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Al Sprague

Born: December 21, l938, Colon, Republic of Panama

Citizenship: U.S./Panamanian

 

Education:      B.A. American University 1962

                        M.A. American University 1965

                        Thesis: Figurative Painting Organized with the Principle of

                       Shared Emphasis between Figure and Environment

 

Employment:

  1962-1966, Art Instructor, Williamsburg Jr.High, Virginia

  1966-1969, Art Instructor, Curundu Jr. High, Panama

  1969-1980, Art Instructor, Balboa High, Panama

  1980-1984, Instructor, Panama Canal College, Panama

  1988-1989, Artist-In-Residence, D0DDS-Panama Region

 

Media:  Watercolor, acrylic, oil, etching, dry point, bronze

 

Distinctions:

 

1976                Postage stamp created from painting, Canal Zone postal system

1978                Second postage stamp from painting, Canal Zone

1978                Invited to study bronze sculpture in Italy with Harry Jackson

1982-1987       Paintings presented as gifts of state to Mexico,

                        France, U.S. and Venezuela from Panama president

1983                Postage stamp created from painting, Panama postal system

1984                Painting reproduced and used as commemorative gift for

                        all employees of Panama Canal Commission

1985                Two postage stamps created from paintings, Panama postal system

1986                Designed cover of book The Gentle Infantryman by William Boyd,

                        published by St. Martin's Press

1988                Collection of "U.S. Army in Panama" paintings

                        commissioned by Secretary of the Army

1989                Commissioned for commemorative painting for 75th

                        anniversary of Panama Canal Commission

1989                U.S. Army Commander's Award for Public Service

1989                Panama Canal Commission's Honorary Public Service Award

1990                Commissioned by U.S. Army to execute combat paintings of U.S.

                        invasion of Panama, "Operation Just Cause"

1993                Five paintings included in book, "Portrait of an Army" published by U.S. Army

1994                Commemorative print, 80th anniversary of Panama Canal Commission

1999                Commissioned for commemorative print for Panama Week sponsored

                        by Panama/American Business Council, Washington, DC

1999                Commissioned for commemorative print for inauguration of President

                        Mireya Moscoso, Panama

2000                Inaugurated new Museo del Canal in Panama City, Panama

2004 & 2005  Painting used as central image for Panama national event, “Parade of 1000 Polleras”

2010                Condecoracion Award, hosted by the Governor of Panama Province

2010-11           Two paintings selected for inclusion in “Art of the American Soldier,”

                        Philadelphia, PA

2014                Selected as the featured artist in the “Memphis in May event honoring Panama.

 

EXHIBITIONS: Individual

 

1965                Eric Schindler Gallery; Richmond, Virginia.

1966                Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia

1968                Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia

1969                Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia

1970                Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia

1970                Governor's Mansion; Balboa, Panama Canal Zone

1971                Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia

1972                Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia

1973                Permanent Exhibit, Panama Canal Company Administration Building;

                        Balboa, Canal Zone

1976                Chase Manhattan Bank; Panama City, Panama

1977                Center for Binational Culture; Panama City, Panama

1978                Chase Manhattan Bank, Panama City, Panama

1978                Marco Mundial Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1979                Etcetera Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1981                Museum of Contemporary Art; Panama City, Panama

1981                Arteconsult Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1982                Arteconsult Gallery, Panama City, Panama

1983                Arteconsult Galley, Panama City, Panama

1983                Mayor's Mansion; Panama City, Panama

1984                Arteconsult Gallery, Panama City, Panama

1985                Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas

1985                Arteconsult Gallery, Panama City, Panama

1986                Museum of Contemporary Art; Panama City, Panama

1986                Mary Bernal Galley, Marriott Hotel; Panama City, Panama

1987                Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas

1988                Mary Bernal Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1988                Lyford Cay Gallery;  Nassau, Bahamas

1989                Mary Bernal Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1990                Mary Bernal Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1991                Wyland Galleries; Maui, Hawaii

1991                Mary Bernal Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1992                Hilton El Panama Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1993                El Panama Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1994                El Panama Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1995                Remon and Jessy Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1995                Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas

1996                Remon and Jessy Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1996                Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas

1997                Remon and Jessy Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1997                Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas

1998                Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas

1998                Imagen Gallery; Panama City, Panama

1999                Museum of the Panama Canal, Inaugural Exhibit;  Panama City, Panama

2000                Al Sprague Retrospective, Panama Canal Society; Tampa, Florida

2000                “Al Sprague, Ambiente Tropical,” Imagen Gallery and ANCON Association; Panama City, Panama

2002                “La Obra de Al Sprague”, Panama Embassy; Washington DC

2002                “The Work of Al Sprague”, Williamsburg Gallery; Williamsburg, Virginia

2002                “Al Sprague: Current Work”, Imagen Gallery; Panama City, Panama

2006                “The Work of Al Sprague,” Organization of American States, Washington, D.C.

