Outing The Body Performance List / Statement / Short biography / Resume / Statement on being a educator / Contact Dee

Dee Fontans: Statement back to top

My work stimulates and excites the visual senses through movement, the manipulation of shape and the exaggeration of the body. In the ongoing "Outing The Body" project the concept has been to develop a cultural presence through fashion performance and to develop a body of work that speaks to women about body image. The work also deals with elements of my Puerto Rican heritage, with issues of cultural identity.

I am using the idea of fusing things together, cultures, gender, materials, titles, continuing the themes of the project. The work relates to Surrealism and elements of the Fluxus movement.

I design for adults and use them as models as a political statement concerning the sexualization of children on the runway. I choose adults 18 years and up, from size 8 to 18. Wearing these pieces speaks about changing the view of what beauty and age is in cultural terms; critiquing what is culturally admired in pop media culture. I feel confident that my efforts contribute to a movement towards our society embracing a healthier self image.

My work has historically spoken of the body as the canvas for wearable art. Many of my earlier art pieces focused on the head where the senses and self awareness lie. The series of ongoing pieces, "Outing the Body", deals with sculptural issues on the body through the manipulation of space, and concerns form and movement. The work on the body pushes and defines the boundaries of space and engages the viewer through aspects of performance. Wearing these pieces myself speaks about changing the view of what beauty and age is in cultural terms. My commitment to modeling redirects ideas of beauty back towards a more voluptuous Rubenesque and mature form.

My understanding of the body in space comes from my experience as a professional model. I began my modeling career while I was studying gold and silversmithing at the State University of New York at New Paltz in 1984. The intense experience between artist and model is a collaborative creative process which has influenced the subject matter of my art works. As a life drawing model I have a passionate insight into movement and the occupation of space by the living form. I studied drawing and painting in New Jersey for two years with Hannah Hoffman and continued at Parson School of Design in New York. These skills have always been an important aspect of my art making. The drawing and body ornament are intertwined.

As an example from the "Outing The Body" project, the piece "A Woman of Color; Diane Julia Morales Fontans Primaries Red" is one of the three primaries in this series. This body of work is an acknowledgment and celebration of my Puerto Rican roots, ancestry and heritage. The art is a vehicle to explore my own cultural history. It is about color (being a color, the response to color, changing color, being a color from head to toe and seeing through color).

Dee's Artspots

Statement and photos of 'Outing The Body' work

Lori Benjamin article extract

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Outing The Body Performance List / Statement / Short biography / Resume / Statement on being a educator / Contact Dee

Dee's Short Biography

Dee Fontans is an internationally recognized jeweler, enamelist, performance artist, fashion designer and educator. She has exhibited, presented and published in the United States, Germany, the Caribbean and Canada.

Fontans has lectured widely on the "Outing The Body" (OTB) project. OTB is a series of related pieces which fuse together fine jewelry, fashion design and performance art. In 2003 Dee was named the tenth most important artist in Calgary, Canada for the last 20 years. She has recently filmed a series of television Art Spots on her practice for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

She studied painting and drawing and later jewellery and fashion design at the Parsons school of Design in New York City. In 1986 she graduated with a BFA in Jewellery and Metalsmithing from the State University of New York at New Paltz. Her work has been exhibited and published in the United States, Germany, the Caribbean and Canada. In the Fall of 2003 Dee was named Number 10 of the 20 most important artists in the City of Calgary for the last 20 years. She teaches at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The art work is concerned with the female figure and the body, as an interactive context for garment design and performance. Her work has included performance art, clothing, jewellery design, figurative enameled wall pieces and sculptures, and surrealistic hats. Her ongoing project, “Outing The Body”, is a series of related clothing designs and performance events. The concept has been to develop a cultural presence through fashion performance and to create a body of work that speaks to women about body image. Part of the project involved workshops with Calgary junior high and high school students to engage them in art and design activities and raise their self esteem. The work also deals with elements of Fontans' Puerto Rican heritage, with issues of cultural identity.

