Wren Gardiner
education
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2023, MFA - Visual Arts; University of California San Diego
2016, BFA - Photography, Video and Imaging; University of Arizona
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exhibitions, screenings, and events
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solo and two-person
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2023
By the Sweat of My Browser, UCSD Visual Arts Main Gallery; San Diego, CA (solo)
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2022
💫extra extra💫, UCSD Studio Space 265; San Diego, CA (solo)
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2021
*sensitive content* (death, life, self-reflection, white women, fascism, eating disorders, 24-28 year olds, earthquakes, etc.), UCSD Commons Gallery; San Diego, CA (solo)
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2016
473🔥, Lionel Rombach Gallery; Tucson, AZ (two person)
Play, Todd Walker Gallery; Tucson, AZ (solo)
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group
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2024
NewFest: The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Nitehawk Cinema; New York, NY (production designer; directed by Hazel Katz; forthcoming - October 2024)
At Home, Surely Work Studios; Los Angeles, CA
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2023
fan fiction about heaven or hell, Human Resources LA; Los Angeles, CA
Sites of Blood and Water, Vielmetter; Los Angeles, CA
Find Me in the White Room, UCSD Visual Arts Main Gallery; San Diego, CA
Reality... What a Concept, UCSD Performance Space; San Diego, CA (in person and online screening)
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2022
NextGen2022: You took my impression without ever touching me by beck haberstroh, Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego (North); San Diego, CA (performer)
EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT / NO. 4 LAST STRAW, Tin Flats; Los Angles, CA
Cabaret: Cyberbully, Head Empty, UCSD Red Tables; San Diego, CA (performance)
Frieze San Diego, UCSD Visual Arts Main Gallery; San Diego, CA
UCSD Open Studios Video Screening 2022, UCSD Performance Space; San Diego, CA (in person and online screening)
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2021
UCSD Open Studios Video Screening, University of California San Diego; San Diego, CA (online screening)
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2020
Dramas de Otro Mundo Video Screening, UV Estudios por Colección de Fortabat; Buenos Aires, Argentina (online screening)
Happy New Year, University of California San Diego; San Diego, CA (online screening)
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2019
DOC LA Film Festival, Raleigh Studios; Los Angeles, CA (juried, award recipient)
St. Louis International Film Festival, Plaza Frontenac Theater; St. Louis, MO (juried, Academy Award qualifying)
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2017
What Keeps You Up At Night?, The Arts at CIIS, California Institute of Integral Studies; San Francisco, CA (juried, traveling exhibition)
Define Femme, Open Mind Art Space; Los Angeles, CA
Videohouse I, Deslave Gallery; Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
By Now We Are There, MOCA Tucson; Tucson, AZ; Visual Arts Research Lab, Tucson, AZ (symposium and live performance)
My Big Boat Show, Boathouse Gallery; Tucson, AZ
Mining Memory, La Cocina; Tucson, AZ (artist talk)
Resist, Conrad Wilde Gallery; Tucson, AZ
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2016
Articulate, Boathouse Gallery; Tucson, AZ
Sweet Spot, Court Tree Collective; New York City, NY (juried)
Poser: and Other Suggestions, Studio Space on Third; Tucson, AZ
Vicissitude, Boathouse Gallery; Tucson, AZ
University of Arizona BFA Show, Union Gallery; Tucson, AZ
Subtext, Pretext, Context, Lionel Rombach Gallery; Tucson, AZ (juried)
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2015
In/Imperfect Balance, Todd Walker Gallery; Tucson, AZ
Likeness, Todd Walker Gallery; Tucson, AZ
Mixed Media Art Installation Exhibition, Steinfeld Warehouse; Tucson, AZ
The Man From Angel Valley Short Film Screening, Center For Creative Photography; Tucson, AZ
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curatorial
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2023
fan fiction about heaven or hell, Human Resources LA; Los Angeles, CA (curated with Hazel Katz and Jack Coventry)
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2022
Frieze San Diego, UCSD Visual Arts Main Gallery and Commons Gallery; San Diego, CA (curated with Cat Gunn)
EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT / NO. 4 LAST STRAW, Tin Flats; Los Angles, CA (curated with Hazel Katz and Heige Kim)
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publications
