Artist Deanna Wood

Deanna Wood - Artist Statement

Tornadoes are frightening and deadly, but also strangely beautiful. Their raw physical power and destructive strength are awesome. An approaching storm can be terrifying but also exciting; the birds stop singing, the wind stops blowing, and the air turns an eerie green.

The inspiration for my work comes from recurring dreams about tornadoes. Often these dream tornadoes appear far away but with the potential to turn, causing injury and destruction. Like me in my dream, the viewer is not sure if the tornado will remain distant or if it will become a threat. Sometimes the tornado is eliminated altogether, the primary imagery being telephone poles or the outlines of houses.

The telephone pole image emerged from news footage of a deadly Oklahoma tornado. The tornado blended into the clouds in the background, but the telephone poles were clear, snapping in half, one by one, as the tornado continued on its path of destruction.
The house shape represents shelter, home and safety. Although more stable than telephone poles, houses are just as vulnerable to nature's fury. The imagery of limbs and trees represents wind, chaos, and confusion.

This work illustrates the fragility of life. By focusing on the human need for order in the face of chaos, it serves as a reminder that life is fleeting.

The encaustic technique involves melting beeswax and Damar crystals (a natural resin) to create a wax medium. The medium can be tinted with oil paint. I brush multiple layers of hot wax medium onto my surface (usually collage on masonite) and use a heat gun to fuse the wax layers to each other and to the surface. I then often scratch into or scrape away areas of wax, applying oil pastel or oil paint to the surface. The wax adds texture, color, and an interesting play of transparency and opacity.

Resume

Education

MFA, Painting - Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, 2004
Minor: Intermedia (Bookmaking, Papermaking, and Printmaking)

MA, Graphic Design - Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, 1994
Minor: Photography/Bookmaking

BFA, Graphic Design - Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, 1990
Minor: Art History

Selected Exhibitions

Forthcoming Solo Exhibitions:

City Arts Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 2006

Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa, 2006

Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, Nevada, 2006

Irving Community Television Network Studio, Irving, Texas, 2007

Manhattan Arts Center, Manhattan, Kansas, 2007

Leslie Powell Foundation and Gallery, Lawton, Oklahoma, 2008

2005 "Clearing," Jaycee Center for the Arts, Irving, TX

2004 "Seeking Shelter," Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, East Fine Arts Gallery, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX

2004 "Spring Storm," 33UP Gallery and Studios, Dallas, TX
Group

2004 "In Balance," Visual Art League of Lewisville, Lewisville, TX

2005 "November Invitational," The Studio Gallery, Houston, TX

2005 "Painting Alumni Art Exhibition," Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX

2005 "Gallery Opening," Chris Hoover Gallery, Rockwall, TX

2005 "Cover to Cover 2005," Maryland Federation of Art, Baltimore, MD (Juror: Helen Frederick, Executive Director, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Silver Spring, MD)

2005 "Book + Art = ?," Core New Art Space, Denver, CO (Juror: Alicia Bailey)

2005 "South Arkansas Arts Center 2005 Annual Juried Art Competition," El Dorado, AR (Juror: Suzanne Weaver, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art, Dallas Museum of Art)

"2005 Plano Art Association National Juried Exhibition," ArtCentre of Plano, Plano, TX

"2005 20" x 20" x 20": A Compact Competition," Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA (Juror: Dr. Stephanie Hanor, Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego)

Barry, Meg. "This new art exhibit might blow you away." The Lasso 3 Oct. 2002: 5.

Breeding, Lucinda. "A Storm to Sit On." Denton Record Chronicle 18 Sep. 2005: D5+.

Breeding, Lucinda. "Shows of Force." Denton Record Chronicle 2 Dec. 2005: D3.

Breeding, Lucinda. "Artist finds calm after the storm." Denton Record Chronicle 6 Oct. 2002: D5+.

Dalkey, Victoria. "Surreality Bites Matrix Show Goes From Monumental To Witty, Small." The Sacramento Bee 23 Apr. 1995: EN9.

Owens, Marjorie. "Storm Warning opens at TWU." North Texas Daily 8 Oct. 2002: 8.



