Christopheraaron Deanes

Monday, August 29, 2016

SUMMER 2016

This summer has been quite the schedule. I have worked a lot to travel with my wife to Cancun, Mexico where we experienced some amazing things.

Small pencil sketch -- I did over the summer

In the arts I have done more work with the metal enamel production of the SEED PROJECT and the new project I was approved to do next year with the City of Minneapolis called ASSEMBLE (where I designed a giant children book that I will fabricate and post as public art outside of a local elementary school here in MPLS).

Metal Enamel panels designed by Jeremiah (Bey) Ellison

I am very excite dot completed this project ( The SEED project) and see it in its entirety over the Olson Memorial Bridge and and 94 W . This project will be very reflective of our community in so many ways and allow for visitor for years to come.

Additionally I opened the art showing at the new Vikings Stadium in July with 28 other artist totaling 150 pieces of art. This was super cool, and I am very honored to have had this experience to show three pieces at the US Bank Stadium.

Last month in July I also curated a showing of some of the artist in The Roho Collective and watched as several of our artist sold pieces and made new connections. I was one of the artist selling work but we also did a live painting that we gave away to someone on our mailing list. The next day I was at Breaking Bread Cafe where I did four portraits in color pencil, and made more connections with vendors and potential art buyers. The next big thing I ddi was last week at the Saint Paul Saints Stadium I did a live painting of a boy pitching a base ball. This was a four hour painting.

Painting at the Saint Paul Saints Stadium , August 2016

This summer has been very wonderful, in my studio I am working on a several pieces that surround the black male portrait. This is a sketch on one of the pieces, stay tuned.

profile sketch -- ingrained

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

New Web Page: Launched today

Hope you enjoy my new page:

https://christopheraaron-deanes.squarespace.com

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

“Spirit of Roho” exhibit on display in Hennepin Gallery Feb. 1 – Feb. 26 for 2016 Black History Month

"Spirit of Roho” exhibit on display in Hennepin Gallery

Feb. 1 – Feb. 26 for 2016 Black History Month

Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969

Loretta Day, Roho Collective, 612-231-2599;

www.rohocollective.com

www.hennepin.us/hennepingallery

Illustrations, paintings, photography and craft will be on display in February, Black History Month, at the Hennepin Gallery in the Hennepin County Government Center. The exhibit will depict the diversity of creativity and culture in the metro Twin Cities among artists of color.

The exhibit, by the Roho Collective, features the work of 13 local artists and reflects the various backgrounds of the artists. This month’s exhibition reflects on living in history and creating it daily with hopes of inspiring others to create art that has a strong and influential presence in our communities.

Roho Collective is a collaborative group of urban artists who act as a network for the exchange of knowledge and creative ideas between visual artists of color in the Midwest. The group serves as a consolidated voice and platform for both emerging and professional artists of color by providing a place for development of technical skills, professional growth, and business opportunities. The collective also educates communities about the value of the arts in our society and acts as an advocate for the arts regionally and nationally. Roho is a Swahili word meaning soul/spirit.

Participating Artists:

Rakhi Bisen – Illustrator

Patrick Cunningham – Painter

Angela Davis – Painter

Delsita Day – Multi-media artist

Loretta Day / Art Coordinator – Illustrator, Designer, Painter

Christopher-Aaron Deanes – Painter

Christopher E. Harrison – Painter

Stephanie G. Mandy – Painter/Illustrator

Stephanie D. Morris – Photographer

Esther Osayande – Illustrator, Painter

Bobby Rogers – Photographer

Lee Tarver – Illustrator

Barbara Thomas – Painter

The Hennepin Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Hennepin County Government Center, A Level, 300. S. Sixth St., Minneapolis. The exhibit is sponsored by Hennepin County Administration.

The Gallery is a project of Hennepin County Communications.

Look for more news on the Hennepin County website – www.hennepin.us.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Faith [in] Action?

Another show that I am involved in is the Faith[in]Action show that questions the involvement of Christian responses to the Black Lives Matter Movement. This show is exciting to me because I consider my work a direct result of equitable balances in society.

Christopheraaron Deanes

Oil, Rice, Gesso on Wood

The Gallery in Bigelow Chapel and the Classroom Gallery

Faith [In]Action? and Hands Up Don’t Shoot HER, running January 28 – April 26, represent a collaborative visual arts exhibition presented by United’s Center for Arts, Faith & Culture, Intermedia Arts and Obsidian Arts. The complementary exhibitions held at two locations are inspired by Black Lives Matter. At United, Faith [In]Action? examines the role of faith communities in policing systems. At Intermedia Arts, Hands Up Don’t Shoot HER reflects on the value of the lives of black women.

