Interview - Dallas Kelliher

The Artist as Person

Dallas is an only child, from here. He moved home (his words) from New York City. Comic books, writing, and music are a few of his hobbies. He plays keys (very well) in the local band, Young Yeller. By day, he works at a Montessori school caring for babies. Dallas found a serious love for comic books at an early age. They taught him about art, and he gained much of his aesthetic from them. Specifically, Alan Moore’s work is a huge inspiration. Sophomore year in college he started drawing. Through his English major, he gained meaningful, inspiring symbolic content. Dallas paints because he is not good with words or feelings, it’s a compulsion.

THE END (not of this article)

Rather, that is Dallas’s tag. He calls his work benign apocalyptic. Meaning - the worst things that can happen, do happen, but it’ll be alright. Much of his work draws on the occult, sorcery, and mythology. Sorcery, according to him, is to take an idea, channel it through yourself and affect something, a conduit.
This definition is apt as it is also one of the key definitions of what art is or at least should strive to be. There are definitive cubistic tendencies in his paintings, with strong references to Picasso. Yet simultaneously, and almost impossibly, he shows allusions to the surrealism masters, namely Miro.

Many will also notice stylistic aspects of art deco in Dallas’s art. Some of his work is reminiscent of old circus posters and the art nouveau style as evidenced by arched tops and small pop-up boxes in the lower corners of his images. His media and technique of choice is fine paper and ink wash.

While in New York, Dallas developed a strong interest in painting buildings, which can be seen in many of his paintings. When asked about his use of and thoughts on color, Dallas said that black and white are key and that he tends to put black lines around everything.His use of negative space, via blank paper/ canvas or white paint, is remarkable.

Dallas also screen prints on a very nice homemade rig. His is passionate about printing to the extent that he converted his downstairs restroom into a dedicated dark room for making his screens. He prints for local events and bands, including the Mississippi Hot Club. According to him, screen printing is important because it makes art accessible to all.

 

The Questions

Josh Arbit (JA): Why do you make art?
Dallas Kelliher (DK): I am compelled to. I’m naturally creative and have a lot of ideas. I’m compelled to realize images that come to me. By putting them to paper, I don’t have to think about them anymore. It’s a lot like taking a ****.

JA: Why does art matter? Why is it important to support local artists by going to shows, buying their art, etc.?
DK: Because it lets you create your own dream world…literally, your dreams. Owning a piece of art…you become part of it, it becomes part of you. It becomes part of your internal lexicon, part of language…your dreamscapes. If you can’t afford it, buy a print. Though it’s very deep and personal, it lets me transmit my feelings. If some likes my art, if they want to buy it, they like me. This is the reparation for the wound, the narcissistic injury.

JA: What do you like most about the MPLS art scene?
DK: I moved back 4 years ago. [Minneapolis] has a great appreciation for screen printing. There is place for everyone, a room for everyone, there are outlets everywhere. The opportunities are endless – bar and coffee shop walls, for example. Minneapolis loves art. There is not room for you in NYC. Living there is artistic, one does not need to generate there.

JA: What do you like least about the MPLS art scene?
DK: It doesn't get the credit it deserves elsewhere. Artists here are very developed and they don’t get enough credit elsewhere. Art is not about getting better faster. Adversity builds you. You grow faster as a person this way and your content is driven by that.

Dallas’s work can be found on his Tumblr page, http://kelliherdm.tumblr.com. He can be contacted at maxwellkelliher --at-- gmail.com.

-- Josh Arbit