Her professional background includes gallery and museum installation work, prop design and manufacture for the movie industry, jewellery design and goldsmithing work for well known jewellers in New York and Calgary. She currently teaches at the Alberta College of Art and Design as well as producing artwork and performance work, jewellery design, and teaching workshops at colleges in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

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(updated July 09)

Skills / Education / Outing the Body / Solo shows / Juried + Group shows / Professional Experience / Bibliography/ top

Skills
Educator, Public speaker, Media Relations and television interview skills
Design and create jewellery, fashion and performance work

Education
1986-84 BFA, State University of New York at New Paltz, NY, USA, Honor Roll.,
1984-81 Parsons the New School of Design, New York, New York.
1984-80 The New School for Social Research, New York, New York, USA.
Statement / Short biography / Statement on being a educator / Contact Dee

“Outing The Body” (OTB) Performances back to top
2005 "Edible Art Fantasia" (part II), Art Central, Calgary, AB
2004 "Outing The Body" lecture Society of North American Goldsmiths, Tampa, FL.
"OTB" "Stawberry Tea" Layton Centre, Calgary, AB. June
2003 "OTB: Designer Meets Dancer" "Extravadanza 2003", University of Calgary June. Images and Statement
"Outing The Body" The Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB. Nov.
"Outing The Body" "Wearable Edibles" The Metropolitan, Calgary, AB. Oct.
Calgary Sun Article
2003 "Outing The Body" The Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
October 2002 "Outing The Body: Back by Popular Demand", Engineered Air Theatre, EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts, Calgary. Images and Statement
February 2002 "Outing The Body: Exhibition in Motion", Engineered Air Theatre, EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts, Calgary. Calgary Sun Article
2000 "Outing The Body: Dee Does Dada" "The One Yellow Rabbit High Performance Rodeo" Calgary, Alberta. .
"Outing The Body: Fish" "Exhibition in Motion" Boston, Mass.
"Outing The Body: Men Abreast", at "Everyone's Fantasies" Aids benefit, Jack Singer Hall, Performing Arts Centre Calgary, Alberta.
"Outing The Body: Dee Does Dada" Lethbridge University, Lethbridge, AB.
"Outing The Body: Dee Does Dada" Metalmorphosis ACAD, Calgary, AB.
1999 "Outing The Body: Walk About Performance" for The Alberta Women in Television and Film, Calgary, Alberta.
"Outing The Body" "The Lu Lu Waltz" a Cracker Film production for the Bravo channel!
"Outing Th e Body: Video Release" Performance The Night Gallery Cabaret Calgary, Alberta.
"Outing The Body: Spring and Swing Set", Endowment Fund Raiser, The Alberta College of Art & Design, (ACAD) Calgary Alberta.
"Outing The Body: Parade", at "Millennium in Motion:", Aids Benefit, Jack Singer Hall, The Calgary Performing Arts Centre, Calgary, Alberta.
"Outing The Body: Women with Glamour, Swing Set" at "I am somebody's daughter", Servants Anonymous Fund Raiser, The Palace, Calgary, Alberta.
1998 "A Woman of Color: Diane Julia Morales Fontans Primaries Blue" performance at the Society of North American Goldsmiths conference, Seattle, Washington.
"Outing The Body: four", at "Follow Your Heart II", Street Teams Benefit, Palliser Hotel, Calgary, AB.
1997 "Outing The Body: three", at "Follow Your Heart I", Street Teams Benefit, Palliser Hotel, Calgary, AB.
1996 "Outing The Body", "Threadz Festival" performance, Calgary, Alberta.
"Outing The Body: Birth", at "Design 96, Cafe Paris" performance, Edmonton Convention Centre, Alberta.

Skills / Education / Outing the Body / Solo shows / Juried + Group shows / Professional Experience / Bibliography/ top

Solo Exhibitions
2004 "Perfect Proposals" Banyon Productions ACAD Calgary, Alberta
2000 “Outing The Body: Men Abreast” Stride Gallery, Calgary Alberta.
1997 "Metal Works" Swiss Stores LTD., Kingston, Jamaica.
1996 "Dee Fontans: New Work" Electrum Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta.
1993 “Nudes 93”, The Alberta Crafts Council Presents Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta.

