Diran Lyons

Curriculumn Vitae

• Biography
• Work
• Writings
• Press Coverage
• Curriculum Vitae
• Contact

Biography

Diran Lyons’ art practice is heavily conceptual with exacting craft and edgy content. He employs disparate strategies and media according to the needs of a particular project, including painting, video, photography, indoor and outdoor installation, stationary and kinetic sculpture, and performance. Lyons was Regents Fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara, securing a Master of Fine Art in Painting and New Genres. Deeply committed to the tradition of artists such as Joseph Kosuth, Robert Smithson, Barnett Newman, Charles Gaines, Renée Green, etc., he writes critically about philosophical issues, his own artwork, and that of others.

Lyons currently lives and works in Tampa, Florida, exhibiting different bodies of artwork nationally and internationally. His participation in notable film festivals and video venues includes the Pacific Edge Film Festival at UC Davis, CA; The Streaming Festival {The Hague} sponsored by Mediamatic Cultural Institution of Amsterdam; Synthetic Zero in The Bronx, NY; WPA/C’s After Effects at Corcoran Gallery of Art Armand Hammer Auditorium, Washington DC; Antimatter Underground Film Festival in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; Xperimental 5 film festival at Pantheon Gallery in Nicosia, Cyprus; the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image in Tampa, FL; amongst others.

Dedicated to advancing Friedrich Nietzsche’s notion of the aesthetic object as a ‘Creative Lie’ which in turn reveals greater truths, Lyons’ solo museum exhibition ENGULFED at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art in Largo, FL, was a production of six new works tailored to appear and announced as a group show that homogenized internationally recognized artists who engage contemporary theories of the sublime. The artworks therein, produced by Lyons himself, were original and hitherto unseen by the public but attributed to and labeled with the names of the artists fictitiously included in the exhibit to create an aesthetic environment of illusion primed for investigation.

Education

MFA, Painting and New Genres, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2004.
BA, Painting and Sculpture, California State University, Fresno, 2000.

Exhibitions

*[some 2006–7 items are forthcoming]

Performances, Public Works, and Happenings with the [FL]WHAT.IF?SOCIETY

• North Charleston Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. North Charleston, South Carolina. May, 2006.
• Balloon Races: Indian Rocks Beach. Indian Rocks Beach, FL. May, 2006.
• PeepSHOW. Kennedy Blvd and Ashley Dr in downtown Tampa, FL. May, 2006.
• Immersion, site specific outdoor video installation at Ybor Festival of the Moving Image. Tampa FL. April.
• Improv. Muvico 21 Cinema in Centro Ybor, Tampa FL. April, 2006.
• SUGAR-COATED. Tampa Bay Brewing Company annex, Ybor City [Tampa], FL. March, 2006.
• The Garden of Forking Peeps. Ybor City Plaza, Ybor City [Tampa], FL. March 2006.
• Peacework: Washington St and Ashley Dr. downtown Tampa, FL. March, 2006.
• Cuban Club Peeps. Cuban Club Historical Museum, Ybor City [Tampa] FL. March 2006.
• Peeps Descending A Staircase. HCC Administration Building, Ybor City [Tampa] FL. March 2006.
• CROSSROADS. Visual Arts Building, Ybor City [Tampa] FL. March, 2006.
• Braving the Storm [At Indian Rocks Beach]. Indian Rocks Beach, FL. December, 2005.
• Balloon Balance. Visual Arts Building, Ybor City [Tampa] FL. November, 2005.

Performances in Collaboration with Jesse Wilson and the Inaugural ‘WHAT.IF?SOCIETY’

• General Sherman. Sequoia National Park CA. February, 2005.
• Chasing Narnia. Sequoia National Park CA. February, 2005.
• [Burnt] Landscape Drawing II. Santa Ynez Mountains CA. September, 2004.
• Summer Olympics, Part 2. Campus Point, Santa Barbara CA. September, 2004.
• Summer Olympics, Part 1. Campus Point, Santa Barbara CA. September, 2004.
• Space Sheik, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara CA. August, 2004.
• Lagoon Lawn. UCSB, Santa Barbara CA. August, 2004.
• Balloon Races. Campus Point, Santa Barbara CA. August, 2004.
• Landscape Drawing I. Santa Ynez Mountains CA. July, 2004.
• How to Explain the Pacific Ocean to a Blue Balloon. Campus Point, Santa Barbara CA. August, 2004.
• San Francisco. CA. July, 2004.
• Burnt Mountainside. Santa Ynez Mountains CA. June, 2004.
• Los Angeles. CA. May, 2004.
• Balloon Wrestling. Goleta CA. April, 2004.

