Nancy Chang

Artist Bio, Statement, CV

Art / Music / Culture / Activism Pathway

Nancy Chang graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelors in fine arts in sculpture in 2002. As a child of Taiwanese immigrants, her family directed her to do well in school, but never specifically encouraged her to become an artist. Three generations of the Chang family settled in the Skagit Valley in the 80’s due to the threat of America warming relations with the Chinese Communist Party; to establish Daizen Farms, poultry ranch. Although she started school with minimal English language or American cultural knowledge, she enjoyed learning from her white teachers the different subjects they taught and she excelled in learning, especially when there was an art activity involved.

The 1990’s marked a decade of modern media programs, this was a time of accelerated media messaging with MTV’s visualizing music and fast cuts, CNN’s 24/7 news cycle, day time talk shows with controversial outrage producers like Oprah, Donahue, Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake and others. As a young GenXer, Chang was coming of age during the Pacific Northwest’s Riot Grrl’s response to this era, where feminist teen angst was being organized through skill share workshops that were addressing sexual violence, mental health and wellness, and life skills that weren’t being taught to women. During this age of the early internet, youth culture was slowly adapting to the platform, while IRL wasn’t coined yet, she was discovering IRL the power of DIY Zine culture, all ages music, and beginning to learn the newly minted ideas and vocabulary of the social justice movement being scaled up through Olympia’s Ladyfest scene, and broadcasted to other women in the world. All of this was taking place in the background of Seattle’s grunge scene with bands like Nirvana, Sound Garden, and Alice in Chains in heavy rotation on the radio and MTV. synthesized into heavy chords and drum solos with groups like Rage Against the Machine, putting to words She became connected with curators and artists

Between 2000 - 2007 she was actively involved with the Seattle arts community through art education, exhibiting, and working on consulting and community advising committees like Arts Up, a Seattle public art program.

Chang’s formal art studies centered around the modern pop art experiences of happenings DIY and up cycled aestetics.

I studied at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington from 1999 - 2002 for my undergraduate degree. I went from a pre-med/zoology curriculum to being convinced by professor Billie Lynn in the summer of 2000 after taking her metal and wood fabrication class to jump ship to sculpture.

From there I was fortunate enough to study casting from Norm Taylor, alternative process from Dan Loewenstein, and fibers from Layne Goldsmith and studied with Lauren Grossman. I also had a great cohort of classmates and TA's that are still kicking it in Seattle and beyond. The CMA (Ceramic Metal Arts Building) from 2000-2002 was off the hook. (Holler: W. Scott Trimble, Scott Ball, Theresa, Peter Mundweiler, Mary Enslow, Mike McGrath, Taylor, Paul, Julie Johnson, and others!)

I graduated with a BFA in 2002 with my studies focused in conceptual art and installation.

She has several years of experience working with youth of all ages and backgrounds. Her teaching experience includes: children’s sewing in the Seattle School District, beginning sculpture at the Seattle Center Academy and currently she teaches studio art workshops at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, as well at the Old Fire House in Redmond. Her work has been exhibited in many juried and non-juried shows around Seattle.

Reel Grrls 2014 - 2019 taught middle school - college students multi media workshops on media literacy, digital story telling, traditional video editing, mobile devices, and immersive technology.

Old Fire House Teen Center 2003 - 2014 taught middle and high school students various visual arts, cooking, nutrition, health & wellness, and critical thinking. Silkscreening, sewing, literary arts and leadership skills.

Arts Cool 2003 - 2007 taught Kindergarten - 3rd grade after school and summer programs. Focused on fundamental art skills: painting, drawing, sculpture and ceramics.

Arts Training

Thanks to folks like Jess VanNorstrand/Girlie Fun Show, Joe Bar, Consolidated Works, Shunpike, Juniper/Oscar Molof, Re-Bar, CHAC, the Old Fire House, Ground Zero, Nancy Loorem/Art's Cool, Sid Peterson/KTUB, Roark Congon, Larry Calkin, and Seattle Art Academy I installed/taught art around town from 2002-2007.

I worked with artist Suzka Collins in 2002 and 2003 as her assistant painter for the Monterey Jazz Festival. I learned from her how to produce large scale murals from idea to scaling up.

Alot of my art is social critique, so in 2005 I decided to take art performance/making to the next level: policy/social action & change. I started grad school at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. In 2007 I received my Masters in Public Administration with a focus in Non-profit management and International development.

I created visual art through designing marketing materials for Skate Like a Girl, Carry 5, the City of Redmond, random prints, and life stlying my office cubicle. I am really missing art making, and hopefully will be starting it up soon.