H. John Thompson
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2009 MFA Studio Art. The University of the Arts, Philadelphia
2004 BA Integrative Arts, The Pennsylvania State University, Abington College
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2009- The Pennsylvania State University, Abington College
Associate Teaching Professor of Art (2020-present)
Assistant Teaching Professor of Art (2013-2020)
Lecturer of Art (2009-2013)
2012-2014 The University of the Arts, Philadelphia PA
Instructor, Graduate Studies
2013 Temple University, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia PA
Instructor, Foundation Sculpture
2011-2013 Burlington County College, Pemberton NJ
Instructor, Visual Arts
RELATED ACADEMIC SERVICE APPOINTMENTS
2013- The Pennsylvania State University, Abington College
Director, The Penn State Abington Art Gallery (2015-Present)
Coordinator, Art Department Wood Shop (2013-2020)
WOODEN BOATBUILDING & RESTORATION PROJECTS
2018-23 24’ Corinthian Class Sloop 1951 Design “Tinicum”
Independence Seaport Museum’s Workshop on the Water
Scratch Build
Shipwright’s Apprentice / Volunteer
2021-22 12’ Beaton Duckboat 1952 Design “SQUONK”
Penn State Abington College Arts & Humanities Interdisciplinary Studies Course
Scratch Build
Project Coordinator and Lead Faculty
2019 12’ Beetle Cat “Emilio”
Independence Seaport Museum’s Workshop on the Water
Restoration
Volunteer
2018 19’ Big Ben Garvey “Kelpie”
Independence Seaport Museum’s Workshop on the Water
Scratch Build
Volunteer
2018 17’ New Jersey Lifeguard Surf Boat
Independence Seaport Museum’s Workshop on the Water
Restoration
Volunteer
WOODEN BOATBUILDING WORKS IN PROGRESS
2022- 16’ Friendship Catboat
Prototype one-design gaff-rigged sailboat intended to be utilized in boatbuilding and
sail training programs.
In collaboration with the Workshop on the Water at Independence Seaport Museum
Project Originator and Builder.
WOODEN BOAT PRESERVATION AND DOCUMENTATION WORKS IN PROGRESS
2022-23 15’ 1880’s Delaware Ducker “Theresa”
Penn State Abington College / Independence Seaport Museum
Historic Preservation & Documentation Project of Existing Boat
Project Coordinator and Lead Faculty
EXHIBITIONS
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2017 Trouble Light, Napoleon Gallery (renamed “Pink Noise Projects”), Philadelphia, PA
2014 Holding Our Own, Napoleon Gallery (renamed “Pink Noise Projects”), Philadelphia, PA
2012 Other Pieces of Spaces, Napoleon Gallery (renamed “Pink Noise Projects”), Philadelphia, PA
2009 “Richard Dreyfuss” Thesis Exhibition, Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2019 Your Plus Ones, Mount Airy Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA
2017 The One You Know, NoBA Art Space, Bala Cynwyd, PA
2016 Lost In Transit, SOIL Gallery, Seattle, WA
2016 Far More Real: NAPOLEON Collective at COOP, COOP Gallery, Nashville,TN
2015 Other Selections, The Center for Art in Wood, Philadelphia, PA
2015 Traction Company, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2014 The Woodmere Annual: 73rd Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Art Museum, Chestnut Hill, PA
