At the heart of the Greeley community, a dynamic hub of creativity flourishes, as local artists contribute to the ever-evolving cultural landscape. Beyond the artwork, we uncover narratives of resilience and unwavering artistic commitment. Meet the minds behind the masterpieces as we celebrate the diversity of the art and culture that is deeply-rooted in our community.
Dean Dickson (@d.dicksonstudios)– "27 years of sculpting, 30 years as an educator, 4 years painting and a lifetime of wanting to be a cowboy."
In the early 1970s, Dean graduated from the University of Toledo in Ohio with a Bachelor of Education degree in Visual Arts. He moved to Greeley in the latter part of 1978 and started teaching Art for Greeley School District 6 in 1987 at the middle, junior high and high school levels for the next thirty years. He's thrilled to say he was able to teach some of the best artists to come out of Greeley. He's still very passionate about needing more art programs in our public schools. During those years and after his retirement, he was always working on his own artwork at a professional level. 27 years of sculpting, 30 years as an educator, 4 years painting and a lifetime of wanting to be a cowboy.
Iván Díaz (@ivand_photography)– “With every session, my goal is always to convey emotion and authenticity by connecting with the people I photograph.”
For over a decade, Iván has been capturing stories throughout the US and the state of Colorado with his innovative, versatile, and high-energy approach. He is known for his collaborative approach with clients and best known for his unique eye, his use of creative angles and his natural ability to make his clients feel comfortable in front of the camera. Iván has honed his skills as a photographer through various photo genres including wedding/engagements, family/newborn/pet portraits, senior/graduation photos, concert/events, website promotions, and photojournalism. Iván is an award-winning and published photographer. Collaborations over the years include entities like the Latino Leadership Institute, the University of Northern Colorado, the Community College of Aurora and CU-Denver, among others. He has also collaborated with Thunder Mountain Amphitheater as the lead photographer for the Under the Sun Tour and the Up in Smoke Tour, photographing artists such as Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray and WAR to name a few.
“With every session, my goal is always to convey emotion and authenticity by connecting with the people I photograph,” Iván says. He likes to think that the greatest skill he brings to a photo shoot has nothing to do with cameras or lighting, but with having empathy and respect for the people who trust in him to tell their stories. Iván is dedicated to capturing stories one image at a time.
Mel Calderon (@ravenandrabbitstudio)– "Sharing wonder, joy, and humor is important to me, and I think that's why I love painting public art so much."
Her favorite quote on art is by Neil Gaimen: "The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before." Mel says her art falls firmly in the whimsy category, and it took her a long time to stop taking herself so seriously and just accept that. She's always been drawn to art that shows the world how it could be, rather than how it is. Sharing wonder, joy, and humor is important to her, and she thinks that's why she loves painting public art so much. She says you get this amazing opportunity to touch so many people's lives in your community, even if it's just while they're driving past and smile for a moment, it makes her feel so great that she created something that had that power.
Mel thinks a portion of the artist's statement from her solo show at the Atlas last year explains it best: "These are not the artworks of a tortured soul. This is the work of a soul who worries about roly-polys and displaced worms on public sidewalks. I reject the futile attempt of appearing edgy or bitter or prolific. Instead, I will set my teeth, dig in my heels, and be joyfully, aggressively, gentle."
Joe Brayan Sanchez Canela (@joebrayanfilmsllc)– "I plan on making a film industry someday. Colorado doesn't really have a stable or diverse group where Latinos can be a part of."
Joe is a creative digital film artist. He loves cinematography, photography and editing and has a passion for filmmaking. His favorite subject to create is cinematic candid photos and videos. He started in his profession at the age of 12, making fun stop-motion animations. What started as a hobby, quickly turned into something he really wanted to do when he grew up. 16 years later, he is living his dream, has his own business and is looking forward to what comes next.
Dale Harding (daleharding.com)– "His creative goal is to provide only suggestive visual information in his painting but enough to allow each viewer to interpret its content as they imagine their own personal moment in time."
Most artists will say they were interested in art at an early age. Dale is no exception. But more than that, he's always been interested in technology; the how and why things work as they do. Over the years, Dale pursued an art career earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees in art education with a focus on printmaking. After a decade of teaching art in the classroom, Dale moved his penchant for technology into the commercial printing industry and held positions in product development, sales and technical training for several North American and global companies. Dale has been a long-time resident of New England and now lives in Northern Colorado. He is a full-time artist and focuses his impressionistic style of painting on oil, acrylic and pastel media. He is inspired by the simple observation of his environment where his personal sensory experiences and emotions often reflect nature coupled with and altered by human influences. His creative goal is to provide only suggestive visual information in his painting but enough to allow each viewer to interpret its content as they imagine their own personal moment in time.
Kim Desmond (@kimdesmondphotography)– "Photography became a way to explore duality of emotions, concepts, and human nuances."
The primary catalyst for art must be love. And, if love is the catalyst, then its opposing force hate must also exist during the conception, process, or conclusion of a piece of art. Photography became a way to explore duality of emotions, concepts, and human nuances. Many of my photographs came to be due to a failed marriage and the resulting overwhelming feeling that women are commodities in a society that values convenience. Interchangeable, replaceable, stoic. Some of the photographs are typical portraits clearly exhibiting the strength and external beauty that women possess. Other photographs depict the subject's unique facial features erased, completely headless, or body-less while the female form is still distinguishable. And, some photographs are simply a means of documentation i.e. my children, my dog, my siblings, my parents, my husband. Or an answer to a "What if I...?" The meaning of the photograph is then left to the viewer's interpretation or no interpretation at all.