Using increasingly smaller tools, from grinders down to sandpaper and steel wool, Geldersma works the wood into his desired form. He then applies color either by painting the totems in bands of bold colors or by burning them to achieve deep rich blacks.  2013 Variations, Chiaroscuro Contemporary Art, Santa Fe  2011 Black Wings, Chiaroscuro Contemporary Art, Santa Fe  2009 Presence of Spirit, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA  2007 Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, TN  2006 Arthur Roger Gallery, New Orleans, LA  2005 LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM  2005 S.O.F.A, courtesy of Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL  2004 LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM  Marguerite Oestriecher Fine Art, New Orleans, LA  2003 LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM  2002 Marguerite Oestriecher Fine Art, New Orleans, LA  2001 LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM  2000 Marguerite Oestricher Fine Arts, New Orleans, LA  1999 LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM  1998 Marguerite Oesteicher Fine Art, New Orleans, LA  1998 Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL  1997 Retrospective Exhibition, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA  1996 Hotel díVille, Surrenne, France  1996 R. Treger Gallerie, Paris, France  1996 Cline LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM  1995 Butters Gallery Ltd., Portland, OR  1994 Captured Spirits: John Geldersma Sculpture 1964-1994,  1994 University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, LA  1993 Gasperi Gallery, New Orleans, LA  1992 Mill Street Gallery, Aspen, CO  1991 Willougby Sharp Gallery, New York, NY  1991 Artworks Gallery, Seattle, WA  1990 LewAllen/Butler Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM  1989 Duplantier Gallery, New Orleans, LA  1989 LewAllen/Butler Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM  1988 Primitivist Sculpture: John Geldersma, Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, TX  1987 Via Serpents, University Art Museum, Lafayette, LA  1977 Memphis Art Academy, Memphis, TN  1967 Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey  1965 Fine Arts Gallery, The University of Southwestern, Louisiana, Lafayette, LA  2012 Totems & Talismans, ENO Gallery, †Hillsboro, N.C  2011 NEWMEXORADO, Harwood Museum of Art, Taos, NM  2010 Introducing . . .