NEWS
LightLab | Phosphor
It Glows with Otherly Light! I’ve wired up several alternate-spectrum emitters for LightLab | Phosphor tonight. You will not believe your eyes, I didn’t! See these colors pop, casting oddly-toned shadows, and luminescing! We’ll explore vintage and scientific glass,...
October | Seeing First
Join me for an energetic reset October First in my studio. A full session Crystal Seeing utilizes the quartz crystal ball, and multiple divination tools from my personal collection of minerals, metals, cards, books, and miscellaneous wonders. Using a quartz crystal...
Seeing Each Other | Northern Illinois University
On The Wall is installed at Northern Illinois University Art Museum for, Seeing Each Other : Portraits in Time and Place. Public reception September 12th 5-7pm Show dates August 27 - October 19 2024 On The Wall is included in this wonderful group show, curated by the...
Silver Seed | Mana Group Show 2024
Dana's newest light art installation, Silver Seed is installed at Mana Contemporary's group show! Saturday April 13th, 12:00 pm- 4:00 pm on the 2nd floor of Mana Contemporary, 2233 S Throop Street Chicago IL. Dana will inviting guests into her studio during this time....
Chicago Art Department | May 2022
Expo | April 2022
Crystal Seeing EXPO Vernissage with 6018|North
I am pleased to announce that I will be performing Crystal Seeing this Thursday, Sept. 19, from 4:00 - 9:00pm at EXPO 2019 Vernissage as part of the 6018|North Justice Hotel Project. I’ll be in the Sanctuary, booth P11. I hope to see you there! ...
Teaching Installation at SAIC
I am pleased to be teaching Installation in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Sculpture Department beginning September 2016.
ACTIVATE | Loop Alliance October Alley
Activate! Chicago is a new initiative from the City of Chicago in partnership with Latent Design that transforms underutilized public plazas in cultural and economic catalysts. This is a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces....
Bell Tower invited to stay at 6018North
Bell Tower illuminates the room cavity above the entry vestibule of 6018North, Tricia Van Eck's deconstructed building at 6018 North Kenmore. Bell Tower was produced for the show Its Elemental (sic), and has been invited to inhabit the space indefinitely wire,...
Thaw X | March 10 | Featured Artist
March is gonna' rock! Get your tickets to THAW X, the 10th Annual Link's Hall Benefit Party at Salvage One! This is a one-of-a-kind night of performances by some of Chicago's most innovative artists. I'm bringing a raucous Light Matrix and Crystal Seeing. Ticket link:...
Dana Major | Spring 2016 | Shows and Events
February 14 | Valentine's Day Crystal Seeing | 6018North Valentine's Day Crystal Seeing and Brunch at 6018North's Chapel and Its Elemental. In addition to having your inner light read, on request, in Crystal Seeing, you can reflect in Rodrigo Lara's Chapel, CV...
Private Collector Home Installation
Recent installation in gorgeous home of Elmhurst Private collector. Light and optic installation transforms long, tall eating hall into Optical Shadow Matrix with the flip of a switch Collector provided stunning antique Argentinian Soda...
First Friday Seeing | December
Open Studio and Crystal Seeing Friday, December 4, 5:30 - 9:00 New Illuminated Sculpture | Crystal Seeing on request Mana Contemporary Studio 421 2233 S. Throop St. Chicago location specifics: Brightly lit door to Mana is located on East side of building, far inside...
Day of the Dead | Crystal Seeing at 6018North
Crystal Seeing for Day of the Dead performative evening - Me moría - curated by Tricia Van Eck November 1, 2015 | 6018North
Snapshots of Open Studio weekend 10.3 -10.4.2015
I have recently done 3 shows with curator Tricia Van Eck: Front & Center at the Hyde Park Art Center; EXPO, and Its Elemental at 6018North. Tricia brings out the best in my work- newest pieces, in the studio now: ...
Crystal Seeing named Expo highlight by Chicago Magazine
Thank you Chicago Magazine! http://www.chicagomag.com/arts-culture/September-2015/Critics-Guide-to-EXPO-Chicago/
September is for Seeing!
I'm pleased and honored to be part of these September shows and events at the Hyde Park Art Center and EXPO Chicago Front & Center Hyde Park Art Center Opening Reception, Sunday, September 13, 3:00 - 5:00 pm I am honored to be part of the 2015 Center Program final...
Fortune First Friday | June
Join me this Friday, June 5, 5:00 - 9:00 pm Fortune First Friday | Dana Major Open Studio Photons wrangled to New Sculpture, and Fortune Seeing, on request. Mana Contemporary Chicago | Studio 421 location specifics: Brightly lit door to Mana is located on East side of...