Selected Juried Exhibitions and Group Showsback to top

2009 “Hitched” Alberta Crafts Council gallery, Edmonton, AB
2008 “War Medals” IO Gallery. New Orleans, Louisiana and Shaw Gallery, Northeast Harbor, Maine
2007 “Craft Award Recipient Exhibition" Alberta Crafts Council gallery, Edmonton, AB
"All About Alberta" Seoul, South Korea
2006 "All About Alberta" Canadian Embassy Art Gallery, Washington, DC.
"Sparks" , Metalphoric group juried exhibition, ACC Gallery, Edmonton, AB.
2005 INFLUX " Romancing The Stone" Calgary, Alberta.
2004 "You are What You Eat" Seattle Washington.
"Body Ornament West" Triangle Gallery, Calgary, ACC Gallery, Edmonton AB
"Shades", Object and Design, Vancouver, BC.
"In Our Own Backyard", Alberta Crafts Council gallery, Edmonton, Alberta.
"Hurricane" Philadelphia Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA. traveling USA
"Menu" Kirkland Gallery, Seattle, Washington..
2003 "New Art Jewellery", Virginia Christopher Gallery, Calgary, AB.
"Adorn and Protect" Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton, AB.
2002 "On the Edge" Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA.
“The Colour of Fire” Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, ON.
"Turn up the Volume" Metal Arts Guild Toronto, ON. Traveling
"Go figure", Juried, Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton, AB
Art Craft the Great Debate" Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton, AB.
Holiday Exhibition, invitational, Lafreniere & Pai Gallery, Ottawa, ON.
Our Creative Spirit" Medicine Hat Museum, Medicine Hat, AB.
2001 “Once Upon a Time : Artist Examine Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends”
Wustum Museum, Racine Wisconsin.
"Go Figure" Alberta Craft Counsel, Edmonton, AB.
"The Year of the Bear" Willock and Sax Gallery, Waterton Lakes, AB.
2000 “I Feria Internacional De Artesanias” San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"Discover Uncover" exhibition, Alberta College of Art & Design, Calgary, AB.
"Holiday Exhibition" Lafreniere & Pai Gallery, Ottawa, ON
"Art Walk 2000" Jewels By Design, Calgary, AB.
"Wall of Art" Alberta College of Art & Design, Calgary, AB.
"Celebration of Jewellery Artist" Mesa Silver Gallery, Calgary, AB
“Talisman” Tlell Gallery, Haida Gwai, BC..
1999 “Filtered Senses” Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, Connecticut.
"Silver" Canadian Crafts Museum, Vancouver, BC
"Collective Visions" McMullen Gallery, Edmonton, AB.
"Filtered Senses", Brookfield Craft Center, Connecticut.
"The End of the World as We Know It" Art Walk The Uptown Theater, Calgary.
"Fire and Iron" Gallery 371 Calgary, Alberta Craft Council Gallery Edmonton.
"The End Is Near: Artists Look At The 20TH Century", Charles A Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI.
"SNAG Link 99" Frontenac Hilton, St. Louis, MO.
1998 "Setting the Standard", "Unexpected Settings", Goldmans Jewelers, Seattle, WA.
“Metalsmithing In The New Millennium”, Danforth Gallery, Portland, Maine.
“Enamels: The State of the Art”, Newark Museum of Art, Newark, New Jersey.
"Dress Up Artist Address Clothing and Self Adornment", Wustum Museum.
"From Foundation to Ornamentation" ARC Gallery, Chicago, Ill.
“Identity” traveling exhibition, Canada.
"Valentines", exhibition, R Grey Gallery, Boise, Idaho.
"Get Bent", Alberta Crafts Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta.
1997 "For Sight: Artist Interpreted Eye Wear", Gallery I0, New Orleans, LA.
"Trophies" First hand Gallery, Toronto, Ontario.
"A Flash of Brilliance" traveling. in Canada and the US.
"Fontans/Lewton-Brain: Recent Work", Sunlife Plaza, Calgary, Alberta.
1996 "Exhibition at Peters Valley", Layton, New Jersey.
1995 "Enamelist International Exhibition", Bosque DeOlivos, Mexico City, Mexico.
"Op Art: Eyeglasses by Jewellers" Hoffman Gallery, Portland, Oregon.
"Good Things Come in Small Packages", Muttart Gallery, Calgary, AB.
1994 "Head to Toe Personal Adornment and the World", Glenbow Museum, Calgary.
"Canadian Decorative Contemporary Craft Exhibit", Levitan Gallery, NY., NY.
1993 "New Art Forms", Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill.
1992 "Treasury of Canadian Crafts", Canadian Crafts Museum, Vancouver, BC.
1991 Metal Arts Guild Exhibition, national and international touring exhibition.
1989 'On Body Ornamentation', Muttart Gallery, Calgary, Beaver House, Edmonton.
1988 6 x 6 x 6, Cartwright Gallery, Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg.
SNAG Earring Competition, Michum Gallery, N.Y., New York, USA.
1987 American Crafts Exhibition, Baltimore, MD, USA.
1986 'Elegant Erotica', Foundry Gallery, Washington, DC, USA.
'Schmuck für Kopf und Haar', Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim, West Germany.

