Artist Stan Dann’s woodwork now on display at Benicia library

By Bethany A. Monk
Assistant Editor

It began with a simple sign. Stan Dann carved three numbers into a piece of wood for his illustration art club, the 222 Group.

It was the 1960s, and the graphic designer had no idea the sign would change his life.

The group had placed the wooden “222” outside their San Francisco office, he said, and “an architect noticed it and I started getting requests from other architects. People started wanting (wooden signs) for their buildings.”

Thus began Dann’s journey into the world of woodwork.

Born in Canada, he began his art training at the Faulkner Smith Academy of Fine Art in Vancouver, British Columbia, later attending the Art Center School in Los Angeles, where he earned an art degree with honors.

In the mid-60s, Dann got his own studio in Oakland and dedicated his time and creativity to his art.

“It just evolved from that very first sign,” he said.

By the early 1980s, Dann branched into new territory by creating wood reliefs. These works “are composed of complex passages of small forms rhythmically played against large open areas,” according to a catalogue for the 1990 Walnut Creek show “Stan Dann, A Ten Year Perspective.”

Dann, who lives in Lafayette, says his work is “like a jigsaw puzzle.” He first sketches a drawing of how he envisions the final piece, then projects the images onto a large piece of plywood, where he sketches the image again. With a combination of hand tools and machinery, Dann delves into the “puzzle” of the piece by sculpting the individual wooden pieces.

A collection of his wood wall assemblages is on display at the Marilyn Citron O’Rourke Gallery at the Benicia Public Library. The exhibit, “More than One View,” shows how Dann’s subject matter is as varied as his finished work.

Dann captures images from street scenes to “machinescapes,” which comprise household items, abstracts and even shoes. In one piece in the library exhibit, “Foyer,” Dann captures the essence of the entryway of his home. Look closely and you’ll see a chair, a table, and other items.

In another, “Martinez,” inspired by a walk through that city, Dann takes a common street scene and makes it his own.

“I always draw from reality. That’s what I enjoy doing — and moving things around,” he said.

Art galleries across the country and overseas have been smitten by his work. Dann has had a solo show at the Allan Stone Gallery in New York and his work has been featured in London, Los Angeles, Chicago and A New Leaf Gallery in Sonoma. Some of his pieces are among collections of Simpson Manufacturing, The Hechinger Collection, McGraw-Hill Publishing, United States Air Force Museum, and McDonald Corporation.

After all these years, Dann still enjoys the artistic process. “I’ve got to get excited about what I’m doing.” And he has no problem finding inspiration.

“Art is everywhere,” he said.

If You Go
Stan Dann’s exhibit, “More than One View,” is on display at the Marilyn Citron O’Rourke Gallery at the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L St., through Oct. 21. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Call 746-4343 for more information.

Check It Out
For more information about Stan Dann and his work, visit www.standann.com.