	Deanna Wood - Artist Statement Tornadoes are frightening and deadly, but also strangely beautiful. Their raw physical power and destructive strength are awesome. An approaching storm can be terrifying but also exciting; the birds stop singing, the wind stops blowing, and the air turns an eerie green. The inspiration for my work comes from recurring dreams about tornadoes. Often these dream tornadoes appear far away but with the potential to turn, causing injury and destruction. Like me in my dream, the viewer is not sure if the tornado will remain distant or if it will become a threat. Sometimes the tornado is eliminated altogether, the primary imagery being telephone poles or the outlines of houses. The telephone pole image emerged from news footage of a deadly Oklahoma tornado. The tornado blended into the clouds in the background, but the telephone poles were clear, snapping in half, one by one, as the tornado continued on its path of destruction. The house shape represents shelter, home and safety. Although more stable than telephone poles, houses are just as vulnerable to nature's fury. The imagery of limbs and trees represents wind, chaos, and confusion. This work illustrates the fragility of life. By focusing on the human need for order in the face of chaos, it serves as a reminder that life is fleeting. The encaustic technique involves melting beeswax and Damar crystals (a natural resin) to create a wax medium. The medium can be tinted with oil paint. I brush multiple layers of hot wax medium onto my surface (usually collage on masonite) and use a heat gun to fuse the wax layers to each other and to the surface. I then often scratch into or scrape away areas of wax, applying oil pastel or oil paint to the surface. The wax adds texture, color, and an interesting play of transparency and opacity. Resume Education MFA, Painting - Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, 2004 Minor: Intermedia (Bookmaking, Papermaking, and Printmaking) MA, Graphic Design - Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, 1994 Minor: Photography/Bookmaking BFA, Graphic Design - Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, 1990 Minor: Art History Selected Exhibitions Forthcoming Solo Exhibitions: City Arts Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 2006 Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa, 2006 Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, Nevada, 2006 Irving Community Television Network Studio, Irving, Texas, 2007 Manhattan Arts Center, Manhattan, Kansas, 2007 Leslie Powell Foundation and Gallery, Lawton, Oklahoma, 2008 Solo: 2005 "Clearing," Jaycee Center for the Arts, Irving, TX 2004 "Seeking Shelter," Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, East Fine Arts Gallery, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 2004 "Spring Storm," 33UP Gallery and Studios, Dallas, TX Group 2004 "In Balance," Visual Art League of Lewisville, Lewisville, TX 2003 Margo Jones Performance Hall Lobby, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 2002 "Storm Warning," Gallery 010, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX Group: 2005 "November Invitational," The Studio Gallery, Houston, TX 2005 "Painting Alumni Art Exhibition," Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 2005 "Gallery Opening," Chris Hoover Gallery, Rockwall, TX 2004 "In Balance," Visual Art League of Lewisville, Lewisville, TX 2003 "Current," Gallery 010, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 2002 "Caught Off Balance," Hara Gallery, Denton, TX 2002 "Precarious Balance," Brick Haus Cafe, Denton, TX 2002 "Balance...A Beginning," Grayson County College, Denison, TX 2002 "UnEdited," gallery_803, Denton, TX Juried: 2005 "Cover to Cover 2005," Maryland Federation of Art, Baltimore, MD (Juror: Helen Frederick, Executive Director, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Silver Spring, MD) 2005 "Book + Art = ?," Core New Art Space, Denver, CO (Juror: Alicia Bailey) 2005 "South Arkansas Arts Center 2005 Annual Juried Art Competition," El Dorado, AR (Juror: Suzanne Weaver, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art, Dallas Museum of Art) "2005 Plano Art Association National Juried Exhibition," ArtCentre of Plano, Plano, TX "2005 20" x 20" x 20": A Compact Competition," Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA (Juror: Dr. Stephanie Hanor, Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego) 2003 "Voertman's Student Exhibition," Fine Arts Gallery, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX (Juror: Betty Hicks) 2002 "North Texas Area Art League Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition," Center for the Visual Arts, Denton, TX (Juror: Cheryl Vogel) Award 2002 "Viewpoints," Lewisville Visual Art League Center, Lewisville, TX (Jurors: Pam and William Campbell) 2000 "North Texas Area Art League Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition," Center for the Visual Arts, Denton, TX(award winner) 1995 "Matrix International 1995," Matrix Gallery, Sacramento, CA (Jurors: Kim Anno and Leo F. Hobaica Jr.) 1995 "Expo '95," 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX (Juror: Don Bacigalupi) 1995 "Celebrating Women," University of North Texas, Denton, TX 1994 "Agnes Scott College Book Arts Exhibition," Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA (Jurors: Peter Frank and Judith Hoffberg) 1994 "Summer Small Works '94," 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX (Juror: Alison de Lima Greene) 1994 "Off the Shelf: Books by Artists," Tempe Arts Center, Tempe, AZ 1990 "Dallas Society of Visual Communications Student Competition," CityPlace, Dallas, TX 1989 "Voertman's Student Exhibition," Fine Arts Gallery, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX Publications Barry, Meg. "This new art exhibit might blow you away." The Lasso 3 Oct. 2002: 5. Breeding, Lucinda. "A Storm to Sit On." Denton Record Chronicle 18 Sep. 2005: D5+. Breeding, Lucinda. "Shows of Force." Denton Record Chronicle 2 Dec. 2005: D3. Breeding, Lucinda. "Artist finds calm after the storm." Denton Record Chronicle 6 Oct. 2002: D5+. Dalkey, Victoria. "Surreality Bites Matrix Show Goes From Monumental To Witty, Small." The Sacramento Bee 23 Apr. 1995: EN9. Owens, Marjorie. "Storm Warning opens at TWU." North Texas Daily 8 Oct. 2002: 8.





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