About

Artists Statement

Contemporary abstract and conceptual artists are known for providing elaborate and often very esoteric explanations of their work. This helps to create a mystique or artistic persona that is often easier to market in our “age of personality” than it is to market the art itself. In that regard, I don’t fit in.  It is my very strong feeling that art must speak for itself, independent of the artist, which is why I’m always reluctant to explain the nature and character my work as an abstract artist. What I will say is that I like to believe that my art communicates a fundamental freedom…with energy and nerve…but, more importantly, that it is a starkly honest expression of the life and times I am a part of.  Each time I step to a canvas I stare down the truth of who I am, my individual talents and temperaments.  In my estimation one can ask no more of an artist than that. The art itself must do the rest.

Resume

exhibitions

  • Group exhibition. Spring Show. The Gallery of Wisconsin Art. January, 2019.

  • Solo Museum exhibition. In Our Time. The Pearson Art Center. August, 2018.

  • Group exhibition.  Botanical Masterpieces.  The Gallery of Wisconsin Art.  May, 2018.

  • Group exhibition. Board Show: Spring. The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts.  Chicago, IL.  April, 2018.

  • Group exhibition.  The Fun Art Show.   The Gallery of Wisconsin Art.  February, 2017.

  • Group exhibition. Landscapes. Gallery of Wisconsin Art. West Bend, WI. November 8, 2017.

  • Solo exhibition. Harvest. Arts on Grand. Spencer, IA. September, 2017.

  • Solo exhibition. The Passion Through the Eyes of Peter. The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. Chicago, IL. 2017.

  • Group exhibition. Board Show: Autumn. The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. Chicago, IL. 2016.

  • Group exhibition. Seascapes. Arts of the Albemarle. Elizabeth City, NC. 2014.

  • Group exhibition. Board Show: Spring. The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. Chicago, IL. 2016.

  • Group exhibition. Annual Portrait Show. The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. Chicago, IL. 2016.

  • Group exhibition. War Torn. Agora Gallery. New York, NY. 2016.

  • Group exhibition. Board Show: Autumn. The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. Chicago, IL. 2015.

  • Group exhibition. Annual Portrait Show. The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. Chicago, IL. 2015.

  • Group exhibition. Borders. Arts of the Albemarle. Elizabeth City, NC. 2015.

  • Group exhibition. Board Show: Spring. The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. Chicago, IL. 2015.

  • Group exhibition. From Water to Oil. Arts of the Albemarle. Elizabeth City, NC. 2014.

  • Group exhibition. Annual Portrait Show. The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. Chicago, IL. 2014.

  • Solo exhibition. Memoirs of the Red Ballerina. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 2012.

  • Solo exhibition. Some Trees. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 2010.

  • Solo exhibition. Cabaret. Milwaukee Repertory Theater. 2010.

  • Group exhibition. Masters Drawings Old and New. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 2009.

  • Solo exhibition. Retrospective. Concordia University. 2009.

  • Solo exhibition. Summer’s Covenant. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 2008.

  • Group exhibition. Bare Walls: Annual Nude Figure Show. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 2008.

  • Solo exhibition. Milwaukee River Series Retrospective. River Edge Gallery. Newburg, WI. 2008.

  • Group exhibition. Modern Masters. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 2007.

  • Solo exhibition. Urbanscapes. Milwaukee Area Technical College. 2006.

  • Solo exhibition. Time and the Holy Lands. Concordia University. 2005.

  • Solo exhibition. Solar Constant. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 2004.

  • Solo exhibition. Solar Constant. Milwaukee Area Technical College. 2003.

  • Group exhibition. Bare Walls: Annual Nude Figure Show. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 2002.

  • Solo exhibition. The Space Between. Concordia University. 2002.

  • Solo exhibition. Milwaukee Inside and Out. Milwaukee Area Technical College. 2001.

  • Solo exhibition. Like All Things…Vast and Blue. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 2001.

  • Solo exhibition. Milwaukee River Series. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 2000.

  • Solo exhibition. Magi. Milwaukee Area Technical College. 1999.

  • Group exhibition. Barbizon & Plein Air Artists of the 19th & 20th Centuries. DeLind Fine Art. 1998.

  • Solo exhibition. Places We Pass By. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 1998.

  • Solo exhibition. Spasms of Silent Laughter. Concordia University. 1997.

  • Solo exhibition Milwaukee Landmarks. DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 1997.

  • Group exhibition (celebrating Milwaukee’s Sesquicentennial). DeLind Fine Art. Milwaukee, WI. 1996.

  • Group exhibition. Peltz Gallery. Milwaukee, WI. 1995.

  • Group exhibition. Peltz Gallery. Milwaukee, WI. 1994.

  • Solo exhibition. Grava Gallery. Milwaukee, WI. 1993.

awards and recognition

  • Recipient of the Mayor’s Award for Cultural Enrichment for which May 14 was proclaimed by Mayor John Norquist as Terry Firkins Day in the City of Milwaukee. 2000.

  • Served as the subject of study for the doctoral dissertation entitled Making Sense: The Epistemological Character of Art by Dr. Gaylund Stone, Dean of Arts, Concordia University. 2001.

  • Selected as Milwaukee’s Featured Artist by Milwaukee’s East Town Association. 2003.

  • Selected as Milwaukee’s Featured Artist by Milwaukee’s East Town Association. 2005.

  • Selected as Milwaukee’s Featured Artist by Milwaukee’s East Town Association. 2006.

education

  • BA. University of Iowa.

  • MA. University of Iowa, English Literature.

  • PhD. University of Iowa, English Literature (Dissertation: A Textual Study of Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer, Tom Sawyer Detective, and Tom Sawyer Abroad, published by the University of California Press—Berkeley).

work history

  • Director of Curriculum and Quality Programming. Milwaukee Area Technical College. 2000-2012.

  • Senior Vice President. The Benjamin Publishing Company, a division of John Wyley & Sons. 1986-1999.

  • Associate Professor of English. Marquette University. 1977-1985.