Opening ReceptionThursday, January 28, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, program @ 7:00
Bigelow Chapel at United (free)Registration Requested
Program Speaker and Panelists

Closing ReceptionSunday, April 17, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis (free)

Faith [In]Action?
January 28 – April 16
Other Related Events

Exhibited at United, Faith [In]Action? questions or shows evidence of the presence and role of people of faith in response to the overwhelming number of black people who have died at the hands of police and policing systems.

This exhibition features works engaging in a visual dialog that interrogates the response of people of faith (black and white). How does the faith community counter the blatant and recurring acts of injustice reigned upon black lives and the ensuing effect on black communities in our present time? Where does it hold up and where does it lack impact?

Curated by Roderic Southall and Sheryl Schwyhart.

To schedule a group tour of the exhibition, contact Sheryl Schwyhart, 651.255.6159.

Guiding Lights: Inspired by Foldklore and Literature

Current Exhibit

Guiding Lights: Inspired by Foldklore and Literature

reception: Thursday, Jan. 28, 5 pm – 7:30 pm, panel discussion mediated by Seitu Jones from 6 pm – 6:45 pm

show dates: Jan. 29 – Feb. 26, 2016

Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul Public Libraries, and the East Side Freedom Library invite your participation in the Metro Big Read, a community-wide reading program featuring the book Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Starting with the kickoff event on Jan. 28 and continuing through March, the read will include a series of cultural events and discussions on issues of race, class, gender and the African American experience.

The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. This initiative offers grants to support innovative community reading programs designed around a single book and broadens our understanding of our world, our communities and ourselves. Saint Paul is one of 75 communities nationwide selected to participate in The Big Read between September 2015 and June 2016. Metropolitan State received a $14,200 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to promote and host The Big Read.

The public kick-off program features the opening of the exhibition Guiding Lights: Inspired by Folklore and Literature at The Gordon Parks Gallery. Artist and guest curator Seitu Jones will moderate a panel discussion. Following the discussion, The Big Read’s keynote address will be delivered by Dr. John S. Wright, Morse-Amoco Distinguished Teaching Professor of African American & African Studies and English at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Wright’s address, Hurston as High Priestess: Their Eyes and the Hieroglyphs of African American Culture, will reference Hurston’s 1934 essay, "The Characteristics of Negro Expression," and act as the pivotal point of reference for approaching the novel and its contexts.

This exhibition features the artwork of five local emerging African-American artists who have created mixed media works inspired by African-American folklore and literature. Participants include: Jeremiah Bey-Ellison, Minneapolis, Loretta Day, Saint Paul, Christopheraaron Deanes, Minneapolis, Chrys Carroll, Minneapolis, and Jordan Hamilton, Minneapolis.

Regarding the exhibition, curator Seitu Jones says, “The participating artists consistently approach their work as interventions in eliminating systemic racism, while maintaining their individual artistic visions. Their artwork is framed by tradition, vision and culture.”

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

February showing at the Gordon Parks Gallery

Stay posted for more details here's one of the paintings I have in the show.

The show is shaped after Zora Neal Hurston's:

"Their Eyes Were Watching God"

Title-

"Janie's First Commitment"

3 x 7 oil, gesso, rice on wood

Viking Stadium Painting: kids huddle

4ft X 5 ft.

"Kids huddle"

Under painting, week one

Friday, October 09, 2015

VIKINGS: New Stadium Project

Originally published on VIKINGS.COM website

Eden Prairie, MN (October 6, 2015) – After launching a partnership in January 2015 with Sports & The Arts (SATA) to create a one-of-a-kind, museum-quality art collection within U.S. Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) announced today the names of 34 local artists who have been commissioned for the project.

VIEW GALLERY | 34 Photoshttp://www.vikings.com/news/new-stadium/article-1/Vikings--MSFA-Select-Nearly-3-Dozen-Local-Artists-For-US-Bank-Stadium-Art-Collection/a3e6337b-9d3e-469e-a8bf-c6db1d81bc0c

Sports & The Arts Artists Announced

Selected from nearly 1,100 submissions, the artists range in expertise from Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD) students to professionals with past works acquired by the Walker Art Center and Getty Museum. The group, which also includes a former Vikings player and a father-daughter combination, will contribute to a privately-funded collection that will encompass more than 500 original artworks (including photography) and showcase not only the Vikings, but also Minnesota sports and other regional history. Several more local artists are in discussions with the Vikings and SATA and are expected to join the list in the future.

“The team is always focused on ways to celebrate the community and our fans,” said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. “Soliciting and funding this collection of art from Minnesotans is another way to connect with the community in a very unique way that not only Vikings fans, but all stadium users, can enjoy. The partnership also continues the theme of utilizing Minnesota companies and individuals throughout the design and construction of U.S. Bank Stadium.”

