Posts Tagged ‘murals’

photo by Sarah R. Lavigne

Dane Klingaman is twenty-four year old abstract painter and mixed media artist who loves taking digital pictures.  All of his digital work consists of bold, layering designs that are similar to comic books.  The mixed media art is very bold and consists of everyday items. 

Early Life
He was born on September 3, 1985 in San Francisco, California.  His father is a musician and his mother used to work for Macintosh Publication.  His first art experience came when he was five years old.  He was being babysat by an artist named, Missy Hamilton.  She owned a studio and had several paints and canvases laid out for him and his sister, Lenne, to draw on.  Dane and his sister had tons of caffeine that day and drew very creative art that is still hanging in his dad’s music studio.  He has always gotten training from looking at art.  Everything is in front of us, from nature to our imaginations.

Inspiration/Admiration
When Klingaman got to college he was able to realize how creative the atmosphere was that he grew up in.  Dane received training from two fabulous high school teachers, Jodi Hanson and Cecily Spano at the International Baccalaureate program in Minneapolis.  These teachers kept Klingaman focused on art.  When he came to school at the University of Charleston he was able to receive training from Mark Tobin Moore and P. Joseph Mullins.  Both gentlemen are local artists in the Charleston area.

Dane is inspired by people who are authentic and create rules for themselves as well as the people that do not allow society to repress their individualities.  He is inspired by the artists who make art regardless of comfort or money.

Current/Future Work
Right now he is working on creating a body of his finest work as well as applying to graduate school in the fall.  He also wants to get a program going with friends called Urban Trees.  This is a tree-drive to revamp the ratty-looking part of the East End of Charleston.  His goals are to continue to find time to work hard and think right about his paintings, whether in school, a gallery, or in his own studio with his cats.

In the past his art has been exhibited at the Clay Center, Cultural Center, Annex Gallery, Callen McJunkin Gallery, and the Frankenberger Gallery at the University of Charleston, and his own living and working spaces.  All of these galleries are in Charleston.  Dane is hoping to soon find a new, inventive space to show his new paintings. 

Dane’s favorite piece of his own art is something that he did not even intend to do.  His studio table is filled with notes, drawings, phones numbers, and collages scattered throughout the table top.  Is favorite work of someone else’s is Paul Klee’s watercolor studies he did from when he was in Tunisia. 

Dane Klingaman’s studio is a large room inside of his house that he gutted and turned into an artists’ studio.  He has even said that his work area is “too official”. Pieces of art are strewn everywhere, some pieces are not even his.  There is also a bookcase with old magazines, art and cooking books, and speakers inside.  Then, he has a desk with his computer and track lighting next a table.   

In order for other people to understand Klingaman and to better appreciate his work is not a lot of effort.  He thinks it is impossible to make art that is not a little bit autobiographical.  But, art should be objective and vague so that people can easily relate to them, even if they cannot relate to the artist as a person.  He also thinks that his art goes great with rap music which can attract different people.

Chris Dutch works in stained glass, sculpture, and mixed media.  He exhibits his art around the state at places such a Tamarack and The Clay Center.

Early Life
Chris grew up in Auburn, Maine.  As a child he was always drawing and coloring with crayons and colored pencils.  This was his favorite pass time as a child.  His Mom was a painter and taught him how to paint.  His parents took him to art shows and taught him how to use tools and to build things.  In High School Chris had an excellent art teacher who taught him art history, a lot of basic techniques, and how to really look at things.  He did not study art in collage but after words decided to work as an artist.  Chris went to workshops and summer classes at Cedar Lakes in Ripley, WV, Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State and the Haystack Mt. School in Maine.

Inspirations, Admirations and Goals
Visual things like other people’s art and things in the world inspire Chris.  He looks for interesting combinations of shapes, colors, lines, and objects. Chris’ favorite work by someone else is the large bronze statue in front of the Clay Center called “Lightning with a Stag in its Glare” by Joseph Beuys.  He thinks that it is fascinatingly weird and it has had an influence on much of his work.  Chris would like to find more time to draw because he thinks that it is the basis of everything.  He also wants to get better at glass painting, a process where paint is kiln fired into the surface of the glass.  Chris likes to build large pieces and would like to do more of them.

 
Current and Future Work
Right now Chris is working with Robin Hammer on a sculpture of the crucifixion for an Easter art show.  It will be media sculpture made of wood, paint, and stained glass.  He is also designing a mural in tile for a new bathroom in is house.

 He currently has work in the Art  Store on Bridge Road and at the Clay Center.  He also has several stained glass windows in churches and commercial buildings in Charleston. 

Amanda Miller is a local artist born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia.  Amanda’s work is mainly acrylic paints dealing with the natural world.  Symbolism in our society inspires Amanda in her work.  Her family has inspired and encouraged her to create art, and she hopes to go to graduate school and do more public artworks. 

Early Life
Amanda Miller was born in Morgantown, West Virginia.  She went to West Virginia University andreceived her BFA at college.  When she was about 4 or 5 years old, she made her first drawing of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Amanda received her training from her brother initially.  She would literally copy her brother’s paintings.  She also had a fabulous teacher, Mike Green, who helped her learn about art.  Amanda’s first art materials were crayons and paper.  She would also borrow pastels and oils from her brother whenever she could. 

Inspirations/Admirations
Amanda’s paintings are inspired from symbolism in our culture.  Her drawings are surrounded by societal constructs and gender roles.  “Whatever I have access to, I am inspired by it, ” Miller says.  She is inspired from whatever she sees.  Amanda’s parents also encouraged her to set some time to paint and create art.  Amanda’s themes in her artworks are everyday symbols and products.  She creates her artwork at home.  She works with fabric scraps and photographs.

Current Work/Exhibitions
Amanda’s current work consists of pairing symbols of mortality.  Her paintings include bomb plungers, martini glasses, and comic book style explosions.  Some of her current work is located at the Blue Grass Kitchen.   Lately, she has been a judge at an art contest for foster children organized by Mission WV.  She also painted part of a collaborative mural at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.