Fran Dibble
Frances Joan Dibble QSM (née McIntosh; born 1962) is a painter, sculptor, writer and art critic based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. In 2007, she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal.
Biography
Dibble was born in New Haven, Connecticut, United States in 1962.{{Cite news|url=http://www.zimmerman.co.nz/artists/fran-dibble/7|title=Zimmerman Art Gallery - Fran Dibble|date=2016-05-13|access-date=2018-10-13|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.creativegiants.co.nz/view/fine-art/fran-dibble.php|title=Fran Dibble, New Zealand artist, painter, sculptor, Palmerston North|website=www.creativegiants.co.nz|access-date=2018-10-13}} She moved to New Zealand with her family when she was a teenager, moving to Palmerston North in 1975.
Dibble has a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Botany, a Master of Science (Hons) in Biochemistry from Massey University,{{cite thesis |last=McIntosh |first=Frances |year=1985 |type=Masters thesis |title=The synthesis of triglyceride and other non-polar acyl lipids by protoplasts and chloroplasts from barley leaf |publisher=Massey Research Online, Massey University |hdl=10179/13935}} and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.
Dibble's artistic practice encompasses, painting, and bronze-cast sculpting.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/lifestyle/78651343/nature-nurtures-the-art-of-destruction|title=Nature nurtures the art of destruction|last=Thomas|first=Carly|website=Stuff|language=en|access-date=2018-10-13}} Her art draws on inspiration from the natural world, including plants, sea shells and aquatic life. In 1985, Dibble established a small foundry with her husband, artist Paul Dibble.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz/media/403101/paul-dibble_2017-cv.pdf|title=Paul Dibble CV|last=Gow Langsford Gallery|access-date=14 October 2018}} The Dibbles started with casting small-scale pieces, with larger pieces being sent to larger art foundries. In 2000, they opened a large foundry in an industrial part of Palmerston North, where they now cast all their works.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lindsayrabbitt.com/index.php?BehindEveryStrongWoman|title=Behind Every Strong Woman: The hard graft of Manawatu sculptor Paul Dibble|last=Lindsay|first=Rabbit|website=www.lindsayrabbitt.com|access-date=2018-10-14}}
She has exhibited at Te Manawa and the Zimmerman Gallery in Palmerston North.
In 2007, Dibble was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for services to art, in particular sculpture.{{Cite web|url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2007|title=The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2007|website=The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2007|date=4 June 2007 |language=en-NZ|access-date=2018-10-13}}