About Dave
Baltimore City
Dave Eassa is a visual artist and cultural worker that investigates relationships, social structures, and memories through painting, sculpture, and in community.
His work explores all the parts of being human; the good, the bad, and the ugly, the things that are sometimes too big to say out loud, sometimes are too quiet to make a noise, and everything in between. His paintings and sculpture simultaneously allow the viewer space for personal reflection and encourage a broader look… more
His work explores all the parts of being human; the good, the bad, and the ugly, the things that are sometimes too big to say out loud, sometimes are too quiet to make a noise, and everything in between. His paintings and sculpture simultaneously allow the viewer space for personal reflection and encourage a broader look… more
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The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)
"The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)" pays homage to the past experiences and people that have contributed to where I am today. The mountain references a place that in my formative years became an environment where many coming-of-age experiences occurred. The people and objects all represents individuals or groups of people that were once very much in my life or still play a large role in my life. The process became a very nostalgic way to appreciate what I've had while thinking about where life is going. Materials include wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulating foam, and oil paint.
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The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)16' x 30' x 18' Installation view. Wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulation foam, and oil paint. 2013.
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The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)16' x 30' x 18' Installation view. Wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulation foam, and oil paint. 2013.
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The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)16' x 30' x 18' Installation view. Wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulation foam, and oil paint. 2013.
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The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)16' x 30' x 18' Installation view. Wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulation foam, and oil paint. 2013.
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The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)16' x 30' x 18' Installation view. Wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulation foam, and oil paint. 2013.
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The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)16' x 30' x 18' Installation view. Wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulation foam, and oil paint. 2013.
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The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)16' x 30' x 18' Installation view. Wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulation foam, and oil paint. 2013.
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The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)16' x 30' x 18' Installation view. Wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulation foam, and oil paint. 2013.
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The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)16' x 30' x 18' Installation view. Wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulation foam, and oil paint. 2013.
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The Sum Of All Parts (Moving Forward)16' x 30' x 18' Installation view. Wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulation foam, and oil paint. 2013.
"Dreamhouse"
When I was around the age of eight years old, I really thought I had it figured out. Bite the bullet and live with my parents for ten more painful years and then I was going to buy my own house to live in and I would never have to listen to rules again. My idea around then about what my life was going to be like was very different than the way things ended up. I idolized Michael Jordan, heavily because of watching Space Jam, and was sure I would be a professional basketball player when I grew up. I always knew I wanted a Coca-cola water fountain, and my own jacuzzi, no other option. I loved diving boards, and decided I should have my own pool. In my mind, I was creating my future dreamhouse which seemed more than reasonable to obtain.
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Space Jam Basketball CourtDimensions variable, detail image. Hardwood flooring, Pink Panther insulation foam, acrylic and oil paint. 2014
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DreamhouseDimensions variable, Installation view. Hardwood flooring, Pink Panther insulation foam, wood, acrylic and oil paint. 2014
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DreamhouseDimensions variable, Installation view. Hardwood flooring, Pink Panther insulation foam, wood, acrylic and oil paint. 2014
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DreamhouseDimensions variable, Installation view. Hardwood flooring, Pink Panther insulation foam, wood, acrylic and oil paint. 2014
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DreamhouseDimensions variable, Installation view. Hardwood flooring, Pink Panther insulation foam, wood, acrylic and oil paint. 2014
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High DiveDimensions variable, Installation view. Pink Panther insulation foam, wood, acrylic and oil paint. 2014
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My Best Friend's Father Was A Hunter38" x 18" x 28" Pink Panther insulation foam and oil paint. 2014
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Coca-Cola Water Fountain40" x 30" x 24" Pink Panther insulation foam and oil paint. 2014
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My Own Mahogany Jacuzzi25" x 50" x 54" Pink Panther insulation foam and oil paint, 2014.
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DreamhouseDimensions variable, Installation view. Hardwood flooring, Pink Panther insulation foam, wood, acrylic and oil paint. 2014
Paintings 2013-2015
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Beating the Odds48" x 48", Oil on canvas, 2015.
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High Dive48" x 48" Oil and Elmer's glue on canvas. 2015
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Going Through the Motions (Yellow)12" x 9", Spraypaint, oil and Elmer's glue on canvas, 2014.
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Going Through the Motions (Blue)40" x 30" Spraypaint and oil on canvas, 2014.
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Pool Party60" x 98", Oil on canvas, 2014.
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Olympic Development48" x 96", Oil on canvas, 2014.