Fortune First Friday | May 2015
Fortune First Friday Dana Major Open Studio Friday, May 1, 5-9 pm New sketches in photons, lenses, and wire for upcoming installation Fortune Seeing on request Mana Contemporary Chicago Studio 421 2233 S. Throop St. location specifics: Bright...
Fortune First Friday | April 2015
Fortune First Friday gaining huge momentum! First two events packed all evening: great crowd, great convo, great fortunes! Please join me Friday, April 3, 5:00 - 9:00 pm New Illuminated Sculptures, and Fortune Readings on Request Mana Contemporary Studio 421 2233 S....
Friday March 6 | Fortune First Friday
location specifics: Mana Contemporary entrance is on the East side of the building in the parking lot located at the corner of Allport and Cermak. Turn South after the Steak - n Egger. We doze but we never close.
Fortune First Friday is launched!
Pictures from this weekend's inaugural Fortune First Friday Open Studio and Fortune Readings Thanks to the many of you who visited, and to those 30 or 35 who requested Fortune Readings on Friday Feb 6 and at Mana's Open House Sunday Feb 8 2015. Thanks...
wake up, sleeping news post…
Join me this weekend for two open studio events! Friday, Feb 6, 5-9 pm Sunday Feb 8, 1-4 pm both events feature new illuminated sculptures and brief, in-studio fortune readings on request
Pics from Summer Open Studio
For this experimental studio installation at the Mana Open Studio Event, June 22, 2014, I caught optical lightfall on large, soft panels, making a walk-through environment with translucent walls. In the fall I'll examine these individual segments as sculptures....
Studio Snapshots
Fleeting shadows, seen in the course of making the matrixes
Event Pics Threewalls Starwalker Fortune Matrix
I meditated, built a matrix of shadow and light, and told fortunes inside it for Threewalls VIP guests at the recent Starwalker Gala. I was supposed to close at 9:00 pm but they kept coming for fortunes until 1:47 a.m.! pics from Threewalls' Starwalker Fortune...
Mana Contemporary Open Studio Event June 22nd
starwalking fortune matrix
I saw these in my studio while making the features of last weekend's installation.
Starwalker Fortune Matrix
Thrilled to present Starwalker Fortune Matrix this Saturday for Threewalls VIP gala guests! I'm meditating...and installing lights ...
microscopy correspondence
Moving forward in my optics work, I am privileged to access my 7+ year correspondence with the Director of the Georgia State University microscopy lab in Atlanta, author, artist, and microscopist, Dr. Robert Simmons, PhD. This ongoing professional correspondence...
Studio Snaps | new optics experiments
new optic work is so exciting that I haven't looked up to post in a while. I can't tell you what I am doing yet, but I can share these phone snaps! This work will debut at Mana Contemporary Chicago's Spring Open Studio Event on Sunday June 22. Stay tuned for...
new optics … and they look like old drawings
working with sunlight and optics last week brought these lightfalls that, I noticed, look like 2010 graphite drawings. lightfall 4/22/14 drawing early 2010 ...
new optics sketches
The optic work resumed, a bit on its own, as soon I could straighten my arm. Something's on it's way... optic sketches using sunlight
broken elbow update
All is going great in the home stretch of healing. I have no cast, and am restored to full mobility, with close to zero pain. soon good as new.
Artist Talk at Elmhurst Art Museum
Join me Friday Mar 14 at the Elmhurst Art Museum at 6:30 for my artist talk about Shadow Matrix | thing no thing installed for the current show, SpotLight, curated by Staci Boris.
Looks Like
I can’t sculpt, can’t climb the scaffold, or twist the wire, or hold the fragile optic with only one hand, on account of my bum left arm and wrist. But I can type one-handed. Let me take this opportunity to type, one-handed from the studio, beginning with a photo...
gave up left hand for lent
In an embarrassing, public, reading-while-walking debacle, I broke my left elbow Thursday morning. Here's to a few weeks of one-handed and no-handed art!
optical shadows
cast on the studio wall today, 7' tall
tripod photography of optical experiments
Proper tripod camera photography better represents what the eye sees in the room with these optical experiments. These are one white light source, one transparent glass optic (a West Virginia juice glass and a candle votive acquired by eBay from a London pub), and...
New photography of Shadow Matrix | thing no thing
Shadow Matrix | thing no thing is part of SpotLight now through April 27, 2014 at the Elmhurst Art Museum[Best_Wordpress_Gallery gallery_type="thumbnails" theme_id="1" gallery_id="17" sort_by="order" order_by="asc" show_search_box="0" search_box_width="180"...
