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Zeitgeist Arts Center and Duluth-Superior Pride are sponsoring an art exhibit by local artist, Gabriel Christopher Dee. Born and raised in Duluth, Dee received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1996. After living and working as a graphic designer in the Twin Cities for 11 years, he returned to Duluth in 2007.

Jenny & Lillies. Photo credit: Gabriel Christopher Dee

Winged Jenny. Photo credit: Gabriel Christopher Dee

Flower Jenny. Photo credit: Gabriel Christopher Dee

This will be Dee’s second art exhibit for Duluth-Superior Pride. “I’m trying to make a return to art. I’ve been pushing myself to create more as a means of dealing with my grief after losing my sister to pancreatic cancer in June,” said Dee.

The show is titled, “Muse: Images of Women.” It will depict women in various mediums including: photography, oil painting, watercolor painting, and drawing. It will include both portraits of women close to the artist as well as imagined women of various nationalities.

Eternal Joy. Photo credit: Gabriel Christopher Dee

Spring Bride. Photo credit: Gabriel Christopher Dee

The styles will vary from realism, Impressionism, Romanticism, Classicism and Surrealism. Themes will vary from the serious to the whimsical. Dee said, “I wanted to experiment with many different styles of art and mediums for this exhibit. My show is dedicated to all the women who have touched my life, and to the memory of my late sister and grandmother.”

Zeitgeist Arts Center has sponsored an annual art exhibit with Duluth-Superior Pride for several years, coinciding with the festival on Labor Day weekend. The show will be displayed in the Zeitgeist Arts atrium until September 2nd. There will be a closing reception on September 1st from 7 to 9 PM. The reception will allow you to meet the artist and enjoy complementary smoked salmon, Brie and crackers, food platters and a cash bar. Live music will be performed by pianist, John Michael.

“This show is especially personal because the photography depicts my family who are no longer alive. My grandmother died at the age of 97. She she had an amazing sense of humor, and she was always goofing off for my camera,” said Dee.

“My sister was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer last November at the age of 50. It was an incredibly difficult time for my family, her husband and her children. She had often modeled for my art because she was so beautiful. Suddenly, she was going through aggressive chemotherapy. She lost her hair and eyelashes. I asked her if she wanted to model for one last art session, even though she was very weak and in pain. Jennefer said, ‘I think that would be fun.’ I will always cherish that day as an amazing gift she gave me,” said Dee.

Mother at Daughter’s Bedside in Hospice. Photo credit: Gabriel Christopher Dee