In The House of the Mineral Spirits

installation, video, performance & works on paper

By Dean Ebben

January 14-February 28, 2011

A HOUSE PARTY!

closing reception

Friday, February 25, 6:30-10pm

In The House of The Mineral Spirits is a play on words and meanings. The idea of the house is a metaphor for one’s inner-self. “We all have spirits, ghosts, even demons that haunt us in our past, present, and future.  The mineral spirits are poison, alcohol, things that evaporate. They are ethereal and clear.”

Dean Ebben’s work always begins as a biographical narrative, taking on a life of its own, building with the response of the viewers.  He sees this show as a “wisdom work,” seeking wisdom through the exploration of ideas, materials, mythology, and narrative.  By using his own observations and experiences in a subtle visual context, he requires the viewers to look carefully and ask themselves what they find significant

In a mass culture world that inflicts sensory overload, people tend to become desensitized to visual culture.  Ebben asks the viewer to stop and look closely to find what is significant. Finding wisdom through observation and reflection.

Video of Performance: