DSA is pleased to exhibit a two-week pop-up gallery of three of their member artists. The artists include Cydnie Deed-King, Maureen O’Keefe, and Micheal Ousley. Each will have one room in the High Street Gallery to display their work.
“Deep Impact” by Cydnie Deed-King explores the human connection to the botanical world. Botanicals with circuits and technological components show the human bond and impact on nature in a new way. The circuits drawn throughout the plants point towards genetic modification and humanity’s impact on the natural world. Seeing the circuits may add some new beauty to the plants but they raise the question of whether or not they’re helping, hurting, or doing something totally unexpected.
“Body of Work” by Maureen O’Keefe investigates identities, labels, personas and belonging. The portrait and the figure are tools for this exploration of the tension between our perception of ourselves and how we are seen by others. She uses blind, continuous-line gesture drawings as the basis of her work in order to highlight the continuity of people with each other and their surroundings.
“I’d Rather Be in Some Dark Holler” by Micheal Ousley explores the experiences of life growing up in Southeastern Kentucky including the stories, characters, and landscape of the area. His approach to painting has remained rooted in local folk culture and folklore.
Showing concurrently are four pieces of commissioned Miami Valley eagle artwork. Sponsored by Tom Vogel, the Dayton Society of Artists offered four commissions to local artists to create works featuring the Miami Valley’s bald eagles. These pieces celebrate effective conservation and protection efforts for the species and their return to Dayton. Artists include Sharon Benedict, Rusty Harden, Jennifer Sayger, and William Smith III. Reference photos were provided by Patricia Cahill
