Biography
Much of my art training was in drawing and painting, and for a while I focused on landscapes. At about the same time I explored street photography and the possibilities of black and white film. When I finished school, I was hired to teach photography and my interest and practice switched primarily to portraits that were informed by my training in life drawing. Gradually my photographic interests shifted back to the landscapes where I had left painting.
Technology has helped bring photography much closer to painting and drawing, as image editors make it possible to modify and enhance the raw photographic image, and my training in drawing and painting directly influences my photographic work. Conversely, the graphic nature of photographic seeing directly informs my current paintings.
A few decades ago I began collecting Mexican Folk Art in large part because it was removed from my life experience. Contemporary art is relatively easy to understand, being created by others with similar life experiences living in the same world. The further one looks back in time the more removed are art and the life experiences of the artists. Such art is more elusive and mysterious and yet still evocative to modern viewers. The carvings and cave paintings of our Pleistocene ancestors are, for me the most fascinating because of this distance in time.
Condors, the last of the teratorns, are remnants of the Ice Age. I am extremely fortunate to have them as occasional neighbors. My recent images of a condor enjoying the rain are unique. While millions of dollars have been spent to prevent condors’ extinction their population in the ‘wild’ is only just over 200. They are carefully tagged, radio collared and monitored. In the 1980s the 22 remaining condors were taken into captivity to prevent their extinction. Captive breeding has brought their numbers to 400+. I read about condors in the Big Sir area having mated on their own and an untagged condor has taken to the skies. It is very possible the condor I photographed was born out of captivity, not from captive breeding
California State University, Fullerton, Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honors, 1982.
Post Graduate Work:
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1984
University of California, Los Angeles, 1984 – 1985, 1992 – 1993
University of California, Irvine, Master of Fine Arts, 1987.
2023 – John Rand “Photos and Paintings” Gallery and Gifts , Tehachapi, CA
2003 – “John Rand – Landscapes” Silvia Winslow Gallery, Maturango Museum. Ridgecrest, CA
2002 – “Marking Change” Advocate Gallery, Los Angeles,CA (10 infrared pigment prints)
1999 – “John Rand”, The Bear Cave, the smallest gallery in California, Santora Arts Complex, Santa Ana, CA
1995 – “John Rand”, Rupert Goldsworthy Gallery, Berlin, Germany
1995 – “New Work”, Lone Star Saloon, San Francisco, CA (also 1994)
1994 – “A Rotating Exhibition” , Goodman Clinic, Hollywood, CA
1993 – “Arctophiles,” UC Berkeley Extension Center Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1990 – “Photographs and Paintings,” Da Vinci Art Gallery, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, CA
1988 – “Netherscapes,” Boehm Gallery, Palomar College, San Marcos, CA
1988 – “Icons and Landscapes,” Pacific Grove Art Center, Monterey Bay, CA
1987 – “Recent Paintings,” Rose Cafe, Venice, CA
1987 – “John Rand,” Fine Arts Gallery, UCI, Irvine, CA
1986 – “Drawings & Paintings,” Pirets, South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, CA
1985 – “Art Symbols,” Downey Museum, Downey, CA (12 Works)
1981 – “Recent Photographs,” Center Gallery, California State University Fullerton, CA
1980 – “Art and People,” Inland Empire Gallery, UCR, Riverside, CA
2023 – “Saturation” Bakersfield Museum of Art
2021 – Bird Dog Arts (represented) also 2022
2015 – “Teachers Who Are Artists” Younger Gallery, Bakersfield, CA
2006 – “Get Yer Ya Yas Out” Carlettas Passion, Los Angeles, CA
2004 – “Uncharted Terrain” Soka University, Aliso Viejo, CA
2002 – “City of Angels…Gates of Hell”, Advocate Gallery, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, Los Angeles, CA
2001 – “Beautiful You”, Mark Pasek Gallery,New York City
2001 – “Eye of the Beholder”, CSUF Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana
2001 – “Queer Art: Constructions of Gay Identity”, Richard Reynolds Gallery, University of Pacific, Stockton, CA
2000 – “Art & Artifacts-Bear Icons”, Mt. Ida College Art Gallery, Newton Centre, MA
1998 – “Examining Sensuality”,Marc Arranga Contemporary Art”, Los Angeles, CA