Skills / Education / Outing the Body / Solo shows / Juried + Group shows / Professional Experience / Bibliography/ top

Selected Professional Experience:back to top

2009-91 Sessional Instructor, Jewellery/Metals, Alberta College of Art + Design (ACAD), Calgary, AB.
2009-00 Master of Ceremonies, and adviser "ArtaWEARness", ACAD, Calgary, AB.
2008-04 Produced Wearable Art Object and Body performance and exhibition for Art Centrals birthday celebration, Calgary, AB.
2008-07 Curated Wearable Art performance, The Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
2007 Curated Wearable Art performance and exhibition for the "The Works Art and Design Festival", Edmonton, AB.
2006 Series of CBC national television "ArtSpots" on my practice, airing multiple times
Filmed a (how to) craft segment on enamel jewerlry, “Home and Garden Television” program "That's Clever!" Calgary, AB.
Received the Award of Honour from the Alberta Craft Council, Calgary, AB.
2006-00 Master of Ceremonies, "Art Awareness" ACAD., Calgary, Alberta.
2005 Lead Speaker, "Outing The Body", Northwest Jewelry/Metals Symposium, Seattle, WA, followed by a week's workshop on Wearable Art at Pratt Fine Art Institute.
Instructor "Wearable Art Object and Body", Pratt Fine Art Institute, Seattle, WA.
2004 Speaker, "Outing The Body" "In Pursuit of Passion" The Society of North American Goldsmiths conference presentation, St. Petersburg, FL.
"Perfect Proposals" Banyon Productions TLC, reality TV filmed in Calgary, AB
Team Calgary member representing the visual arts for ACAD, Toronto, ON.
2003 Listed as the 10th most important visual artist in Calgary for creating a national and international presence in the last 20 years.
"Alberta College of Art and Design Teacher's Cup", award for teaching excellence.
2001-91 Co-owner of the Lewton-Brain/Fontans Centre for Jewellery Studies, Calgary.
2000 Canadian representative international crafts conference/exhibition, San Juan, PR.
1999 Juror, Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grant Jury.
1998 The Revere Academy for Jewelry Art, San Francisco, CA. teaching and lecture.
Alberta Teachers Conference "Designing Ideas" lecture Red Deer, Alberta.
Instructor, Touchstone Center for the Crafts, "Enameling", Uniontown, PA.
1997 Visiting artist, Edna Manly College of Art "Enameling" Kingston, Jamaica.
Instructor, 92nd Street Y, Enameling, New York, New York.

Skills / Education / Outing the Body / Solo shows / Juried + Group shows / Professional Experience / Bibliography/ top

Selected Bibliography and Media Coverage back to top
2009 Enameled Objects, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., pp. 336.
2008 Lewton-Brain, Charles, “Foldforming”, Brynmorgen Press, pp 12
Meilach, Dona, “Art Jewelry Today.” Schiffer Publishing pp. 247.
2007 500 Earrings, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., pp. 340.
Wear Art is Fashion, Lulu Books, Blackdog Publishing, pp 5-7, 89-94.
Interviews Filmed segment for TV’s “Linda McPhee’s Workshop” “Wear Art is Fashion”
2006 "Artist Corner", State University of NY at New Paltz, volume XXIV, No 1, pp. 18.
Laviolette, Mary-Beth, An Alberta Art Chronicle: Adventures in Recent and Contemporary Art.
2005 Bouchard, Gilbert, "Ancient art forms given modern twist", Edmonton Journal, Jan. "Wearable Art, object and body" Fiber Arts, spring issue.
Interviews A Channel Television, "Wearable Edibles" Big Breakfast, Dave Kelly. March 11.
2004 Brooks, Bill, "BRA-VO Performance" The Calgary Sun, , Oct. 17, pp. 8.
Gogarty, Amy, "Metalsmith, Spring 04,
pp. 21-29.
1000 Rings, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing Co. Inc. pp. 274, 294.
Taylor, Terry, Altered Art, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing Co. Inc. pp. 140.
2003 Burroughs, Alexandra, "Adorn Me", Calgary Herald, March 30, pp. E8 & 9.
Meilach, Dona Z., Art Jewelry Today, book, page 247.
2002 Benjamin, Lori, “Dee-signs that Wow”, The Calgary Sun, March 24, pp. 11
Black, Anthea, “Back By Popular Demand”, Fast Forward, October 17, pp. 30.
Cohen, Linda, “Dee Fontans”, The Fine Art of Enameling, book pp. 60, 128-132.
Interviews: A Channel Television, “The Arts Report” Oct. 24, Calgary, AB.
2000 Westra, Monique, “Dee does Dada” Fast Forward, Visual Arts, Feb. 12, pp. 17.
Interviews “Entertainment News”, interview, Teri Kramer, A Channel, Calgary, Jan. 6,00.
Selected Bibliography and Media Coverage continued:
2000 “Telemundo Noon Time Show” Channel 2, San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 3, 00.
Revere, Alan, Contained Directions, book chapter on Fontans "Outing The Body".
1999 Sardi, Liza, “The Height of Fashion”, The Calgary Sun, Lifestyles, March 21, pp. 10.
1998 Auer, James, “Dressed for Excess” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 4, pp. 1.
1997 Schmid, Erich, "Outing The Body", Schmuck, Germany, pp. 88,

