Hazel Belvo (1934-) Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota

The painter, Hazel Belvo was born in southern Ohio and grew up on a farm. The horse provided the power to operate the machinery on the family farm.  Her grandfather was the farmer, who also played the fiddle.  Grandmother quilted, gardened and loved to sing.  Belvo’s childhood influences planted seeds and things grew.  Her mother was the head of the household.  Mother was a butcher and owned her own meatpacking business.  At an early age Belvo learned to cut meat.  This started her education in anatomy, bones, muscle and physical structure.
 
At a very young age she discovered the magic of the mark.  She continued to draw at every opportunity.  There was a Saturday School at the Dayton Art Institute and at eleven she was awarded a scholarship.  This one event changed her life proving the power of the image.  She had the opportunity to view paintings.  She became a painter.  The brush started her on the life long journey of painting.
 
Belvo’s first museum exhibition was in 1960.  This exhibition inspired her to move to New York City.  In New York City her life took another dynamic change.  She lived in a loft on the lower east side.  The daily conversations were with other New York artists like John Chamberlain, Franz Kline and Louis Nevelson.  Her studies were at the New School for Social research.  The real art education came from the art world of artists, galleries, museums and people of New York.  This time was filled with excitement, understanding and creativity.  Belvo’s artwork developed in this fresh new environment and her consciousness expanded.

Her studies continued from 1963 to 1967 at Radcliffe-Harvard in Cambridge with the Bunting Institute Fellowship.  This is when she started to teach.  This experience convinced her “aesthetic education is critical to democracy”.  The instruction to her students includes the ideology that “it is a radical act to make a work of art and put it out there for the world to see!”  She enjoys her students and continues to teach today.  The ethical philosophy that to teach art one must also make art has provided her with not only creative energy for her work, but the opportunity to have excellent students teaching and exhibiting around the world.

The artist has many collaborative and community projects to her credit.  These include: Strong Bones written by Joanne Hart illustrations by Hazel Belvo, 2002; Witch Tree  written by Joanne Hart illustrations by Hazel Belvo, Holy Cow Press, 1991; Axe of Creation, written by Helen Duberstein, directed by Lisa Mayo, drawings and performance by Hazel Belvo, West Beth Theater, NYC, NY, 1980; George Morrison, 1978 film narrated by Hazel Belvo; Le Universities San Murs Aux U.S.A., “Reseau” (magazine for Open University/College without Walls) University of Quebec, Canada, 1974; and Three Women Artists: Belvo, Corrado and Helfant, filmed directed by William Gerrald, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1966.

Belvo’s creative energy extends internationally to lectures, workshops, readings, book signings, panel discussions, television shows, and radio shows, which span from 1972 to 2002.  She has juried and evaluated art exhibitions nationally.  Internationally she has attended conferences, symposiums and traveled professionally to France, England, Wales, Scotland, Canada, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, and Spain.  These travels included painting and research upon every occasion at museums and galleries.  From 1994-1997 she painted in Monet’s gardens at Giverny in France.  In 1988 the Lily Foundation, Faculty Development Grant allowed Belvo to traveled to Oslo, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, London, and England.  Belvo traveled in 1999 to Paris, France, Giverny, Czech Republic for four months for professional development.

For forty years Belvo has painted one tree annually.  This tree called the Witch Tree from 1987-1990 was an important project for the artist.  A group of interested people purchased the tree and surrounding land and gave it to the Chippewa Reservation, Grand Portage, Minnesota.

Belvo is a founding member of Woman’s Art Registry of Minnesota “WARM”.  This gallery provided a vibrant home for the artist to articulate her feminist or female art renaissance.  Reminding the art world that during this era woman contributed 40 percent of the creative energy for the expressionist and abstract art movement.  She was the editor for the WARM’s gallery catalogues and continued as the sisterhood’s WARM historian.  The archives for this art organization are now preserved and provide an excellent road map for a creative art group. WARM opportunities provided all members were a clear focus for their creative energy, mutual support, serious reviews and required volunteerism from all in the group.  The gallery provided each artist with the opportunity not only to celebrate and succeed, but the opportunity to try and fail growing artistically by their artistic experience.  The photographic archives of this female/feminist art group expose the joy, truth and spirit of the groups’ artistic connectivity.

She maintains two studios one on Lake Superior and one in the city; she shares both with her partner, artist, Marcia Cushmore.  There is a third studio, which she carries in her backpack while traveling.  Regardless, of the studio she chooses everyday you will find her creating and working in the arts.

