Artwork

WHO’S OFFENDED (2025)

(2025) WHO’S OFFENDED SOLO SHOW by EZRA DICKINSON

 

Opening reception July 11   @ Base Camp 2   1901 3rd AVE Seattle WA 98101  Dates July 11-Aug 31

 

Performances will happen on Belltown art walk evenings.

With additional happenings revealed during the opening party. 

 

New works. Mixed media and performance. Huge works on paper, vinyl collage, ceramic sculpture, film, cardboard sculpture. 

 

Artist statement on exhibition:

As a young child (probably 6 or 7) I remember thinking to myself that the world we are born into was damn shitty. I was surprised that the “grownups” would seemingly do so little to ensure each and everyone had what they needed to live and be happy. Growing up poor, these inequalities were all the more obvious as they would be confronted by myself or family on a daily basis. This exhibition is framed in the voice of the underserved, overlooked and the forgotten. This collection of statements stand as truths–factual alongside emotional responses–they may not be ones you want to hear or think about, but they are at the root of rot in this country and across our planet.

The works on paper come from years of creating messages for the street and public consumption. It is my intention to invite any people who have access to offer up locations for these paper works to be placed out in the streets.

 

The art work has been generated with the aim of recycling old materials. Scap adhesive vinyl, latex paint, cardboard, all repurposed into the works on display. The space to create over the past two years has been donated: thank you to Punk Rock Flea Market, Nii Modo, The Bemis Building, Cannonball Arts, The Muckleshoot Tribe, and Degenerate Art Ensemble. 

 

The content of this show centers on police violence, bigotry, lack of concern for human life, greed, corruption, incarceration, and the glorification of war, amongst feelings of distress, frustration, and injustice. Who’s Offended might not be suitable for sensitive audiences (language) parental discretion is advised. 

 



Bowls for sale (2020-Present)

(2024) Ongoing project, ceramic bowls of words.

 

Over the course of each year I create medium sized bowls decorated with words. I hand cut all typeface used with these bowls. These words have relationships to humanity’s current struggles, speak with the voice of an inanimate object, attempt to not be motivational or aspirational, offering a future reader a window into who humans were in the 21st century. I’m always inspired by the possible permanence that pottery possesses, a bowl could last for hundreds if not thousands of years. We continue to learn about past civilizations from dug up pieces of pottery, stone and metal. I like to imagine that these bowls of words might speak for us far off in the future. Each bowl is fired to cone 5 (mid range), is dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe. Each bowl is thrown individually so sizes vary slightly 5-6″ wide, 2-4″ tall, additionally each phrase is placed individually, so each piece is different in its own way. Looking for a larger bowl? Check out Big Bowls. I am always accepting commissions, if you would like custom words send me an email at: ezramdickinson@gmail.com

 

BIG BOWLS (2022-present)

(2022) Ongoing project, big ceramic bowls of words.

 

Big ceramic bowls of words, allows for the text to capture a larger idea or sentiment. Turning the act of reading the text on a big bowl into a physical performance of sorts, or a puzzle if you like. Words and quotes that deserve a chance at imortality, a chance to speak for humanity far off in the future. As always if you would like to commission a custom phrase, contact ezra at: ezramdickinson@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artville (2023)

(2023) Artville Residency 

 

For the month of September I was in residence at Artville, in the town of Leadville CO. This is time and space for me to detach from my normal routines and activities. Letting rest be front of mind, while away from my home. These are my overarching thoughts while there. Taking more time to see what’s around me, “don’t rush, everything will find its place”.

 

Drawing points of interest in the town of Leadville. I am so happy to sit and draw a location for hours. Watching the town go by, making choices about the shapes my hand is creating with the pen. I really do like this place (Leadville) it’s a strange mixture of old and welcoming.

 

While in Leadville Groucho and I created a public sculpture for the community farm. While one must witness this sculpture in person to experience its proposed powers. We named this creation the Intergalactic Squire Portal. 

 

I didn’t walk as much this time and that was just fine. Surrounded by the mountains I can’t stop staring at the outline of the peaks, the snow hiding in the shadows until the sun finally melts it, and then another storm walks through. I want to be in Leadville for the winter one of these years, I know it will be far more than I actually want in regards to snow and cold. I just want it to snow as hard as it can, and keep snowing for months.



Noisy Waters mural (2023)

(2023) Noisy Waters mural

 

Back in my hometown of Bellingham, for the first annual Noisey Waters Mural festival. Three days to meet new friends, and paint in the sun. I have never officially participated in a mural festival before, this was a fun new experience and a great opportunity to meet painters from near and far. So very interesting to see how each artist goes about creating large scale works.