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Dad Time48" x 72", Oil on canvas, 2014.
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My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow To Be A Lawyer48" x 60", Oil on canvas, 2013.
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Love Birds48" x 72", Oil on canvas, 2013.
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Every Sunday36" x 48", Oil on canvas, 2013.
My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow Up To Be A Lawyer
What do you do?
What’s your five year plan? Ten year? Retirement?
Maybe if you are lucky you will end up a rich man with a beautiful wife.
This installation imagines and builds a high profile lawyer's from the artist's stereotyped and preconceived ideas. The installation questions societal constructs and pressures surrounding Ivy League Culture, family dynasty,privilege, 9 to 5 job security, monetary and material milestones, self critique, and teenage and childhood nostalgia amongst others.
What’s your five year plan? Ten year? Retirement?
Maybe if you are lucky you will end up a rich man with a beautiful wife.
This installation imagines and builds a high profile lawyer's from the artist's stereotyped and preconceived ideas. The installation questions societal constructs and pressures surrounding Ivy League Culture, family dynasty,privilege, 9 to 5 job security, monetary and material milestones, self critique, and teenage and childhood nostalgia amongst others.
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My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow Up To Be A LawyerDimensions variable, Installation view. Plaster, plywood, Pink Panther insulation foam, acrylic and oil paint. 2015
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My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow Up To Be A LawyerDimensions variable, Installation view. Plaster, plywood, Pink Panther insulation foam, acrylic and oil paint. 2015
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My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow Up To Be A LawyerDimensions variable, Installation view. Plaster, plywood, Pink Panther insulation foam, acrylic and oil paint. 2015
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My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow Up To Be A LawyerDimensions variable, Installation view. Plaster, plywood, Pink Panther insulation foam, acrylic and oil paint. 2015
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My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow Up To Be A LawyerDimensions variable, Installation view. Plaster, plywood, Pink Panther insulation foam, acrylic and oil paint. 2015
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Bro. George Thompson on GuitarPhoto by Sean Scheidt
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My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow Up To Be A LawyerDimensions variable, Installation view. Plaster, plywood, Pink Panther insulation foam, acrylic and oil paint. 2015
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My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow Up To Be A LawyerDimensions variable, Installation view. Plaster, plywood, Pink Panther insulation foam, acrylic and oil paint. 2015
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My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow Up To Be A LawyerDimensions variable, Installation view. Plaster, plywood, Pink Panther insulation foam, acrylic and oil paint. 2015
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My Mother Always Told Me I'd Grow Up To Be A LawyerDimensions variable, Installation view. Plaster, plywood, Pink Panther insulation foam, acrylic and oil paint. 2015
The Kickapoo
The Kickapoo was an experimental classroom and gallery space that I opened in Stueben, WI while an artist in residence at ACRE in August 2015. When fellow residents, staff and visiting artists/curators were invited to sign up for drawing classes they were provided with no other information than to bring a bathing suit. Two types of classes were offered, still-life and portraiture. Students were encouraged to explore the medium of drawing while tubing down the river on specially configured tube rafts. Classes lasted approximately 30 minutes while I guided the floating classroom safely around the rocks and sticks of the Kickapoo. The project culminated with an opening exhibition of student work displayed along the river on Thursday August 13th, 2015.
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The KickapooStill life class.
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The KickapooOpening reception highlighting student work.
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The KickapooExhibition installation view, work by Mark McCloughan pictured.
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The KickapooOpening reception highlighting student work.
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The KickapooOpening reception highlighting student work.
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The KickapooPortrait class.
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The KickapooPortrait Class.
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The KickapooStill life class.
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The KickapooStill-life class.
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The KickapooExhibition installation view, work by Willy Smart and Jim Drain pictured.
Free Space: Conflicts of Interest
In addition to the weekly classes, Free Space started a visiting artist program within the different institutions that we are currently teaching in. The core values of the visiting artist program is not only to introduce students to established artists, different ways of thinking, and new skill sets, but also keep in mind the real-life applications of the skill being taught. The first visiting artist was Jordan Bernier in October 2015 at the MCIJ.
Jordan Bernier has collaborated with artists via sophiajacob, Floristree, Franklin Street, and Evening Hours. He is an adjunct instructor at Towson University and Loyola University. Jordan lives and works in Baltimore, MD and New York, NY.
"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand. Screen printing is a wonderful medium that not only has many fine art applications, but even more commercial applications. Jordan gave a short artist talk and a history of screen printing as well as demonstrated new techniques in the printing process. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively they printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete this ambitious project in our two day workshop.
