I am very honored at all the press for I’ve gotten for the unveiling of “The Gathering”. Here are some clippings:
"The Gathering" at the Vision on 15th Development
I am pleased to announce that I have recently been commissioned to create a 12-foot sculpture for the Vision on 15th Development in Pittsburgh, PA. This placement is the first of hopefully many to come, and I hope it will truly become a public spot in Pittsburgh for the people. I am fortunate to be able to thank so many collaborators who helped envision and realize “The Gathering,…” a sculpture that as the name suggests, might become more than a statue, but a “place. “
A place to gather.
A place to ponder.
A place to begin a journey along the Heritage Trail.
My hope is that people will gather here to enjoy lunch or a coffee together, engage in conversation, meet a new friend, and perhaps take a moment to pause, breathe and appreciate the spaces and experiences that you’ve all helped envision and create.
Much thanks to Burns and Scalo and to James Gallery for making it happen.
Watch a video describing what I hope “The Gathering” will be in Pittsburgh:
Droz Shows in 8 Venues
It's been a busy month...preparing for and installing new work for 4 public commissions and 4 new gallery openings in Pittsburgh and California.
How I Created My Art Career at 69: Finding Meaning in an Over-50 Career Change
71-year-old Dan Droz began his new art career at the age of 69. This spring, his large-scale work titled “The Gathering,” a 12-foot-tall sculpture, will be unveiled in Pittsburgh. The work is intended to create a new gathering spot, while showcasing the power of sculpture to elevate a public space. His is a journey of taking a parallel path to his previous one, rather than a complete reinvention. His work has been included in numerous solo and juried exhibitions including the Westmoreland Museum of Art, the Pittsburgh International Airport, the Harrisburg Art Center and commissions for both commercial and private collections. Droz has been the recipient of many awards including the Mary Phillips Award for Sculpture from Seton Hill University, ID Magazine’s “Designer of Year” and “Best of America” by Abitare (Italy).
When did you begin your art career?
I’d been a “closet” sculptor for several years, making small pieces in my basement, but I had never exhibited or sold anything. In the spring of 2018, an artist friend of mine suggested that I show some of my work to a Pittsburgh gallery that represented her, to see if they’d be interested in displaying a few pieces.
"Past and Present" at Oxon Hill Manor - through 2023
A Capital Installation. After considerable planning, it was exciting to see "In the Park" and "Sky, Wind and Clouds" gracing the beautiful grounds of Oxon Hill Manor, part of the Prince George County Park System. These two sculptures will be on display through September 2021 in this outdoor exhibition curated by Sarah Tanguy and is presented by the Washington Sculptors Group and Oxon Hill Manor.
"Family Portrait" on view at the Pittsburgh International Airport
I am thrilled to have my freestanding sculpture “Family Portrait” on display at the Pittsburgh International Airport. My artwork is placed beautifully at the top of the escalators in the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh’s Annual Exhibition, juried by Kilolo Luckett.
Profile on Dan Droz in Shady Ave
The 25th Anniversary issue of Shady Ave Magazine profiles Dan Droz in Theresa Sullivan’s article “Transforming Reality.”
The feature gives a spectacular overview of Droz’s life’s work, previews some work for his upcoming solo show at James Gallery, and captured this sentiment that he frequently shares when it comes to his work:
“I like the idea that there’s more than one way to view or experience a work of art or life. We are all in flux, we are all changing. So whether you’re making art or raising a family, you’re just trying to figure out how to transform yourself into something new or different without compromising your core.”
Upcoming Solo Exhibition at James Gallery: Defying Dimensions
Defying Dimensions: Sculpture by Dan Droz
October 7 - November 19, 2021
James Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Opening Reception: October 7, 2021, 5-7:30pm
"My work employs novel methods of folding and forming materials including metal, glass and wire mesh and often incorporates hidden reflective surfaces and the use of perspective that defies easy comprehension. The forms seem simple: An open box. A tabletop. But their apparent simplicity belies an underlying attempt to expose the fallacy of understanding what is real. In sculpture, this is immediately apparent in the sense that we are only seeing one view at a time, the experience changing as we view a work from different positions. But there are also the reflections, shadows, negative space, and in the case of layered planes, the interior spaces that are easy to miss and require time for them to reveal their secrets. Beyond the literal gaps in perception, there are metaphoric issues at play. The fact that our perceptions of reality are limited and arguably missing much of the good stuff, underscores a central challenge in my work – changing the way we experience reality without completely abandoning it."