Dick Der
Selected Works
Biography
Born
China
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Selected Exhibitions
2011: ECAS, 19th Annual Exhibition, Enterprise Square Gallery, Edmonton AB
2010: ECAS, 18th Annual Exhibition, Enterprise Square Gallery, Edmonton AB
2009: Fall Exhibition Group Show, Scott Gallery, Edmonton AB
2008: David Lindley Presents Abstraction, Keystone Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
2008: Snapshots, Scott Gallery, Edmontn, AB
2006: 20 Years of Canadian Painting, Scott Gallery Edmonton AB
2004: International Group Show I, Caelum Gallery, New York NY
2004: Dick Der, Caelum Gallery, Francisco Pro, New York, NY
2004: 12th Edmonton Contemporary Artists Show, Great West Saddlery Building, Edmonton AB
2003: 11th Edmonton Contemporary Artists Show, Great West Saddlery Building, Edmonton AB
2003: Field of Vision, Connect Four, Stanley A. Milner Public Library Gallery, The Works, Edmonton AB
2003: Miscellaneous Connections Revisited, McMullen Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2002: 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Edmonton Contemporary Artist's Society, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
2002: Flash Point: Painting, Fine Arts Building Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
2002: Chinatown Tango, Scott Gallery, Edmonton AB
2001: Sweet 16, Profiles Art Gallery, St. Albert AB
2001: 9th Edmonton Contemporary Artists Show, Arts Barns, Edmonton AB
2001: Miscellaneous Connections, McMullen Gallery, Edmonton AB
2000: 113 Degrees West in the Cross Hairs, Fine Arts Building Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
2000: New Works, Caelum Gallery, New York NY
1999: Recent Works, Scott Gallery, Edmonton AB
1998: 6th Edmonton Contemporary Artists Show, Arts Barns, Edmonton AB
1997: Singapore Art Exposition, Singapore
1997: Show Case, Monserrat Gallery, New York NY
1997: 5th Annual EGAS Exhibition, Arts Barn, Edmonton AB
1997: Disrepresention, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1997: Disrepresention, Travelling Show, Edmonton Art Gallery AB
1997: Gallery Artists, Scott Gallery, Edmonton AB
1996: Holly Ball, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1995: Free The Spirit, Profiles Gallery, St. Alberta AB
1995: Edmonton Abstraction, Akins, Der, Rasmussen, Kathleen Laverty Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1995: Der, Mann, Hippel, Fine Arts Building Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
1995: 3rd EGAS Exhibition, Commerce Centre, Edmonton AB
1994: Selections from the Norcen Collections, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1994: Asian Artists, Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton AB
1994: 2nd Edmonton Contemporary Artists Exhibition, Commerce Center, Edmonton AB
1994: Panini E.Vini, In the Rough, The Works Art & Design Festival, Edmonton AB
1994: Panini E. Vini, In The Rough, The Works Festival of Art & Design, Edmonton AB
1993: Studio Watch, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1993: Gallery Artists, Kathleen Laverty Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1993: Edmonton Contemporary Artists Society Exhibition, Commerce Center, Edmonton AB
1992: Art in Blume, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1991: Art for All, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1991: The Technician's Show, FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
1990: Edmonton90, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1990: Art for All, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1989: Small Art, Latitude 53, Edmonton AB
1989: Three Abstracts, Kathleen Laverty Gallery, Edmonton AB
1989: Edmonton 89, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
1989: Aztecs, FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, EdmontonAB
1988: The Feel of Abstract Art, Edmonton Art Gallery, Travelling Exhibition
1988: Technicians, FAB Art Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
1987: Great West Saddlery Show, Great West Saddlery Building, Edmonton AB
1985: 10 Plus, Great West Saddlery Building, Edmonton AB
1984: Artist's Collect, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
Selected Collections
Singapore Eromatic Company, Singapore
Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton AB
The Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB
The Camino Foundation
Norcen Resources Ltd., Calgary AB
Anglo Continental Limited, Hong Kong
Alberta Cultural Branch, Red Deer, AB
Alberta Cultural Branch, Edmonton AB
Grand Prairie College, Grand Prairie AB
Numerous other public and private collections
Selected Publications
Bouchard, Charles. Review – Field of Vision, Stanley A. Milner Gallery, Edmonton Journal, June, 2003
Bouchard, Charles. Review – 10th Anniversary EGAS Show, The Edmonton Journal, Sept. 2002
Bouchard, Charles. Preview – Flash Point, The Edmonton Journal, March, 2002
Bouchard, Charles. Review – Dick Der at the Scott Gallery, The Edmonton Journal, April 12th, 2002
Mandel, Charles. Review – Disrepresentation, The Edmonton Journal, 1998
Early, Rita. ReviewFolio, University of Alberta, 1998
Berger, Carol. Review – Sixth Annual EGAS Show, See Magazine, Oct. 1998
Art Review, Disrepresentation Travelling Show, Jasper Booster, Oct.22 1998
Mandel, Charles. Review – The Works, The Edmonton Journal, 1994
Cairney, Richard. Review – Dance with Spirituality, See Magazine, Sept. 1995
Art Review, Outlook, The Edmonton Art Gallery, 1993
Beauchamp, Elizabeth. Visual Arts, The Edmonton Journal, March, 1991
Artist Statement
There is a continual active dialogue between the internal self and the external reality. As a painter, I use this dialogue to make my paintings objects of contemplation, to evoke a tranquil, mystical and spiritual experience.
I work on cradled masonite or plywood on which canvas is usually stretched over the surface. There is the thrill of the alchemy that take place as various types of mixed media or collage materials are introduced to the painting and before the paint is applied.
Many of the materials are found objects, discarded detritus from construction sites and the streets of the city, such as metal, wire, wood, machine parts, card board, etc. These materials help to structure the surface of the painting. Some of the objects are altered to change their history. A variety of subtle surfaces, textures and color are the results which invite the viewer to examine a particular detail but also encouraging an awareness of a constant change of focus within the painting. A focus that is part of the natural or man made urban decay, yet at the same time speaks of rebirth as part of the ongoing life cycle. The paint is both earthly and metallic in quality, a combination that expresses luminous warmth reminiscent of something ancient and archaic, a unity which evokes a sense of both the urban and the rural, at the same time leaving behind a mood of unequivocal spiritual silence and peace.