Today she is an Emeritus mentoring Graduate Students at MCAD.  She also teaches at Grand Marais Art Colony.  American artists work with her and she has the opportunity to watch their artwork develop.  Her undeniable passion is painting.

Painting takes what is internal and external, adding thought and need to bring a picture into existence to share with the world.

 
Exhibitions:
2006  Warm Artists: Weisman Museum University of of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2005  Paint, University of St. Mary's, Winona, MN, Belvo&Cushmore
2004 Northern Exposure:Belvo/Cushmore, Johnson Museum,GM
2002 Women in the World: Visionaries and Survivors:  Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN February to April  and Johnson Heritage Museum, June to August         
2001 Visionaires and Survivors: Duluth Art Institute, One Person
2000 5th Anniversary Invtational: Chicago Southland Arts Inculabor, Street Gallery Union, Chicago, IL, April
2000 Foot in the Door, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Mpls, Jan to April
1999 Place/Endroit: two person, Parsons Gallery, Paris, France, Dec 
1998 Women in the Weisman Collection: The Spirit of Seneca Falls, Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, July-August
1998 Curator, The Art Spirit: Art from Within, Johnson Heritage Post, Museum,Grand Marais, MN , July and August.
1997-2000 Art in Embassies Program, U.S. Embassy, Papua, New Guinea
1997-2000 Fiftieth Anniversary Ex., Heritage Museum,Grand Marais, MN
1996 Memories and Reflections , (two person) Howard Cann Fine Arts Center, Plymouth Congregational Church, Mpls. MN
1996 She Just Flew in and Landed  on One Foot. ( solo) MCAD Gallery,
1994 Meditations on the Spirit Tree, 50 New Works. (solo) Johnson Heritage Museum, Grand Marais, Minnesota
1994 Many Colors:  La Salle Court,  Group Exhibition, Minneapolis
1992 MCAD All Faculty Exhibition, MCAD Gallery, Minneapolis
1992 Witch Tree Images (solo) , Myles Reif Performing Arts Center, Grand Rapids, MN
1992 Meditations on the Spirit Tree (solo), Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota, Duluth
1992 Meditations on the Spirit Tree (solo), Howard Caan Fine Arts Center, Plymouth Congregational Church, Mpls. MN
1992 Meditations on the Spirit Tree (solo), Augsburg College Gallery,  Minneapolis, MN
1991 Witch Tree (solo), MCAD Gallery, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1991 Watercolors, Prints and Drawings, Minnesota Historical Society, James J. Hill House, St. Paul, Minnesota
1991 Art at Work, Lacey LaMaster Larson Farmer Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
1991 Landmark Editions: A Decade of Contemporary Prints, Katherine Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1991 Deep Woods, Hunter Museum of Art, Chattanooga, Tennessee
1991 Deep Woods, Alexandria Museum, Visual Art Center, Alexandria, Louisiana
1991 Icons, Humanities/Fine Art Gallery, University of Minnesota, Morris, Minnesota
1991 Deep Woods, Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, Neenah, Wisconsin
1991 Deep Woods, Roanoke Museum of Fine Arts, Roanoke, Virginia
1990 Deeps Woods, Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, Texas
1990 Deep Woods, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, Kansas. 5 artists
1990 The Other Foot in the Door Show, Minnesota Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1990  Icons Made in Minnesota, Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
1990 Deep Woods, Davenport Museum of Art, Davenport, Iowa
1990 Icons:  A.I.R. Gallery, NYC,  Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, Ill
1989 Coda: A Collective Members Exhibition, WARM Gallery, Mpl.MN
1989 Icons Made in Minnesota, A.I.R. Gallery, New York, New York
1989 Group Show, The Edge Gallery, Duluth, Minnesota
1989 Group Show, Gallery 323, Duluth, Minnesota
1989 Deep Woods, Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota
1988 Work of the Spirit: Work by Women Artists, Ceres Gallery, NY,NY           
1988 Belvo, Nash, Jewett, Benson, Kiehle Gallery, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota
1987 Spirit Trees (solo), E. Johnson Gallery of Art, Bethel College, Arden Hills, Minnesota
1987 The Twin Cities: A Major Art Center, New Visions Gallery, Ithaca, New York
1987 Belvo, Nash, Jewett, Benson, Janice Wallace Fine Arts Center, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota
1987 The Drawing Show, Katherine Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1986 Six Contemporary Women Artists in Minnesota, Artbanque Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1986 Mother/Artist/Mother, Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota
1986 Homage to Ana Mendieta, Zeus/Trabia Gallery, New York, NY
1986 Bunting Institute Twenty-fifth Anniversary Show, Federal Reserve Bank, Boston, Massachusetts
1986 WARM Mentor/Protegee Exhibition, Catherine G. Murphy Galleries, College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota
1986  House and Garden: The Spirit of Place, Minnesota Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1985 10 x 10 Birthday Show, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, Mn
1985 New Work, WARM Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1985 Prints and Drawings, Arbitrage Art Gallery, New York, New York
1985 Women in Collaboration, C.G. Rein Gallery, Minneapolis, Mn
1985 WARM Mentor Show, WARM Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1985 Solo, WARM Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1985 Tenth Anniversary Celebration Exhibition, Minnesota Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1984 An Introduction to Collecting: Meet the Local Art Galleries, St. Paul Companies, St. Paul, Minnesota
1984 WARM: A Landmark Exhibition, Minnesota Museum, St Paul, Mn
1984 WARM: A landmark Exhibition, Tweed Museum, Duluth, Mn      
1984 Invitational Drawing Exhibition, Rochester Art Center, Minnesota
1983 Prints Preview, St. Paul Academy and Summit Schools, St. Paul,
1983 Solo, Catherine G. Murphy Galleries, Coll of St. Catherine, Mn
1983 After Pandora, Studio Arts Gallery, University of Minnesota, MN
1983 Belvo, Benson, Jewett, Kreft-Benson, Landmark Center, St Paul M
1982 WARM House Show, WARM Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1982 Landmark Editions: A Three Year Print Review, North Dakota
1982 Landmark Editions: Museum of Art, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks
1982 Landmark Editions: A Three Year Print Review, State University of North Dakota Gallery, Fargo, North Dakota
1982 Belvo, Erickson, Odland, Visscher, WARM Gallery, Mpls MN     
1982 Solo, Women’s Resource Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1982 Three Artists, N.A. Gallery, Northfield, Minnesota
1981 Solo, Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota, Duluth