1998 – “Troubling Customs”, Ontario College of Art, Toronto, Canada; Museum of Fine Art, Boston, MA
1998 – “Summer Introduction”, Rupert Goldsworthy Gallery, New York, NY
1997 – “LACPS Annual”, Los Angeles Center for Photographic Studies, Los Angeles, CA
1997 – “Afro/Homo”, Bridge Gallery, Penn State University, University Park, PA
1997 – “Gramercy Art Fair”, Rupert Goldsworthy Gallery, New York, NY
1996 – “Summer 100”, Post Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1995 – “Millenium Minus Five”, Weingarten Gallery, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
1995 – “Object Fetish Show”, La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
1995 – “Strange Fruits”, Los Angeles Center for Photographic Studies, Los Angeles, CA
1995 – “Veracity”, California State University, Los Angeles, CA
1995 – “Artist’s Cup”, Space Gallery, Hollywood, CA
1995 – “Annual Show”, Leslie Lohman Gallery, New York, NY
1995 – “DADA”, Downtown Visual Arts Development, Los Angeles, CA
1995 – “Underexposed”, L.A. Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Art Park, Los Angeles, CA
1995 – “In the Raw”, Santa Monica Art Institute, Santa Monica, CA
1995 – “American West Coast Censorship Exhibition”, Lite Rail Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1995 – “Photonominal ’93,” Forum Gallery, Jamestown, New York, NY
1995 – “Queerly Defined”, Eye Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1995 – “Queer Visions”, Castro Street San Francisco, CA (outdoor mass media projection)
1995 – “Out Auction/Exhibition”, 18th Street Space, Santa Monica, CA
1995 – “Catch a Rising Star,” Los Angeles Art Council, Marina Del Rey, CA
1989 – “Scapes,” José Drudis – Bidda Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1988 – “Long Beach Centennial,” (Faculty Exhibition), Long Beach State University, Long Beach, CA
1988 – “Concept & Reality,” Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
1988 – “Faculty Photography Exhibition,” CerritosCollege, Norwalk, CA
1987 – “LACE Annuale,” Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA
1987 – “9th Annual Drawing Exhibition,” Roberts Art Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1987 – “Visual Exchange,” Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, CA
1986 – “Techno Fear,” University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA
1986 – “VEX”, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
1985 – “Visual Arts ‘85”, Southern California Institute of Art, Laguna Beach, CA
1985 – “LA Artcore Annual Jurried Show”, LA Artcore, Los Angeles, CA
1984 – ;”4th Annual OCCCA Jurried Show”, Santa Ana, CA (Also 5th Annual)
1984 – “In the Dark”, Fine Art Gallery, California State University, San Bernardino, CA
1983 – “Stella Polaris Gallery,” Los Angeles, CA
1983 – “Back Room”, Orlando Gallery, Van Nuys, CA (numerous group shows 1982 & 1984)
1983 – “LHASA Club”, Los Angeles, CA (four paintings with electronic band)
1982 – “Oil ‘82”, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
1982 – “Inaugural Show”, Mind’s Eye Gallery, Riverside, CA
1980 – “1st Biannual Graphics/Photography Exhibition”, Hill Country Arts Foundation, Ingram, TX
1979 – “New Horizons”, Rising Sun Gallery, Old Town, New Mexico
1979 – “Sendai Cultural Exchange”, Green Plaza Exhibition Space, Sendai, Japan
1978 – “Future Visions”, Student Union, Long Beach State University, Long Beach, CA
1976 – “Southern California Edison Bicentennial Art Show”, Museum of Science and Industry, Los Angeles, CA
“Fur: The Love of Hair” Ron J Suresha and Scott McGillivray 2012
American Bear, (May ‘96), “Intercourse, John Rand Bear Photograph Extraordinaire”, interview by Les Wright Ph D., p. 12-13, with photographs.
Artweek (1-31-81), p. 2, photograph.
Artweek (10-11-80), p. 2, photograph.
Coagula, (November ’94), Issue #15, p6.
Coagula, (November ‘95), Issue #19, p. 69.
Digital Photographer, (August 2001), “Prints That Last” interview by Tony Gomez, p.86-89, reproductions.
Digital Photographer, (November 2002), “Inks That Last” follow-up interview by Tony Gomez p.66-70, reproductions.
Digital Photographer, (November 2003), “Rescue an Image, Convert it to Black and White” written by John Rand p. 86-89, reproductions.
International Drummer, (Spring ‘97), #202, Cover Story, “Artist Bears it All” feature article, p. 27-31.
Male Bonding 2, Fotofactory Press, November 1998
Michaelis, Kenneth, Experiences in Human Physiology, Second Edition, (1977), p. 23, 24, 26, illustrations.
Orsitaliani, (August 1995), Anno IV – num. 20/21, “John Rand”, p. 35-37, feature article.
