Michael Gaines
Photographer. Visual Artist. Educator. Historian.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
May 2024 EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY Greenville, NC
Master of Fine Arts
Concentration in Photography
​
May 2021 APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY Boone, NC
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Summa Cum Laude
Concentration in Photography
Chancellor’s List 2019-2021
​
Dec. 2018 CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE Charlotte, NC
Associate of Arts
Associate of Fine Arts
TEACHING
Spr. 2024 ART 1014 – Narrative in Art & Design (Instructor of Record)
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Relevant Projects: narrative creation through the examination of photographs and listening to music; creating and expanding
storyboards; creating a 5–10-minute film using still images with music or narrative voice-over inspired by Chris Marker's La
Jetèe.
​
Fall 2023 ART 1012 - Form, Space & Color (Instructor of Record)
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Relevant Projects: exploring and finding elements of design in everyday environments; color theory; exploration of form vs.
shape through light and shadow; creating visual narratives using handmade origami structures.
​
Spr. 2022 Intro. to Bookmaking
Pitt County Arts Council (Emerge Gallery), Greenville, NC
Relevant Projects: Bound books and enclosures.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 Squamograms, Health & Sciences Student Center, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
JURIED EXHIBITIONS
2024 I. We. They. Celebrations of Gender (Juror: Thea Quiray Tagle), Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA
2023 Juried Student Exhibition (Juror: Chris Ireland), Society for Photographic Educators Southcentral/Southeast Regional
Conference, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA
Joyner Library School of Art & Design Graduate Student Art Exhibition (Juror: Jonathan Burger), East Carolina University,
Greenville, NC
2022 We Say Gay (Director’s Choice Award) (Jurors: Angela Wells & Mark Rasdorf), Student Center Galleries, East Carolina University,
Greenville, NC
Joyner Library School of Art & Design Graduate Student Art Exhibition (Juror: Jordan Krutch) East Carolina University,
Greenville, NC
2021 Home (Juror: Seo Eo), Proctor-Yongue House, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Joyner Library School of Art & Design Graduate Student Art Exhibition (Juror: Dee Dee Oliver), East Carolina University,
Greenville, NC
2020 Art & Design Expo, Smith Gallery, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
2018 Paul C. Rhyne Juried Fine Art Competition (Juror: Donna Downey), Lincoln Cultural Center, Arts Council of Lincoln County,
Lincolnton, NC
Student Art Show, Pease Gallery, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC
SMALL GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Pride, Proctor-Yongue House, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Graduate Student Exhibition, Student Center Galleries, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2022 Shifting Dimensions: A Mordançage Exploration, Health & Sciences Student Center, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Pride, Proctor-Yongue House, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Graduate Student Exhibition, Student Center Galleries, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2021 Experiments in Process, Student Center Galleries, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Bindings: The Art of the Book, Student Center Galleries, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
The Survival of the Artist, King Street Art Collective, Boone, NC
2020 I Am Woman 2020, Southern Arts Society, Kings Mountain, NC
Amateur Photography Competition, Lincoln Cultural Center, Arts Council of Lincoln County, Lincolnton, NC
2019 A Fresh Look, Southern Arts Society, Kings Mountain, NC
2017 Amateur Photography Competition (Best in Show), Lincoln Cultural Center, Arts Council of Lincoln County, Lincolnton, NC
AWARDS
2023 Society for Photographic Education Student Presenter Award, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA
Arrowmont Windgate University Fellows Award, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2022 James & Marie Thompson Scholarship, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Claire E. Armstrong Scholarship, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2020 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, United States Department of State, Washington, DC
Office of International Education & Development Scholarship, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
2019 Randolph A. Johnson Scholarship, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
INTERNSHIPS & ASSISTANTSHIPS
2021-Pr PHOTOGRAPHY LAB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANT
Angela Wells, Associate Professor, Photography
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Relevant Duties: Maintaining ink inventory for the digital lab; mixing and maintaining chemistry inventory for the darkroom and
film processing room; maintaining inventory for the lighting studio; general facilities cleaning and maintenance; assisting
students as needed.
2022-23 CONSERVATION LAB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANT
Larry Houston, Conservator, Joyner Library Preservation/Conservation Lab
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Relevant Duties: Environmental monitoring and integrated pest management; designing and constructing boxes for housing
special collection items; performing conservation treatments on historic and rare items; repairing general circulation items;
photographic documentation; creating specialized mounts for exhibit items; condition reporting for exhibit items on loan.
