Dorothy Graden Artist

 

ARTIST STATEMENT

Connection has always been at the core of my journey, guiding me to explore what lies beneath the surface. Growing up in Gary, IN, I was fascinated by the cultural diversity and the sense of community between immigrants, natives, and passers-through. I would collect old boards from alleyways, transforming them into art, inspired by the graffiti I saw on buildings and bridges. Spirals, dots, and zigzags became central components of my creations.

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As an educator for 20 years, I shared the richness of our multicultural world with my kindergarten students and witnessed the universal need for creativity and self-expression, even in the most uninhibited young minds.

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My art is objective and layered, drawing from the textures and colors of the earth and sea, as well as the ebb and flow of time and space. My travels across the U.S. Southwest, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America have deepened my understanding of cultural symbols and artistic traditions. I’ve sought to learn from local communities, exploring the common threads in symbols, shapes, and colors from both modern and ancient pieces. Diving beneath the waves in the Caribbean, I observed the natural art of the ocean and the interconnectedness of species with their environment.

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Through my work, I strive to convey shared visions and themes that have always tied humans, animals, and nature together. My hope is that the art I create contributes to the tapestry of connection and storytelling that unites us all.

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BIO

Dorothy grew up in the diversity-rich midwest city of Gary, Indiana, where the vibrant local art scene and the mix of cultures became some of her earliest sources of inspiration. Throughout her twenty-year teaching career, she nurtured a love for visual storytelling, recognizing and encouraging the inherent creativity present in all human expression.

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Her passion for travel has taken her across the Southwestern United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Along the way, she became captivated by the traditions and art of local communities, classical artists, and ancient cultures, as well as the vivid landscapes and colors of both land and sea.

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Dorothy’s powerful body of work is infused with these experiences, incorporating the textures, hues, and layers of time and space. Each painting tells multiple stories within the whole that compels the viewer to interpret and wonder what inspired its creation. Her art explores the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the earth, highlighting the timeless bonds that unite us all.