Jonathon Wells: Photographer — Geologist. Photo-Geologic Montage. Surface/SubSurface
PortfoliospacerInformation
Urban Seriesvertical lineEnvironmental Seriesspacerstatementvertical lineabout Jonathon Wellsvertical lineresourcesspacerContactspacerHome
horizontal line



Current Practice

I am continuing to build my existing series while initiating new series at sites around the world where I identify a thought-provoking intersection of land use and underlying geology. I am committed to fostering dialog about human interaction with the earth through my work.

Please contact me to request information about purchasing my limited edition prints and about commissions; to suggest potential sites, collaborations, or exhibitions; and to inquire about educational presentations. I also welcome inquiries from the press about my work.


Art Resume

Solo Exhibitions
2007 Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT, Surface/Subsurface
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Boston, MA, Split Exposures
2006 Nesto Gallery, Milton Academy, Milton, MA, Sub/Surface Construction
Atrium Gallery at WGBH, Allston, MA

Group Exhibitions
2009 Form + Content Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, Form + Content x 2
2005 ArtSpace Gallery, Maynard, MA, Photography Now: Selections from the 2005 Massachusetts Cultural Artist Grant Awards
Photographic Resource Center at Boston University, Boston, MA, Northeast Exposure Online Featured Artist, June 2005; http://www.bu.edu/prc/wells.htm
Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham, MA, New England Photographers 2005
Jurors: Leslie Brown, Hope Coolidge, Blake Fitch, Beverly Snow
Loring-Greenough House, Jamaica Plain, MA, Biennial 2005
Juror: Alicia Faxon
The Griffin Museum of Photography. Winchester, MA, 11th Annual Juried Show
Juror: Andy Grundberg
2004 artSPACE@16, Malden, MA, PHOTO LAB(oratory)
Juror: Leslie Brown
Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, CT, FACT/FICTION
Juror: Dawoud Bey
PH Gallery, New York, NY, DE/CONSTRUCT: Jonathon Wells, A. Rembrant, Jim Nolan

The School of the International Center of Photography, New York, NY, Digital Dimensions
Jurors: Eugene Foster, Carol Grunebaum, Per Glyfe, Donna Ruskin
2003 South Shore Art Center, Cohasset, MA, Arts Festival
2002 The School of the International Center of Photography, New York, NY, Student Exhibition
2001 116 Prince St., New York, NY, Here is New York
1998 Bucks County Community College, Newtown, PA, 33rd Annual Student Exhibition
   
Online Magazine
2009 Quodlibetica — writing, arts, criticism, http://www.quodlibetica.com/a-journey-to-galapagos-a-photo-essay/, Inaugural edition: Constelation 04: Wilderness, A Journey to Galapagos: A Photo Essay, written by Jonathon Wells, September 23, 2009
   

Commissions

2009 Private home in West Marin County, CA

Lectures
2009 St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN (Environmental Ethics class)
2007 Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT (Science class)

Press
2006 McQuaid, Cate, Review, The Boston Globe, Calendar, Choice, Gallery 11/23,
“Jonathon Wells, ‘Sub/Surface Constructions”, November 23

Grants
2008 Nominee for the Baum Award for Emerging American Photographers
2005 Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Artist Grant Program finalist

Collections

Caspian Capital Management, New York, NY
Bessemer Venture Partners, Larchmont, NY
Gradient Corporation, Cambridge, MA
Milton Hospital, Milton, MA
Private collections


Top



Science Resume

Professional Experience
2002 – present

Ongoing work on photography / geologic projects and freelance environmental consulting
1999 – 2001

HSI GeoTrans, Clifton Park, NY, Project Hydrogeologist
1997 – 1999

Arcadis Geraghty & Miller, Langhorn, PA, Staff Scientist
1996 – 1997

Woodward - Clyde Consultants, Blue Bell, PA, Senior Staff Hydrogeologist
1992 – 1996

Woodward - Clyde Consultants, Portland, OR & Seattle, WA, Senior Staff Hydrogeologist
1989 – 1990

