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Vita

Michael "Chester" Alamo & Costello

Education:

Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) 1998
John Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) 1992

Professional Experience:

Chair, Department of Visual Arts, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2001-present
Visual Arts Coordinator, Department of Fine Arts, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 1999-2001
Visiting Lecturer, Department of Photography, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL 1995-2001
Print Study Room Lecturer, The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL 1994-96
Exhibition Coordinator, 431 Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 1991-92
Saturday School Instructor, John Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, IN 1989-90

Awards, Grants, & Service:

Appointment to Associate Professor, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2007
Tenure Appointment, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2007
CAS Faculty Mentor Research Grant, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2006
T&PG Faculty Project Grant, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2006
CAS Faculty Mentor Research Grant, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2006
CAAP Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL 2006
ACI Humanities Faculty, Illinois Humanities Conference and Festival, Chicago, IL 2005
CAS Faculty Mentor Research Grant, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2005
ACI Faculty Advisory Task Force to the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL 2004
Midwest Print Study Project, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL 2002-04
ACI Humanities Faculty, Illinois Humanities Conference and Festival, Chicago, IL 2003
T&PG Faculty Project Grant, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2002
CAAP Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL 1999
Appointment to Assistant Professor, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 1999
CAAP Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL 1998
Finalist, American Photography Institute, New York University, New York, NY 1997
Graduate Assistantship, Columbia College, Chicago, IL 1996-97
Presidential Purchase Award, Columbia College, Chicago, IL 1996
Albert P. Weisman Memorial Scholarship, Columbia College, Chicago, IL 1995-97
Indiana Art Council Gallery Fellowship, 431 Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 1991
Jeff Bratton Memorial Scholarship, John Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, IN 1990

Solo Exhibits:

"Appleseed 1999 - 2004", Gallery 1101, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 2004
"Obiter Dicta via Appleseed", MPAC Gallery, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2002
"(IR)rational Movements with the Camera", East Pilsen Gallery, Chicago, IL 1997

Two Person Exhibits:

"The Men Who Sold the World", Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL 2000
"Images for the Camera", Crown Art Center Gallery, Loyola University, Chicago, IL 2000
"Slurs, Blurs, Recent Renderings and Other Devices", 431 Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 1992

Group Exhibits:

"I Support the War, The War Supports Me", Gardenfresh, Chicago, Illinois, 2008
"Kaunas Photo Days", F Galerija, Kaunas, Lithuania 2006
"Herron School of Art Centennial: Teachers and Students, 1950-present", IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN 2003
"Untitled", Governors State University, University Park, IL 2002
"Just Good Art", Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL 2000-2002
"Zeros and Ones", National Digital Photo-based Survey, MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2001
"American Music", Lewis University, Romeoville, IL 2000 & 2001
"First Work", Columbia College Art Gallery, Columbia College, Chicago, IL 2000
"Prints from (Ir)Rational Movements", MPAC Gallery, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2000
"Photo Santa Fe '98", Lallak + Tom Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 1998
"Chicago Artists 1998", Gallery 312, Chicago, IL 1998
"Posted", Beret International Gallery, Chicago, IL 1998
"Harry Carey", Diverse Works of Art, Houston, TX 1998
"Overcoat 2", The Art Exchange, New York, NY 1997
"Overcoat 1", Art Chicago 1997, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 1997
"(IR) rational Segment #1", Columbia College Art Gallery, Chicago, IL 1997
"Drawing In Chicago Now", Columbia College Art Gallery, Chicago, IL (Traveling) 1996
* "Redemption Through Rubbernecking", Works Gallery, San Jose, CA 1996
"Outside In", Riverside Art Center, Riverside, IL 1996
"Pilsen Open", Tabula Rasa Gallery, Chicago, Illinois 1995
"Beret's Worst Show", Beret International Gallery, Chicago, IL 1994
* "Monsters", World Tattoo Gallery, Chicago, IL 1993
* "Found on the Way", C.A.G.E. Gallery, Cincinnati, OH 1992
"Indiana Rapes", 431 Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 1991
"Educational New Blood", 431 Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 1991

Installations:

"Reaction/Interaction (Heroic Efforts)", Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL 1997
* "Dead and Unknown", Art Institute of Chicago Sculpture Garden, Chicago IL 1995
* "Boogie", 1400 Block of South Michigan, Chicago, IL 1995
* "Coyote", Flat Iron Building, Chicago, IL 1995
* "Urban Totems #3", 1300 Block of South Wabash, Chicago, IL 1994
* "Urban Totems #2", Canal Parking Lot, Broad Ripple, IN 1992
* "Urban Totems #1", 400 Block of Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 1991
"Me and Hoosierville", John Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, IN 1991

Performance and Projects:

