Donald Cronkhite
Artist Statement
The Romantics sought to seize each moment and explode it to its epic potential. In the same way I have tried to use my painting to capture cloudscapes when they've reached their peak volume--the immediate prelude to the violence and release of storms, with all the emotion that lies therein. At the same time, I have tried to convey that sense of tension and expectation using colors, contrasts, and forms associated with realism and at a size and scale that brings the viewer into the storm, looking at it so closely that it becomes abstract and Expressionistic, directing the eyes to the exaggerated shapes and vibrant, saturated hues. In fact, the larger-than-life size of the paintings is a vital element of my purpose, which is to fill viewers' peripheral vision and envelop them in the movement and kinetic energy of a storm. The effect is both Romantic and hyper-realistic, ephemeral and concrete.
EDUCATION
Wayne State University, BFA.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 - Robert Kidd Gallery, “Cloudscapes: The Color of White,” Birmingham, MI.
2019 - Gross Pointe Artist Association, "Ominous Skies, a cloud study," Grosse Pointe, MI.
2018 - Henry Ford College, Sisson Gallery, "Chasing the Light," Dearborn, MI.
2016 - Level One Bank Community Art Gallery, "Cloudscapes; Exploring the Dramatic," Ferndale, MI.
2012 - Gruen Galleries, "Clouds: Oils on Linen," Chicago, IL.
2011 - Biddle Gallery, "Before the Storm," Wyandotte, MI.
2007 - Gruen Galleries, "A Series of Studies," Chicago, IL.
2003 - Biddle Gallery, "Recent Work," Wyandotte, MI.
TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2016 - Detroit Athletic Club (DAC), "Cloudscapes: Shirley Parish & Donald Cronkhite," Detroit, MI.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 - The Butler Institute of American Art, “85th National Midyear Show,” Youngstown, OH.
2021 - Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center, “Michigan Fine Arts Competition,” Birmingham, MI.
2021 - Grosse Pointe Artists’ Association, “Best of the Best Exhibition,” Grosse Pointe, MI.
2021 - Wayne State University Art Collection, “Art Mile, “Detroit, MI.
2021 - Robert Kidd Gallery, “Art Mile,” Birmingham, MI.
2021 – The Art Guild, “The Painted Moment,” Manhesser, NY.
2021 - Hatch Art, "Hatch Back 15 Annual Exhibition," Hamtramck, MI.
2021 - The Art Guild, "The Painted Moment," Manhasser, NY
2021 - Gross Pointe Artist Association, "The Challenge: Try Something New," Grosse Pointe, MI.
2021 - Northville Art House, “15th Annual Members Exhibition," Northville, MI.
2020 - Northville Art House, “Small Works Show," Northville, MI.
2020 - Gross Pointe Artist Association, “Soul Searching,” Grosse Pointe, MI.
2020 - Hatch Art, "Hatch Back 14 Annual Exhibition," Hamtramck, MI.
2020 - Scarab Club, “Gilda Snowden Memorial Exhibition," Detroit, MI.
2020 - Detroit Artists Market, "Biennial All-Media Exhibition," Detroit, MI.
2020 - Kresge Art Foundation, “Art in the Office,” Detroit, MI.
2020 - Northville Art House, “Black & White,” Northville, MI.
2019 - Henry Ford College, "Landscape Through Michigan Eyes," Dearborn, MI. Curator: Donald Cronkhite
2019 - Muskegon Museum of Art, "91th Annual Regional All-Michigan Exhibition," Muskegon, MI.
2019 - Gross Pointe Artist Association, "Summertime Pleasures," Grosse Pointe, MI.
2019 - Mercedes Benz Research & Development NA, "Experiencing Perspectives in Art," Ferndale, MI.
2019 - Gross Pointe Artist Association, "Our Rivers, Our Lakes," Grosse Pointe, MI.
2019 - Birmingham-Bloomfield Hills Art Center, "Michigan Fine Arts Competition," Birmingham, MI.
2019 - Scarab Club, “Gilda Snowden Memorial Exhibition,” Detroit, MI.
2019 - Northville Art House, “Annual Members Exhibition,” Northville, MI.
2018 - Midland Center for the Arts, "57th Greater Michigan Art Exhibition," Midland, MI.
2018 - Black Box Gallery, "Crossing Perspective," Dearborn, MI.
2018 - Detroit Artists Market, "Art for the Holidays, 2018 Exhibition," Detroit, MI.
2018 - Midland Center for the Arts, "ArtPrize--The Michigan Connection," Midland, MI.
2018 - Scarab Club, "Plein Air Challenge," Detroit, MI.
2018 - Anton Art Center, "Motherhood," Macomb, MI.
2018 - Birmingham-Bloomfield Hills Art Center, "Michigan Fine Arts Competition," Birmingham, MI.
