Mark Shasha
Encyclopedia
Mark Shasha is an American artist. He is also an author, illustrator and educator. His subjects are often familiar and are usually inspired by the textures and light found along the New England
coast where he lives and works.
Shasha studied art at Rhode Island School of Design
where he received his B.F.A
in 1983. His artwork has been seen in museums, galleries and dozens of publications for three decades. His paintings have appeared in more than 50 notable exhibitions from Hollywood, California to the Lyman Allyn Art Museum
in Connecticut and the Society of Illustrators
in New York City.
Shasha's work has received acclaim; "Captivating" (Smithsonian), "Alluring and dreamy" (The New York Times), "Beautiful and strongly atmospheric" (Publisher's Weekly), "Dazzling, beautiful" (Marblehead Reporter). But some of his early published pastel work has been criticized as "airy" and "static" (Lisa Dennis - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh).
His art is found in public and private collections worldwide and his children's books have been read by millions.
Mark Shasha began his career in art as a writer and illustrator with the Boston Phoenix, the Boston Globe and several other publications. His first book, the children's classic1 Night of the Moonjellies
(Simon & Schuster
, 1992) was inspired by childhood memories of working at his family's hot dog stand by the sea in New London, Connecticut
in the early 1970s.
The story features a warm relationship between a boy and his grandmother along with a variety of characters busy with the hustle and bustle of the fast food business. It also features a bioluminescent jelly-like creature found in the North Atlantic called a moonjelly or Ctenophore
.
The book won much praise including a Marion Vannett Ridgway Award
and selection by Smithsonian Magazine as a "Notable Book". It is used as a part of several educational programs worldwide for its incidental relevance to an array of subjects including intergenerational relationships, running a family business, narrative art, ocean life and others. It continues to appear on some bestseller lists each summer.
Another book by Shasha, The Hall of Beasts (Simon & Schuster
, 1994), an unusual story about a mysterious mural in an abandoned inn by the sea, did not fare quite as well commercially. The title was perhaps too menacing for the wider children's book market.
to Kansas City, Missouri to perform unique educational programs on writing, illustrating and the mysteries of the creative process. His original programs combined reading, music, math and Renaissance
history and proved to be particularly useful to schools.
During his first school visit in 1992 Shasha wore a bright yellow suit out of concern that the children's attention would wander otherwise. But keeping the attention of the children proved not to be a problem. Instead, the popularity of "Mr. Moonjelly in the yellow suit" caught on and invitations came from schools nationwide.
In recognition of his work with more than 150,000 children, the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut
awarded him the Shining Star Award for his "Outstanding contribution to the education of young people."
and to oil painting
in particular. A series of prominent commissions2, awards3 and exhibitions4 have frequently placed his work in the public eye.
Shasha is a winner of numerous art awards including the Guild of Boston Artists' Silver Medal and Rockport Art Association
's Antonio Cirino Award for Excellence and was included in the 2007 group exhibition The Past and the Present - Time and Space Cannot Separate Them, the 85th Anniversary Exhibition of the North Shore Art Association, which featured distinguished artists of the association’s history. The exhibition was reviewed in American Art Review
Magazine in August of that year.
Shasha is listed in the American Artists' Bluebook. He is represented by The Crane Collection of Manchester, Massachusetts and a few other select galleries.
, Edward Hopper
, Winslow Homer
and John Singer Sargent
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
coast where he lives and works.
Shasha studied art at Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
where he received his B.F.A
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in 1983. His artwork has been seen in museums, galleries and dozens of publications for three decades. His paintings have appeared in more than 50 notable exhibitions from Hollywood, California to the Lyman Allyn Art Museum
Lyman Allyn Art Museum
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum was founded in 1932 by Harriet Upson Allyn in memory of her father, Lyman Allyn. The museum is situated in New London, Connecticut.- Museum and collection :Housed in a handsome Neo-Classical building designed by Charles A...
in Connecticut and the Society of Illustrators
Society of Illustrators
The Society of Illustrators is a professional society based in New York City. Founded in 1901, the mission of the Society is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration, as well as its history...
in New York City.
Shasha's work has received acclaim; "Captivating" (Smithsonian), "Alluring and dreamy" (The New York Times), "Beautiful and strongly atmospheric" (Publisher's Weekly), "Dazzling, beautiful" (Marblehead Reporter). But some of his early published pastel work has been criticized as "airy" and "static" (Lisa Dennis - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh).