Shadow Matrix | Optic Experiment 2
Shadow Matrix | Optic Experiment 1
Way too late to write anything, but take a look at this, see more on Saturday at Mana Contemporary 5-8 one little light, and one optic
Sneak Peek at Saturday’s Open Studio
Optics, Shadows and Light Studio Experiments [Best_Wordpress_Gallery gallery_type="thumbnails" theme_id="1" gallery_id="12" sort_by="order" order_by="asc" show_search_box="0" search_box_width="180" image_column_number="5" images_per_page="30" image_title="none"...
Elmhurst Library Case Installation
Shadow Matrix | shadow box is the smallest Shadow Matrix installation I've done: in a glass case at the truly fabulous Elmhurst Public Library, for SpotLight, currently showing at the Elmhurst Art Museum. Definitely an installation and not just a piece - accommodating...
SpotLight Opening Reception Snapshots!
Snapshots of Shadow Matrix thing no thing at last night's opening of SpotLight at the Elmhurst Art Museum thing no thing occupies a room that measures 27' x 12' with a 25' ceiling aluminum mesh, wire, LED light, shadows, variety of glass optics, and paint Photos by...
Installation snapshots
almost finished, and savoring the home stretch. See you this Friday for the opening reception of SpotLight at the Elmhurst Art Museum Some of my favorite features of this installation: the spectacular work of the other artists, the building's 25' ceiling, and my 8...
Installation snapshots: EAM
Snapshots from the first days of installation
SpotLight: final studio prep
This Thursday I begin installing a Shadow Matrix for the SpotLight show at the Elmhurst Art Museum. I'm honored to be part of this show, and glad to report good juju in the studio.
studio dec 19 13
experiment snapshot
fun with photons
studio experiments
quick studies in light and shadow - today's studio experiment aluminum mesh, steel wire, LED light, shadow, glass by Jess Wainer, colored pencil, paint object 27" x 23" x 19" shadow 12' x 18' x 19"
GSU pics are in!
Gorgeous professional photography by Cindy Trim of the Shadow Matrix I created for Governor's State University Gallery's Ways of Making: Installation Art at GSU. Curated by Jeff Stevenson, the show also features the stunning work of Barbara Hashimoto, and a rotating...
GSU Installation snapshots
I just completed this installation in the beautiful Governor's State University Gallery for Ways of Making: Installation Art at GSU. Curated by Jeff Stevenson, the show also features the stunning work of Barbara Hashimoto, and a rotating installation by the students...
Installation for the Noyes Cultural Arts Center
I spent the week installing at the gorgeous Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston, IL. Sharing pics and notes on the installation! Several weeks ago, before fabrication, I spied the installation in this cobweb and in the scatter-order that approaches organic...
Opening reception at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center
Snapshots from the lovely opening reception of Metamorphosis at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, Evanston, IL Thank You's to curators Barbara Blades and Beth Hart, the amazing Jhenai Mootz, and the Noyes staff, tenants, and building!
Final photography of Noyes Installation
Tangled up in blue, installed at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston, IL now until October 30, 2013. Taken by fabulous photographer Cindy Trim Every installation has its real-life aspects, and Tangled up in blue was situated with a fire emergency light that...
Noyes Cultural Arts Center Installation Begins Today!
Today I begin to install a Shadow Matrix for Metamorphosis at the NOYES CULTURAL ARTS CENTER. Opening reception September 22nd - Stay tuned! ABOUT THE EVENT: The Noyes Art Gallery is located on both the first and second floor of the Noyes Cultural Arts...
Lightsense installation ‘I’ll Tell You Tomorrow’
One of the most exciting shows I've been part of, Lightsense, an exhibition of light, art, and technology, curated by Sergio Gomez, opened last Friday at the Zhou Brothers Art Center. Here are photos of my installation, a Shadow Matrix called 'I'll Tell You...
Shadow Matrix Evolution, summer 2013
Shadow Matrix Evolution, Summer 2013 is a continuously changing, walk-through, interactive installation of light and shadow. Artist Dana Major uses LED technology to cast an immersive, responsive shadow environment through woven metal sculptures. Shadow Matrix...
Flashlights
Fern Room Pond Installation
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery gallery_type="thumbnails" theme_id="1" gallery_id="14" sort_by="order" order_by="asc" show_search_box="0" search_box_width="180" image_column_number="5" images_per_page="30" image_title="none" image_enable_page="1" thumb_width="180"...