Gallery Artists
Gallery Artists : Dennis Potter :
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Originally from Indiana, Dennis has lived in the Northwest all his adult life. He graduated from Portland State where he received his teaching degree. For fifteen years he taught grades 2 through 5 in the Vancouver, Washington school system where now since the last fourteen years he has taught art to students in grades 1 through 5.
Dennis is influenced by the art of Alexander Calder. He says, "Calder is the father and mother of the mobile with a legacy so huge that I was at first intimidated but have since translated my feelings into inspiration and a deeper understanding of his genius." "The intent of my work is to create pleasing, interesting pieces that change to the viewer. My mobiles are conceived to be only suggestive and therefore elicit thoughts and ideas unique to the observer. Hopefully with their movement, they present the viewer with amusement. They are to be, if anything, fun."
Dennis supports environmental groups by donating portions of his sales to the Nature Conservancy or the Sierra Club. He is also feels strongly about the education and protection of children. One of his daughters is a critical care nurse stationed in Iraq at the Balad Base which is North of Baghdad. The hospital is next to the airport which sends the wounded to various hospitals. She asked her father for a cheerful mobile to hang for the soldiers and now they all want one; so Dennis is making a bright, cheerful mobile to donate to the psychiatric Unit.