Pam Jersey Bird came of age in the 1960’s in New Jersey. Growing up in New Jersey, 20 minutes outside of Manhattan, allowed Pam to visit NYC often and to enjoy the museums and galleries that at the time were exhibiting a great number of abstract expressionists. Her appreciation for abstract painting began here and has remained as a foundation for her own aesthetic and work. An appreciation for abstract painting was imprinted on Pam as early as high school. Her high school art teacher had been a commercial artist in New York and her college professors came out of the New York School of Art. One college instructor knew Motherwell personally.
Bird graduated from Rowan University (then Glassboro State) in 1969 with a degree in Art Education. In a time when men dominated the art world and the womens’ lib movement had not taken hold yet, it seemed prudent to become a teacher while still pursuing her interest in art. A diverse career in the arts followed, teaching art on many levels including art centers and community colleges. She also worked at an advertising agency for a number of years. In the 80’s Pam worked as an Art Museum Educator. In this capacity she operated the museum’s education center, developing her skills as a program manager, including designing classes; hiring and overseeing artist instructors; and preparing press releases and in house graphics. All through these years she was painting in watercolor.
Upon moving to Oregon in 1990 she began working in acrylic and collage focusing on an abstract approach. She has exhibited her paintings widely in California, Washington, and Oregon and is a member of several professional artists associations. She is a signature member of the International Society of Acrylic Painters and has been a finalist and winner of awards in national juried competitions. She was a finalist in the 2010 Artists Magazine Annual Juried Competition. To see her work, link to her web site from the side bar.
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