Chris Dean

Michigan artist, Chris Dean’s direction of recent work in the *lenticular process uses mystery and humor in ways that ask the viewer for a positive emotive response. Dean wants to connect to a common good, but not necessarily avoid social and political climates. In hopes of getting beyond dry and didactic discussions of religion, politics, and science, he states, “Some level of earthy connection to the culture around me is critical to the process. I find a satisfying outlet for fun in these works,” furthermore, “...the need to move back and forth to perceive the effect is awkward and disarming, and part of the charm.” He observes that historically the lenticular process has a story of devotion and commercialism that embraces and re-contextualizes its subjects in a setting that keeps the mood, but not the product.

*About The Process
Lenticular images had their first wave of popularity in the stereoscopic boom of the 1950s. Images of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, 3D pinup girls, and Crackerjack prizes remain the association for many. A more recent commercial resurgence is in CD cases and patriotic bookmarks. It is a low tech process and sometimes confused with holography, but is unrelated. The craft focuses on creating a single image from many thin strips of different images and aligning the new image with the thin vertical lenses of the plastic sheet. The hundreds of lenses filter out the original images in sequence, producing the desired effect. The technology allows the artist to create a sense of movement, depth, or both simultaneously.

Gallery Talk:
Thursday, January 21 • 5 p.m.

Reception following To 6:30 p.m.

Sarratt Gallery at Vanderbilt University
Office of the Dean of Students | Office of Student Activities
207 Sarratt Student Center | Nashville, TN 37240
615.322.2471 | 615.343.8081 (fax) | E-mail: bridgette.kohnhorst@vanderbilt.edu