BIO
Rita is a sculptor and instructor currently working and residing in Arizona. She manipulates metal, wood, resin, and other materials to explore movement, abstraction, and the subconscious.
RESUME
EDUCATION
2021 B.S. Psychology, summa cum laude, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2019 A.A.F.A. Visual Arts, with Honors, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ
2015 A.S. with Honors, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ
GRANTS/AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
2024 Finalist, Design Within Reach Annual Worldwide Champagne Chair Contest, NYC, NY
2023 Finalist, Design Within Reach Annual Worldwide Champagne Chair Contest, NYC, NY
2022 Carmody Foundation Grant, Art for Good, Phoenix, AZ
2022 Best in Show 3-D (Professional Category), Spring Emerging Artists Exhibition, Yavapai College
2021 Best in Show 3-D (Professional Category), Fall Emerging Artists Exhibition, Yavapai College
2021 Best in Show 3-D (Professional Category), Spring Emerging Artists Exhibition, Yavapai College
2020-21 Arizona State University Scholarship
2019-20 Sarah and Tim Campbell Scholarship
2019 Best in Show 2-D, Spring Emerging Artists Exhibition, Yavapai College
2018-19 Betty Ritter Art Scholarship, Foundation Scholarship, Yavapai College
2018-19 Casey and Del Decil Art Fund, Foundation Scholarship, Yavapai College
2017-18 Casey and Del Decil Art Fund, Foundation Scholarship, Yavapai College
2017-18 Outstanding Student in Fine Visual Arts Award, Yavapai College
2015 SSS Trio Scholarships (2), Yavapai College
Omicron Delta Kappa Honors Society
Psi Chi Honors Society
Phi Theta Kappa, Beta Gamma Pi Chapter
EXHIBITIONS
2024
Yavapai College Faculty Exhibit, Prescott Gallery, Prescott, AZ
Little Things Silent Auction, Patty McMullen-Mikles Gallery, Verde Valley, AZ
2023
Prescott Artists Studio Tour, Welded Metal Sculpture (Instructor), Yavapai College, AZ
Yavapai College Faculty Exhibit, Prescott Gallery, Prescott, AZ
JOY, Sculpture Tucson Sculpture Garden, Tucson, AZ (Juror: Kim Boganey)
YC at MAG, Mountain Artists Guild, Prescott AZ
AAUW Women’s Forum Silent Auction, Prescott, AZ
2022
JOY, Sculpture Tucson Sculpture Garden, Tucson, AZ (Juror: Kim Boganey)
Yavapai College Faculty Exhibit, Prescott Gallery, Prescott, AZ
Carmody Foundation ‘Art for Good,’ Sisáo Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
Summer Garden Party, Prescott Valley Public Library, Prescott Valley, AZ
Solo Exhibition (6 months), Founding Fathers Collective, Prescott, AZ
Spring Emerging Artists Exhibition, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott AZ (Juror: Matagi Sorensen)
Shades of Black, Mountain Artists Guild Prescott AZ (Juror: Bryan Robertson)
From Start to Finish: Journeys in 3D, Mountain Artists Guild Prescott AZ (Juror: Michael Werner)
The Cactus Collective 75th Anniversary Exhibit, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Scottsdale AZ
2021
Emerging Artists Exhibition, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott AZ (Juror: Tristyn Bustamante)
Solo Exhibition, The Space Between, Mountain Artists Guild, Prescott AZ
Emerging Artists Exhibition, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott AZ (Juror: Ellen Greenblum)
2020
8x8 Silent Auction Fundraiser, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott AZ
2019
Common Ground Exhibition, Mountain Artists Guild, Prescott, AZ
Emerging Artists Exhibition, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott AZ (Juror: Janet Olney)
4 Women Out of Hand, (4-person show), Thumb Butte Distillery, Prescott, AZ
White Spar Art Collective, Prescott Public House, Prescott, AZ
2018-2019
Manifested Art, Prescott, AZ
2018
Emerging Artists Show, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ (Juror: Kimanne Lee Core)
It’s Elemental, Coconino Center for the Arts, Flagstaff, AZ
Wine and Wreaths, Coalition for Compassion & Justice Fundraiser, Elk’s Theater, Prescott, AZ
Solo Exhibition, BiGA, Prescott, AZ
White Spar Art Collective, Prescott Public House, Prescott, AZ
Juried Emerging Artists Show, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ (Juror: Salvatore Mancini)