“A Paint Glazing Demonstration by Ed Paschke”, (1987-88), video tape produced and directed by John Rand.
Pentax Life, “Last Look”, (Autumn 1988), Vol. 10, no. 3, p. 26, full page reproduction.
Photonominal ‘93, (January 1993), p. 15, reproduction, exhibition catalogue.
Powerplay, (#6 1995), “Slade”, p. 8, “Playing with Fire”, p. 34-39.
Sendai Newsletter, (1979), p. 4 and 5, photograph, reproduction.
Sketchbook Selections, (1986), electrostatic artbook.
Ten Bear Men, (1996), self-published book, ten plates.
Visions Art Quarterly, Spring ’94, p.63
Wright, Les, The Bear Book, (1997), p. 134-151
Wright, Les, Bear Icons, (1999), photograph book.
Curtis, Cathy, “The Juror has Spoken”, Orange County Register, (8-9-85), part D p. 1, 13, reproduction, review.
Darling, Reg, “Photonominal Haunts Rather Than Offends”, Warren Times, (Feb. 93) Warren, PA, review.
Fricke, Harold, “Biker in Babyspeck”, Sonnabend / Sonntag, (1,28,96) Berlin, Germany, Review.
Gordon, Alan, “Queer Art: Constructions of Gay Identity”, Artweek, (April 2001), p.22, review.
Huntington, Ricard, “Photonominal Takes on Issues”, The Buffalo News, Buffalo, New York, (2-21-93), p. F-1, review.
Kugelman, Jay, (6-11-90), “Radio Interview on the Arts”, KPFK.
Lagorio, Irene, “Buffer Zone Divides Show’s Intellectual, Sensual Works,” The Sunday
Herald, Monterey Bay, (6-5-88), p. 6D, review.
Licata, Elizabeth, “Photonominal 93, Artforum International Magazine”,(Summer 93), p. 113, Review, reproduction.
Merkle, Karen Rene, “A Phenomenal Photonominal”, Times News, (March 93), Erie, PA, review.
Muchnic, Suzanne, “Annuale” Los Angeles Times, (9-26-87), part VI p. 8, 12, review.
Muchnic, Suzanne, “Works of Symbolism,” Los Angeles Times, (2-5-85), part VI p. 7, review.
Ollman, Leah, “At the Galleries,” Los Angeles Times, San Diego, (10-7-88), part VI p. 23B, review.
Roche, Harry, Queer Art: Constructions of Gay Identity, Artweek, (April 2001),p.22 review and reproduction.
Schoenkopf, Rebecca, “Round Up”, OC Weekly, (3-4-99), p.32, review.
Wilson, William, “Underexposed: Some Gems in the Rough”, Los Angeles Times, (8-6-94), part F, p. 4, reproduction, review.
1995 Educational Program Grant, “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words”, LA City College
1987 Teaching Assistant Research Grant, UCI
1985 Pease Barker Fellowship, UCI
1978 Chancellor’s Performance Award in Art, UCR
1976 Southern California Edison Bicentennial Competition
1975 Bank of America Achievement Award, in the Field of Art
1975 Kenneth M. Hurlburt Memorial Scholarship
Armstrong/Hirsh, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Atlantic Richfield Company, Los Angeles, CA
Ronald Busitilli, Los Angeles, CA
Business Fund Inc., West Los Angeles, CA
First/Better Homes, Los Angeles, CA
Erie Pennsylvania Art Center, Erie, PA
Susan Faluti & Rob Rhymer, Los Angeles, CA
Hillman Holland, Atlanta GA.
Habib Kyradyar, Los Angeles, CA
Wolfgang Kohl, Berlin, Germany
Harvey Marks, Los Angeles, CA
One Foundation, (permanent collection), Los Angeles, CA
Renee Gan, Los Angeles, CA
Alexander Schroder, Berlin, Germany
Michael Kotchario, Los Angeles, CA
Long Beach State University, Long Beach, CA
Leonard Hill, Murphy & Kress, Los Angeles, CA
Art Maddox Pleasant Hill, OR
William Magruder, Laguna Beach, CA
Ted L. Peterson, Irvine, CA
Robert Phillips, Belconnen, Australia
Rubin Postaer & Associates, Los Angeles, CA
Francine Rabinovitz, MD, Beverly Hills, CA
Carlos Gutierrez-Solana, New York City
Mitch Walker, Santa Monica, CA
Mayor I. Shimano, Sendai, Japan
Tom of Finland Foundation, Permanent Collection, Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Ayuko Watanaki, Sendai, Japan