Jordan Bernier has collaborated with artists via sophiajacob, Floristree, Franklin Street, and Evening Hours. He is an adjunct instructor at Towson University and Loyola University. Jordan lives and works in Baltimore, MD and New York, NY.
"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand. Screen printing is a wonderful medium that not only has many fine art applications, but even more commercial applications. Jordan gave a short artist talk and a history of screen printing as well as demonstrated new techniques in the printing process. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively they printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete this ambitious project in our two day workshop.
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Free Space: Conflicts of Interest"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete the ambitious project in our two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand.
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Free Space: Conflicts of Interest"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete the ambitious project in our two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand.
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Free Space: Conflicts of Interest"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete the ambitious project in our two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand.
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Free Space: Conflicts of Interest"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete the ambitious project in our two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand.
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Free Space: Conflicts of Interest"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete the ambitious project in our two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand.
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Free Space: Conflicts of Interest"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete the ambitious project in our two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand.
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Free Space: Conflicts of Interest"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete the ambitious project in our two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand.
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Free Space: Conflicts of Interest"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete the ambitious project in our two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand.
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Free Space: Conflicts of Interest"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete the ambitious project in our two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand.
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Free Space: Conflicts of Interest"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete the ambitious project in our two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand.
Free Space Publication
Eassa is the founder and director of Free Space, a not for profit artist led program, which brings arts classes to incarcerated individuals within the Maryland prison system. The weekly classes, along with the Visiting Artist Program, exposes individuals to ideas, time, materials, and skills that help to build confidence and instill passion in these individuals. Free Space brings programming to the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women, and Dorsey Run Correctional Facility. These images are paintings created by men at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, and are highlighted in the first publication "Free Space: Volume 1" in January 2016, which is published every 6 months to showcase program participant's art work.
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It's HELL getting olddetail
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Free Space: Volume 1These images are paintings created by men at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, and are highlighted in the first publication "Free Space: Volume 1" in January 2016, which is published every 6 months to showcase program participant's art work.
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Free Space: Volume 1These images are paintings created by men at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, and are highlighted in the first publication "Free Space: Volume 1" in January 2016, which is published every 6 months to showcase program participant's art work.
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Free Space: Volume 1These images are paintings created by men at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, and are highlighted in the first publication "Free Space: Volume 1" in January 2016, which is published every 6 months to showcase program participant's art work.
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The SupremesSinging, dancing and comedy bring Joy and Beautiful smiles at the holiday cabaret.
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Free Space: Volume 1These images are paintings created by men at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, and are highlighted in the first publication "Free Space: Volume 1" in January 2016, which is published every 6 months to showcase program participant's art work.
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Installation 2Twine, sticks, leaves, dirt for Lean-To Sticks and Twine for fishing net, spears, bola
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Free Space: Volume 1These images are paintings created by men at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, and are highlighted in the first publication "Free Space: Volume 1" in January 2016, which is published every 6 months to showcase program participant's art work.
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Free Space: Volume 1These images are paintings created by men at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, and are highlighted in the first publication "Free Space: Volume 1" in January 2016, which is published every 6 months to showcase program participant's art work.
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Free Space: Volume 1These images are paintings created by men at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, and are highlighted in the first publication "Free Space: Volume 1" in January 2016, which is published every 6 months to showcase program participant's art work.
Advanced Cats
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Hand In The Cookie Jar36" x 22" x 40" Pink Panther insulation foam and oil paint. 2015
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Guardians of the Bad Luck36" x 16" x 30" each, Pink Panther insulation foam and oil paint.
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A Strong Hold On One's Self ImagePink Panther insulation foam, canvas, and oil paint. Canvas: 55" x 50" Cat: 15" x 18" x 30" 2016
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Hand in the Cookie Jar (detail)36" x 22" x 40" Pink Panther insulation foam and oil paint. 2015
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Going for Gold (Who Really Wins Anyways?)Pink Panther insulation foam, wood, canvas, acrylic, latex, and oil paint. 65” x 72” x 24” 2017.
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Going for Gold (Who Really Wins Anyways?)Pink Panther insulation foam, wood, canvas, acrylic, latex, and oil paint. 65” x 72” x 24” 2017.
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Going for Gold (Who Really Wins Anyways?)Pink Panther insulation foam, wood, canvas, acrylic, latex, and oil paint. 65” x 72” x 24” 2017.