Category: Graphic

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.

Allegro (2022)

 

(2022) Allegro Poster, mural

 

Poster painted for a college friend’s dance school. When wild things happen and someone drives their car through the front of your dance school, on the fly signage must be created to let folks know you’re still open and operational during the repair/remodel. This poster’s overall length was 27’ wide, painted with acrylic paint on paper. My aim here was to have the dropshadow lay in a different direction for each letter. If you would like to commission a poster for any reason reach out to Ezra at: ezramdickinson@gmail.com

 

No Human is Illegal (2022)

 

(2022) No Human Is Illegal Poster

 

My response in poster form to the constant attacks from republican politicians against innocent humans fleaing genocide, political turmoil, and climate catastrophe. Arbitrary lines drawn on the earth are nothing, borders are fake and only used to hurt those with little or no power. The future does not have borders, we live on earth. We must care for all humans, especially those facing hardship. Posters painted with acrylic paint on paper, four sections, two at 2’x3’, and two at 7’x3’. As always if you would like to commission a poster, reach out to Ezra at: ezramdickinson@gmail.com

 

  

State of emergence (2021) film

(2021) film 

STATE OF EMERGENCE VIDEO
This is a short film created by Austin Wilson, produced with Overall Creative during the summer of 2020. Features John Richards, Kathleen Warren and the creation of murals by Barry Johnson and Ezra Dickinson. It is a look at the thoughts and messages behind the works, during the summer when everything was boarded up and artists began to paint in the streets.
Additionally works shown by Amaris O. Hamer, Vivid Matter Collective, Paulina Cholewinski, Crystal Barbre, Casey Weldon, Zach Rockstad, Anne Siems, Baso Fibonacci, Zach Takasawa, Robert Tardiff, Connor McPherson, Evann Strathern, Billie Avery. Music by the Polyrhythmics.

 

 

Photos Austin Wilson

AMONG US (2021)

(2021) poster

 

Poster painted and placed in Seattle. This work is 14’x7’. This location has been at the center of the recent ongoing protests/marches in response to the police murder of George Floyd. 

 

During the spring and summer of 2020, protesters held an occupation of the area around the police precinct/neighborhood. The local police precinct is directly across the street. The first poster $TATE OF EMERGENCY was speaking to the crisis declared in Washington state in regards to homlessness. This new poster is speaking to the need for safe and humain sites for individuals dealing with addiction, under the supervision of care workers offering support and resources to help folks find a new path towards an addiction-free life. In a broader sense both of these posters speak to the current state of humanity as we deal with the covid pandemic. 
In the constant rush of the everyday world, we may overlook the hardship that we as a society have endured not just for the last two years but more so as a way of life. The expectation that the act of living, keeping a roof over your head, feeding yourself, healthcare, education, all are things we must work to have. If you don’t want to, or for one reason or another you can’t, what are your options? How do we care for one another? How do we take care of our own mental health? I’m constantly asking myself these questions.

 

Daphne’s Quilt (2020)

(2020) baby quilt

 

I had already created a wedding quilt for Rainbow and Kris, it seemed only fitting to create a baby quilt for their new born child Daphne. For this asymmetrical quilt, I used Daphne’s namesake flower as source material. This seven color quilt was built piece by piece, then temporarily affixed with fabric adhesive before being sewn down. Approximate dimensions are 4’x4’.

 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE (2020)

(2020) Commissioned public art mural. Life on Mars, Seattle WA. 

 

This mural was organized by Overall Creative, who sourced five muralists that worked to paint one of four walls on the facade of record store and eatery, Life on Mars. This work was a response to both the smashing of Life on Mars’ window and a public service message of support during the covid crisis. Part owner of Life on Mars/KEXP DJ John Richards spoke the words “you are not alone” while broadcasting during Covid-19. Photography by Austin Wilson.

 

This mural was also featured in Viral Murals. Published by Chatwin Books, 2020.

Walk with us (2020)

(2020) painted banner

 

I felt compelled to respond to the conflicts between Black Lives Matters marchers and the violent provocations of the police. Inspired by seeing a few police officers in different cities choosing to walk with demonstrators as they marched. I aimed to tell Seattle Police officers to embrace the community and its vulnerabilities, stand up for the underserved, walk with us and choose to hear the voices of the people.

 

Oskar’s Card (2020)

(2020) hand made card gift

 

Created for a friend’s young child as a pick-me-up while they worked through health issues. There’s nothing quite like the tug of a friend telling you in honesty how hard of a time their kid is having dealing with health issues, and how much of a trooper they are through it all. This is the fuel that births unprovoked gifts, little ways of saying I know life is tough but you rock!

 

Bowls of Words (2019-present)

(2019-present) Ongoing project of ceramic bowls

 

One thing that has always attracted me to pottery is the potential permanence that clay possesses. In the first stage, I threw, fired and glazed thirtythree soup bowls, decorated with one of three phrases ( I WAS BORN A WOMAN, IT IS A SERIOUS THING JUST TO BE, MASTERS WERE FEARFUL) I felt spoke of who we are as a society at this time. Inspired by ancient texts, ceramic law cones and the discovery of these artifacts in modern day. With these Bowls of Words I aim to create a document that could be discovered in the future by another civilization. 

 

 

For 2020 I threw over 100 bowls, some porcelain, some terracotta, with the three phrases ( I LOVE YOU, WE ARE ANIMALS, FREE THE FUTURE). Also see, Bowls for Sale.

 

For 2021 I chose the three phrases, SPACE ANNIHILATORS, YOU AND I ARE EARTH, and TIME IS MEMORY. Here’s a little explanation of the three phrases: SPACE ANNIHILATORS, in reference to humans, comes from Paramahansa Yogananda; YOU AND I ARE EARTH, was written on a plate discovered in the sewer of England also accompanied by the date of 1661; and TIME IS MEMORY, is the creative mantra of my good friend. Bowls for Sale

 

For 2022 the three phrases I chose were, NADIE ES ILEGAL, GIVE TAKE, and MOONAGE DAYDREAM. With each bowl I’m planting a seed that looks to grow into a future revelation about who we are at this time. Someone or something may unearth a broken piece or an intact bowl in an archaeological dig, and learn about humans of the 21st century. I also like the idea of inanimate objects having a voice, kind of beautiful I think.

I chose these words because I feel that we have a lot to learn about how to be kind humans. We have allowed artificial lines to be drawn, we give power to “leaders” who capitalize on these imaginary lines to demonize people fleeing climate catastrophe, and political upheaval. NADIE ES ILEGAL, no one is illegal. 

GIVE TAKE can be applied in so many ways in our lives. I specifically left out the more traditional & in the middle because I wanted to make plain my interest in the act of giving and taking. 

What do you think of when you imagine a MOONAGE DAYDREAM? David Bowie’s iconic title on an iconic album is just the beginning. MOONAGE DAYDREAM feels like a limitless possibility in my imagination. Bowls for Sale

 

For 2023 I added in a few new phrases, WHATEVER, QUESTION EVERYTHING, and THEY WERE LIKE GODS. I took a look back at past phrases that still feel present to me and mixed in a few new fonts. Alongside this work I also made time to explore more complicated ideas and possibilities with big bowls and the layering of text and designs. I’m thinking for 2024 I want to continue to broaden this big bowl project in two ways, collaborating with living writers to capture words that speak to our current state of humanity, and to share my own personal truths about familial relationships. I make this work from the stance of creating bowls that both serve the use of vessels and as a voice in the future. Bowls for sale.