The Merced Multicultural Arts Center proudly presents
A selection of work spanning 25 years by CSU Stanislaus Professor of Art
The exhibition will run from February 6th through March 31st, 2018. An artist reception will be held on February 23rd from 5:30-7:30pm. This exhibition is free to the public and wheelchair accessible.
De Cocker's creative path began by making airplane wing shapes, but he didn't really know what they were at the time. His mentor at the time told him "These are interesting, but you need to figure out why you're interested in this shape." Shortly afterwards De Cocker found himself out at an airfield in Chino, CA enjoying a lunch when he began to understand where the shape came from.
"I looked out at a B25 and thought 'wow that is an interesting plane'. I held the shape out to the wing and it was the same shape and size."
In De Cocker's work surfboards, mailboxes, aircraft structures, wings, propellers, heavy machinery and architectural motifs are used at first as conceptual elements. Once drawn out they are then turned into fabricated objects through aircraft construction techniques to create inner structures and outer coverings. Like the artists who inspired him, De Cocker employs technologies of Southern California based engineering and aerospace industries to develop these sensuous, light filled sculptures.
Artist Statement
My work is part of a continuing series, “Blue Jackets Return.” From the first winged-shaped structures to the current work, I have been exploring my interest in formal elements by transforming flat, two-dimensional surfaces into three-dimensional objects. I derive much of my inspiration from everyday objects such as mailboxes, aircraft structures, wings, propellers, heavy machinery and architectural works. These objects become conceptual elements, which I transform into drawings. Then, via different techniques of construction, I fabricate many objects of inner structures and outer coverings that create volumetric enclosures. In recent years, my interest in racecar fabrication and collecting vintage BMX bicycles from the 1970’s has led to subtle changes to my work’s structure and color. My work of drawings, prints and photographs come from objects that inspire me and places that I have visited that make me think about time and space. Some of my newest print/painting work involves my interest in World War I and II military ship camouflage.
The titles of my works are a result of my interest in the construction techniques of World War II aircraft and the battles fought in the South Pacific.
Dean De Cocker
2018
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Merced County Arts Council, Inc.
645 W. Main Street
Merced, CA 95340
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