![LAMENTATION OF THE N.O.W [UKRAINIAN ORCHESTRA(TedX)] by Dune-Micheli Patten, Image 1.](https://assets.artworkarchive.com/image/upload/t_jpg_medium_width/v1/user_55376/IMG_20220425_193251_2_abpmem.jpg)
A promising career was almost ended when, in the Fall of 2001, he fell victim to an near-death automobile accident which left him in a lengthy convalescence. During this time, he turned inward to his spirituality; that is to say, a God-focused spirituality. This return to the Spirit led him to explore a new way of thinking and seeing- for which to use his art. His spiritual strength, passion, and fortitude led to his recovery and first major installation project titled, “Treasures in Jars of Glass: Modern-Day Essenes,” at Project Row Houses- Third Ward, TX in 2002 to 2003; which gained the attention of major institutions and museums- in particular, The Gates Foundation and The Seattle Art Museum. This installation resonated with the spirit of discovered truth in ancient biblical scrolls/ and manuscripts; and his own testimony. Patten says, “Art is not simply communication. For me, art is a substantial transference of energy; with the Spirit at the core of it. Art should say nothing; but it should be true and resonate everything. Art should be spherical; going in all directions but still having a specific point- it’s origin. In my opinion, if art communicated more than one thing, then it lies to itself and to the audience. To this mean, I have sought to develop a style in which to ‘speak’ without compromising my position of not using art solely as a communicative tool. I had to somehow fit my ideal into a form in which my art and communication could reasonably merge and become one flesh. In doing this, I was faced with the challenge of appropriating a language in which communication would be clearly understood.” Furthermore, Patten says, “Everything became referential- words, text, signs, symbols; everything. This journey was the birth of my new style which I have termed URBAN EXPRESSIONISM- copyright 2002”
Patten's frequented independent venues, as well as numerous galleries are extensive; which includes The Vineyard Art Gallery, Fra Angelico Art Gallery, Missouri1521 Gallery, Lawndale Art Center, Project Row Houses, G-Gallery, Gallery 101, Houston Community College-Central Campus Fine Art Gallery, Inman Gallery, Gallerie Millenio Della Arte- Italy, The ArtHouse at the Jones Center, Finesilver Gallery, Dunn & Brown Contemporary, The Museum of Art- Austin, The BathHouse Cultural Center, The Cameron Gallery, Southern Methodist University, FineSilver Gallery-San Antonio, The Museum of Fine Arts- Houston, Commerce Street Artists' Warehouse, Rick Wells’ Studio 101 Gallery, Café Boticelli, Vox Culture Houston, Midtown Art Center, Xanadu Gallery, Heidi Vaughn Fine Art Gallery and Deborah Colton Gallery; and with future showing, in Ireland, Africa, and the UK; which, are all goals now realized. "Still," Patten says, "there is more to do." Patten also has garnered past, and recent, commissions and acquisitions of his work by; Washington Mutual Bank-Montrose of Houston, First Presbyterian Church- Houston Museum District, and S.H.A.P.E. Community Center-Third Ward.
Additionally, Patten's exhibitions have been reviewed and/or mentioned in various publications such as The Public News, Houston's Other, ARTSHouston Magazine, Free Press Houston, The Third Eye, Inc., Modern Luxury-Houston Magazine, Houston Styles Magazine, Case Magazine, ENVY Magazine, 002 Magazine, Dazed and Confused Magazine, TimeOut-UK, PaperCity Magazine, and WET PAINT SYNDROME web-zine. As well as appearing on Public news, radio, and cable stations such as FOX26 News, ABC-13 News, Melanie Lawson's CROSSROADS, KCOH Radio Station, KKHT100.7 Neon Fish, and Natalie J. Evans' Night Train and Coffee Table Talks Podcast, and Houston Media Source Cable Access-17. Moreover, his works have found their way into private collections locally, nationally, and internationally.
Dune-Micheli Patten lives and works in Houston, TX.