2006                “Al Sprague: Current Work” Galeria Mery Palma, Panama City, Panama

2008                “Marinas, Al Sprague, 2008,” Galeria Mery Palma, Panama City, Panama

2011                “Al Sprague: Retrospectiva de 55 Anos en el Arte,” El Museo Del Canal Interoceanico de Panama, Panama City, Panama

2011                “By Invitation Only,” Arlene Lachman Galeria, Panama City, Panama

2014                “Panama in Color,” Joysmith Gallery, Memphis Tennessee

2016                “Yearning for Panama,” Carlos Weil Gallery, Panama City, Panama

2019                "Visiones de Panama," Galeria Mery Palma, Panama City, Panama

 

 

EXHIBITIONS: Collective

 

1965                Smithsonian Institute; Washington, D.C.

1979                "Plastic Arts in Panama," C.A.P.A.C.; Panama City, Panama

1981                "Themes in Panamanian Painting," Caja de Ahorros; Panama City, Panama

1981                "Graphics in America," ArteConsult; Panama City, Panama

1982                 "Variety," Chase Manhattan Bank; Panama City, Panama

1983                "Latin American Graphics," Pro Arte; Madrid, Spain

1983                "Panamanian Painters," Gekosso Gallery; Tokyo, Japan

1984                "Contemporary Latin American Art," ArteConsult; Boston, Massachusetts

1985                "Important Latin American Paintings," Southeby's; New York City, New York

1987                Casa de Arte; La Jolla, California

1990                "Panamanian Paintings," Athenaeum Gallery, Washington, D.C.

1991                "International Collection," Lyford Cay Gallery, Nassau, Bahamas

1992                Collective, Grove Gallery, Naples, Florida

1994                Collective, Galerie Julian, Alexandria, Virginia

1997                Panamanian Art Exhibit, Smithsonian Galleries, Washington, D.C.

1999                Collective, Galerie Michele, Alexandria, Virginia

2000                Kit Chambers Memorial Show, Lyford Cay Gallery, Nassau, Bahamas

2000                Inaugural Show, Museo Del Canal, Panama City, Panama

2000                Jurried Show, “Bay Days”, Charles Taylor Art Center, Hampton, Virginia

2002                “Save the Bay” Show, Gallery on Merchants Square, Williamsburg, Virginia

2002                Collective, Arteconsult, Panama City, Panama

2002                Spring Collection, Lyford Cay Gallery, Nassau, Bahamas

2002                “Panama: Its People and Nature,” (two-man show) Mery Palma Gallery,

                        Panama City, Panama

2010-2011       “Art of the American Soldier,” National Constitution Center,

                        Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2012                Christmas Show, Mery Palma Gallery, Panama City, Panama

2014                “Panama Canal Expansion Paintings,”   Panama City, Panama

2015                 “Asi Pinta Panama”  Miami, Florida

 

Included in public and private collections: 

                     

Bancomer                                         

Chase Manhattan Bank

Bank of America Bank of Boston                                

Pribanco

Agrobank

Bank of Korea

Banco Nacional de Panama

Sheraton Hotel

Amherst College

National Defense University

Panama Canal Commission

Contemporary Museum of Panamanian Art                             

Panama Art-in-Embassy Program

United States Art-in-Embassy Program

President Mitterand   (France)                     

President Aristides Royo  (Panama)

William Boyd, author                      

U.S. Army Art Collection                 

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library   

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library

Bacardi Collection      

 

Books published:

 

The Mahogany Tree, Piggy Press, Panama City, Panama  2010

Windswept, Piggy Press, Panama City, Panama  2014

The Clear Blue Line, Bacon Press, Washington DC   2014   

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