jan dean
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About the Artifacts and Remixes
To see the world through a rearview mirror according to Marshall McLuhan, is to interpret the present or the future with the tools of the past . Some artists choose detachment from reference to the past. This artist uses reference to layer the depth of meaning. Whether it is the elements of construction themselves, such as nails, or the imagery of historical bronze such as figurative sculpture, the work seeks not to obscure or disinherit it's origins but to claim them in new ways. Like remixed music and fashion, remixed metals are constructions built from pre-existing ideas using history as a fabric to articulate something contemporary.
Beauty found within the ugly or the ugliness within something beautiful are often the focus of the artistic. Ugliness is only an attitude that limits the ability to perceive. Children do not see ugly, RayBradbury.
TRANSFORMATION in process in South Bend 2012
About Jan Dean
Jan Dean is a visual artist whose artworks explore the paradox and psychology found in material culture. The work draws from the meeting of Western culture and Eastern philosophies. Materials dominate the visual appearance of the work but sentience and the human experience are what it articulates.Dean's work can be found in many private collections nationally and internationally. See the events page for a current listing of exhibitions.
She helped create Gallery 37 and taught its first 3 years. She's taught for The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Lill Street Ceramics, the City Colleges of Chicago, Harper College, South Suburban College, Indiana University, and ITT Tech.
Jan currently lives in South Bend IN
Gallery 37, Chicago 1992
Education
MFA Cranbrook Academy Sculpture 1990
BA Indiana University Fine Arts 1982 Minor in Women's Studies under Gloria KauffmanAbbreviated Selection of Exhibitions
2012 Carnegie Art Center, Three Rivers MI
2011 ArtPrize, Grand Rapids, MI
2011 Fire Arts, South Bend, IN
2011 Woodnote Art Space, South Bend, IN
2010 Morton College, Cicero, IL
2010 South Suburban College, South Holland, IL
2009 South Suburban College, South Holland, IL
2009 Target Gallery, Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA
2008 Oakton Community College, Des Plaines IL
2008 Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
2008 Governor’s State University, University Park, IL
2007 Koehnline Museum of Art, Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL
2007 Chicago City Arts Gallery, Chicago, IL
2007 South Suburban College, South Holland, IL
2007 Governors State University, University Park, IL
2006 Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago IL
2006 Koehnline Art Museum, Des Plaines, IL
2006 Chicago Sculptors International, Flatfile Gallery, Chicago, IL
2006 Iron Bridge International Cast Iron Exhibit, hosted in UK,
2005 Koehnline Museum of Art, Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL
2004 Encore, Mitchell Museum, Invitational Exhibition, Carbondale, IL
2004 Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences, Invitational Exhibition, Peoria, IL
2002 Second Shift, Invitational Exhibition, The Nature Museum, Chicago, IL
2002 To Kiss the Spirits, Invitational Exhibition, Artemisia Gallery, Chicago, IL
2002 Twisted, Las Manos Gallery, Chicago, IL,
2001 Aaron Packer Gallery, Chicago, IL
2001 Artemisia Gallery, Juried Exhibition, Chicago, IL
2000 McLean County Arts Center, Invitational Exhibition, Bloomington, IL
2000 Wood Street Gallery, Invitational Exhibition, Chicago, IL
2000 Illinois State Art Museum, Juried Exhibition, Springfield, IL
2000 Indiana University Gallery, Invitational Exhibition, South Bend, IN
2000 Illinois State University Gallery, Juried Exhibition, Bloomington, IL
2000 Southern Illinois Gallery, Juried Exhibition, Rend Lake, IL
1999 Illinois Women: The New Millennium, Nat. Museum for Women in the Arts, Wash. D.C.
1999 Illinois Women: The New Millennium, Illinois St Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
1998 Small Packages, Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL, Mary O’Shaughnessy, Juror
1998 Visual Artists Exhibition, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, Ann Taylor, Juror
1998 Quad State Juried Exhibition, Quincy Art Center, Quincy, IL, Joan Rothfuss, Juror
1998 Midwest Sculpture Exhibition, S. Bend Regional Museum of Art, IN, Michael Dunbar, Juror
1997 19th Biennial Exhibition, S. Bend Regional Museum of Art, IN, Edward Maldonado, Juror
1997 12th Ann. Exhibition Blank Center for the Arts, Michigan City, IN, Stephen Luecking, Juror
1997 Art Forms ’97, Greater Lafayette Museum of Art, IN, Dr. Russell Panczenko, Juror
1997 Exhibition, Gallery E.G.G., Juried Exhibition, Chicago, IL
1994 Suburban Fine Arts Center, Award, Highland Park, IL, Ed Maldonado, Juror
1994 16th Biennial Exhibition, S. B. Regional Museum of Art, S. Bend, IN, Richard Hunt, Juror
1993 Baer Competition, Arts Center Beverly, IL, David Schulman, Laura Hoptman, Jurors
1993 The Contemporary Art Center, Arlington Heights. IL, James Yood, Hollis Sigler, JurorsGrants & Awards
2012 Artist in Action, 3 month residency, Downtown South Bend, IN
2003 Artist’s Residency, Oxbow Summer School of Art, SAIC, Saugatuck, MI
2001 Artist’s Residency, Oxbow Summer School of Art, SAIC, Saugatuck, MI
1999 Awarded Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, City of Chicago,IL
1998 Awarded Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, City of Chicago,IL
1998 Artist’s Residency, Oxbow Summer School of Art, SAIC, Saugatuck, MI
1997 Merit Award; South Bend Regional Museum of Art, South Bend, IN
1994 Award Winner, Suburban Fine Arts Center, Highland Park, IL
1991 Solo Exhibition, Countryside Gallery, Arlington Heights, IL
1989 Teaching Assistantship, Cranbrook Academy, Bloomfield Hills, MI
1989 State Scholarship, Cranbrook Academy, MI
1982 State Scholarship, Indiana University, IN
© jan dean