Susan Amador is a metalsmithing artist and instructor based in Fort Collins, Colorado. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Metalsmithing from Colorado State University and over 20 years of experience teaching jewelry making and metalsmithing. Her work has been exhibited widely in Colorado and she has installed public sculptures. She is currently an instructor at Front Range Community College.

1. Susan Amador
mijastudios@gmail.com 938 Maple Street Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 (970) 4
20 2325
Education
1999 Master of Fine Arts, concentration Metalsmithing.
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
1996 Bachelor of Fine Arts, concentration Metalsmithing.
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
1977 to 1979 Studied Fine Arts and Metalsmithing.
University of Houston, Houston, Texas.
1972 to 1975 Three year apprenticeship with Susan Cohan, MFA.Metalsmith,
Rochester Institute of Technology. Peter’s Valley, Layton, New Jersey.
1972 to 1974 Two week workshops with Chuck Evans, Eleanor Moty and J.Fred Woell. Pet
er’s Valley, Layton, New Jersey.
Teaching Experience
March 10, 2012 to present Instructor of record, Front Range Community College, Fort Co
llins, Colorado.
Teaching two Jewelry and Metalsmithing foundation courses a semester and three courses eac
h semester at the second, third and at the fourth year level. Instructing independent studies eac
h semester. Responsible for studio inventory, supplies and equipment repairs and upkeep. Desi
gned, developed and upgraded studio facilities. Integral in the design of new facilities for constr
uction fall of 2015.
2014 Twala Women’s Village, Laikipia, Kenya, Africa.
Taught and coached Jewelry concept, design, fabrication and marketing to marginalized Maasa
i Women dependent on jewelry manufacture and sales to tourists.
2013 and 2014 Umoja and Unity Women’s Villages, Samburu, Kenya, Africa.
Taught and coached Jewelry concept, design, fabrication and marketing to marginalized Sambu
ru Maasai Women dependent on jewelry manufacture and sales to safari tourists.
1998 to 1999 Graduate Student Teacher, Art Education, Colorado State University, Ft Collin
s, Colorado. Instruction with Dr. Patrick Fahey and assigned teaching employment through the
Art Education Program with the Village School, Fort Collins, Colorado. Supervised by Norberto
Valdez in Ethnic Studies to convey Manuel Martinez, muralist from the race movement of the 19
60s to today, as a lecturer to the Ethnic Studies department and the Art Department.
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2. 1998 to 2003 The Village School, Fort Collins, Colorado, Art Teacher. Fort Collins’ expulsion
secondary school. Designed and implemented the new art program to include printmaking, pain
ting, sculpture, drawing, metalsmithing and was responsible for bringing Manuel Martinez to coll
aborate with the at risk population to design a tryptich portable mural. The population consisted
of poverty level multi-racial Junior and Senior High School students that had been expelled from
regular classes for serious infractions. The school implemented the Boys Town Model of behavi
or modification. The students excelled in Art.
1997 to 2004 City of Fort Collins, Colorado, Metalsmithing instructor.
Designed, implemented and maintained studio facilities, taught foundation and advanced jewelr
y/metalsmithing to a varied population.
Public Installations
2005 “Memorial Chair” Steel sculpture in City Park, Fort Collins, Colorado.
2004 “Quetzal Mezcal” Repoussed copper triptych in the Rio Grande Restaurant, Fort Collins,
Colorado.
Invitationals and Exhibitions
2014 Fort Collins 10th Annual Mask Invitational Fundfaiser at The Museum of Art, Fort Collins
Colorado.
2014 Manifest Metals. Outnumbered Gallery, Littleton, Colorado.
2012 and 2013 Santa Fe Recycled Art Festival, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
2013 Firefly Art Festival, Boulder, Colorado.
2013 Front Range Community College Art Department Faculty Show, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Invitationals and Exhibitions Continued
2012 Fort Collins 9th Annual Mask Invitational Fundfaiser at The Museum of Art, Fort Collins
Colorado. Mask chosen for the Gala Event.
2011 Whimsy Show. Art Institute and Gallery, Salisbury, Maryland. Honorable Mention.
2009 Bicycles, Poudre Art Center, Fort Collins, Colorado.
2008 Spring Bug Show, Fine Art Goldsmiths, Fort Collins, Colorado.
1999 Spiva’s National Contemporary Craft Biennial, Joplin, Missouri.
1999 Metalmorphosis, Business of Art Center, Manitou Springs, Colorado.
1998 and 1997 A. Houberbocken 8th and 9th Annual Teapot Show at S.O.F.A,
Chiaroscuro Gallery, Chicago, Illinois.
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3. 1998 to 2009 The Art Market at the Arvada Center, Denver, Colorado.
Professional and Employment Experience
1990 to present Independent Studio Artist
2012 to 2014 Partner/Associate, Screen Door Studios Gallery, Fort Collins, Colorado. Evalu
ated, redesigned and implemented new gallery structure. Responsible for installation of lighting
equipment and displays, marketing, art openings, organization of workshops, press releases an
d advertising. Authored and developed consignment contracts and liability agreements for the g
allery. Managed sales software, photography and IT solutions. Offered the space to capstone st
udents for senior shows free of charge and acted as advisor to them about gallery experiences
and requirements.
2007 to 2009 Owner, Fine Art Goldsmiths, Fort Collins, Colorado.
A fine Art and Art Metals/Jewelry gallery. Curator of 2D and 3D theme shows and individual ex
hibitions. Responsible for advertising, photography and Basic Photoshop. We encouraged stud
ents graduating Colorado State University to have their capstone exhibit at the gallery for no cha
rge. The Gallery fostered a mentoring atmosphere for the students. Fine Art Goldsmiths further
supported local and regional artists through exhibits and sales of their work. Also engaged as a
metal artist and bench jeweler.
Awards, Memberships and Professional Organizations
2014 College Art Association member.
2013 to present Member Colorado Metalsmithing Association.
1996 to 1998 Awarded membership in the Colorado State University President Albert C. Yat
es Minority Student Advisory Committee.
1997 Clara Hatton Gallery Award, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
1996 to 1998 The National Endowment for the Arts and the Society of North American Goldsm
iths Minority Student Fellowship.
Galleries
2014 Outnumbered Gallery, Littleton, Colorado.
2013 to present Museum of Art, Fort Collins, Colorado
2012 to present Screen Door Studios Gallery, Fort Collins, Colorado
2009 Esscentuals, Fort Collins, Colorado.
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