Baker Engineering / Weston Geophysical, Westboro, MA, Geologist
1986 – 1988 University of Massachusetts / Boston, Boston, MA, Seasonal, part-time Chemistry Lab Assistant

Projects
2002 – Present Ongoing visual projects exploring urban and environmental sites of interest in North and South America.
2005 Pumped groundwater from bedrock aquifer to measure response in nearby water wells in Vermont.
2003 – 2004 Assessed environmental condition of commercial properties prior to transfer of ownership in New Hampshire.
1999 – 2001 Worked on former electrical transformer manufacturing facility adjacent to Hudson River. Investigated groundwater flow and recovery of PCBs from fractured bedrock.
Sampled groundwater for chemical analysis from wells surrounding landfill in New York.
1997 – 1999 Managed groundwater-monitoring program around a landfill that is being remediated with soil vapor extraction technology in New Jersey. Obtained regulatory approval to lessen the sampling frequency and to convert to low flow sampling methodology.
Studied the potential impact of re-opening estuaries that had been diked and used to grow salt hay in Delaware Bay. Interpreted groundwater level data and salinity levels to assess impact on domestic drinking water wells and septic leach fields as part of nuclear power plant re-permitting process.
Reported on the historical and current condition of groundwater and soil where a chemical release had occurred at a former chromium plating facility located in karst hydrogologic environment in Pennsylvania.
Coordinated the United States communication of field studies at an industrial facility in Belgium where injection of sugar containing liquid was proposed to be used to enhance bacterial degradation of volatile and semi-volatile organic compound contamination.
Completed final closure report for a surfactant manufacturing facility that had operated in New Jersey for 30 years.
Reviewed aerial photographs with stereoscope to see in 3-dimensions and topographic maps to identify bedrock fractures as traces in the land surface near a hazardous waste site in New Jersey to identify preferential groundwater flow patterns.
1996 – 1997 Assessed the affect of municipal water well use on neighboring water wells in Pennsylvania for renewal permit application.
Inventoried and sampled contents from remaining drums and storage tanks at abandoned meatpacking and rail car repair facilities for a Brownfield land reclamation project in Pennsylvania.
1992 – 1996 Studied groundwater and surface water flow patterns under tidal influence at a contaminated former industrial property on the edge of Puget sound and along the Columbia River in Washington State.
Operated groundwater flow model for the emergency drinking water supply well field used by The City of Portland, Oregon. Used the model to identify pumping scenarios that would minimize contamination plume migration and to create groundwater capture area maps for use in land use zoning and hazardous material use regulation to protect the water resource.
Managed database containing chemical, geologic, and hydrogeologic data at a former pesticide and herbicide manufacturing facility in the Willamette River valley in Oregon.
1991 – 1995 Worked on thesis research studying the hydrogeology of an upland valley groundwater flow system in Central Massachusetts.
1989 – 1990 Oversaw drilling and installation of groundwater monitoring wells in bedrock contaminated with PCBs in Maine.
Monitored the removal of gasoline and fuel oil leaking underground storage tanks and of contaminated soils in Massachusetts.
Measured groundwater and surface water levels and sampled groundwater for chemical analysis at computer circuitry board manufacturing facility in Massachusetts.
Tabulated chemical and groundwater level data. Posted and contoured the data on maps and cross sections and interpreted groundwater flow patterns. Graphed chemical and groundwater level data over time.
Assisted in geophysical investigations in drilled boreholes and over the land surface at hazardous waste sites.
1986 – 1988 Laboratory assistant in a trace metals lab and in a biogeochemical lab. Worked on research funded by the USEPA in Boston Harbor and funded by USGS in Minnesota.



Top



Education

Coursework in art, University of Minnesota, St Paul / Minneapolis, MN (2008)

Artist Professional Toolbox,
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts / Massachusetts, Boston, MA (2006).

Coursework in visual arts, Mass College of Art and School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA (2003–2005)


Certificate General Studies in Photography, International Center of Photography, New York, NY (2002).

Master of Arts Geology, Boston University, Boston, MA (1995).

Bachelor of Science Earth Science, Cum Laude, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA (1988).