2018 - Detroit Artists Market, "Biennial All-Media Exhibition," Detroit, MI.
2018 - The ArtPrize Hub, "Collectors Show Biannual Fine Arts Exhibition," Grand Rapids, MI.
2018 - Northville Art House, "Annual Members Exhibition," Northville, MI.
2018 - Anton Art Center, "Michigan Annual 45th Art Competition & Exhibition," Macomb, MI.
2017 - Crooked Tree Arts Center, "Juried Fine Arts Exhibition," Petoskey, MI.
2017 - Scarab Club, "104th Gold Medal Exhibition," Detroit, MI.
2017 - Muskegon Museum of Art, "89th Annual Regional All-Michigan Exhibition," Muskegon, MI.
2017 - Midland Center for the Arts, "56th Annual Greater Michigan Arts Exhibition," Midland, MI.
2017 - Women’s City Club, "ArtPrize: International Art Competition," Grand Rapids, MI.
2017 - The Venue Tower, "Collectors Show Biannual Fine Arts Exhibition," Grand Rapids, MI.
2017 - Scarab Club, "Plein Air Challenge," Detroit, MI.
2017 - Birmingham-Bloomfield Hills Art Center, "Michigan Fine Arts Competition," Birmingham, MI.
2017 - Ann Arbor Arts Center, "REMIX: Statewide Art Competition," Ann Arbor, MI.
2017 - Hatch Art, "Hatch Back 11 Annual Exhibition," Hamtramck, MI.
2017 - Downriver Council for the Arts, "Secret Handshake: Wayne State University Collective," Wyandotte, MI.
2017 - Mercedes Benz Research & Development NA, "Experiencing Perspectives in Art," Ferndale, MI.
2017 - Scarab Club, "Silver Medal Exhibition," Detroit, MI.
2016 - Scarab Club, "103rd Gold Medal Exhibition," Detroit, MI.
2016 - DeVos Place Convention Center, "ArtPrize International Art Competition," Grand Rapids, MI.
2016 - Muskegon Museum of Art, "88th Annual Regional All-Michigan Exhibition," Muskegon, MI.
2013 - Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, "ArtPrize International Art Competition," Grand Rapids, MI.
2012 - Gruen Galleries, "Group Exhibition, Gallery Artists," Chicago, IL.
2010 - Lafontsee Galleries, "ArtPrize International Art Competition," Grand Rapids, MI.
2009 - Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, "Salon International," San Antonio, TX.
2009 - Gruen Galleries, "Group Exhibition, Gallery Artists," Chicago, IL.
2007 - Gruen Galleries, "Group Exhibition, Gallery Artists," Chicago, IL.
2006 - Montserrat Gallery, "Salon Exhibition," New York, NY.
2005 - Gruen Galleries, "Group Exhibition, Gallery Artists," Chicago, IL.
PUBLIC ART COLLECTIONS
"Gloaming." Wayne State University. Detroit, MI. 2020.
“Twilight of Grandeur" Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, MI. 2019.
"Gray Series No.16." University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI. 2019.
"Grandeur." Henry Ford College. Dearborn, MI. 2018.
"Gray Series No.19.” Art House. Detroit, MI. 2016.
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
2005-present - Gruen Galleries, Chicago, IL.
CONSIGNMENT
2020 - Present - Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI.
2007-2008 - David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI.
PUBLICATIONS
My City Magazine-Flint, “A World Hidden in the Clouds: The Expressionism of Donald Cronkhite” by Peter Hinterman, May Issue, 2021.Detroit Art Review, “Landscapes @ Henry Ford College Sission Gallery” by Ron Scott, November 1, 2019.
Grosse Pointe Magazine, “Artist Donald Cronkhite invites you to do some sky watching,” by Karen Pope, September – October 2019.
Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, Inc., “Local Perspectives,” Global Reach 2019-2020
Art Annual, 2017 and 2019.
Scarab Club, Art Review, 2016 and 2017.
Gruen Galleries, Chicago Gallery News, 2017.
AWARDS / SCHOLARSHIP
Northville Art House, “15th Annual Members Exhibition," Members’ Choice Award, 2021
Grosse Pointe Artist Association, “The Challenge: Try Something New,” 2nd Place, 2021
Grosse Pointe Artist Association, “Summer Pleasures,” 2nd Place, 2019
Grosse Pointe Artist Association, “Our Rivers, Our lakes,” Best of Show, 2019
Scarab Club, “103rd Gold Medal Exhibition,” Honorable Mention, 2016
Henry Ford Community College, Mary Ellen Heth Award, 1991.
Half-Tuition Scholarship, European Tour Scholarship, 1991.
ART INSTRUCTOR
Grosse Pointe Artist Association, June 2019 to present
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, January 2020 to present
Flint Institute of Arts, March 2021 to present