Yavapai College Show, Mountain Artist Guild, Prescott, AZ
2017
It’s Elemental, Coconino Center for the Arts, Flagstaff, AZ
Emerging Artists Show, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ (Juror: Shelley Heffler)
Prescott Regional SciTech Fest, Prescott, AZ
Woodturning Exhibit, Prescott Junction, Prescott, AZ
2016-2017
December’s Featured New Artist, 2nd Annual T.B.D. All Metal Show, Prescott, AZ, (Juror: Warren Zager)
2016
Student Art Show, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ (Juror: Edie Dillon)
Live Woodturning demonstration on The Square, Prescott, AZ
Student Art Show, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ (Juror: Alan Bur Johnson)
2006-2007
Creation Destruction, Terrell Moore Gallery, Inglewood CA (Juror: Terrell Moore)
WORK/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2021-Present
Instructor of Record, Sculpture Dept. Yavapai College, Prescott AZ
ART 182: Sculpture: Welded Metal I, ART 183: Sculpture: Welded Metal II, ART 283: Advanced Projects in Welded Sculpture
2025
(upcoming) Presenter, Peace Summit hosted by The Respect Campaign and The Justice Institute, Yavapai College
2024
Instructor of Record, Visual Arts, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ
ART 144 Furniture & Woodworking I. ART 145 Furniture & Woodworking II, ART 248 Advanced Projects in Woodworking
(upcoming) Artist Spotlight, Design Within Reach, Champagne Chair Contest
Artist Talk, YC Prescott Gallery
Juror, Realism to Abstraction, Mountain Artists Guild, Prescott, AZ
Sculpture Workshop Instructor for Experience the Arts, “Upcycle-Recycle,” Yavapai College
2023
Artist Talk, YC Prescott Gallery
Juror, Young Artists Showcase, Prescott Y.C. Gallery, AZ
PUBLICATIONS
(upcoming) Design Within Reach
The Prescott Courier-Across the Street, 8/22/24 https://www.dcourier.com/news/yc-faculty-art-show-raises-awareness-about-human-trafficking/article_9cc579da-5f2b-11ef-8fef-330dc7835bb7.html
Signals AZ, 8/6/24 https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/art-for-the-unseen-at-yavapai-college/
Sedona.biz, 8/6/24 https://sedona.biz/art-for-the-unseen/
The Prescott Times 7/31/24 https://theprescotttimes.com/news/yavapai-college-art-faculty-exhibition-to-feature-interactive-installation-raising-awareness-on-human-trafficking/article_deeb0816-4eb4-11ef-85da-df171676e7a3.html
The Daily Courier, 7/30/24 https://www.dcourier.com/news/yc-faculty-art-show-raises-awareness-about-human-trafficking/article_9cc579da-5f2b-11ef-8fef-330dc7835bb7.html
Sculpture Tucson website, Dec-May 2023, https://www.sculpturetucson.org/upcoming
Scottsdale Public Art website, 3/9/2022, https://scottsdalepublicart.org/2022/03/09/the-cactus-collective/
Scottsdale Fashion Square website, February-March 2022 https://www.fashionsquare.com/CactusCollective
Prescott Daily Courier, 10/24/2021
5enses Magazine, February 2019
Prescott Daily Courier, 8/25/2018
COLLECTIONS
Carmody Foundation
Simoncic Foundation
Yavapai College President Dr. Penny Wills (on loan)
MEMBERSHIPS
Prescott Area Woodturners
American Psychological Association, student
A.S.C.A.P.
RESIDENCIES
2018-2019 Manifested Art, Prescott, AZ
MORE…MUSIC/FILM
2023 Director of Marketing, Prescott Film Festival
2023 Actor, Suburban Kid, Dir: Nick Ebeling
2022 Special Events Director, Prescott Film Festival
2021 Filmmaker, The Godfather Interviews, short film
2018-Present Member, Yavapai College Visual Arts Club
2016-2022 Official Screener, Prescott Film Festival
2014, 2019 Marketing Production Assistant, Prescott Film Festival
2008 Soundtrack and Song Composer for the short film (IMBD), Time, Dir: Andrea Melton
2007 Myself, Music Video Ugly, by Modicum, Camel Cigarettes
2005 Soundtrack (credit: Modicum) for the short film Monster in my Pants, Dir: Andrea Maxwell
2004-2007 Independent Art Department Production Assistant: worked with multiple companies on national commercials
1998-2007 Recording Artist/Musician, Modicum (Writer, Singer, Guitar Player)
1998 Myself, Music Video About You, by The Royales, Dir: Edward Donato
1996-2007 Actor/Model (separate resume)/Artist