Ezra Dickinson Dance, Art, & Performance

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

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

Button Blanket (2022)

(2022) Button Blanket, sewn regalia

In 2020 along with the naming ceremony of Kaaseiyi I was formally adopted by the Killer Whale house of the Tlingit tribe. I was given the name of Yaanax loosely meaning, meticulous with space. I was adopted by one of my oldest friends Nahaan, someone who I have called my brother for years. The adoption in retrospect makes sense, but at the time came as quite a surprise to me. These are photos showing work on my button blanket, regalia used for celebrations, ceremonies and dancing. This killer whale design was gifted to me by Nahaan. As time goes by I will decorate this blanket with buttons, and beads.

Puzzel Luchador (2017)

(2017) Visual art mask.

Luchador mask created for Urban Artworks 2nd Annual Benefit Auction. Made from the trimmed, hole punched petals of the Monkey Puzzle Tree. Spray painted chrome gold, brass chrome and hand sewn to create the look of armor.

Photo Danielle Blackwell

YENOM WEN (2017)

(2017) Installation by The New Mystics collective, CoCA, Seattle WA.

For this commissioned work, the New Mystics sourced discarded clothing from the streets of Seattle, and mirrors from craigslist. We fabricated black mirror letters that mounted to the wall and created all needed hardware. We glass etched the mirrors, and created a reflected point of observance revealing our collective question to the city. YENOM WEN NEW MONEY, what will Seattle do with the influx of cash, will a more equitable culture be ushered in or will tech destroy the last grasps of anything cool or derelict, full of character and creativity. This show navigated the space between being complicit in the current homeless struggle and reflecting on one’s disconnection between detritus and desire. We ask the question, what role will philanthropy play in this new frontier?

Public Action (2017)

(2017) Commissioned public art sculpture, Velocity 2. Seattle WA

Speaking to the needs of our city and region. Expressing thoughts that have to be seen, heard and acted upon. A sense of permission emerges as one contributes clear messages into the public realm. We must do better to support the most vulnerable among us, we must recognize factually the displacement taking place in this area. We can not stand idly by as this effects all of us. Cardboard letters created with the help of artists Angel179 and NKO, approximate size 20′ by 20′.

HUMANITY (2016)

(2016) Spontaneous public installation, Seattle.

Three dimensional cardboard letters, painted with acrylic paint. Humanity is shown left out in the rain to be reclaimed by nature or possibly a timely passerby.

Becia Orix (2016)

(2016) Ceramic Sculpture.

This piece has been quite a long time in the making. The investigation began with building a cardboard armature to provide a foundation for slabs of clay to be placed on. Upon drying I realized that even though the cardboard had been essentially tenderized, it was still to rigid for the clay in its drying process, and thus was making the clay crack. After four attempts of trying to tweak different things in the hopes of making the drying process not result in cracks of various sizes. I decided to pull the armature out after a day of drying, when I did this I was able to get the piece to dry with out cracking. Then began an unintentionally long glazing process, time and life took over and only a little bit of color could be added each week. Hand Built, low fire, underglaze with over glaze and wax resist. Approximate dimensions 14″x13″x6″.

Tiny Home (2015)

(2015) Center on Contemporary Art Un[contained] Residency, Seattle

I had recently been in the Bay Area performing and was struck by the tiny movable homes taking up no more than a parking space, I saw lining the streets in West Oakland. Upon learning I had been awarded this residency, I felt compelled to explore these movable tiny houses for myself, as I had not seen anything of this sort in the Northwest despite rampant homlessness.

Using salvaged wood in tandem with other recycled/donated resources, I created a portable living space. By painting the exterior of the structure I aimed to make this home command the attention of those who would rather choose to ignore the state of homelessness and displacement in our area. The home acts as a billboard, stating in the most matter of fact way the basic necessity of having a roof over one’s head. Voicing through words the needed legislative action of RENT CONTROL to help create sensible affordable homes for those in need.

I can’t help but notice the increase in the past ten years of people living on the streets in Seattle, especially in the last three years. Can this temporary home be a sense of pride for the inhabitant? Could this action open the eyes of developers?

Mother Mask (2012)

(2012) mask created for Mother for you I made this performance.

I only have a few images of my mother taken within the last ten years. When I imagined creating a mask of my mother I found myself feeling lucky to have this image as my only and best photo. I have the color original. In a progression of performative ideas, I xeroxed the color into only black and white. My first use of the xerox’d photo of my mother was for a Ten Tiny performance, for this performance I made a dress out of 80 copies of my mother’s face.

For this mother mask, I gave myself the task of finding a store bought mask that had the same expression as my mother in this photo. Taking multiple copies I began to recreate my mother’s face overlaid on the preexisting mask (of Hillary Clinton).

My mother has a healthy fear of the government that is amplified by her imbalance. I thought it was a poetic gesture with a mother’s son portraying her face skin deep over Hillary, walking the streets searching for the last few ferries among the cement of the big city.

Photo Anthony Rigano

Photo Tim Summers

Category: Sculpture