal identity, gender, politics, and media spectacle. Coleman collaborated with her husband, Alan Powell, beginning in the 1970s when they met while attending Rhode Island School of Design. Individually and collectively they explored, via video, various notations of personality, memory and community and how meaning can be construed in urban and ex-urban habitats. Coleman and Powell carried a video camera wherever they went, using it “like a sketchbook”.

Coleman was Adjunct Professor in Media Arts at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Adjunct Professor in Communications at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

Note: This database entry reflects work done individually by Constance (Connie) Coleman. Please refer to the "Coleman and Powell" entry for work done in collaboration with her husband, Alan Powell and to the "Alan Powell" entry for work done individually by him.

Education and Training
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island, M.A.E., 1974
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island, B.F.A., 1970

Connection to Bucks County
Coleman lived in Pipersville, Tinicum Township, Bucks County, with her husband and colleague, Alan Powell, also an accomplished videographer and painter. She was on the board of directors of Discovery Service Project. She was active in the Episcopal Church Women, the Plumstedville Grange, the Pipersville Library and the Hunterdon Rughookers Guild.

Exhibitions
CE Coleman: Drawing the ‘Time In-Between’, Sol Mednick Gallery, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010
The Honduras Project, Judith Taylor Gallery, Arcadia University, Glenside, Pennsylvania, 2010
Animation Faculty Screening, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2009
A Touch of Tinicum, Stover Mill Gallery, Erwinna, Pennsylvania, 2009
Undercover: Deception & Disguise in (Some) Contemporary Art, Rahway Arts Guild, Rahway, New Jersey, 2009
Invitational Salon Exhibition of Small Works, New Arts Program, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, 2002
Digital Art 2002, Jackson Hall Gallery, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky, 2002
Mixed Media Faculty Show, Philadelphia College of Art and Design, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2001
Media Arts Faculty Exhibition, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1998
Twenty-five Years of American Printmaking, Brandywine Workshop, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1998
10th Biennial National Print Show, Payne Gallery, Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1996
Selected Videoworks by Connie Coleman, Dubois Gallery, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1996
Borderland, Print Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1996
Scene at a Place in Time, 69th Annual Competition: Prints, The Print Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1994
The Stilled Image, Booktrader Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1990

For exhibitions representing Connie Coleman’s work done in collaboration with Alan Powell, see Coleman and Powell database entry.

Grants and Awards
Faculty Development Grant, Arcadia University, Glenside, Pennsylvania, 2008, 2008
Venture Fund Award, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004
Visiting Artist Fellowship, Brandywine Workshop, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1989, 1990, 1997
Purchase Award, 10th Biennial National Print Show, Payne Gallery of Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1996
Finalist, Media Arts, PEW Fellowship in the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1996
Philadelphia Independent Film and Video Association (PlFVA) Subsidy Grant, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996
Winner, Media Arts, PEW Fellowship in the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1994
Print Club Selection Award, 69th Annual Competition: Prints, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1994
NEA/AFl Mid-Atlantic Regional Arts Fellowship, Video Production, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1994
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Visual Arts Residency Grant, CEPA Gallery, Buffalo, New York, 1992-1993
Artist’s Fellowship, Special Projects, Video Production, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, 1986
Artists Fellowship, Media, Video Production, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, 1982, 1984
First Prize, Video, Women in Film Festival, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1982
Artist in Residence, Maryland Center for the Arts, 1980
Artist in Residence, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, 1974-1976

For grants and awards won for collaborative work with Alan Powell, see Coleman and Powell database entry.

Teaching Appointments
Adjunct Professor in Media Arts, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1989-2011
Adjunct Professor in Communications, Arcadia University, Glenside, Pennsylvania, 2004-2011
Adjunct Professor in Digital Design, Philadelphia University, 2004-2005
Instructor in Studio Art, Rosemont College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, 1991
Visiting Artist, Maryland Institute College of Art, 1982
Adjunct Instructor of Textile Design, Rhode Island School of Design, 1974-1977
Adjunct Instructor of Textile Arts, Rhode Island College, 1972-1974
Visiting Artist, University of Rhode Island, 1975
Visiting Lecturer, Arcadia University, 2002
Visiting Lecturer, CEPA, Buffalo, New York, 1991
Visiting Lecturer, University of Virginia, 1989
Visiting Lecturer, University of the Arts Industrial Design Department and Electronic Media Department, 1988
Visiting Lecturer, Rosemont College, 1987, 1988
Visiting Lecturer, Bucks County Community College, 1989, 1991, 1992, 2002
Visiting Lecturer, Temple University, 1987, 1990
Visiting Lecturer, Moore College of Art and Design, 1986, 1987, 1990
Visiting Lecturer, Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, 1987
Visiting Lecturer, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1987
Visiting Lecturer, Rhode Island School of Design Department of Film and Video, 1985, 1987

Additional Employment
Board of Directors, Discovery Service Projects, Pipersville, PA
Art Director of Multimedia, Universal Machine Project, Irwin Publishing, Chicago/Lehigh University EECS, 1995-1996
Multimedia Consultant, Bucks County Community, 1995
Freelance QUANTEL Paintbox artist, both Graphic and Videographic System, 1984-1989
Graphic Artist/Designer, Corporate Communications, CIGNA Corporation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1981-1983
Technician and Fabricator, Franklin Institute Science Museum, 1980
Assistant Model maker, Panoramic Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1979
Art Teacher, Archbishop Prendergast High School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, 1978
Graphic Artist/Designer, Office of Publications at Rhode Island College, Providence, Rhode Island, 1977-1978
Artist-in-Residence, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, 1974-1976
Textile Designer, Heller Jersey, a division of Uniroyal Corporation, 1971-1973