A New Gallery

Artists Without Boundaries

As many you know, aside from the body of work I have that I create on my own in my studio and on location, I have amassed a large body of work over the past three years that I have created with artist Tali Farchi.

I met Tali in 2006 when I did an interview for Copper Press with her and Benno Hübner about their multi-media / multi-disciplinary performance called Mo(ve)ment. Since that time Tali and I have been working on many projects from graphic design to producing performances as well as painting. A most fascinating aspect to this working relationship is that Tali lives in the Netherlands.

The design projects we have worked on over the years have been able to be done by sharing ideas and files over the internet. In fact we have recently formed a trans-Atlantic design firm we call Two Designing. More information will be forthcoming on this project. But the paintings that we have done together have required us to be together in the same workspace. This is an unusual way to work, and if it was not unusual enough another unique aspect of this body of work is that it is painted live on stage, and is created along live musicians.

The first time that we worked in this way we were in Amsterdam at the Fringe Festival in September of 2007. Since then we have worked in New York City, Chicago and Michigan. October 2008 found us working in Israel, and this last summer we were in Windsor, Ontario and Toronto.

While we have created hundreds of paintings as we have gotten together, the work that we did in Windsor really was elevated to a level new excellence. We eventually realized that we had to work on materials that were more substantial, and that brought us to working on stretched canvases.  We were immediately taken with what these paintings have become.

During the shows that last from 25 to 40 minutes we create several paintings that are mostly on paper. Only one of these paintings on canvas were created during each show, so there is a special focus given to these pieces. There is an energy that we derive from the music and it really influences the marks we make and the colors we use.  The paintings are projected on a huge screen so that the audience and the musicians can see what we are doing and this in turn gives the musicians have something to respond to as we paint with the music. This dynamic method of creation is exciting because it is so very in the moment. 

When Tali and I are painting these pieces there is only the now.

Please look at the Collaborative Gallery of the work that Tali and I have created.

Royce Deans dot com

conFUSION

12" X 12"

Oil on masonite

I have have several different web sites over the years with various names. Somehow I thought it was about time that I buy my own name. So now, officially is the unveiling of www.roycedeans.com.

In the past I have tried to make my web sites complete retrospectives, and aside from being a lot of work to set up and maintain it always ends up that the new work is what is most important.

This new site will feature my most recent work and projects that are keeping me busy. Please stop by often and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. (and yes, if you want to see some older work I will be happy to dig it up for you.)

On November 5th I will be in Chicago to cover the 3rd Annual European Jazz Meets Chicago for Copper Press. It should be an interesting evening for sure. I also plan on making a few gallery stops and a visit to see the new wing of the Art Institute.

October Sky

Big Valley

14" X 10" Oil on Plywood panel

Today was the first day since August that I was painting outside on location. I was at a new location off of Lincoln Road for me. It was quite nice to be out in the elements after only being out in it during the last weeks to only be up on the roof of my studio.

The clouds were great and changing so quickly and the light was different every time I looked up from my painting. It was certainly a challenge. But it was great to be out there.

October Sky

11" X 5" Oil on Plywood panel

Signs of Summer Being Gone

Summer is offically past tense now. Happy October 1st by the way. But today I participated in the last rite of the summer season... and that almost seems oxymoronic, in that I feel a rite should be a celebration. But today the boat came out of the water.

Aside from the reality that winter is just around the corner, especially here in Northern Michigan, it is just a sad day to be on the boat and have to be packing stuff up instead of getting ready to go on a sail. But I love the changes in the seasons, each one brings it own individual sense of beauty.

Autumn up here is really wonderful and I even look forward to the snow that could come at any time.

It was a great summer,  not only for the sailing. Yes August and September were simply awesome  months to be out on the bay. But earlier in the summer had it's share of awesomeness as well.

So yeah, it was a good one.

Paintings Online

The collaborative body of work that I have been working on for the last couple of years with Tali Farchi took a couple huge steps forward this summer. During a three week period this summer we created over 100 paintings on canvas and paper. Many were sold after the shows in which they were painted along with the music of live jazz musicians. There is a considerable body of work remaining, I am in the process of getting them online in a couple of places. Tali and I feel it is important to not just let these painting just sit in my studio unseen. Please go to our new ArtSlant page and also they will be on the Mo(ve)ment Effect web site where they will be available for purchase.

This sites take a bit of time and effort to set up so stop back regularly and see the progress.

Thanks.

Traverse Symphony Orchestra

Valkyries, the Devil and Rhodes

Kevin Rhodes, conductor
Isaac Hurtado, tenor
Traverse Symphony Chorus
Sunday, September 20 at 3 pm
Corson Auditorium, Interlochen
Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries
Liszt - Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Liszt - A Faust Symphony

 So yeah, I scored a couple of last minute front row tickets to the symphony that I just couldn't pass up.
Okay, so the Ride of the Valkyries was cool as you might guess. I don't need to say much about that even though that is what I was most excited to hear performed...

But the Liszt is what blew me away... in fact my head is still swimming. That is come complex stuff. The Faust Symphony is the story of a man who sells his soul to the devil. Liszt does not write in a linear fashion as Paul Dukas with the tone poem the Sorcerers Apprentice, where you can image what is going on in the story... No, no no, Liszt dissects the personality of each character and basically give you a personality profile, that this guy is crazy, and passionate... looking for love in all the wrong places and can get pissed off too... and then there is the devil that he is selling his soul too.

Well it was intense... if you ever get a chance to see this live prepare yourself... it is 80 minutes long and it is high powered stuff. Issac Hurtado was marvelous.

Say yes to live music and displays of art anytime you can... you will be better for it.

Hurry Up and Wait

Four Cores

Oil on wood panel

11" X 6" (28 X 15 cm)

Life is sometimes just hurry up and wait. But, as I see it, and from where I am sitting, I don't have time to wait for anything to just happen. I had a window of time in the last couple days, and so I took advantage of it and did some paintings.

This one is a tribute to the fact that I need to eat fewer hamburgers. I have a bag of apples in my studio.  These four apple cores actually did find themselves striking this pose before I thought I would paint them. When I came into the studio on Thursday, there they were and now, here they are.

Thank you Johnny Appleseed. (and a few other people.)