During the month of January, Wagner Witte Gallery presents Constant Creation, a featured exhibit of original works by Michael George Dean. Dean is a versatile artist whose multitalented, “post-impression/expressionism” style resists pigeonholing. Dean’s creative genius is not limited to any single subject or style; his artwork depicts portraits, landscapes, streetscapes, scenes of everyday life, still lifes, abstracts, and Southwestern scenes. This award winning artist may paint a poignant, beautiful landscape in oil, then switch to a sculpture in marble or alabaster, then, perhaps, an abstract encaustic. Dean is a prolific, well collected artist who says he is “compelled to create constantly.” One must experience Dean’s work in person to truly appreciate the power of his lush use of paint, his bold sense of color, space, and light, and the emotions his creations evoke.
Dean has been painting seriously since his teenage years. He received his B.S.A. in Studio Art (magna cum laude) from Mary Washington College and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Maryland. He has taught drawing, art theory, and painting at a number of institutions including the University of Maryland, Prince George’s Community College, and Northern Virginia Community College.
Michael George Dean has shown his work around the world, from Maryland to Colorado to California to Paris, France. He has received extensive recognition for his work, including Best in Show in the Prince George’s County Exhibit, the Merit Award and Director’s Award from the Friendship Hall Gallery in McPherson, Kansas, Fourth Place and Ribbon Award from the Chimerical Gregg Art Gallery in Puente, California, and Best in Show and Equal Award, from The Art League, Alexandria, Virginia. In 1992, he won a Fine Arts Grant from the Virginia Museum of Art and Juror’s Choice Award at the Mid-Atlantic Art Exhibition.
Michael George Dean has been commissioned to create paintings of three historic sites—Asbury United Methodist Church, Bethel AME Church, and the Buffalo Soldiers House— located in an area known as “Society Hill” or “The Hill” in Easton. These buildings are being investigated to determine if the The Hill is the oldest African American Community in the U.S. The project is a collaboration between Morgan State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Preservation Maryland. Proceeds from sales of Dean’s original paintings and Giclee prints will benefit the initiative. Dean’s first painting, of Asbury United Methodist Church, will be unveiled at Wagner Witte Gallery on January 6 during Easton’s First Friday Gallery Walk. The painting will remain on display at the gallery through February.
Also opening on January 6 will be new works by sculpture artist Larry Bechtel and paintings, collage art, and mixed media by Karen Maskell Peck.
Meet Michael George Dean in person on Friday, January 6 from 5:30-8:30pm at an opening reception during First Friday Gallery Walk. Gourmet refreshments will be served, and live music will be provided by Jim Fodrie.
Wagner Witte Gallery is located at 5 N. Harrison St. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday 11am-6pm, and Sunday 12-5pm. For more information, email jwmosaics@ymail.com or contact Jennifer Wagner at 443.521.4084.