ARTIST STATEMENT
EXHIBITION HISTORY
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Statement
Exhibitions
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Artist Statement -



My works are abstract landscapes built around the idea that most folk aren't very aware of their surroundings or place in the world. I am inspired by the ancient Hindu practice of seeing without seeing; being without being; and the Buddhist practices of contemplation, cognition, and awareness.

To express these ideas, I choose to paint landscapes blurred out to give only the impression of color and pattern. The color, pattern, and light become the details. Born from more of a complete non-objective style, I've begun to focus more on real landscape locations ranging from urban to rural from places I've lived or traveled. Blurring the image, to me, becomes a contemplation on the impermanence of the original image; embodying a buddhist meditation technique of imaging everyone you know and everywhere you've been, has passed away.

Artist Exhibitions



--Blackbird Restaurant Artists' Salon Series, Solo Show, Sept. 24 - Nov. 9, 2003.
--Around the Coyote Fall Arts Festival and Curator's Choice Show, Sept. 5-7, 2003.
--"Blur" at Function + Art Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, Aug. 8-14, 2003.
--Solo Show, Urban Studio Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, May 2-27, 2003.
--Around the Coyote Winter Arts Festival, Chicago, Illinois, February 9-11, 2003.
--Solo show, Chopin Theater lobby and as part of the stage design for the show "Sis3ters", November 3 - December 15, 2002.
--Around the Coyote Fall Arts Festival, Chicago, Illinois, September 13 - 15, 2002.
--Old Town Art Association/Triangle Gallery Solo Show, Chicago, Illinois, August 3 - 29, 2002.
--"Anything Goes", Gallery 212, Ann Arbor, Michigan, March 15 - April 14, 2002.
--Around the Coyote Winter Arts Festival, Chicago, Illinois, February 1-3, 2002.
---The 25th Annual Alice and Arthur Baer Art Competition and Exhibition, Beverly Art Center, Chicago, Illinois, November 30, 2001 - January 26, 2002.
Chicago Art Open, Chicago, Illinois, October 19-27, 2001.
--Around the Coyote Fall Arts Festival, Chicago, Illinois, September 6-9, 2001.
--Polish Arts Club Annual Exhibition, Polish Museum of America, Chicago, Illinois, July 8- 27, 2001.
--"Outbreak" Gallery 2828, Chicago, IL May 2001.
--Around the Coyote Winter Festival, Chicago, IL, Feb. 2001
--Around the Coyote, Chicago, IL, Sept. 2000.
--ATC Space Inaugural Show, Chicago, IL, June 2000.
--“The 8th Show” Group Show, Time-Life Building presented by Arts Vision, Chicago, IL, Apr -Jun 2000.
--“Salute to Chicago Artists V” Group Show, Excaliber, Chicago, IL, Nov 1999 - Feb. 2000.
--Around the Coyote, Wicker Park and Bucktown Neighborhoods of Chicago, IL, Sept., 1999.
--“Life Patterns” Group Show, Yello Gallery, Chicago, IL, Aug. - Sept. 1999.
--“Urban Zcenes” Photography group show, Riverside Arts Center, Riverside, IL, Jan.-Feb. 1996.
--“Exposures” Juried exhibit, Spectrum Care Health Center and Bailiwick Arts Center, Chicago, IL, Nov.-Dec. 1995.
--“River North Exposed” Juried exhibit, Chicago Anthenaeum Gallery 1, Chicago, IL, Dec. 1992....

Artist Publications



"The Chinese have for centuries practiced connoisseur rituals in which blends of incense are burned and those attending attempt to discern the ingredients and their proportions in the blend. A similar tradition exists for savoring teas, and, indeed, artworks. Richard Donagrandi is better known for his photography and oil paintings of sensual plant forms, but he is represented in 'Life Patterns' by four numbered studies in abstraction. Donagrandi has an avowed interest in Zen Buddhism, and his 'Study in Abstraction' series brings to mind those subtle Asian ceremonies of tea, and incense. Donagrandi's uniformity of format and composition at first glance seems a placid vehicle for visual expression, although it does create an effect of formal dignity. The framing and exhibition of each piece as an artwork to be investigated invites a superficial interpretation of it as a mere object of decor. Attention and time do however reward the perceptive. Donagrandi's studies in abstraction, like the Asian rituals of discernment, are starting points toward an appreciation of the refined interplay of color nuance. The merits of each piece are best appreciated by contemplation: like much that is pleasurable in life, their charm eludes words and logic. One stares at them in the way one examines bright sun or overcast cloud-glow on field grass -- intently and at leisure. They evoke the tremulous vision of heat on soil, and of reflection in water. " -- G. Jurek Polanski, ArtScope.net
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Artist Collections



Much Shelist, Chicago, Illinois
Park Hyatt Regency, Chicago, Illinois

A more complete list of private collectors holding my work can be seen on my webpage.
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Artist Favorites