Dan Corson

Dan Corson (born 1964) is an artist living in Hawaii and is a former member of the Seattle Arts Commission. He works in the field of public art, creating large-scale, concept-driven works installed in urban environments including in parks, railway stations, art galleries, meditation chambers, at intersections, under freeways, and on sidewalks. His approach is a mixture of sculpture, installation, theatrical design, architecture, and landscape design. Media include metal, glass, concrete, fiberglass, gravel, LEDs, lasers, neon, solar panels, radar detectors, photo-voltaic cells, infrared cameras, motors, searchlights, and occasionally elements such as fire, water, and smoke. His work frequently incorporates cutting-edge technology in lighting, sound, and other electronic media.[http://www.smgov.net/Portals/Culture/Public_Art_Program/Image_Rotator/Dan_Corson,_Digital_Divide_%282009%29.aspx City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs - Digital Divide by Dan Corson, Digital Divide]

Career

Corson served as the first Artist-in-Residence for the City of Seattle's "% for Arts program" in 2001. His work is often interactive and incorporates elements such as photoelectric switches which the spectator can trigger and cause the artwork to respond. Typical is Emerald Aura a temporary laser sculpture in Memphis Tennessee that used Infrared cameras and surveillance software to track pedestrians and project the processed computer generated images back onto the people in real time. This installation is typical of Corson’s work in the way that it combine artistic expression with an implied statement about our culture.[https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2008/may/14/urbanart-commission-looks-to-color-downtown//print UrbanArt Commission Looks to Color Downtown, by Andy Meek] Memphis Daily News

Some of Corson's works interact not with people, but with the environment. Examples include Nepenthes, whimsical fiberglass sculptures on sidewalks in Portland that are covered with photo-voltaic cells that glow at night, and Sonic Bloom at Seattle's Pacific Science Center which features solar panels and gigantic metal flowers that light up at night. The flowers also hum when people approach them.[http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/sonic-bloom-a-new-solar-powered-sculpture-8992622/?no-ist Smithsonian Magazine: Sonic Bloom! A New Solar-Powered Sculpture] In 1994 the city of Seattle selected Corson to integrate art into the new Cedar River Watershed Education Center. In characteristic fashion he exploited the natural resources of the site–for example using falling water to create a musical artwork in the Rain Drum Courtyard.[http://www.seattlechannel.org/seattles-public-art?videoid=x26604 Seattle's Public Art: Dan Corson, Cedar River Watershed]

His theatrical set and lighting designs have been featured at the ACT Theatre, Annex Theatre, and On the Boards in Seattle, at Young Vic in London, and at the San Diego Rep and the Old Globe in San Diego.[http://fryemuseum.org/red_shoes_artist_bios Frye Art Museum, Degenerate Art Ensemble’s Red Shoes Artist Bios: Dan Corson]

Life

Corson was born in Glendale, California. He received a Bachelor of Arts in theatrical design from San Diego State University in 1986 and a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from the University of Washington in 1992. He was a Scholar at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 1991.[http://www.skowheganart.org/alumni-search/ Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture: Alumni Database] He studied glass-blowing and neon fabrication at the Pilchuck Glass School in 1993, 1994, and 1996.

After graduating from San Diego State University, he went to London for two years doing theater design and working with lighting designer David Hersey.[https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990603/2964491/a-man-with-big-designs----undaunted-innovator-on-theater-sets-dan-corson-now-makes-the-whole-world-his-stage A Man With Big Designs–Undaunted Innovator On Theater Sets, Dan Corson Now Makes The Whole World His Stage, by Misha Berson, Theater Critic,Seattle Times, June 3, 1999]

Corson has been together with his husband Berndt Stugger since 1997 and their Washington State Civil Union was converted into an official Marriage in 2014.[http://www.legacy.com/celebration/nwsource/ Berndt Stugger & Dan Corson] The Seattle Times Company: Joyous Occasions, July 5, 2014 Both Corson and Stugger are avid gardeners with a passion for tropical gardening. This botanical fascination can clearly be seen in Corson’s work. In 2010 they purchased some old sugarcane land in Hawaii Island and have transformed it into a small cacao farm.[https://www.hamakuachocolate.com/our-story/ Hamakua: The Breath of the Gods] Our Story

Works

Corson has often collaborated in public art projects, for example working with fellow artists Norie Sato, Sheila Klein, and Tad Savinar on Seattle's Sound Transit Link Light Rail project in 1998.[http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/longtime-light-rail-artist-norie-sato-is-curator-of-link-station-art/ Longtime light-rail artist Norie Sato is ‘curator’ of Link station art] by Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times, Jul 11, 2009 Corson is a prolific artist and it is not practical to list all of his creations; a selected list of works is shown below.

2002 Wave Rave Cave, Seattle[http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Wave-Rave-Cave-is-artwork-by-day-club-scape-by-1094973.php 'Wave Rave Cave' is artwork by day, club-scape by night] by David Eggert, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Aug 30, 2002
2003 Antennae Reeds, Seattle (with Norie Sato)[http://culturenow.org/index.php?page=entry&permalink=17811 Museum Without Walls: Antennae Reeds by Dan Corson]
2005 Rain Drum Courtyard, North Bend, Washington[http://www.seattletimes.com/outdoors/immerse-yourself-not-literally-in-the-wilderness-of-the-cedar-river-watershed/ Immerse yourself (not literally) in the wilderness of the Cedar River Watershed] by Carol Pucci, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Apr 14, 2005
2007 Safety Spires, Seattle

[http://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/networks-and-councils/public-art-network/public-art-year-in-review-database/safety-spires Public Art Network: Year in Review - 2006: Safety Spires, by Dan Corson], with Norie Sato

