Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department Presents “The Big Book” By Gregory Dirr, December Artist In Residence. Explore Life’s Themes Through Colorful Paintings And Whimsical Scenes With Interactive Events Throughout Pompano
The City of Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department continues its Artists in Residence (AiR) program with December’s artist, Gregory Dirr. Known as an interdisciplinary visual artist who draws inspiration from fairy tales and the natural environment, his epic exhibit explores the themes of life with whimsical mixed media paintings. With events at various venues, Gregory will offer live painting, a printmaking workshop, Paint & Sip, and much more. The Rickie Report shares the details of Gregory’s events, some sneak peeks of his images, and information to become an AiR.
POMPANO BEACH CULTURAL AFFAIRS
DEPARTMENT
P R E S E N T S:
The Big Book
Artist In Residence:
G R E G O R Y D I R R
The exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public
Gregory Dirr
Bailey Contemporary Arts Center (BaCA) is proud to present The Big Book, an epic visual narrative by artist Gregory Dirr. The stunning exhibition explores the dualities of existential themes—love, evil, fear, death, birth. Through colorful paintings and other artistic mediums, this story is told through whimsical and chaotic scenes interpreted differently by a spectrum of recurring characters. The exhibition will be on display through March 21, 2023. Dirr, who is a member of BaCA’s Artist in Residence program (AiR), is the December Artist of the Month. In addition to The Big Book exhibition, there will also be an additional free reception during Old Town Untapped on the second floor of BaCA for Dirr’s exhibition, Anything and Everything from the Past. And in BaCA’s west gallery window, Dirr will be showcasing an installation entitled Kaleidoscope Fairies.
“We are honored to feature Gregory’s provocative and visually compelling compositions in this exhibition,” said Ty Tabing, Cultural Affairs Director. “He is an extremely talented artist whose creativity graces several public art projects, including a Painted Pompano sculpture decorated with his signature Celtic knots and a brilliantly colorful traffic box.” Utilizing a plethora of materials – from the repurposed wood of trees in his backyard, to ground up gemstones – Dirr focuses on ecologically sourcing materials. His work has been exhibited in art fairs such as Scope, published in numerous magazines, and collected by galleries and art buyers internationally. Gregory Dirr was awarded the Silver Key for Portfolio by The National Scholastic Art and Writing Alliance in 2004 and went on to graduate at Ringling College of Art and Design in 2008. While there, he produced many significant pieces winning the Best of Core and Best of Fine Arts awards. He has gone on to produce public art for numerous businesses and cities.
Known as an interdisciplinary visual artist who draws inspiration from fairy tales and the natural environment, Dirr’s The Big Book exhibition is characterized by differing media specific to each piece. Passionate about experimenting with new materials and processes, during his residency, Dirr plans to realize five large scale pieces for his passion works, which are process heavy and innovative. The theme of his planned work is centered around The Big Book. In addition to the events during Old Town Untapped, Dirr will be participating in several upcoming events.
GREGORY’S SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday, December 2 | Old Town Untapped
6 – 10 pm
Artwork by Gregory Dirr
December 8 | Live Painting At Taste of Jazz
7 – 8:30 pm
At
Bailey Contemporary Arts
41 NE 1st Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060
954-786-7879 • baileyarts.org
Wednesday,December 14 | Printmaking
1 – 3 pm
Pompano Beach Cultural Center Library
50 W Atlantic Blvd Pompano Beach, FL 33060
954-545-7800 • ccpompano.org
Artwork by Greggory Dirr
Thursday, December 22 | Paint & Sip
6 – 9 pm:
At
Bailey Contemporary Arts
41 NE 1st Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060
954-786-7879 • baileyarts.org
Wednesday, December 28 | Lunch And Art
12:15 – 1:15 pm
At
Bailey Contemporary Arts
41 NE 1st Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060
954-786-7879 • baileyarts.org
Artwork by Gregory Dirr
For more details, visit:
https://www.pompanobeacharts.org/baca/artists-in-residence/gregory-dirr
About the City of Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department:
The mission of the Cultural Affairs Department is to provide cultural programming that includes visual arts, digital media, music, film, theater, dance and public art for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors to Pompano Beach, Broward County, and the greater South Florida area. The department programs and manages the City’s premiere cultural arts venues including the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Ali Cultural Arts Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, and the Blanche Ely House Museum. The department also oversees the City’s Public Art Program and the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town grant awarded to the Pompano Beach Crossroads place-making arts initiative.
The City of Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department is delighted to relaunch its Artists in Residence (AiR) program at the historic Bailey Contemporary Arts Center (BaCA). The AiR Program provides artists with studio space to create new work, collaborate with fellow resident artists, and engage with our community.
Bailey Contemporary Arts Center (BaCA) is operated by the City of Pompano Beach’s Cultural Affairs Department (PBCAD) which annually seeks participants for its Artists in Residence Program (AiR). As part of this program, eight studios at BaCA are available to individual artists for a nine-month period from October – June. The 2023 -2024 residency will be available for application in April 2023. Through this residency, PBCAD strives to cultivate an environment where artists can craft their talents and enhance their experience through artistic development and experimentation. The residency’s structure is therefore left relatively open to cater to individuality, spontaneity and collaboration. BaCA should be considered a safe space where all art forms, intellectual and creative pursuits, methods of artistic investigation, and aesthetic inquiry are accepted, nurtured, and celebrated. A dynamic environment will be created through the AiR Program – one that appeals to onlookers and attracts locals and visitors alike to watch the creative process unfold and see the latest output.
https://www.pompanobeacharts.org/bailey/artists-in-residence
For more information:
Pompano Beach Cultural Center
50 W Atlantic Blvd Pompano Beach, FL 33060
954-545-7800 • ccpompano.org
Bailey Contemporary Arts Center
41 NE 1 Street Pompano Beach, FL 33060
954-786-7879 • baileyarts.org
Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department
50 W Atlantic Blvd Pompano Beach, FL 33060
954-545-7800 • pompanobeacharts.org
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