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2024
when did it start, How does it end, limited edition zine produced in conjunction with the IKEA Residency; Los Angeles, CA; Stocked at Everybody Gallery; Tucson, AZ
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2023
Wren Gardiner with HereIn, HereIn Journal, by Elizabeth Rooklidge; San Diego, CA
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2021
Pet of the Month, University Heights Community Association Newspaper; San Diego, CA
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teaching
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Instructor of Record - California State University San Marcos; San Marcos, CA 2024-present
AMD102 The Computer and Visual Arts, Fall Semester 2024
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Teaching Assistant - University of California San Diego; San Diego, CA 2020-present
VIS3 Intro to Art Making: Three-Dimensional Practices, Winter Quarter 2023
VIS1 Intro to Art Making: Two-Dimensional Practices, Fall Quarter 2022
VIS60 Intro to Digital Photography, Summer Session I 2022
VIS84 Film History, Spring Quarter 2022
VIS41 Design Communications, Winter Quarter 2022
VIS41 Design Communications, Fall Quarter 2021
VIS60 Intro to Digital Photography, Winter Quarter 2021
VIS70N Intro to Media, Fall Quarter 2020
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Photography Teacher - Performance Arts Workshops; Los Angeles, CA 2017
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related professional experience
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2022-present
Media Assistant - Anya Gallaccio; San Diego, CA
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2021-present
Installation and Performance Documenter - various artists and institutions; San Diego, CA & Los Angeles, CA
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2017-present
Photographic Retoucher, Web Designer, & Assistant to the Creative Director - Raya Labs; Los Angeles, CA
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2022
Production Designer - Sydney & Kim (2023), Directed by Hazel Katz; Borrego Springs, CA
Shadow Performer - beck haberstroh, You took my impression without ever touching me; ICA San Diego, San Diego, CA
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2017-2020
On Set Photographer - Mild West Productions; Tucson, AZ
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2017
Gallery Intern - Boathouse Gallery; Tucson, AZ
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2016
Retouching Intern - Chroma NY; New York City, New York
Photographer's Assistant - Sama Alshaibi, Between Two Rivers; Tucson, AZ
Darkroom Internship - University of Arizona School of Fine Art; Tucson, AZ
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curatorial
2023
fan fiction about heaven or hell, Human Resources LA; Los Angeles, CA (curated with Hazel Katz and Jack Coventry)
2022
EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT / NO. 4 ~ LAST STRAW, Tin Flats; Los Angeles, CA (curated with Hazel Katz and Heige Kim)
Frieze San Diego, UCSD Visual Arts Main Gallery and Commons Gallery; San Diego, CA (curated with Cat Gunn)
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publications
2024
when did it start, How does it end, limited edition zine produced in conjunction with the IKEA Residency; Los Angeles, CA; Stocked at Everybody Gallery; Tucson, AZ
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2023
Wren Gardiner with HereIn, HereIn Journal, by Elizabeth Rooklidge; San Diego, CA
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2021
Pet of the Month, University Heights Community Association Newspaper; San Diego, CA
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awards and recognition
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2024
Flaherty Fellowship Selection Committee Member - Flaherty Film Seminar
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2023
IKEA Residency Participant - IKEA Residency
Antin Prize Awardee - University of California San Diego; juried by Nicole Miller, Alexandro Segade, and Rubén Ortiz Torres
Russell Grant Recipient - University of California San Diego; juried by Michael Trigilio, Dean Erdman, and Elizabeth Newsom
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2022
Dean of Arts and Humanities Travel Grant Fund Recipient - University of California San Diego
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2021
Flaherty Graduate Fellow - Flaherty Film Seminar
MFA First Year Review Fellowship Recipient - University of California San Diego
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2019
DOC LA Rising Star Award - Parajanov-Vartanov Institute
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2016
Creative Achievement Award - University of Arizona School of Art
Cum Laude Academic Achievement Award - University of Arizona School of Art