Bio Michael Dickins is an interdisciplinary artist and the director and chief curator of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston School of the Arts. Known for bold, thought-provoking work, Dickins has exhibited across the Southeastern U.S. and in cities from Philadelphia and Denver to Istanbul and Berlin, with two appearances at {Re}Happening at Black Mountain College. Over 15 years, he has shaped innovative gallery programs, producing more than 45 exhibitions and public art projects that bridge disciplines and spark conversation. His curatorial vision has been spotlighted at Atlanta Contemporary and the Emporium in Knoxville, TN, and his expertise has been sought by ARTSMemphis, SouthArts, ArtFields, apexart, AIRIE, and numerous collegiate exhibitions. A graduate of Georgia Southern University (BFA) and Goddard College (MFA), Dickins is committed to art that challenges, engages, and connects communities—turning galleries into spaces of dialogue and discovery. Artistic Practice Dickins' artistic practice consists of visual and sound work. His visual work takes the form of drawing, printmaking, and installations that are layered, textured and derived from found imagery, found objects and topical news stories. Much of his current imagery focuses on social and political commentary. Dickins' sound work has shifted to political rhetoric as a study of the power that speech and speech patterns have in manipulating society. He uses the text of speeches to formulate systematic structures in which to manipulate the intended message through sound scores and audio collage. Curatorial Practice Art is an exercise in creating form and content. Form by itself can be appealing, but without a driving concept, it often fails in asking a purpose. Conception without execution often becomes inaccessible, therefore rendering it ineffective and futile. Both can be intriguing by themselves, but the artwork that can successfully combine the two can captivate, provoke, stimulate, challenge, and transform those who are fortunate enough to experience it. My role as a curator in a university setting is to provide diverse programming that is visually appealing, physically engaging, and intellectually challenging to the university and surrounding communities. As a gallery director, it is my privilege to provide a safe space for artists to experiment with their craft, engage with the public, and participate in a dialogue on social, cultural, and political identity issues that is welcoming and accessible to the public. The museum is a pathway to education, inspiration, and reflection. For many undergraduate students, the university gallery is their first experience in viewing a museum art exhibition. My ultimate goal with them is to spark curiosity. This curiosity leads to questions that hopefully lead to self-discovery. These discoveries have the potential for a life-altering experience. For those visitors with museum experience, my goal is to provide experiential and intellectual stimulation. This experience can produce educational growth and invested support for the museum. |