Skills / Education / Outing the Body / Solo shows / Juried + Group shows / Professional Experience / Bibliography/ top

Outing The Body Performance List / Statement / Short biography / Resume / Statement on being a educator / Contact Dee

Dee Fontans Statement on her priorities
as a teacher and educator. back to top

My role as an educator is to introduce the ability to understand problem solving though a logical and a well organized process of thinking providing the means to research and develop ideas and concepts. In research, strategies may include reading, exploring history for similar works and ideas, investigating other artists work, looking for patterns and similarities in unexpected places, and watching and communicating well with colleagues. In developing ideas and concepts the student needs to identify and document reasons for making their art.
Drawing is encouraged whenever possible to develop individual marks, lines: an understanding of composition and balance that creates a dialogue to communicate ideas. Helping the student become aware of their interests and strengths enables the individual to express themselves. The process of project planning to meet deadlines creates a professional and structured atmosphere in which to work. Safety in the studio is of great importance to ensure that the individual has the option to continue working in their chosen medium. In the classroom a mutual respect for one another gives the student the support needed to present their work in a professional manner. These skills enable the developing artist to experience success. The consistency of their success builds a positive sense of self. The trust which the students establishes in their decision making enables them to explore more complex and personal areas of their creativity.
My dialogue with a student always starts with the positive aspects of their pieces or work habits. Discussing both strengths and weaknesses encourages communication, making possible a secure and trusting student-teacher relationship. I am open with my professional experience and teach technique to the best of my ability. With an understanding of technical skill the student has the freedom to challenge themselves with conceptual thoughts and imagery and the means with which to create them.
I am concerned with the development of the student. I listen carefully so that my response will address their individuals needs. I encourage them to think of themselves as whole people and remind them that the art they create needs to come from their own desire. I teach performance to prepare them for an active professional live. The classroom experience is set up for interactive dialogue by sharing the responsibility in leadership. The personal knowledge shared in the group is inspiring and builds confidence for all involved.
As an educator I am approachable to all students. I am there to facilitate the needs of these developing artists and help guide them in finding a productive path into their creative process. I also feel this position enables me to awaken within individuals their personal responsibility to the culture. Empowering them through the awareness of the impact they can have in the world community with their art. By encouraging these young artists to make and document work they begin to form history, making visible the symbolism, events and concerns they experience.
I see myself as a role model and support the arts and artists on many different levels. I practice as an educator and an artist, locally, nationally and internationally.
My approach as an artist-jeweller and educator makes a significant difference in the lives of the people I work with. My influence inspires risk taking, creativity, positive self esteem, thinking, a different way of seeing, efficient and safe work habits, the desire to make things, self comfort, awareness, communication and an effective studio environment. I receive a great deal of personal satisfaction with teaching. Because I am of Puerto Rican descent I value strongly the importance of cultural heritage and appreciate what it is like to be a minority enabling me to empathize with minority students in my classes.

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Jewelry Pictures / Outing The Body Work / Enamels / Pictures from Performance work / Outing The Body Performance List / Statement / Short biography / Resume / Statement on being a educator
Willock/Sax Gallery / Alberta Crafts Council Gallery / Influx Gallery

You may contact Dee Fontans at:
Box 1624, Ste M, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2L7, Canada
Phone: 403-263-3955
Fax: 403-283-9053
Email:Dee Fontans

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Some Links
The Enamelist Society, Inc. is a volunteer arts organization founded in 1987 for the purpose of promoting the art of enameling.