2013 As First As Exactly, Traction Co. Philadelphia, PA
2013 COLLECTION, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA
2012 There’s A Place, Hicks Art Center Gallery, Newtown, PA. Curated by Sarah McEneaney.
2012 Art Now, Germantown Academy Gallery, Fort Washington, PA
2011 Making Place, President’s Gallery, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2008 New Faces Emerging Philadelphia Artists, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA
Public Works
2014 Trevose and Oakford Obelisks, Abington Art Center Sculpture Park, Abington, PA
2009 Dave and Jim, University of the Arts Hamilton Platforms Public Art Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
Selected Curatorial Projects
2023 ‘Know the Enemy’ a solo exhibition by Gerard Brown
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2022 MANDALA, by Venerable Losang Samten
A week-long demonstration of a traditional Tibetan Buddhist sand mandala
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2022 Nesting + Navigation, Deirdre Murphy and Scott White
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2021 “as within, so without” a solo exhibition by Rebecca Sack
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2021 “20 for ‘20” 20 Photos by Penn State Abington Students reflecting the Experience of 2020
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2019 “Ham Fisted” a solo exhibition by Ryan Wilson Kelly
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2019 “Another World; by a route obscure”, a solo exhibition by Bonnie Levinthal
Napoleon Gallery (renamed “Pink Noise Projects”) Philadelphia, PA
2019 “The Best of All Possible Worlds” an installation by Lewis Colburn
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2018 “Immigration Now” work by artists speaking to US immigration from personal experience
Co-curated with Daniel Oliva
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2018 “The Enchanted Hunter” an installation by Scott Kip
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2018 “Singular Moments: Exercises in Printmaking” a solo exhibition by Alexis Nutini
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2017 “Where We Find Ourselves”
How queer individuals are reflected in the mirror of mainstream media
Co-curated with Jordan Rockford
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2016 “Electro-Duct” by Scott Pennington
Outdoor exhibition on the Callowhill Viaduct, Philadelphia, PA
2016 “Lost In Transit” Co-curated with Marc Blumthal and Ricky Yanas
SOIL Gallery, Seattle, WA
2015 “Locality” a solo exhibition by Matthew Colaizzo
Napoleon Gallery (renamed “Pink Noise Projects”) Philadelphia, PA
2015 “Farthest from Earth” an installation by Jaime Alvarez
Penn State Abington Art Gallery, Abington, PA
2015 “Night Light” an Outdoor Exhibition of Projection, Video, and New Media
Penn State Abington College, Abington, PA
2014 “Faculty Collections”
The University of the Arts President’s Office Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2014 “Switch” an installation by Kris Strawser
Napoleon Gallery (renamed “Pink Noise Projects”) Philadelphia, PA
2013 “Wayfinder: Forging Identity” Co-curated with Adam Miller and Jordan Rockford
The University of the Arts President’s Office Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2012 “Big and Little” Charity Exhibition and Sale
to Benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Napoleon Gallery (renamed “Pink Noise Projects”) Philadelphia, PA
REVIEWS
Jia, Olivia. “John Thompson: Holding Our Own.” Title-Magazine.com. 20 Nov. 2014. Web.
Fallon, Roberta. “Sort-of Live Comments – Vox building and Space 1026 on First Friday, Oct. 3, 2014.”
TheArtBlog.org, 9 Oct. 2014. Web.
Schwartz, Chip. “Retro Revelations and Unsolved Aeronautical Mysteries at Napoleon.” Knight Arts.org.
Knight Foundation, 9 Oct. 2014. Web.
Newhall, Edith. “Galleries: In Woodmere’s Annual, Paintings Rule.” Philly.com. Philadelphia Inquirer,
16 June. 2014. Web.
Eckhoff, Sally. “Holding Our Own: H. John Thompson’s Invisible Travelers.” Napoleonnapoleon.com,
