Artist Statement

I believe in the imperfections we all have. In an improvisational way I use the sewing machine to put together everyday materials or scraps in a manner that is well constructed, and inspired by a love of naive expression–like children's art work or bad sewing.

Exhibitions
• Northern Illinois University Art Museum, “Crossing Boundaries”, January 13, 2009 – March 6, 2009
• MN Gallery, “Solo Exhibition”, October 24, 2008 - November 9, 2008
• Hyde Park Art Center, “Not Just Another Pretty Face”, October 18, 2008 – January 17, 2009
• Foutainhead Gallery, “Pens & Needles”, works by Shawna Handke and Danny Mansmith, June 4-June 21, 2008
• Ridge Art,”Fabric and Fabricators: Four Textile Artists”, May 16 – August, 2008
• Hyde Park Art Center, Gallery 4, “Soft Life “,January 20 -March 30, 2008
• Hyde Park Art Center, “Double Walkers, Transfigurations Thru Fashion”, December 7-16, 2007
• Gallery 659, “Off The Wall”, November 27-December 30, 2007
• Suffolk Museum,”Women of Steel, Men of Cloth,” September 15, 2007-October 21,2007
• NeoCon 2007,Herman Miller Chicago Showroom,June 11,12,13,2007
• Gallery659,"4BY4",May4-May30,2007
• Gallery659,"Men @ Work",April 6-April 30,2007
• Gallery659,"Founders Show",March 2-March 31,2007
• Artstream Studios,"Extreme Textiles" March 1-April 30,2007
• Edna Carlesten Gallery at University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point,"Clothing as Metaphor",March 11-April 8,2007
• Chicago Cultural Center,"Stitching Salon" January 2,2007-February 28,2007, fiber based sculpture
• Artformz Alternative Gallery,”It’s SO unfair”November 11-January 9,2007,installation of 7’ tall fabric,wood figure with 600 paper flowers
• Judy A Saslow Gallery, “Scene in Chicago”, October 20-Nomember 25 ,2006 fiber sculpture and two dimensional works
• Old Market,”Static”,October 13-31,2006,collaborative works with Theaster Gates
• ArtWalk Ravenswood,” Open studio”,October 7& 8, 2006
• Artformz Alternative Gallery,”Extraordinary Worlds”,September 9-November 7, 2006,two dimensional and three dimensional fiber based works
• Art on Armitage, a window gallery, June 2006,installation of mixed media sculpture
• Morpho Gallery, “Visions of the Unknown”, April-May 2006, fiber sculpture
• Artformz, “Colorblind”, March-April 2006, Miami, FL, work made with a limited color palate
• Reversible Eye, “Doll and Puppet Show”, January 2006, fabric and paper dolls
• Cornelia Arts Building, “Between the Lines”, May 2005, fiber sculpture, bags, and wearable art
• Morpho Gallery, “Dream=Land”, December 2005, paper and fabric sculpture
• Gross Park Sculpture Invitational, “Look Up. Look In. Look Out.”, flora and fauna inspired fiber sculpture
• Izzo/Jones Gallery, “Artropolis”, 2004, paper and fabric sculpture
• Soul Café, “Frayed Knot”, 2004, fabric Sculpture and paper and fabric collage
• Gross Park Sculpture Invitational, Rejectamenta, 2004, found paper and fabric sculpture
• Plastiscene Loft, “33 1/3”, 2004, fabric and paper sculpture
• Gallery 203, “Want to Wear”, 1994, clothing and paper and fabric collage

Art Shows
• Artist Wreath Invitational, lill Street Art Center, November 30, 2007
• Artist Trunk Show and Sale at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, October 26, 2007, Saturday and Sunday, October 27 and 28,2007
• Cornelia Arts Holiday Sale, Cornelia Fine Arts Building, 2003, 2004, 2005
• Out There Art Fair, Wood Street Gallery, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Art for Charity Days, Cornelia Fine Arts Building, 2004

Workshops And Other Events
• The Fields Project, Oregon, IL June 14 – June 22, 2008
• Artist in Residence at Caro D’Offay Gallery for “The Colorist Chess” October, 2007
• Ravenswood Art Walk October 6 and 7, 2007
• Symposium on Contemporary Textiles in Illinois at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, The Boys Meet the Girls Panel, Sunday, November 4, 2007
• Lillstreet Art Center,Sculptural hand bag class late summer and early fall sessions 2007
• Elm Place Middle School,discussion about my work and demonstration of collaged musical instruments with the themes of the Harlem Renaissance given to the 6,7,and 8 graders of Beth Lucker’s art classes
• Braeside Elementary School, Art Night, 2006 – fabric doll demonstration
• Fabric, 2005, Roosevelt University – demonstration of fiber art methods
• Art: The Fiber of Education, 2004, Michigan Art Education Association, Battle Creek Michigan – artist talk and demonstration of fiber art methods Altered

Work Available At
• Ridge Art,Oak Park,IL
• Edith and Edna, Portland, ME
• Etsy.com, SCRAPdannymansmith, online store

Education
Self taught Fiber,Mixed Media Artist.

In The Private Collection Of
• J. Robert Duncan
• Ruth Horwich