ASK is pleased to feature Dennis Connors: A Retrospective in our galleries online and at 97 Broadway in Kingston, NY from August 7-29, 2021.
About Dennis Connors
Dennis studied sculpture at SUNY Cortland after serving in the Vietnam War, then studied at the Academia di Belli Arti in Rome. He received his M.F.A. from SUNY New Paltz and later received a Masters’ Degree in Informational Science from SUNY Albany. For 23 years, he managed the studio of world-renowned sculptor George Rickey.
When Dennis met Henk Dijk in 1995, the Rondout Sculpture Exhibition was born, a precursor to the Kingston Biennial. He and Henk worked determinedly to create an exhibition that summer in Block Park. Over the next ten years, Dennis helped with the Biennials, clearing brush and weeds at many locations, helping artists install their work, paying young artists out of his pocket to help with the project. He also worked tirelessly at ASK, when the organization was given the building at 97 Broadway, laboring every weekend, painting, sanding, renovating until the building was ready for use.
Dennis has shown extensively throughout Kingston and the Hudson Valley. He has been a fellow at Yaddo and exhibited at Chesterwood. His work has been included in exhibitions at the Dorsky Museum, SUNY Purchase and Albany; Skidmore College; Socrates Sculpture Park and Maxwell Davidson Gallery in New York; RPI; Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana; and Silvermine Artists Guild. Collections include SUNY Purchase and Cortland, George Rickey Collection, Bullard-McCleod, and Museum of Contemporary Art, Apeldoorn, Holland.
Untitled
Circa 1994; steel, glass; 25” x 20” x 20”
“My dad made this piece shortly after I was in a bad accident, the glass is from the shattered windshield of my car. I cannot speak to what it meant to my dad, but I remember feeling deeply touched that the event impacted him enough to influence one of his sculptures.”
-Christina Connors
Untitled
1994; steel; 32” x 12” x 11”
“I placed this sculpture beside my front door
Born of pain, love, and energy,
Embodying strength, depth, and humility,
It rusts peacefully.
My dad.”
-Colleen Connors
The Ride
1973; steel, bluestone; 6’6” x 5’ x 4’
“I remember encountering this piece around the age of four or five years of age. At that point I was familiar with the concept of roller coast-ers. This sculpture reminded me of a ride I’d seen through commercials or a park, where I was too small to get on most of the attractions at the time. Looking at the piece as a child I re-member my mind imposing motion over its fixed structure and not quite being able to make sense of it. The contradiction of motion and fixedness has stayed with me to this day. Later in life I had to take my father to the hospital and on the way home he said a couple of times, ‘Thanks for the ride.’ I’m thankful as well.”
-James Connors
Untitled
Circa 1987; steel, bones; 17” x 10” x 10”
“This piece is from one of my earlier memories. Growing up with my childhood populated by art-work like this spoiled me.”
-Patrick Connors