Fall 2021 WOOD SHOP & SHAPE LAB GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANT
Gerald Weckesser, Wood Shop Supervisor
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Relevant Duties: Supervising student use of power tools, laser cutters, and other related equipment; ensuring students have
been trained in safety procedures and best use practices before using area equipment; general facilities cleaning and
maintenance; assisting students as needed.
Fall 2021 GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT – ART APPRECIATION
Susan C. Luddeke, Teaching Assistant Professor, Art Appreciation
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Relevant Duties: Grading assignments for 400+ students; answering student inquiries about assignments and grading policies.
Spr. 2021 RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Joshua D. White, Associate Professor, Photography
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Relevant Duties: Assisting with wet place collodion photography, including coating, sensitizing, developing, and varnishing
photographic plates.
Spr. 2021 CURATORIAL INTERNSHIP
Steve Eichner, Registrar
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, Blowing Rock, NC
Relevant Duties: Cataloging items from a prominent donor collection, including books, artwork, and exhibition lighting
equipment.
Fall 2020 INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT – SCREEN PRINTING
April V. Flanders, Professor, Printmaking
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Relevant Duties: Assisting with screen printing instruction, including setting up demonstrations, cleaning up, maintaining ink
inventory, and assisting students as needed.
WORKS IN PRINT PUBLICATIONS
2024 &, vol. 4, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2023 &, vol. 3, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2022 &, vol. 2, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2019 Hagley Museum Magazine, Vol. 48, No. 2, (Summer 2019).
2018 “Hagley Museum and Library Annual Report.” Hagley Museum Magazine, Vol. 47 (Summer 2018), No. 2.
2017 “Hagley Museum and Library Annual Report.” Hagley Museum Magazine, Vol. 46, No. 2 (Summer 2017).
2016 “Hagley Museum and Library Annual Report.” Hagley Museum Magazine, Vol. 45 (Summer 2016), No. 2.
2014 “Black Philly After The Philadelphia Negro.” Contexts, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Winter 2014), pp. 26-31.
LECTURES & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
2024 Debunking Phallacies, Research & Creative Achievement Week, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Debunking Phallacies, Portfolio Throwdown, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2023 Teeter Totter: Navigating the Intersections of Gender, Identity, and Code-Switching within the LGBTQ+ Community, Society for
Photographic Education Regional Conference, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA
Fugilistic Intentions, Research & Creative Achievement Week, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2022 Of Melancholic Longing, Research & Creative Achievement Week, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2018 The Original Beer Baron: Robert Portner. Growing Roots: 3rd Annual Prince William County/Manassas History Symposium.
Manassas, VA.
2017 Brews & Brains, Part 4: The Portner Beer Barons, lecture and discussion on Robert Portner and the Robert Portner Brewing
Company. Bad Wolf Brewing Company, Manassas, VA.
COLLECTIONS
2024 Personal Collection of Suzanne Heintz, New York, NY
2018 Central Piedmont Community College Art Collection, Charlotte, NC
CURATORIAL
2023 50 Years in 50 Objects, Manassas Museum, Manassas, VA
Portfolio Throwdown Undergraduate Hallway Show, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Pride, Proctor-Yongue House, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2018 Living the American Dream, Manassas Museum, Manassas, VA
PUBLISHED WORKS
2003 Author, The Shortest Dynasty: 1837-1947, 2nd Ed., Bowie, MD: Heritage Books.
2002 Author, The Shortest Dynasty: 1837-1947, Bowie, MD: Heritage Books.
MEMBERSHIPS & PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
2024-Pr. Treasurer, Society for Photographic Education, Southeast Chapter
2022-Pr. Member, College Book Arts Association
2021-Pr. Member, The Society for Photographic Education, Southeast Chapter
Member, Photography Guild, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
2023 Chair, Fine Arts Funding Board, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Relevant Experience: Managed a $250,000 budget for four schools within the College of Fine Arts & Communication, including
approval and disbursement of appropriate funds for conferences, speaker series, and other relevant activities.
2021-23 Co-President, Visual Arts Forum, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Relevant Experience: Coordinated budget requests, activities, and speaker series with twelve different guilds within the School
of Art & Design; organized and facilitated the School of Art and Design’s annual Holiday Sale; ensured each Guild was up-to-
date on all necessary and relevant trainings per each academic semester.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Fall 2023 Green Zone Training, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Relevant Experience: learning how to work with military veteran students in the classroom to ensure that their educational
needs and expectations are met, and how to work with any learning disabilities that they may have and any special needs that
they may require.
July 2023 By Hand: Book Bound Again, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
Instructor: Jerry Bedor Philips
Relevant Experience: learning new ways to make enclosures and bind books.