Emerge - Michael Dinning
4’ x 8’ diptych
Original mural: Acrylic & mixed media on MDO panel
Hanger free and customizable for any hanging or framing system. Weatherized and suitable for indoor or outdoor display.
Artist Statement: My concept for the Emerge mural has to do with personal identity and individuality emerging from a crowd. I’ve explored these themes partially in numerous pieces in the past, but with this mural I wanted to combine, enhance and develop the idea more specifically. The two main panels of the mural depict a crowd, seeking shelter from a rain under their umbrellas. Although the crowd is unified in their desire for shelter, the individuals are not connected, only overlap, each with his or her own agenda and attitude. Each person is clearly unique, but in the rush and anonymity of the crowd that sense of identity can be lost.
Against this backdrop, I have imposed two individual portraits on the piece, projected away from the back panels and out from the shelter of the umbrellas, seemingly emerging from the crowd. The identities of these two people are presented as compositions of colors, charms, layers and patterns. Each portrait is constructed of 20 panels assembled together, each panel displaying varying layers of color. We are defined by these collections of layers, and also by the small items that we identify as meaningful to ourselves. Each panel has a small charm attached to it, representative of these things that we gather and hold close, little markers of what we care about and who we are. For the woman’s portrait I chose a lighter color palate for the final overlay of color, offsetting the darker underpainted squares below.
I also chose unexpected charms to define the woman depicted by the piece, exemplifying that who we are is not defined by what people expect of us. The other portrait features an image of a man, painted in a cooler and darker color scheme than the woman in the companion portrait. Again, the charms attached to the panels are often unexpected, at times defining the man in ways at odds with traditional symbols of masculinity. What is expected of us is not who we are, and that complexity that we hold close to ourselves, and show to the world, defines how we emerge from the crowd as unique, distinctive and complete individuals.
4’ x 8’ diptych
Original mural: Acrylic & mixed media on MDO panel
Hanger free and customizable for any hanging or framing system. Weatherized and suitable for indoor or outdoor display.
Artist Statement: My concept for the Emerge mural has to do with personal identity and individuality emerging from a crowd. I’ve explored these themes partially in numerous pieces in the past, but with this mural I wanted to combine, enhance and develop the idea more specifically. The two main panels of the mural depict a crowd, seeking shelter from a rain under their umbrellas. Although the crowd is unified in their desire for shelter, the individuals are not connected, only overlap, each with his or her own agenda and attitude. Each person is clearly unique, but in the rush and anonymity of the crowd that sense of identity can be lost.
Against this backdrop, I have imposed two individual portraits on the piece, projected away from the back panels and out from the shelter of the umbrellas, seemingly emerging from the crowd. The identities of these two people are presented as compositions of colors, charms, layers and patterns. Each portrait is constructed of 20 panels assembled together, each panel displaying varying layers of color. We are defined by these collections of layers, and also by the small items that we identify as meaningful to ourselves. Each panel has a small charm attached to it, representative of these things that we gather and hold close, little markers of what we care about and who we are. For the woman’s portrait I chose a lighter color palate for the final overlay of color, offsetting the darker underpainted squares below.
I also chose unexpected charms to define the woman depicted by the piece, exemplifying that who we are is not defined by what people expect of us. The other portrait features an image of a man, painted in a cooler and darker color scheme than the woman in the companion portrait. Again, the charms attached to the panels are often unexpected, at times defining the man in ways at odds with traditional symbols of masculinity. What is expected of us is not who we are, and that complexity that we hold close to ourselves, and show to the world, defines how we emerge from the crowd as unique, distinctive and complete individuals.
*** We appreciate your support of the Allez program and Allez artists. Please understand your purchase is a weather-resistant outdoor art piece displayed in an urban environment for public enjoyment for the duration of the exhibit. Normal wear and tear of an outdoor art piece should be expected. There are special inherent risks, such as, mother nature, accidents, vandalism that could compromise the artwork. Allez will make every effort to protect the work during exhibition and will be available “as is” at the conclusion of the exhibit.