Hwhup The Deans List? The Jason Dean here, bringing an end to the Weekend like it was No Mow May.

“But Jason, it’s already mid-July. No Mow May was over a month ago!”, I hear you immediately objecting. And you’d be right- if that were true.

Anyways. Let’s get into it.

New Art in my own space

Here’s what I’ve been cooking up in the lab 😎

Notice anything that these images all have in common? What’s that? They’re all in black and white? (Checks images). Well, shoot.

Notice another thing that all these images have in common? That’s right, they are well known Marquette landmarks (you’re forgiven if you didn’t immediately peg the middle one as the Superior Dome). One of the things that this summer market season has shown me is a commercially viable path forward where I take and sell “Marquette” photos that also scratch the creative itch.

I really balk at being a ‘gift shop’ photographer, like how you go to a landmark gift shop and it’s chock full of stuff you don’t need with a fairly straightforward image slapped on it of the thing you just saw. That’s just not me. I don’t want to take pictures of things that you can see. I want to take pictures of things that you can’t. Even if that isn’t what most people want to buy.

However, there are people who want to buy photographs of their favorite Marquette landmark (landMarq? Thanks, I’ll be here all week) but with some fine art flair. Which is something I can totes do! So no longer am I going to sigh, rub my forehead, and swallow hard when I go photograph the Ore Dock or the Lighthouse or the Dome. I’m going to zoom in, lower the shutter speed, and crank the sliders to 11, baby!

Waves are Words on-line gallery

Hard to believe that it’s already been over a month since Waves are Words: The Many Voices of Lake Superior was on display at The Gallery! If you missed it or are just missing it, I have all the images collected in one convenient place on my website. The link is below. Enjoy 😎

Catch me at the Farmer’s Market, how ‘bout dat?

I have a couple of Farmer’s Market dates this week. Today, I’ll be at the Castle 906 Market from 10-6 and I’ll be in downtown Marquette this Wednesday from 5-8, hanging out by the intersection of Front and Washington. Also, you can catch me docenting at The Gallery this Friday from 2-5.

Stop by and say ‘hwhup’! 👋

Art on the Rocks

Less than two weeks from today, Marquette will be hosting the 66th Annual Art on the Rocks at Lower Harbor Park- and I’ll be exhibiting! I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to be a part of this year’s show 😊 If you’re in town, please stop by Booth 109! I’ll have lots of new pieces of art for sale, including some brand new pieces that you will have literally 👀 never 👀 seen 👀 before.

(Unless you’re Kurt Babcock)

Waves are Wednesdays Preview

Behold: the wave image I will be sharing this week on social media for #wavesarewednesdays:

Sometimes I have to pause what I’m doing to pinch myself so I can make sure that I’m not dreaming. And I’m not, judging by all the pinch-sized welts on my left bicep. I’m doing the thing. I’m doing the thing! Now, don’t get me wrong- I have recently had to take on a couple of part time jobs to make ends meet. But I’m an artist, make no mistake. I am making art and selling art and stepping into art spaces and belonging.

I bring this up because there is no me without you. I’m still here because the work that I make connects with you. Or you’re my mom. Hi mom!

When I started sharing my iPhone 7 photos back in 2020, people liked them and so I made a photography page, ‘Waves are Words’ and more people liked them and then I bought a camera and people still liked them. Then at some point I decided I wanted to take weird photos because I’m kind of a weird guy and there were still people that liked them. If you’re reading this, you’re one of those people. Or you’re my mom. Hi mom!

My art might be the truest form of expressing who I am as a person and how I see the world, so to have people that support me and encourage me in that is the kind of thing that leaves writers speechless.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have some tears to wipe away.

Stay cool this week, folks! They’re calling for some heat this week, which is a set of words that I never want to hear used together in the same sentence in that order.

See you around,

Jason