David Derr
"Humanity is composed of creative explorers and symbol makers. We have been this way since the beginnings of our existence. This is the cornerstone of what it is to be a thinking human being. My goal has always been to create works that contain the essences of good poetry. A balance of opposites, in a style that is recognizable, yet not necessarily realistic. I find the most effective way of doing this is by using a pseudo primitive style which on the surface seems simple, but in reality resonates deeper emotions.
My studies of children's and primitive art, as well as symbols, have led me to the conclusion that these types of images speak on a deeper level that completely realistic images. Somehow they reach beyond the surface and touch the very essence of the object represented evoking meanings and emotions that reside deep in our minds and bodies. The use of this type of content allows me to create pieces that contain layers of meaning; meaning which is integral to lasting art.
Content is very important, and by content I don’t mean the objects in a painting but the meanings behind them. I fill each piece with subjects form music, dance, myths, mysticism, science and everyday life. I create pieces that will have the ability to have a lasting conversation with the collector and the public. A conversation that can take different and unexpected directions from my original intent. Do my works tell a story....yes, but I will never completely know or be able to tell what that story is, for when a work leaves my hand it takes on a life of its own, creating a conversation that is between it and the viewer, each of which brings their own mysteries."
David has been selected to be one of 300 artists whose work will be included in a payload carried by a moon lander developed by Carnegie Mellon Institute with funding by Google. It is scheduled to launch and land on the moon in late 2019.
-David Derr
Selected Exhibitions
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Painted Violin
2nd International Festival of NanoArt, Stuttgart, Germany
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ
Monkdogz Gallery, Chelsea, NY, NY (2 shows in 2007)
ADP Corp. Center, Roseland, NJ
European Council of International Schools, Nice, France
Berlex Labs Corp. Centers, Wayne and Montville, NJ
Schering-Plough Corp. Center, Madison, NJ
Nabisco Corp. Center, Hanover, NJ
Union Camp Corp. Headquarters, Wayne, NJ
Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ
Bergen Museum of Arts & Sciences, Paramus, NJ
Paterson, Museum, Paterson, NJ
Pace University, New York, NY
JCC MetroWest, Whippany, NJ
Seton Hall Law School, Newark, NJ
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack, NJ
International Digital Open, London, UK
About Vision, London, UK
Once in a Blue Moon, Studio 4 West, Piermont, NY
Space 4 Gallery, Chelsea, NY
SK Gallery, Venice, CA
Pliedes Gallery 16th Annual Juried Exhibition
Juror Ivan Karp, OK Harris Gallery
44th Annual Art of the Northeast USA,
Silvermine, New Canaan CT
Juror: Holly Soloman, Soloman Gallery, NY, NY
Art Expo, New York, NY
Children’s Specialized Hospital, Westfield, NJ
NY Theological Seminary, NY, NY
Pandora’s Box, Williams Center for the Arts Rutherford, NJ
Bibliography
DY Magazine, Sept/Oct. 2011
Gallery and Studio Magazine, Sept./Oct. 2006
Beatles Art, Boxagami Books, 2006
Eunomia, Australian Senate Newsletter, 2004
Photoshop User, Jan./Feb. 2002
Digital Fine Arts Magazine, Aug./Sept. 2000
Branches Quarterly, 2005
Moondance.org, 2005
NY Times
My studies of children's and primitive art, as well as symbols, have led me to the conclusion that these types of images speak on a deeper level that completely realistic images. Somehow they reach beyond the surface and touch the very essence of the object represented evoking meanings and emotions that reside deep in our minds and bodies. The use of this type of content allows me to create pieces that contain layers of meaning; meaning which is integral to lasting art.
Content is very important, and by content I don’t mean the objects in a painting but the meanings behind them. I fill each piece with subjects form music, dance, myths, mysticism, science and everyday life. I create pieces that will have the ability to have a lasting conversation with the collector and the public. A conversation that can take different and unexpected directions from my original intent. Do my works tell a story....yes, but I will never completely know or be able to tell what that story is, for when a work leaves my hand it takes on a life of its own, creating a conversation that is between it and the viewer, each of which brings their own mysteries."
David has been selected to be one of 300 artists whose work will be included in a payload carried by a moon lander developed by Carnegie Mellon Institute with funding by Google. It is scheduled to launch and land on the moon in late 2019.
-David Derr
Selected Exhibitions
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Painted Violin
2nd International Festival of NanoArt, Stuttgart, Germany
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ
Monkdogz Gallery, Chelsea, NY, NY (2 shows in 2007)
ADP Corp. Center, Roseland, NJ
European Council of International Schools, Nice, France
Berlex Labs Corp. Centers, Wayne and Montville, NJ
Schering-Plough Corp. Center, Madison, NJ
Nabisco Corp. Center, Hanover, NJ
Union Camp Corp. Headquarters, Wayne, NJ
Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ
Bergen Museum of Arts & Sciences, Paramus, NJ
Paterson, Museum, Paterson, NJ
Pace University, New York, NY
JCC MetroWest, Whippany, NJ
Seton Hall Law School, Newark, NJ
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack, NJ
International Digital Open, London, UK
About Vision, London, UK
Once in a Blue Moon, Studio 4 West, Piermont, NY
Space 4 Gallery, Chelsea, NY
SK Gallery, Venice, CA
Pliedes Gallery 16th Annual Juried Exhibition
Juror Ivan Karp, OK Harris Gallery
44th Annual Art of the Northeast USA,
Silvermine, New Canaan CT
Juror: Holly Soloman, Soloman Gallery, NY, NY
Art Expo, New York, NY
Children’s Specialized Hospital, Westfield, NJ
NY Theological Seminary, NY, NY
Pandora’s Box, Williams Center for the Arts Rutherford, NJ
Bibliography
DY Magazine, Sept/Oct. 2011
Gallery and Studio Magazine, Sept./Oct. 2006
Beatles Art, Boxagami Books, 2006
Eunomia, Australian Senate Newsletter, 2004
Photoshop User, Jan./Feb. 2002
Digital Fine Arts Magazine, Aug./Sept. 2000
Branches Quarterly, 2005
Moondance.org, 2005
NY Times