photo by Jarrod Flood
About Sam Soet
Sam sat in on his first college art class at Kendall College of Art and Design with his mother before he was born, so it could be said that his compulsion to create art is an unavoidable part of who he is. Sam studied fine art at Ball State University and learned the art of wood sculpture while apprenticing with master sculptor Leslie Scruggs. Sam works primarily in subtractive wood sculpture using gouges, rasps, chainsaws, grinders, sandpaper, and other woodworking tools. His work is heavily inspired by the lines, forms, and movements of nature.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Ball State University Fine Art Major, 1999-2004
Apprenticeship with Master Sculptor Les Scruggs, 2002
Outdoor Sculpture Exhibitions
2018 Ashes IV, KCC Art on Campus Initiative, Battle Creek MI
2018 Hardwoods III, Hardwoods IV, Walk of Art, Elk Rapids MI
2018 Ashes V, 5th Annual Belleville Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, MSI, Belleville MI
2018 Mallet, John D. Wittersheim Sculpture Park Exhibition, Adrian MI
2017 Wooden Objects, Artprize International Exhibition, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids MI
2017 Cedar Walker Variations, 12th Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition at the University Of Toledo, Toledo OH
2017 Ashes V, John D. Wittersheim Sculpture Park Exhibition, Adrian MI
2017 Ashes IV, Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History, Jackson MI
2016 Mended Form, Fuerst Park, Novi MI
2016 Ashes V, MSI, Sculpture on Ford Road, Canton MI
2016 Ashes III, MSI, University of Toledo Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition,Toledo OH
2016 Red Hare, MSI, City of Hastings Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
2016 Hardwoods, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Thompsonville, MI
2016 Hardwoods II, ArtRapids! Sculpture Park, Elk Rapids MI
2015 Tete-a-Tete Bench, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Thompsonville MI
2015 Borer, ArtRapids! Sculpture Park, Elk Rapids MI
2015 Black Flower, MSI, Sculpture on Ford Road, Canton MI
2015 Red Hare, MSI, City of Valparaiso Art Walk, Valparaiso IN
2015 Ashes V, MSI, Art Trail Tecumseh, Tecumseh MI
2014 Aaron’s Bench Project, Memorial Bench, Blandford Nature School, Grand Rapids MI
2014 Aspen Walker, Drifter, ArtRapids! Sculpture Park, Elk Rapids MI
2014 Snake, MSI, Hastings Sculpture Tour, Hastings MI
2014 Black Flower, MSI, Adrian MI
2014 Red Hare, MSI, Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson MI
2013 Hardwoods, ArtRapids! Sculpture Park, Elk Rapids MI
2013 Red Hare, MSI, Walk of Art, Tecumseh MI
Select Exhibitions
2018 Out On A Limb, Water Street Gallery, Douglas MI
2018 Wooden Objects, Morey Family Gallery, Mt. Pleasant MI
2017 Vitality Exhibition, Water Street Gallery, Douglas MI
2017 Miniature Art Invitational Showcase, Safari Club International, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas NV
2016 1 in 4 Exhibition, 515 Gallery, Clare MI
2016 100 Sculptors x 100 Sculptures, Ella Sharp Art Museum, Jackson MI
2016 Whitetail Variations, Helios Gallery, Mt. Pleasant MI
2016 Art Pickers, 515 Gallery, Clare MI
2016 Insight, Helios Gallery, Mt. Pleasant MI
2016 Open Studio, 515 Gallery, Clare MI
2015 ArtFordables, 515 Gallery, Clare MI
2015 Stewardship and Sustainability, ArtPrize International Exhibition, Calvin College 106 Gallery, Grand Rapids MI
2015 Sustainable Harvest, University Gallery, Mt. Pleasant MI
2015 Art Walk Central Preview, 515 Gallery, Clare MI
2014 Ashes, ArtPrize International Exhibition, the B.O.B., Grand Rapids MI
2014 Art Snake Artist Studio Tour, Group Exhibition, Onekama MI
2013 Treescapes, Gallery Exhibition, 515 Gallery, Clare MI
2013 The Trophy Room, ArtPrize International Exhibition, the B.O.B., Grand Rapids MI
2012 Forest, ArtPrize International Exhibition, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids MI
2011 Art Snake Artist Studio Tour, Group Exhibition, Onekama MI
2009 Knot Les, ArtPrize International Exhibition, the B.O.B., Grand Rapids MI
Convention Exhibition
2018 A Northern Tradition, Jay’s Sporting Goods, Clare MI
2017 Safari Club International, Fern Hill Golf Club, Clinton Township MI
2017 Safari Club International, Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant MI
2016 Home and Garden Show, Devos Convention Center, Grand Rapids MI
2016 Safari Club International, Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant MI
2016 Safari Club International, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas NV
2016 A Northern Tradition, Jay’s Sporting Goods, Clare MI
2015 A Northern Tradition, Jay’s Sporting Goods, Clare MI
2015 Safari Club International, Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant MI
2014 A Northern Tradition, Jay’s Sporting Goods, Clare MI
Publications and Press
2016 Publication Artist Feature, Petersen’s Hunting Magazine, August Issue
2014 Publication Artist Feature, Jagdzeit, Hunter’s Path, No. 5
2014 Interview and live demonstration, Eight West, Wood TV8, Grand Rapids MI
2013 Radio interview, CMU Public Radio, NPR affiliate, Clare MI
Gallery Representation
Water Street Gallery, Douglas MI
Twisted Fish Gallery, Elk Rapids MI
Synchronicity Gallery, Glen Arbor MI
Flatlanders Art Gallery, Blissfield MI
Grace Gallery, Ellsworth MI