1 Oct. 2014. Web.
COURSES TAUGHT
The Pennsylvania State University, Abington College
ART496: Independent Studies Special Projects
ART469: Methods & Materials II, Introduction to Wooden Boatbuilding II for Art Majors
ART411: Seminar in Contemporary Art, Senior Exhibition Professional Practices Capstone Project
ART297C: Interdomain Special Topics, Introduction to Wooden Boatbuilding II
ART297: Special Topics: Murals and Community Engagement / Mural Studio Arts
ART269: Methods & Materials I, Introduction to Wooden Boatbuilding I for Art Majors
ART197B: Interdomain Special Topics, Introduction to Wooden Boatbuilding I
ART199/299/499: Foreign Studies, The Visual Arts in Ireland Embedded Program
ART111: Ideas as Objects, Foundation 3D Concepts for Art Majors
ART110: Ideas as Images, Foundation 2D Concepts for Art Majors
ART11: School of Visual Arts First Year Seminar
ART30: Introduction to Sculpture
ART20: Introduction to Drawing
ART10: Introduction to Visual Studies
ART1: Introduction to the Visual Arts
The University of the Arts, Philadelphia
GRFA782: Graduate Thesis Writing Project II
GRFA710: Major Studio III, Graduate Studies
GRAD650: Major Ideas in Visual Culture Studies, Graduate Studies Seminar
GRFA615: Major Studio II, Graduate Studies
GRFA611: Independent Sculpture Studio I, Graduate Studies
GRFA610: Major Studio I, Graduate Studies
Tyler School of Art, Temple University
FDPR1531: 3D Foundation Principles
Burlington County College
ART121: Drawing II
ART120: Drawing I
ART101: Introduction to Art
TEACHING INNOVATION AND COURSES DEVELOPED
ACURA (Abington College Undergraduate Research Activities) Program
Documentation and Preservation of Design of “Theresa” 1880’s 15’ Delaware Ducker
ART496: Independent Studies (Fall 2022 & Spring 2023)
Intermediate Wooden Boatbuilding Courses
On site and in collaboration with Independence Seaport Museum
”SQUONK” Wooden Boat Project
ART469: Methods & Materials II, Introduction to Wooden Boatbuilding II for Art Majors (Spring 2022)
ART297C: Interdomain Special Topics, Introduction to Wooden Boatbuilding II (Spring 2022)
Beginning Wooden Boatbuilding Courses
On site and in collaboration with Independence Seaport Museum
”SQUONK” Wooden Boat Project
ART269: Methods & Materials I, Introduction to Wooden Boatbuilding I for Art Majors (Fall 2021)
ART197B: Interdomain Special Topics, Introduction to Wooden Boatbuilding I (Fall 2021)
Special Topics, Murals and Community Engagement / Mural Studio Arts
Design, fabrication, and installation of a ceramic mosaic on campus
ART297: Special Topics: Murals and Community Engagement / Mural Arts Studio (Fall 2018 & Spring 2019)
Freshman Seminar and Portfolio Development Course
ART11: School of Visual Arts First Year Seminar (Fall 2016)
Senior Exhibition. Professional Practices and Capstone Project
On site and in collaboration with Abington Art Center
ART411: Seminar in Contemporary Art (Spring 2015)
GUEST LECTURES
Bucks County Community College, Visiting Artist (2012)
Tyler School of Art, Foundations Lecture Series (2010)
The University of the Arts, Graduate Studies Lecture Series (2010)
CONFERENCE ACTIVITY
Presentations
”Pecha Kucha” Teaching With Small Boats Alliance 2022. Port Townsend, WA. November 2022
Panelist
”Boatbuilding Across Disciplines: Design, Construction, and Use of Small Boats from Primary through
Post-Secondary Education” Organized by Bill Nimke. Teaching With Small Boats Alliance
2022. Port Townsend, WA. November 2022.
SERVICE
To the Profession
Organizer and Host, “Gender Abolition: The Limits and Possibilities of Queer Representation.” Virtual
Talk and Q&A with Jordan Rockford and Lorenzo Triburgo(2021)
Coordinator, “Ways of Learning; An Apprentice Boatbuilder in Japan” Public Talk and Workshop
by Douglas Brooks at Independence Seaport Museum (2021)
Organizer, “Re-Visioning Monuments” Virtual Public Talk, Studio Visit, and Q&A with Artist Lewis
Colburn and Public Historian Dr. Shan Holt (2020)
Organizer and Host, “What Does Artistic and Scientific Collaboration Look Like? A Virtual Studio Visit
and Discussion with Artist Deirdre Murphy and Ornithologist Dr. Les Murray” (2020)
Juror, The Please Touch Museum Artist Residency (2012)
To the College
Coordinator, Art Gallery Visiting Artist Lecture and Workshop Series (2015-present)
Coordinator, Art Gallery Student Monitors (2015-present)
Visual Art Coordinator, The Abington Review Campus Literary Magazine (2014-present)