“This partnership provides another avenue to connect Minnesotans with the stadium project,” said MSFA Chair Michele Kelm-Helgen. “This is a great opportunity to showcase Minnesota artists. The selected artists are incredibly talented and their works will provide another unique feature in U.S. Bank Stadium.”

The selected artists include the following (MCAD Students/Graduates in Bold):

About Sports & The Arts

Sports & The Arts, established in 1993, is a full turn-key service, offering creative development, framing and professional installation of gallery quality art, photography and graphic wall treatments. Sports & The Arts drives the vision, development and implementation of large-scale installations within sports and entertainment venues and creates unique fan experiences for each client. Sports & The Arts previous projects include Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco, CA; Marlins Park in Miami, FL; Amway Center in Orlando, FL; Prudential Center in Newark, NJ; and the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. Sports & The Arts is a member of the Women-Owned Small Business Association.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Recent mini's -late August.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Mini portraits week 3.

These are the latest portraits that were done this week. I feel like this project is really growing my portrait skills as well.

Tuesday, August 04, 2015

The northside arts FLOW and National Night Out: Mini Portraits

The last weekend I was honored to play another part of the art crawl in North Minneapolis. I love our cross but in North Minneapolis there usually isn't very many people was able to purchase artwork because the prices are too high. I'm really a big proponent of allowing artwork to be in the spaces of bourbon families and homes. For at work is cool but I really had to heart desire to do something more to get oil paintings at peoples homes. Don't really know very many people in North Minneapolis who owns an oil painting in a home more or less a portrait of themselves or family member. Yet prayed about this thought about it a lot kind of went through some ideas on what I could do about this problem that we have in our community, so I settled on small 5 x 4 panels that I created and someone purchased and I started to do self-portraits and oil for people for $15 each. Now this is very affordable for a lot of people it's cool to have a small little gift like this for someone for birthday for holiday for anniversary or even to prepare for Christmas so I thought that this was a really cool opportunity to launch something great, but small, pun intended. So since last Saturday I have payment 17 self-portraits of people and I'm very excited about the process and the way things are going. Is an example of a few.

The coolest part to this project that I started it's just like a sketchbook it allows me an opportunity to grow and get better while I'm getting paid while people are attaining small oil paintings for me to hang in our homes are to build a collection.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1505978543026763/

A giant red egg

Two weeks ago I was blessed to finish the arts us program for the second summer. Having the opportunity to work with my kindergarten through eighth graders was truly a treat for me. One of the greatest things are working with kids is knowing that I can never assume the talents or gifts they come with and their range is so vast.

One of the most exciting things are happening in education watching how creativity in the ours is spilling over into other curriculums. My goal as an artist educators always to expose the opportunities the crossover the arts and education the arts and science and the arts and math the arts in language arts etc.

Through this summer's program I was able to work with a local poet hip-hop artist Truth Maze, the resident artist/Dancer Sister Patricia, brother Ahanti on the drums, and Brian Grandison who's an incredible theater organizer producer director and drama therapist. One of the coolest things we were able to do this summer was to collaborate as diverse artists in our curriculum to build a story about youth playing in the playground and encountering a giant red egg. This story was really awesome because the narrative was about allowing the students to support each other through a stream of emotions, ideas and theories about what could possibly be inside of the egg. So a lot of the work was laced with social /emotional learning, it supports and how that process works with a lot of our urban kids. I ended up working with the youth on creating a giant children's book the help illustrate the story here are a few of the pages.

If you would like to take a closer look at the book you're more than welcome to come to the arts us in St. Paul the book is on display for the next few months and if you wanted the PowerPoint presentation with the books information I can also send it to you if you just inquiring through this blog.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Arts US 2015

So far it has been a very amazing summer working with the group of first-graders through eighth graders in St. Paul public schools Arts US program. We're currently working on The creation of portraiture through sculpture and painting, this process is very satisfying on how students are creating the images through papier-mâché it allows them to actually have-hold-squish and mold the materials. It allows the material to breathe into itself so that they will become their own portraits. I think I'm always trying to allow students to see the materials for what it is without taking away from the knowing of what it could look like it gives more appreciation for the art being created. Youth are smarter than usually given credit for. The influences that they draw from is exactly what we present to them. I wanted the young people to express themselves through how they perceive themselves with the most basic instructions. I don't care much for the traditional instruction where the result has to be a certain way it takes away from the integrity of the individuals too much in my opinion. As the students used glue and cut newspaper on foam core panels they sculptured their perceived head shape. (Some are funny while others are interesting and create an examination in their own). After a few days we painted our portraits and these are a few of the ones that we have so far.