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David Derr http://www.d2studios.com Mediums - Oil, Mixed Media, Digital Artist's Statement -Humanity is composed of creative explorers and symbol makers. We have been this way since the beginnings of our existence as a race and before. This is the cornerstone of what it is to be a thinking human being. My goal has always been to create works that contain the essences of good poetry. A balance of opposites, in a style that is recognizable, yet not necessarily realistic. I find the most effective way of doing this is by using a pseudo primitive style which on the surface seems simple, but in reality resonates deeper emotions. My studies of children's and primitive art, as well as symbols, have led me to the conclusion that these types of images speak on a deeper level that completely realistic images. Somehow they reach beyond the surface and touch the very essence of the object represented evoking meanings and emotions the reside deep in our minds and bodies. The use of this type of content allows me to create pieces that contain layers of meaning, meaning which is integral to lasting art. Content is very important, and by content I don’t mean the objects in a painting but the meaning behind them. I fill each piece with subjects form music, dance, myths, mysticism, science and everyday life. I create pieces that will have the ability to have a lasting conversation with the collector and the public. A conversation that can take different and unexpected directions from my original intention. Do my works tell a story....yes, but I will never completely know or be able to tell what that story is, for when a work leaves my hand it takes on a life of its own, creating a conversation that is between it and the viewer, each of which brings their own mysteries. Gallery Affiliations - Mr. Brett Schundler, former Mayor Jersey City, Jersey City, NJ Mr. Jeffrey Bolton, Partner, Neuberger & Berman Investments, NY, NY Dr. Robert Logan, DMD, Kinnelon, NJ Dr. & Mrs. Craig Abolin, CT Dr. Karen Swanson, Mahwah, NJ Ms. Cynthia Libby-Johnson, President, Center for Food Action, Englewood, NJ Mr. David Briskin, Conductor, NY, NY Mrs. Martha Carellas, NJ Berkeley Heights, NJ Mr. & Mrs. Wentworth, Boonton Township, NJ Ms. Lean DiGangi, Totowa, NJ Mr. Thomas Getty, NY, NY Ms. Nancy Egol Nikkal, Tenafly, NJ Mr. & Mrs. Richard McGlynn, Morristown, NJ Ms. Jackie Cadiou, Millburn, NJ Ms. Moni Kennison, Essex Fells, NJ Mr. & Mrs. W. G. Stewart, Wyckoff, NJ Ms. Carol Mainardi, Kinnelon, NJ Mr. Don Macgowan, Denville, NJ Mrs. Elizabeth Kuny, Mendham, NJ Mr. Ray White, Montclair, NJ Mr. & Mrs. Barry Bondy, HoHoKus, NJ Mr. Dennis Galante, NY, NY Mr. & Mrs. Donald Swanson, Denville, NJ Mr. & Mrs. J. Ungemach, Sussex, NJ Mr. David Welglin, Roseland, N Mr. & Mrs. Art Nelson, Short Hills, NJ Ms. Joanne Ezersky, Saddlebrook, NJ Mr. Victor Lirio &Mr. Bryce Goodwin, NY, NY Mr. Dan Sheldon, ADP, Roseland, NJ Exhibitions - SELECTED EXHIBITIONS New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Painted Violin, 2008-09 2nd International Festival of NanArt, Stuttgart, Germany Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ Monkdogz Gallery, Chelsea, NY, NY (2 shows in 2007) ADP Corp. Center, Roseland, NJ European Council of International Schools, Nice, France Berlex Labs Corp. Centers, Wayne and Montville, NJ Schering-Plough Corp. Center, Madison, NJ Nabisco Corp. Center, Hanover, NJ Union Camp Corp. Headquarters, Wayne, NJ Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ Bergen Museum of Arts & Sciences, Paramus, NJ Paterson, Museum, Paterson, N Pace University, New York, NY JCC MetroWest, Whippany, NJ Seton Hall Law School, Newark, NJ Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack, NJ International Digital Open, London, UK About Vision, London, UK Once in a Blue Moon, Studio 4 West, Piermont, NY Space 4 Gallery, Chelsea, NY SK Gallery, Venice, CA Pliedes Gallery 16th Annual Juried Exhibition; Juror Ivan Karp, OK Harris Gallery 44th Annual Art of the Northeast USA, Silvermine, New Canaan CT; Juror: Holly Soloman, Soloman Gallery, NY, NY Art Expo, New York, NY Children’s Specialized Hospital, Westfield, NJ NY Theological Seminary, NY, NY Pandora’s Box, Williams Center for the Arts Rutherford, NJ |  |
Biography - New Jersey artist David Derr first recollection of an interest in art was at age six, when an artist neighbor, introduced him to the world of drawing. Derr attended the Art Students League in the 1970’s studying life drawing under Gregory D’Allesio and Gutav Rehburger and graphics with Michael Ponce DeLeon. His passion for life drawing continued as a primary focus for nearly 10 years while he made a living as an artists model and freelance commercial artist. Currently Derr heads up his own design agency, D2 Studios Inc., in the past he has been employed as Art and Creative Director’s for New Jersey advertising agencies and has achieved national recognition for his designs. Commercial success has never dimmed, in fact, has brought into sharper focus, his love for fine arts, and his expression of deep personal imagery. This is influenced by his interest in archeology, primitive art, mythology, classical music, and dance. He works in Oil, Acrylic, Mixed Media, Digital Imaging, Photography and Music. Derr has been included in exhibitions juried by Ivan Karp of the OK Harris Gallery, Holly Solomon, of the Holly Solomon Gallery, and by curators from the Guggenheim and NJ State Museums. He has exhibitied throughout the United States and Europe. His works appear in corporate, government and private collections throughout the world. Most recent awards include: Adobe Digital Imaging Competition, 2004, Honorable Mention ReFocus Now Comptetion, 2004-2005, 1st Place International Digital Mural Competition, 2001, 2nd place Bibliography Gallery and Studio Magazine, Sept./Oct. 2006 Beatles Art, Boxagami Books, 2006 Eunomia, Australian Senate Newsletter, 2004 Photoshop User, Jan./Feb. 2002 Digital Fine Arts Magazine, Aug./Sept. 2000 Branches Quarterly, 2005 Moondance.org, 2005 NY Times Selected Awards Adobe Digital Imaging Competition, 2004, HR Refocus Now, 2005, 1st Place Int’l. Digital Mural Competition, 2001, 2nd Place NY Art Director’s Club, HR Northeast Art Festival, Winners Circle Janus: God of the Doorway, 1st Place Double Visions, Best in Show and 2nd Place |