Presenter, “Teaching with Wooden Boats: A Perspective from the Arts and Humanities” Faculty
Research Series (2023)
Faculty Mentor, Abington College Undergraduate Research Activities (2022-23)
Search Committee Member, Assistant Professor of Theatre (2019-2020)
Coordinator, Music Practice Spaces and Student Monitors (2015-2020)
Organizer and Presenter, “Creative Work in the Time of COVID-19, A Virtual Group Studio Visit and
Discussion with Penn State Abington Art Faculty” (2020)
Judge, Thomas R and Eileen Walton Smith Award for Achievement in the Arts and Humanities (2019)
Co-Coordinator, “Women by Women Exhibition Reception and Celebration of Student Creative
Work” (2019)
Coordinator, Guest Speaker, Cathy Harris, Director of Community Murals, Philadelphia Mural Arts
Program (2018)
Coordinator, “The Sewing Man” Artist Performance and Talk by Dong Kyu Kim (2018)
Coordinator, “Painters and Drag Queens” Artist Performance by Jonathan Van Dyke (2017)
Recruitment Facilitator, Congreso de Latinos Unidos Campus Tour and Workshop (2017)
Coordinator, Andrew Belser Penn State Laureate Visit (2017)
Coordinator, Rebecca Strzelec Penn State Laureate Visit (2016)
Coordinator, Penn State Abington College Woodland Building Exhibitions Spaces (2013-2015)
Faculty Mentor, Penn State Abington Art Club (2014)
Coordinator, 2014 High School Invitational Art Exhibition (2014)
Campus Governance
Committee Member, Academic Environment Committee, Abington College Faculty Senate (2023-)
Senator, Abington College Faculty Senate (2014-2019)
Committee Member, Student Affairs Committee, Abington College Faculty Senate (2014-2019)
Chair, Student Affairs Committee, Abington College Faculty Senate (2014-2016)
Committee Accomplishments: Establishment of Food Pantry, Parking and Transportation Survey
To the Department
Coordinator, Bertha Lear Annual Student Art Exhibition and Awards Ceremony (2014-present)
Art Gallery Representative, Arts and Humanities Division Council (2018-present)
Coordinator, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Bus Trip and Exhibition Tour (2016)
Safety Officer, Woodland Art Studios (2014-2016)
Coordinator, West Collection, Oaks Pennsylvania Bus Trip and Guided Tour (2015)
Faculty Mentor, “Why the Silence” Student Curated Woodland Corridor Exhibition (2015)
Faculty Mentor, “Jay Sullivan Photography” Student Curated Woodland Corridor Exhibition (2014)
AWARDS AND HONORS
Penn State Abington College Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice Award (2023)
Abington College Faculty Senate Award for Distinguished Faculty Service (2016)
Maybelle Longstreet Prize for Excellence, 73rd Annual Woodmere Juried Exhibition (2014)
President’s Award, The University of the Arts Graduate Studies and Research Award (2010)
The University of the Arts Summer MFA Program Merit Scholarship (2007, 2008, 2009)
The Marie Walsh Sharp Art Foundation Summer Program Scholarship (1996)
GRANTS
External
RPM Foundation Shipwright Apprenticeship at Independence Seaport Museum (2019)
Internal
The Penn State Humanities Institute, Humanities in the World Initiative Grant (2021, 2022)
Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Innovation Grant (2021)
Penn State Center Philadelphia, Seeding Change Grant (2021)
Penn State Abington College Chancellor’s Grant (2021)
Penn State Abington College Faculty Development Grant (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021,2022,2023)
Penn State General Education Teaching Microgrant (2019, 2020, 2021)
RELATED EMPLOYMENT
2019 The Independence Seaport Museum, Workshop on the Water, Philadelphia PA
Shipwright’s Apprentice
2013-14 The University of the Arts, Philadelphia PA
President’s Office Gallery Coordinator
2010-11 Abington Art Center, Abington PA
Instructor, Basic and Advanced Drawing
2005-07 Thompson Building and Remodeling, Perkasie PA
Carpenter
2004-05 The Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA
Education Assistant and Visitor Services Representative
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATIONS
Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM), Member (2023-present)
Teaching With Small Boats Alliance (TWSBA), Member (2022-present)
Volunteer Shipwright, Independence Seaport Museum, Workshop on the Water (2018-present)
Napoleon Artist Collective (renamed Pink Noise Projects), Founding Member (2011-2019)
Astronomical Society of Northern New England, Member (2015-16)
The Center for Art in Wood, Member (2015-16)