1981 The Challenge of the Land, Pillsbury Company, Minneapolis,
1981 Solo, Sunset Hill Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri
1981 Eight Artists, Coffman Gallery University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1981 Solo, WARM Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1981 Witch Tree Show, Grand Portage Lodge and Conference Center,
1980 Two person, Rockford College Clark Arts Center, Rockford, Illinois
1980 White & Light, Jewish Community Center of Greater Minneapolis,
1980 Juried Award Show, Keene Mason Gallery, New York, NY)
1980 Inch Art, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, Minnesota
1980 Drawings, Hamline University Gallery, St. Paul, Minnesota
1980 Drawings, University Gallery, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
1980 Ribbon Exhibition, WARM Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1979 Two Person, Ritz Gallery, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota
1979 Ten Women Artists, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, Minnesota
1979 Mary Bunting Institute Artists, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1979 Drawings, College of St. Benedict’s, St. Joseph, Minnesota
1979 The Figure, Janice Wallace Fine Arts Center, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota
1979 A WARM Exchange, ARC Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
1979 Bunting Institute Artists, Your Heritage House, Detroit, Michigan
1979 WARM Artists, University Gallery, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
1978 The Great Exchange, St. Paul Academy and Summit School, St. Paul, Minnesota
1978 Collage, St. Paul Academy and Summit School, St. Paul,MN                            
1978 Paintings and Drawings (solo), WARM Gallery,Mpls, MN     
1977 Invitational Exhibition, Hamline University Gallery, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota
1977 87 Drawings (solo), WARM Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1977 13 Women Invitational, North Hennepin Community College, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1977 Paperworks, WARM Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1977 Figurative Drawings, Groveland Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1977 Personal Icons, WARM Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1977 Group Exhibition, Art Lending Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1976 Love Drawings (solo), 118 Art Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1976 Arrowhead Juried Exhibition, Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota, Duluth
1976  International Women’s Arts Festival Slide Exhibition, New York, NY
1976 Invitational, Women’s Interart Center, New York, New York
1976 Artists Choose, Minnesota Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1975 Group Exhibition, 118 Art Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1975 WARM Group Show, Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minnesota
1975 The Nude in American Art, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1974 Edible Art Invitational, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1974 Women’s Work: Eleven Women Artists, College of  St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota
1973 Solo, Martin Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1973 Solo, Paul Kessler Gallery, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1973 1973 Invitational Provincetown, Provincetown Art Association, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1973 Images, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, Minnesota
1972 Ten Minnesota Artists, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1972 Ten Minnesota Artists, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
1972 Solo, Woods-Gerry Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island
1971  Solo, Woods-Gerry Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island
1971 Ten Minnesota Artists, Tweed Museum of Art, University of             Minnesota, Duluth
1971 Images, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, Minnesota
1970 Solo, Carr House Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island
1969 Solo, Paul Kessler Gallery, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1969 Juried Exhibition, Providence Art Club, Providence, RI
1968 Group Exhibition, Hathorn Gallery, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York
1968 Solo, Gallery 267, Leonia, New Jersey
1968 54th Seasonal Juried Art Exhibition, Provincetown Art Association, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1968 Group Show, Art Unlimited, Providence, Rhode Island
1968 Artists and Their Children, Cyrk Gallery, Providence, RI
1968 Group Show, Paul Kessler Gallery, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1967 Louis and Charlotte Bergman Collection, La Jolla Fine Arts Museum, La Jolla, California
1967 Group Show, Art Unlimited, Providence, Rhode Island
1967 Radcliffe Institute Artists, Hilles Library, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1967 53th Seasonal Juried Art Exhibition, Provincetown Art Association, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1967 Eight Contemporary Artists, Jules Brenner Gallery, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1967 Group Show, Paul Kessler Gallery, Provincetown, MA     
1966 Belvo, Corrado, Helfant, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
1966 Solo, Art Unlimited Gallery, Providence, Rhode Island
1966 Group Show, Paul Kessler Gallery, Provincetown, MA)
1965 Solo, Antioch College, Yellowsprings, Ohio
1965 Group Show, Art Unlimited, Providence, Rhode Island
1965 Juried Show, Bristol Art Museum, Bristol, Rhode Island
1965 Solo, The Radcliffe Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1965 Group Show, Paul Kessler Gallery, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1964 Group Show, Art Unlimited, Providence, Rhode Island
1964 Juried Show, Provincetown Art Association, Provincetown,MA
1964 Juried Show, Lincoln Art Festival, Lincoln, Rhode Island
1964 Group Show, 371 Gallery, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1964 Group Show, Datoro-Tonoff Gallery, Providence, Rhode Island
1964 Group Exhibition, Artists Tenants Association, New York, NYC
1964 Group Show, Paul Kessler Gallery, Provincetown, MA     
1963 Group Exhibition, Key Gallery, New York, New York
1963 Downtown Community Invitational Annual, New York, New York
1962 Group Exhibition, New School for Social Research, New York,NY
1962 First Festival of the Fine Arts, Dayton, Ohio
1962 Dayton Area Artists Invitational, Dayton, Ohio
1962 Contemporary Paintings, Dayton Art Institute C.Gallery, Dayton, Ohio
1961 Belvo/Morrison, Hiddenwoods Lane, Dayton, Ohio
1961 Dayton Art Institute Regional Competition, Dayton, Ohio
1961 Dayton Area Artists Annual Exhibition,  Dayton, Ohio

