Exhibitions, Publications, and Projects
Transcending Moments
MFA Exhibition, Bradley University Heuser Art Gallery
2022
Through visual communication, data visualization, user experience, and illustration, I combined consciousness, spirituality, and technology to create immersive experiences, design, and art for my MFA thesis. The work merges the areas of traditional fine art and technology-driven experience design with science and spirit.
Transient Artist Residency
United Kingdom
2021
I was an artist in the Juried Transient Online Residency Programme via Instagram. It supports creatives who explore the relationship between Art & Technology. The purpose of this virtual environment is to offer creatives the opportunity to connect with fellow creatives from all over the world, to bring inspiration and conversation into their homes. Creatives have taken part in the program from Indonesia, England, Ireland, North & South America, Israel, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, and many more. Each online residency lasts five days, with creatives having complete control over what they decide to post.
Seen but Not Felt Exhibition
Peoria, IL
2021
Seen but Not Felt is an exhibition borne out of the impact Covid-19 has had on our society, which becomes reflected in our public spaces; empty galleries with paintings on the walls, but void of visitors to roam the floor and appreciate them, artwork seen through computer screens or windows without the physical space being activated by human presence to complement the artwork. What does it look like to create an exhibition of art pieces that are made to exist on the floor- a space usually open and maneuverable, but not available for usual function anymore? Seen but Not Felt is a collaboration of artists across multiple mediums, to create an installation in the Heuser Art Center Gallery that is designed to be seen from windows or on a screen. The space functions in a new way, just as we are all learning how to navigate space differently.
Participating artists: Heather Brammeier, Loretta Brammeier, Erin Buczynski, Alexandra Dupont, Heather Ford, Nina Gospodin, Nichole Gronvold-Roller, Mie Kongo, Hattie Lee, Nicholas Nyland, Dylan Paschke, Lisa Nelson Raabe, Sydney Ryan, and Trish Williams.
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HOWIE Truck
Central Illinois
2021
I worked with Phoenix Community Development Services, the Heart of Illinois United Way, and Home for All Continuum of Care to design the exterior and interior artwork of hygiene on wheels vehicle for the Central Illinois Community. The framed artworks inside of the vehicle are letterpress. The rest of the interior and the exterior art are adhesive vinyl graphics were created in Adobe Illustrator. The project is called HOWIE, a new mobile hygiene vehicle equipped with restroom and laundry facilities that will provide people experiencing homelessness with hot showers and clean clothing. Access to hot showers and laundry facilities has always been critical to our community members' health living on the streets and other places unfit for human habitation. The need for proper hygiene is now more critical than ever, especially for a population who are especially at high risk of contracting COVID-19.
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https://www.hoiunitedway.org/hoi-united-way-news/central-illinois-howie-mobile-hygiene-unit/
Bradley University Heuser Art Gallery Virtual Exhibition
Peoria, IL
2020
In My Shoes Exhibition
Peoria, IL
2020
At the Peoria Civic Center Phoenix Community Development Services "Gimme Shelter" Event.
Looking Good Exhibition
MetroLab Gallery
Fort Lauderdale, FL
2020
My artworks “Marginalized Gender Identities” and "Beauty in All Genders" were selected to exhibit at the "Looking Good Exhibition". The exhibition invited designers and artists to submit works that examine the idea of “Looking Good.”
Ronald McDonald House Permanent Collection
Peoria, IL
2019
My artwork “They Bring Hope” was selected to be displayed at the Peoria, IL Ronald McDonald House Art Gala included in the art collection of the Peoria Ronald McDonald House family suites.
Giving Hand Sculpture
Big Picture Street Festival
Peoria, IL
2019
At the Big Picture Festival, I created a hand sculpture with help from the Peoria community members with non-perishable food donations to the Peoria Area Food Bank. The sculpture's form was created before the event. On the day of the festival, I worked with the Peoria Area Food Bank team and community members to place the donated goods into the sculpture. The sculpture developed a sense of pride and provided needs to Peoria.
Keys of Hope
Art Installation
Phoenix Community Development Services
Peoria, IL
2019
I installed a new artwork at the Phoenix Community Development Services in Peoria, IL. Each key that is placed on the piece represents the people housed with Phoenix each year. Those that have been housed with Phoenix will be finishing attaching all the keys in the coming two weeks to celebrate their growth.
Pressing for Change
United Methodist Church
Peoria, IL
2018
The exhibit, "Pressing for Change," featured work that expressed compassionate, ethical, and humane social values. Art at the exhibition was a series of broadside prints at the United Methodist Church in Peoria, IL. The exhibit displayed concerns for growth, change, and a shift towards progressive values. I had seven works shown in the exhibition.
Encompass
Madron Gallery
Chicago, IL
2018
An exhibition of art and design from Bradley University advanced students.
Art with a Purpose Interactive Installation
Public Library
Peoria, IL
2018
An installation focused on providing a voice for the Peoria homeless. Through digital painting, letterpress, drawing, animation, and participation, this exhibit challenged the audience to face the needs in their community without blame or discrimination; it provided honest ways to communicate hardships and the space for those more fortunate to help.
Peoria Fine Art Fair Artist
Peoria, IL
2017
Participated through the National Juried Selection.
"Rising Change" Exhibition
Ear in the Envelope
Peoria, IL
2017
Solo Show
Gallery Cafe Exhibition
Chicago, IL
2016
Solo Show
Disconcerting Grace Exhibition
Speak Easy Art Center
Pekin, IL
2016
Solo Show
Mural
Phoenix Mural
Peoria, IL
2022
Phoenix Community Development Services was recently awarded an AARP Community Challenge grant to enhance its downtown location. We wanted to take this kind of dreary urban alley and turn it into a place that both the Phoenix residents could enjoy but that the whole community could enjoy. I created the mural design and researched the residents of New Hope apartments housed through Phoenix would like the mural to be. I thought it was essential to ask the residents and the Peoria community what Phoenix represents and how they are helping them. I also asked them what they would like the mural to be on the building. Based upon the responses, I created a design that entailed home, community, bright colors, the river, people connected, and sun. Before the final mural began, we provided residence with two to three choices for the mural. Out of the three, we moved forward with the design selected by the residence of Phoenix. I believed it was essential to create this project as a group endeavor since the mural is for the Peoria, IL community, and it helps raise awareness on how Peoria helps those in need.
Publications
"Design for Good" Heather Ford explores collective consciousness through technology to create unique artistic experiences.
Peoria Magazine Article
2021
"26 Lessons in Being Good"
Book
2020
My broadside letterpress works are published in this book alongside other amazing artists to promote compassionate and humane social values. It began just after the 2016 election when these values seemed on the wane in public life. It was completed under the Coronavirus lock-down of 2020, and the images were created as a series of limited-edition broadside prints. They follow the form of what is sometimes termed an "abecedarian," a series of short mnemonic phrases and images associated with letters of the alphabet. In making the 26 selections, we strove to give a positive message and remind ourselves and others of the fundamental values that indicate a truly great America.