2007 Emerald Laser Lawn, Fort Lauderdale, Florida[http://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/public-art-network/pan-year-in-review/emerald-laser-lawn Americans for the Arts: public art network year in review database]
2007 Luminous Conjunctions, Fort Lauderdale, Florida[http://www.americansforthearts.org/sites/default/files/pdf/private_sector_affairs/public_art_network/2007%20Year%20In%20ReviewPPT_opt-3.pdf Public Art Network: Year in Review - 2007: Luminous Conjunctions, by Dan Corson]
2008 Emerald Aura, Memphis, Tennessee[http://www.americansforthearts.org/sites/default/files/pdf/private_sector_affairs/public_art_network/Part%203.pdf Public Art Network: Year in Review - 2010: Emerald Aura, by Dan Corson]
2009 The Root, Bellevue, Washington[https://web.archive.org/web/20150609165629/http://www.publicartarchive.org/work/root The Root, Public Art Archive, City of Bellevue, 2009]
2009 Grotesque Arabesque, Seattle[http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/cave-of-wonder-and-light-from-sculptor-dan-corson/ Dan Corson, a prolific public artist, offers a spellbinding interpretation of a cave this fall at Suyama Space] by Rachel Shimp, The Seattle Times, Nov 1, 2009
2009 Empyrean Passage, West Hollywood, California[http://www.americansforthearts.org/sites/default/files/pdf/private_sector_affairs/public_art_network/2009%20Year%20In%20ReviewPPT_opt-3.pdf Public Art Network: Year in Review - 2009: Empyrean Passage, by Dan Corson]
2009 Oscillating Field, Seattle[http://www.americansforthearts.org/sites/default/files/pdf/private_sector_affairs/public_art_network/Part%201.pdf Public Art Network: Year in Review - 2010: Oscillating Field, by Dan Corson]
2013 Nepenthes, Portland, Oregon[http://www.artandarchitecture-sf.com/category/u-s-cities-other/portland Art and Architecture: Nepenthes in Portland, Oregon, by Dan Corson]
2013 Sonic Bloom, Seattle{{Cite web |url=http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/Exhibits/sonic-bloom |title=Pacific Science Center: Sonic Bloom - Now Open |access-date=2015-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427155015/http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/Exhibits/sonic-bloom |archive-date=2015-04-27 |url-status=dead }}
2013 Rays, Council Bluffs, Iowa{{Cite web |url=http://www.iowawestfoundation.org/community-transformation/iowa-west-public-art/art/dan-corson/ |title=Iowa West Foundation Public Art: Rays Interactive Light Environment |access-date=2015-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430035405/http://www.iowawestfoundation.org/community-transformation/iowa-west-public-art/art/dan-corson/ |archive-date=2015-04-30 |url-status=dead }}
2015 Shifting Topographies, Oakland, California[http://www.psfk.com/2015/04/building-facade-changes-color-california-shifting-topographies-dan-corson.html Shifting Topographies takes inspiration from nature, car culture, and the chameleon] by Rachel Pincus, PSFK, Apr 7, 2015
2015 Coherence, Des Moines, Iowa[http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/arts/arts-in-iowa/2015/02/28/lasers-light-gallery-iowa-state/24081815/ Lasers to light up gallery at Iowa State] by Michael Morain, Des Moines Register, Mar 2, 2015
2015 Nebulous, Seattle[http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/10/seattles-newest-sculpture-is-blipping-electrical-clouds/410671/ Of Course Seattle's Newest Sculpture Resembles a Cloud] by John Metcalfe, Atlantic Magazine: CityLab, October 15, 2015
2015 Sensing YOU and Sensing WATER, San Jose, California[http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_29232455/illuminating-downtown-public-art-display-san-jose-opens 'Blue doughnuts' on underpass transformed into animated light show in downtown San Jose] by David E. Early, San Jose Mercury News, December 11, 2015

Awards

1998 Artist Trust GAP award
2001 PAN Year in Review Award for Cedar River Watershed Visitors Center
2003 ASLA Washington Chapter Honor Award
2004 ASLA Design Award of Merit for Cedar River Watershed Education Center[http://www.asla.org/awards/2004/04winners/entry441.html 2004 ASLA PROFESSIONAL AWARDS: DESIGN AWARD OF MERIT]
2006 National AIA Housing Committee Award and AIA 2004 Seattle Honor Award
2006 PAN Year in Review Award for Wave Rave Cave[http://culturenow.org/entry&permalink=17837&seo=Wave-Rave-Cave_Dan-Corson-and-4Culture Museum Without Walls: Wave Rave Cave by Dan Corson]
2007 PAN Year in Review Award for Emerald Laser Lawn
2007 PAN Year in Review Award for Safety Spires (in collaboration with Norie Sato)[http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/AFTA Sound Transit OCS Poles Win National Art Award June 11, 2007]
2009 PAN Year in Review Award for Empyrean Passage{{Cite web |url=http://www.seattle.gov/arts/news/press_releases.asp?prID=9856&deptID=1 |title=Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs Press Release 6/23/2009 |access-date=2015-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418133524/http://www.seattle.gov/arts/news/press_releases.asp?prID=9856&deptID=1 |archive-date=2015-04-18 |url-status=dead }}
2010 PAN Year in Review Award for Emerald Aura and Oscillating Field

References

External links

[http://dancorson.com/ Official web site]
[http://www.seattlechannel.org/seattles-public-art?videoid=x26604 Seattle's Public Art: Dan Corson, Cedar River Watershed] Video
[http://culturenow.org/?page=search&search_param_item=Dan+Corson&submit=SEARCH Museum Without Walls: List and location of works by Dan Corson]

Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:Artists from Seattle

Category:San Diego State University alumni

Category:University of Washington School of Art + Art History + Design alumni

Category:Artists from Glendale, California

Category:Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture alumni