You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
PRETTY/CREEPY: THE DAINTY LITTLE FREAK SHOW, PART 2<br />
By Jenna Duncan<br />
Daniel Shepherd says he enjoys weaving together<br />
the most bizarre and beautiful images he can find<br />
when making collage art. He says viewers should<br />
get close, examine the visuals he has selected and<br />
question why. Some of the photographic material is<br />
cute and light-hearted, while some is intense. Expect<br />
to experience a train-wreck phenomenon where you<br />
can’t look away.<br />
Shepherd works on repurposed book covers, old<br />
picture frames, pages torn from vintage magazines<br />
and other upcycled materials. He likes to cut images<br />
from old magazines including Playboy, Hustler and<br />
Glamour.<br />
In his experience with collage, he’s discovered<br />
a secret: if you add an image of vintage audio<br />
equipment to just about any collage, people will love<br />
it. “Penthouse magazine has the best images of old<br />
turntables, tape decks and more,” he says. He has<br />
also pulled material from a long defunct magazine<br />
called Stereo Review that catered to the audiophile<br />
crowd, back when having a pricey stereophonic hi-fi<br />
system was all the rage.<br />
Shepherd gathers materials by scouring thrift stores<br />
and yard sales, and quite often people just give him<br />
stuff. One gentleman called him up to offer a stack of<br />
magazines. When Shepherd got to the guy’s house,<br />
he found an enormous pile that filled up his entire<br />
Volvo. Another woman insisted on giving Shepherd a<br />
book that would be “just perfect!” for his collage art.<br />
When he opened it, it was all text and no images. “I<br />
was like, what do I do with this?” he recalls.<br />
Shepherd really enjoys working with the female form.<br />
“It may just be sections of things. Sometimes there<br />
are not a lot of heads or faces,” he says. “Just the<br />
forms and curves—the lines. That’s why he decided<br />
to call his first collage show and this follow-up<br />
“Pretty/Creepy.” Someone looking at a particular<br />
piece might describe it as creepy, while another<br />
person may walk up and examine the exact same<br />
piece and proclaim it pretty.<br />
In addition to his collage work, Shepherd also does<br />
larger-scale abstract paintings. His abstract work is<br />
represented by the Studio 101 group in Scottsdale<br />
and by Design H3K in Palm Springs. Curator and artist<br />
rep Nicole Royse has been working with Shepherd for<br />
the last few years. “I’m more of an artist agent,” says<br />
Royse, describing the relationship. “It’s not exclusive.<br />
It’s more about helping to further his career.”<br />
“I first met Daniel Shepherd when we partnered<br />
together in 2014 at the Willo North Gallery, where he<br />
did his first collage show,” says Royse. In preparation<br />
for that show, Shepherd brought in 250 pieces. Royse<br />
helped him select less than half of that number,<br />
pulling the strongest works to go on view.<br />
“People really love his work and his unique vision, so<br />
I brought him over to the Bokeh Gallery next,” Royse<br />
says. Royse curated the Bokeh show two years ago<br />
and is now thrilled to bring the collage work back<br />
to downtown Phoenix for “Pretty/Creepy, Part 2” at<br />
Chartreuse. “He is wonderful to work with,” Royse<br />
says, adding, “He’s also a DJ, often at Lux.”<br />
“Pretty/Creepy: The Dainty Little Freak Show, Part 2”<br />
June 2–17<br />
Chartreuse Gallery<br />
1301 Grand Ave., Phoenix<br />
Opening reception June 2, First Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.<br />
chartreuseart.com<br />
Shepherd’s work: toofangskinny.tumblr.com/<br />
JAVA 19<br />
MAGAZINE
Change language