Permanent Public Collections
Alexander and Alexander, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Arthur Anderson and Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bezalel National Museum, Jerusalem, Israel                           
The Blake Schools, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cherokee State Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota
College of St. Benedicts, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Dewitt-Wallace Foundation, New York, New York
Edison State College, Piqua, Ohio
First Bank Systems, Duluth, Minnesota
First Bank Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Frederick Steinway Collection, New York, New York
Frederick Weisman Museum, U of M, Minneapolis                                   
Marsh and McLennan, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, Minnesota
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., Minneapolis,Mn
Minnesota Museum of American Art
Piper Jaffray and Hopwood, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Pillsbury Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Provincetown Art Association, Provincetown, Massschusetts
Radcliffe College, Harvard University, Cambridge,Massachusetts
Reader’s Digest, New York, New York)
Siamese Imports, Weedeen Collection, New York, New York
Martin H. Slobodkin, White Card Co., Cambridge,Massachusetts
St. Paul Academy and Summit School, St. Paul, Minnesota
St. Paul Companies, St. Paul, Minnesota
The Stageberg Partners, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Temple Israel Men’s Club, Dayton, Ohio
3-M Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota, Duluth
University Hospitals, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
University Museum, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

The artist selected bibliography includes group published catalogues, solo published catalogues, and news articles about Hazel Belvo, personal biography and resume, published information includes, but are not limited to:

Woman of the Year, Minnesota Women Yearbook, 1983 Minneapolis
World of Who’s Who of Women, Fifth Edition, Cambridge, England
American Artists of Renown
Dictionary of International Biography
Who’s Who in the Midwest
WARM A Landmark Exhibition Ó WARM 1984 by WARM, Woman’s Art Registry of Minnesota

 
Copyright March 2007 Janet G. Smith
Submitted by Janet G. Smith, art consultant, art historian, art authenticator and independent curator.