Today we’d like to introduce you to Dolan Geiman.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in a house built in the late 1700s. A former Civil War hospital and dance hall surrounded by 17 acres of farmland, woods, and creek, it laid the foundation for a career and portfolio fueled by nature, nostalgia, and storytelling. My father worked for the USDA Forest Service in the summers between teaching, so our family moved to a cabin in the woods each summer. Days-filled with outdoor exploration as a child carry-forth in my love to ramble along back-roads in search of materials to rescue in the name of art. In 2002 I moved to Chicago on a whim and days later met my life-long partner in life and work, Ali Marie. People ask about your “big break” as an artist; that wintery night when she walked up the steps to witness what sort of shenanigans I was concocting in my living room apartment gallery was probably just that.
Please tell us about your art.
Mixed media artwork combining found materials with collage, painting & assemblage techniques. I am perhaps most well-known for my series of sugar skull women rendered in hand-cut paper. This series stems from a love for folklore and campfire storytelling traditions, each a heroine of their own tale. I see them almost as sisters, one more rowdy with guns up in her pursuit of justice, the other more subtle in her passionate songs being played on the guitar. The colors and clothing have a distinct Southwest meets western flavor, a by-product of spending so much time exploring this region of the US.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Throw your television to the curb, work a second-job, eat beans and rice for most meals, learn to live with less – whatever it takes. If this is your calling, make time to create something each and every day. It doesn’t have to be your masterpiece, but you must exert effort to create daily. You are asking someone that was comfortable squatting in abandoned office buildings in the name of making art, so I’m probably not the best for pragmatic advice…
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Come see me at the MAIN ST Fort Worth Arts Festival April 11-14 in downtown Fort Worth. You can also find my prints at Maverick Fine Western Wear in the Stockyards. Or you can shop my originals + prints online at https://dolangeiman.com/ OR Instagram @dolangeiman
Contact Info:
- Address: Denver, CO
- Website: https://dolangeiman.com/
- Phone: 303-309-2899
- Email: hello@dolangeiman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dolangeiman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dolangeiman
- Other: Find me on the road – https://dolangeiman.com/pages/art-fairs
Image Credit:
Paul Winner
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
