Dana Lynn Harper, PlySpace Fall 2019 Resident Fellow, will lecture on her work as part of the Ball State University School of Art, Visiting Artists and Designers Lecture Series on October 29th, 2019 at 6:00 PM at the Ball State Art & Journalism Building, Room 225. This lecture is free and open to the public.
Dana Lynn Harper holds a BFA from The Ohio State University in 2009. She was the recipient of The Bunton Waller Fellowship from Penn State University, where Harper received her MFA in 2013. Harper was awarded an ArtPrize Seed Grant, ArtFile Emerging Artist Grant and a Ringholz Foundation Award. In addition, Harper was awarded an NEA studio grant to attend an artist residency at Women’s Studio Workshop. She has also been an artist in residence at Sculpture Space, Teton Art Lab, ArtSpace Raleigh, ARC Chattanooga, Kutztown University, Bunker Projects and Second Sight Studio. She has had solo exhibitions at Front/Space Gallery & Museum, Manifest Gallery and ROY G BIV among many others. Harper is currently living and working in Columbus, OH.
While in residence at PlySpace, Harper will create a new installation made of multiple abstracted figures. Each one will be playful and boisterous, made from flagging tape, second hand materials, zip ties, paracord and other found materials. Creating patterns, textures and combinations will be unique to each being, each one celebrating the individuality of the human spirit. The inner workings of people are translated into layers of texture, pattern and color. Utilizing textiles, paper and plastics; aspects of personality, aura, consciousness and spirit are made visible. Each being borrows the form of celebratory objects, like piñatas, paper lanterns and pom poms. These playful forms are combined with ornamentation inspired by the growth of plants and flowers. Materials are dismantled and reconfigured into layers of a new imagined being, a soul without the body. Through this interpretation, the immaterial is made tangible.
Her lecture will be followed by a public exhibition of new work on First Thursday, November 7th, from 5-8PM at the PlySpace Gallery. Harper will also be working with students from the Ball State University Art Education Department to offer a workshop for children at Minnetrista on Saturday, November 2nd. Stay tuned for details on these upcoming events!
