Romas Banaitis As a youth, I discovered a creative engine inside of me that was influencing my thoughts and actions. This energy was first kindled, as a teen, by the love of music and learning how to play musical instruments to express my creativity. It has from then on, evolved into a passion for visual arts and craftmanship. My Art teachers in High School recognized my abilities, helped me create a portfolio and encouraged me become an artist. I was accepted into the Class of 1991 at Massachusetts College of Art where I experimented and explored almost every class and medium, I could get my hands on …. Jewelry Design, Woodworking, Metal Fabrication, Foundry, Blacksmithing, Photography, Drawing, Painting and Sculpture. After graduating with a BFA in Fine Art and gaining more experience working with other artists and craftsman in the Boston Area. I have also enjoyed learning from my own creative pursuits evolving from Music, Ceramics, Sculpture, Knifemaking, Wood working, Jewelry Making and Painting. EDUCATION 1991 - 1995 Massachusetts College of Art. Received B.F.A. Major: Sculpture WORK EXPERIENCE 2010-Present Self-Employed Artist and Jewelry specializing in Titanium Rings 2004 - 2010 Self-Employed Carpenter Boston and Metro West RJB Finished Carpentry: Woodworking and Architectural Millwork, Installation of Cabinets, Kitchens, Doors and Stairs. (sub-contracting for) : EWC Construction Inc. , Mercados Interiors , Shane’s Custom Woodworking , Conrad and Sullivan , JH Klien Wassink Co. Inc. , Dan Ritz Custom Woodworking 1998 - 2004 Boger Construction Boston, MA Commercial & Residential Carpenter, Historical Restoration. 1997 – 1998 Webster Construction Boston, MA Commercial Carpenter 1995-1997 JD Smith Master Blade Smith South Boston, MA Apprentice and Teachers’ assistant Massachusetts College of Art: Course in Bladesmithing, Knife Construction and Damascus Steelmaking. Visiting Artist: Intro to knifemaking 1995 Archeology Inc. Charlestown, MA Craftsman, casting and mold making EXHIBITIONS 2008 The Distillery Open Studios. South Boston, MA. October 2001 “ Terrors and Wonders Monsters in Contemporary Art “ DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA. Sept. 2001 East Coast Custom Knife Show. NYC 2000 East Coast Custom Knife Show. NYC 1999 East Coast Custom Knife Show. NYC 1998 East Coast Custom Knife Show. NYC 1997 “Three Configuration” Three Person Show 1997 East Coast Custom Knife Show. NYC FPAC Gallery. Boston, MA Jan.-Feb. 1997 “Worchester Exchange Part 2: Artists affiliated with Gallery 70 Group Show The Gallery at the Distillery. Boston, MA. Feb.-March 1996 Marlboro, MA Custom Knife Show, Connecticut Custom Knife Show, Rhode Island Custom Knife Show 1996 The Distillery Open Studios. South Boston, MA. October 1996 One Person Show at the Gallery 70. Worcester, MA. May 1996 Inaugural Show. Group Show of Gallery 70 Artists. Worcester, MA. March 1995 “The Labyrinth” Group Show Cyclorama Boston Center for the Arts. Boston, MA 1995 The Distillery Open Studios. South Boston, MA. October 1995 Group Show. Space Craft. Cambridge, MA. 1995 Group Show. Summer Street Gallery, Boston, MA 2019 Holliston Mills Group Show October-December, Holliston, MA 2019 Holliston Mills Open Studios November Holliston, MA AWARDS 2000 Most Innovative Knifemaker, East Coast Custom Knife Show. NYC 1996 Best Folding Knife, Rhode Island Custom Knife Show PUBLICATIONS/REVIEWS 2003 Published in the World’s Greatest Knife Book, 23rd Annual Knives 2003. Edited by Joe Kertzman p53 2002 Published in Catalog for the Art Show “Terrors and Wonders Monsters in Contemporary Art “ DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA. Sept. 2000 Published in Blade Magazine: World’s #1 Knife Publication. September. p50 2000 Published in Knives Illustrated: The Premier Cutlery Magazine. August, Volume 14, No.4 p84 1999 Published in Knives Points of Interest Book V. Created by Jim Weyer. pgs39 &45. 1999 Published in Annual Knives “97 Edited by Ken Warner. Pg137 1998 Published in Blade Magazine: World’s #1 Knife Publication. September. p110. 1998 Published in Blade Magazine: World’s #1 Knife Publication. March. p31. 1998 Published in Art Around Boston. Autumn Edition. p42 1997 “Distillery Offers Unusual Exhibition Space”. Mary Sherman. Boston Sunday Herald. March 9th p47 (Gallery Group Show) 1997 “The Ghastly and the Gorgeous”. Shawn Hill. Bay Windows. Feb 6th. p30 ( Three Configuration ) 1997 “ Distortion and Terror to Exorcise Ourselves”. Cate McQuaid. Boston Globe. Jan 30th E3 ( Three Configuration ) 1997 Published in Blade Magazine: World’s #1 Knife Publication. November. p23 1997 Published in Tactical Knives – The Cutting Edge of Survival. January. p44 1997 Published in 17th Annual Knives ’97 Edited by Ken Warner. p130 1996 Published in Blade Magazine: World’s #1 Knife Publication. November. p42.