In 1975, Pat Dennis began
painting in Nyack, NY, at the birthplace and boyhood home
of American Realist painter, Edward Hopper. One of her
first influences was working as an assistant for Sari
Dienes, (1899-1992) on “The Land,” an artists’
community in Stony Point, New York. Neighbors Robert Rauchenberg
and John Cage would drop in on Sari and Pat for ground
chicken bones and spinach lunches. A very strongly opinionated
artist, Dienes constantly gave Pat lessons on art making
and on being an artist. During this time, John Lennon,
Yoko Ono and Dienes were doing earth-moving art happenings
on the Stony Point property. For one newly graduated with
a degree in Mathematics, Dennis knew these were interesting
and important beginnings, however, it would take many
years of living and being an artist to understand their
full impact.
Moving to Taos, New Mexico,
Pat studied for a year at the Taos School of Fine Arts,
a small art institution. She continued to paint and was
strongly drawn to the powerful work and person of Georgia
O’Keeffe. She also developed a strong working-artist
and personal relationship with Randy Lee White, a renowned
Native American artist. The gorgeous light, the high desert,
the incredible mountains and sky, the spirit of O’Keeffe
and the powerful people of Taos in the ‘7o’s
continue to do well today in the artist’s heart
and mind.
In 1979, the New York Feminist
Art Institute became another powerful opening for Dennis.
Twenty-eight women gathered from all over the globe to
investigate this thing called art with regard to mainstream
culture. Through processes that evoked rage and tears,
Pat and her sisters-in-art unearthed their individual
and collective power as artists.
At The Actors Institute
in NYC, the artist participated in classes and workshops
designed to enhance creativity. Here the artist gained
significant self-knowledge and insight into the power
of the truth, the speaking of truth, painting the truth
and being the truth. While attending the Institute, Pat
participated in founding the TAI Gallery at the Actor’s
Institute on 19th Street in New York City. During this
period, as well, she exhibited and sold artwork at the
Nelson Rockefeller Collection on 55th Street and at Leger
de Main Gallery at Lincoln Center.
As Pat explains, “Life
on the planet is very difficult, as is painting the ‘truth’,
whatever that may be in the moment.” The artist
continues…
Enjoy!
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