His art is found in public and private collections worldwide and his children's books have been read by millions.
Children's books
Night of the Moonjellies
Night of the Moonjellies is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Mark Shasha.The book was inspired by the author's memories of working at his grandmother's hot dog stand by the sea in New London, Connecticut in the 1970s...
(Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
, 1992) was inspired by childhood memories of working at his family's hot dog stand by the sea in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
in the early 1970s.
The story features a warm relationship between a boy and his grandmother along with a variety of characters busy with the hustle and bustle of the fast food business. It also features a bioluminescent jelly-like creature found in the North Atlantic called a moonjelly or Ctenophore
Ctenophore
The Ctenophora are a phylum of animals that live in marine waters worldwide. Their most distinctive feature is the "combs", groups of cilia that they use for swimming, and they are the largest animals that swim by means of cilia – adults of various species range from a few millimeters to in size...
.
The book won much praise including a Marion Vannett Ridgway Award
Marion Vannett Ridgway Award
The Marion Vannett Ridgway Award is an annual award which celebrates only debut appearances of American authors and illustrators of children's books...
and selection by Smithsonian Magazine as a "Notable Book". It is used as a part of several educational programs worldwide for its incidental relevance to an array of subjects including intergenerational relationships, running a family business, narrative art, ocean life and others. It continues to appear on some bestseller lists each summer.
Another book by Shasha, The Hall of Beasts (Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
, 1994), an unusual story about a mysterious mural in an abandoned inn by the sea, did not fare quite as well commercially. The title was perhaps too menacing for the wider children's book market.
School visits
In the 1990s Shasha visited hundreds of schools and libraries from New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
to Kansas City, Missouri to perform unique educational programs on writing, illustrating and the mysteries of the creative process. His original programs combined reading, music, math and Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
history and proved to be particularly useful to schools.
During his first school visit in 1992 Shasha wore a bright yellow suit out of concern that the children's attention would wander otherwise. But keeping the attention of the children proved not to be a problem. Instead, the popularity of "Mr. Moonjelly in the yellow suit" caught on and invitations came from schools nationwide.
In recognition of his work with more than 150,000 children, the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut
Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut
The Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut is an interactive educational and cultural institution located in Niantic, Connecticut. Founded in 1992, the museum covers and is designed to encourage children to study arts, sciences, health, and various cultures.The museum features 3 major...
awarded him the Shining Star Award for his "Outstanding contribution to the education of young people."
Art
By 1999 Shasha reportedly felt his work with schools and publishers had taken him too far from art. He put away the yellow suit and returned full time to his studies in fine artFine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
and to oil painting
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
in particular. A series of prominent commissions2, awards3 and exhibitions4 have frequently placed his work in the public eye.
Shasha is a winner of numerous art awards including the Guild of Boston Artists' Silver Medal and Rockport Art Association
Rockport Art Association
Rockport Art Association is one of the oldest art associations in the United States. It started as an artist's cooperative and became a gathering place of New England artists of the 20th century. The artists Aldro Hibbard, Antonio Cirino, Paul Strisik, Anthony Thieme, W...
's Antonio Cirino Award for Excellence and was included in the 2007 group exhibition The Past and the Present - Time and Space Cannot Separate Them, the 85th Anniversary Exhibition of the North Shore Art Association, which featured distinguished artists of the association’s history. The exhibition was reviewed in American Art Review
American Art Review
American Art Review is an art magazine founded and edited by Thomas R. Kellaway who published the magazine from September 1973 until November 1978. In the summer of 1992 he revived the magazine, which is published to this day....
Magazine in August of that year.
Shasha is listed in the American Artists' Bluebook. He is represented by The Crane Collection of Manchester, Massachusetts and a few other select galleries.
Early influences
N.C. Wyeth, Chris Van AllsburgChris Van Allsburg
Chris Van Allsburg is an American author and illustrator of children's books. He twice won the Caldecott Medal, for Jumanji and The Polar Express , both of which he wrote and illustrated, and both of which were later adapted into successful motion pictures...
, Edward Hopper
Edward Hopper
Edward Hopper was a prominent American realist painter and printmaker. While most popularly known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in etching...
, Winslow Homer
Winslow Homer
Winslow Homer was an American landscape painter and printmaker, best known for his marine subjects. He is considered one of the foremost painters in 19th century America and a preeminent figure in American art....
and John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent was an American artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Edwardian era luxury. During his career, he created roughly 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolors, as well as countless sketches and charcoal drawings...