Charles Edward Putnam
Charlie Putnam studied Studio Art and Art Education at Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN. He taught K-12 art for the Le Sueur-Henderson school district for 29 years. He also taught studio and art education classes at MSU as adjunct faculty for 28 years.
Charlie retired from teaching at LSH in 2014 and from MSU in 2015. He spends a lot of his retirement days working on his own art at his house in St Peter. He also has been spending time traveling, where he has found endless sources of inspiration for creating new work.
Education
Minnesota State University at Mankato
Teaching
K-12 Art Instructor, Le Sueur-Henderson
Adjunct Faculty, Art Dept, Minnesota State University
Grants
McKnight Individual Artist Grant Recipient 1995, 1997, 2016, 2018
Selected Past Exhibitions
One person shows
Conkling Gallery, Minnesota State University, Mankato (view)
Art Center of St Peter (view)
Carnegie Art Center, Mankato MN
Waseca Arts Center
Dakota State University, Madison, SD
Owatonna Art Center
Bethany Lutheran College
Group Shows
Two Person Exhibit, Grand Center for the Arts, New Ulm, MN.
Member’s Spotlight Exhibition, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI
Faculty Emeriti Alumni Exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of Minnesota State University
Rural America Contemporary Art Invitational
Heart and Soul- 25th Anniversary of Icebox Gallery Artists. Minneapolis, MN
Alumni Invitational, Minnesota State University, Centennial Student Union
Winds of Inspiration Winds of Change, Invitational Exhibit, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter, MN
National Mid Year Show, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio
Exhibition Awards
P.L.R.A.C. Regional Arts Exhibition, First Place Award
P.L.R.A.C. Regional Arts Exhibition, Merit Award
P.L.R.A.C. Regional Arts Exhibition, Purchase Award
27th Annual Area Show, Charles H. MacNider Museum, Mason City, IA, Best in Show Award.
“The Mask” National Competition, Farrington-Keith Creative Arts Center, Dexter, MI, Second Place Award
Fine Arts Exhibition, Minnesota State Fair, Third Honor- Mixed Media
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
— Pablo Picasso