 



FREE THE YOUTH (2023)

(2023) cardboard sculpture, performance and film

 

Let me preface this by saying, youth incarceration is a mistake made by a society that has lost its ability to properly care for its youngest citizens. In my experience American incarceration aims at nothing more than to punish, no real path to rehabilitation is ever encouraged, only creating comradery between those who have similar convictions sharing how to be a better criminal upon release. I’m pretty skeptical generally of locking anyone in a box and keeping them there, its even more obvious that locking a child in a box is just another form of torture. A trauma that we as a country continue to live through the results of on a daily basis. I constructed these 88” tall, 24” wide, 10” deep cardboard letters. Made entirely from recycled cardboard, wood glue, and recycled paint. The Degenerate Art Ensemble gave me space to construct March of 2023. I then organized a small parade to transport the letters to a new space provided by Nii Modo where they could be painted. Over the next three months the letters received a paint job, and the final parade was organized and executed. Involving the community in the paradeing of these letters to their final resting location outside the youth detention center in Seattle was a very satisfying conclusion to this journey. The final stage of the parade was attended by a writer (Claude Souvenir) capturing the reactions of the public to our FREE THE YOUTH walk.

 

Notes on a Procession. By Claude Souvenir

 

Concept, build, and direction by Ezra Dickinson

Sound Composed by WIZDUMB

Edited by Doug Arney

This project made possible with support from Degenerate Art Ensemble, Punk Rock Flea Market/NII MODO, Benjamin, Anthony, Dani, Nahaan, Maia, Hannah, Jodi, Paul, Aubry, Kristen, VK, Mandy, Cash, Shawn, Kaleb, Mallory, Jeffery, Victoria, Daniel, and Alison.

 

 

Photo: Anthony Rigano

Photo: Anthony Rigano

Photo: Anthony Rigano

LAND BACK (2023)

(2023) Mural Indiginous resistance

 

The landscape of art in the northwest is complicated, and all that complication sits on the truth that this land is stolen. I am an adopted killer whale, with my Tlingit family we create to heal, we create together to teach each other, we sing and dance to heal our traditions, we connect with our ancestors through this practice. I am finding new life in learning through this, I am reckoning with my white self as I have been adopted and welcomed into indigenous culture. I am living a conflict, and it’s quite wild just as it should be.

 

Valpo Painting (2023)

(2023) Valpariso Chile, mural painting

 

As a celebration of my fortieth year I was invited by two friends to check out a very special city in Chile named Valparaiso. Selected as a UNESCO world heritage site for the role graffiti, street art and murals has played in recent and past revolutions. I truly appreciate the chance to get outside of my comfort zone, being so far from home and wrapped in Chilean cultural richness. Finding a pace to fit in amongst all the creativity took a few days to make itself clear to us. Once we had our plan the community welcomed us. Learning language in a methodical way, my friends and I spent all possible time painting in the streets. Connecting with and making new friends happens naturally when you are the entertainment in real time. Living amongst a people and culture that values public art is a shock to the sences coming from the limitations of the US.

Artville Residency (2022)

(2022) Artville Residency, CT Walk, Library Mural

 

I returned to Leadville again this year to spend September at Artville. This time my intention was to do some good solid thinking, and walk the Colorado Trail as much as could be accomplished given how my body coped with the task. Walking from Copper Mountain to Cottonwood Pass, approximately 90 miles, over the course of nine days, with a total ascent of 16,700 ft, and descent of 13,800 ft, was as much as I could handle. I was accompanied and guided by my friend and experienced through hiker Groucho, and the dog Bo Jackson. Along the walk there were many moments of peace, beauty, extremes, time in a geologic sense, stars, and the ache of my IT bands which I learned I need to stretch out quite a lot more if I’m going to go on longer walks like this in the future. I have known for some time that I very much love walking, and I am slowly learning that I very much like walking long trails in nature. As always the tiny community of Leadville is a joy in its weird beauty, the more time I spend there the more I feel a part of the community, and I’m thankful for this.

 

 

In between walking on the CT and resting, I had the opportunity to paint a mural at the Leadville Library with my walking companion Groucho. We chose an apt quote from Groucho Marx, “Outside of a dog a book is man’s best friend, inside of a dog it’s too dark to read”, it’s always an honor to leave art works in locations far from one’s usual stomping grounds.

 

I always try to do a few drawings of the places I find myself at, here is a drawing of the main street in Leadville.

Gallery Bunkawitz (2022)

(2022) Gallery Bukawitz

 

In memory of a great cat (Bunkawitz) Seattle’s tiniest gallery has been formed. Curated by Danielle Blackwell, Tim Fowler and myself Ezra Dickinson, we aim to give our neighborhood and anyone who wonders by a little taste of the creations regularly being made here at our home. New exhibits every two months, starting September 2022. You can follow Gallery Bunkawitz on instagram @gallery_bunkawitz