"New Street Agenda", social and political commentaries placed in Africa, Asia, Europe,
        North and South America, 2005 to present
"Appleseed International", Art deposits in 20 national & 20 international cities, 1999-2004
"Searching for Geomantrick", Art deposits in 20 City of Chicago Parks, Chicago, IL 1998
* "Art Car Parade", Aaron Packer Gallery, Chicago, Illinois and Houston, TX 1995
* "Five Finger Discount", Armpit: RSG Studios, Chicago, IL 1995
* "Walk #3", 298 miles, Chicago, Illinois to St. Louis, MO (photographs) 1995
* "Framed Movements", Armpit: RSG Studios, Chicago, IL 1995
* "Red Arm Chair Movement", Armpit: RSG Studios, Chicago, IL 1994
* "Walk #2", 120 miles, Indianapolis, Indiana to Cincinnati, OH (photographs) 1993
* "Walk #1", 52 miles, Bloomington, Indiana to Indianapolis, IN (photographs and video) 1993

Curatorial Activities:

"Something to Do with Failure", group exhibition including works on paper, painting, photography,
        sculpture, and video, MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2006
"Crests, Laurels, and Proof", photo-based works by Shauna Angel Bleu, Tammy Mercure,
        and Jerry Cargill, MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2005
"Paul Erschen and Dave Wilson", montage works by Dave Wilson and drawings by Paul Erschen,
        MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2004
"As Seen", photographs by Brailey and Jen Davis, MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2003
"Space Meetings", paintings by Roxane Legenstein, MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2003
"5", paintings and drawings by Greg Binder, MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2003
"America: New People, First People, Forgotten People", photographs by Tone Stocken strom,
        Tom Jones and Scott Nava, MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2003
"Chance", works by Jane Calvin, Pat Cogdal, Paul Erschen, and Ryan Scheidt, MPAC Gallery,
        USF, Joliet, IL 2002
Portfolio Reviewer, Society of Photography Educator's Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV 2002
"Fovea", A survey of the Montreal Canadian Artist Collective , MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2002
"Screed", An Installation by Max King Cap , MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2002
"Truth, Goodness, & Beauty", Mixed-media works by Doug McGoldrick, MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2001
"Zeros and Ones", Survey of digital photo-based photography including works by Sabrina Raaf,
        Stephen Marc, Olivia Parker, and Barbara Kasten, MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2001
"Show Me the Way: Signs in the American Landscape", Photographs by Angelo Mantas, MPAC Gallery,
        USF, Joliet, IL 2001
"Crinis", An Installation by Jocelyn Nevel , MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2000
"Recent Invitations to Religion", Photographs by Sue Szucs , MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2000
"Student Honors Exhibition", Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL 2000
"Senior Thesis Exhibition", MPAC Gallery, USF, Joliet, IL 2000-05
"Armpit: A Roving Street Gallery", Works by Jesse Bercowetz, Nick Nuccio, Michael Plaza and Chester Alamo,
        P.E.A.C.E. Gallery, Chicago, IL 1997
"Three Artists of Indy", Works by Dan Herr, Joel Smock and Chester Alamo, 431 Gallery,
       Indianapolis, IN 1991

Public Lectures and Radio Interviews:

"Positioning the Portrait", Photography Society of Joliet, Ainsworth Gallery, Joliet, IL 2006
"Appleseed International: 1999-2004", Society of Photography Educators Midwest Conference,
        Chicago, IL 2003
"The Medici, Michelangelo and the Art of Late Renaissance Florence", Moser Arts Center Auditorium,
        University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2002
"Obiter Dicta via Appleseed", Moser Arts Center Auditorium, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2002
Lautmann, Victoria, National Public Radio's 848 radio program discusses "Appleseed" , WBEZ, Chicago, IL (7/18/02) 2002
"School of the South: Gaugain and Van Gogh", Joilet Rotary Club, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL 2002
"School of the South: Gaugain and Van Gogh", University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2001
"Appleseed: Europa West", Joilet Rotary Club, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL 2001
"Appleseed: East Coast Drops", Alumni Association Reunion, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 2000
"Alternative Approaches in Photography", Photography History Forum, Columbia College, Chicago, IL 1996
"Armpit: A Roving Street Gallery", Urban Life Center, Chicago, IL 1994 and 95
* "120 Minutes with Armpit", Radio Show, WNDE with Ed Johnson-Ott, Indianapolis, IN 1994
* "Renegade Artists", Radio Show, WNDE with Ed Johnson-Ott, Indianapolis, IN 1993

Published References:

Alamo & Costello, "Grandpa Danny", Dark Lark Press, Chicago, IL (monograph) 2008
Alamo & Costello, "MCA Q&A: Dominic Molon", MCA MAG, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL F07, p16,
        (photograph) 2007
Larsen, Jan, "5 Questions with Chester Costello ", The Herald News, Joliet, IL, 12/3/06, F2 2006
Quinerly, Candice, "A Look at Failure", The Encounter, Joliet, IL, 11/3/06, P9 (review) 2006
Baran-Unland, Denise, "Artists are mirrors of their society ... ", The Herald News, Joliet, IL, 7/23/06, G1 (review) 2006
Crone, Katrina, "Uncovering the Mystery that is 'Chester'", The Encounter, Joliet, IL, 4/27/06, P11 (review) 2006
Alamo & Costello, "Chicago Artist's Stories", ChicagoArtistsResource.org website writing,
        Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL 2006
Alamo & Costello, "Marcos Raya: monograph", Mexican Fine Arts Museum, Chicago, IL,
        (photographs) # 6 and 22b 2004
Nichols, Kate, "Art in the Park", The Encounter, Joliet, IL, 11/3/02, P3 (review) 2002
Fumo Fox, Paige, "Planting Seeds", Daily Southtown, Tinley Park, IL 8/28/02, D1 (review) 2002
Baran-Unland, Denise, "Artistry thanks to Zeros and Ones", The Herald News, Joliet, IL, 8/12/01, G1
        (review) 2001
van de Rhee, Monique, "Amerikaan legt kunst 'te vondeling'", De Telegraaf, Amsterdam, Holland,
        7/6/01, Kunst Section, (review) 2001
Alleman, Annie, "Best in Show", The Herald News, Joliet, IL, 1/16/01, p.B1, (review) 2001
Weiss, Andrea, "The Men Who Sold the World", PublicArtReview, St. Paul, MN, Vol. 12, No. 1, FL/WN 2000,
        p. 47, (summary) 2000
Weiss, Andrea, "Appleseed", PublicArtReview, St. Paul, MN, Vol. 12, No. 1, FL/WN 99/00, p. 52, (summary) 2000
Glatt, Cara, "Art Center Features Capitalism and Humor", Hyde Park Herald, Chicago, IL 9/13/00,
        (review) page 11, 2000
Loehr, Cindy, "Stuff for Sale, Beret...", New Art Examiner, Chicago, IL, page 72(photos) July-August 2000
Bulka, Michael, "The Men Who Sold the World", New City, Chicago, IL, page 43, (review) August 31, 2000
Weiss, Andrea, "Appleseed", PublicArtReview, St. Paul, MN, Vol. 11, No. 2, FL/WN 1999, p. 43 (review) 1999
Baran, Denise, "Art in the Park", The Herald News, Joliet, IL, p.E6 (review) Nov. 11, 1999
Williams, Kevin M., Finders' Feast", Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, IL, 10/30/98, SC-26 (review) 1998
Alamo & Costello, "Chicago Photography '98", Lallak + Tom Gallery, Chicago, IL, 9/20/98
        (cover illustration and catalog design) 1998
Jacobs, Robert, "Searching for Geomantrick", Chicago Reader, Chicago, IL, 10/23/98, Section 2,
        p. 18, (summary) 1998
Fox, Ellen, "Searching for Geomantrick", New City, Chicago, IL, 10/22/96, p. 20,(summary) 1998
Alamo & Costello, "Moving Pictures", Chicago Tribune Magazine, Chicago, IL, p.22-24 (photo essay)
        November 20, 1997
Bulka, Michael, "Wanna Buy Some Art?", New Art Examiner, Chicago, IL, 7/97-8/97, p.22&24
        (photographs) 1997
Ortiz, Ben, "At P.E.A.C.E.", The Reader, Chicago, IL, 5/30/97, sec. 2, p.19. (listing) 1997
* Sherman, Ann Elliott, "Redemption through Rubbernecking", San Jose Metro, San Jose, CA, 1/18/96,
        p32. (article) 1996
* Welsh, Clarissa J., "Redemption through Rubbernecking", Artweek, San Jose, CA, 3/96, vol. 27, p31.
        (article) 1996
Visscher, Chris. "Hermes Catalogue", Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 7/95, (cover art and design) 1995
* Sturgess, L. A-S. Columbia Chronicle, Chicago, IL, 5/30/95, vol. 28, p18. (photo and article) 1995
* Camper, Fred. "Lots of Meaning", The Reader, Chicago, IL, 9/16/94, sec. 1, p31. Article, (photo and article) 1994
* "Monster Statues Erected", The Lumpen Times, Chicago, IL, 6/94, p4. (photo and article) 1994
* Nickell, Joe, "Coping with Shock", The Bloomington Voice, Bloomington, IN, 4/13/94, p3. (photo) 1994
* Bibbs, Rebecca, "Exhibit Art...Walking", Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, IN, 5/30/93, p13
        (listing) 1993
* Estridge, John, "Two Pilgrimage", The Brookfield Democrat, Brookfield, IN, 9/1/93 (listing) 1993
* Johnson-Ott, Ed, "Renegade Artists", Nuvo Newsweekly, Indianapolis, IN, 3/31/93, p14. (listing) 1993

* Projects produced collaboratively with Armpit: A Roving Street Gallery & the general public.