Grants, Awards, Distinctions, and Honors

• Small Department Regents Fellowship, UC Santa Barbara, 2002-2003, $14,000.
• Courtright Fellowship, UC Santa Barbara, 2003, $4,000.
• UC Regents Block Fellowship, UC Santa Barbara, 2003, $2,000.
• Levitan Fellowship, UC Santa Barbara, 2003-2004, $2,000.
• UCSB MFA Dissertation Exhibition Fellowship, 2004, $1,500.
• UCSB Outstanding Written Thesis Award, 2004, $1,500.
• Honorarium, California State University, Fresno. 2006. $1,250.
• North Charleston Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Stipend. 2006. $750.
• UCSB Graduate Student Travel Grant, 2004, $550.
• HCC Travel Grant, 2006, $400.
• City of Clearwater Grant, 2005, $250.
• Session Chair of Philosophy, Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, January 2004.
• Teaching Assistantship and Waived Tuition, UC Santa Barbara, 2002-2004.
• 3.95 Grade Point Average, UC Santa Barbara. 2002-2004.
• 4.0 Grade Point Average, California State University Fresno, 1999-2000.
• Dean’s List, California State University Fresno, 1995-2000.

Essay Publications, Presentations, and Other Professional Writings

• Paper presentation of “Revenge, the Powers of the False, and the ”Time-Image…” at the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, sponsored by the University of Hawaii, Oahu, Hawaii, January, 2007.
• “Revenge, the Powers of the False, and the Time-Image in Christopher Nolan’s Memento: A Note on Ressentiment at the Beginning of the New Millennium.” Publication in the Angelaki Journal of Theoretical Humanities concerning the theme “Creative Philosophy: Theory and Praxis.” August, 2006.
• Artist symposium concerning solo exhibition “ENGULFED” at Gulf Coast Museum of Art. Largo, FL. July 14, 2006.
• “ENGULFED.” Wall text for solo exhibition at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art. June-September, 2006.
• Guest Lecturer, Hillsborough Community College, “Contemporary Art: A Survey.” April 24, 2006.
• Official Docent at Presidential Showcase, Dale Mabry Lexus Dealership of Tampa Bay, Tampa FL. April, 2006.
• Guest Lecturer at Fusion of Art and Technology, California State University, Fresno. February 2, 2006.
• “Genesis II and III: The Christian Metaphysic in Adam and Eve and the ‘Fall’ of Humanity.” Secular Nation. Article in 1st quarter 2005 issue.
• Extended Version of “Nietzsche, the Creative Lie, and the Garden of Eden: A Response to Hangman Metaphysics.” Accepted into the 32nd Value Inquiry Conference: “Reason and Evaluation.” April 8-10, 2005.
• Guest Lecturer, California State University, Fresno. November 17, 2004.
• “In/Between” Analysis of Vladimir Todoroviç’s video installation by the same name, January 2004.
• Paper presentation of “Nietzsche, the Creative Lie, and the Garden of Eden: A Response to Hangman Metaphysics” [concise version] at the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, sponsored by the University of Hawaii, Oahu, Hawaii, January, 2004.

Press Coverage

• “Antimatter Underground Film Festival.” Sept. 2006.
• “A Fine Nine.” August 24, 2006.
• “Up-and-Coming Talents.”
• “RaiseUp Vol. II.” August 2006 exhibition catalogue.
• “Raise the Creative Roof.” Weekly Planet. August 2, 2006. p. 6.
• “Artful Imitation.” July 23, 2006.
• “Artful Imitation.” St. Petersburg Times. July 23, 2006. p. 8E. Written by Lennie Bennett.
• “Emergent Garde: ENGULFED.” St. Petersburg Times. July 20, 2006. Weekend Section, p. 22w.
• “Shadow Dancing.” Weekly Planet. Article on ENGULFED, written by Megan Voeller. July 19,2006. p. 25.
• “Shadow Dancing.”
• “Museums: Gulf Coast Museum of Art.”
• “Emergent Garde: Engulfed.” Live Interview with Bill Murphy of Fox News. July 12, 2006.
• “Emergent Garde: Engulfed.” Weekly Planet. July 12-18, 2006. p. 26.
• “Gulf Coast Museum’s Mid-Summer Shows.” June 2006.
• “Outdoor Sculpture Competition Award Winners.” June, 2006.
• “City of North Charleston, SC, Offers First Annual Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition.” May, 2006.
• “Pacific Edge Film Festival.” Official festival catalogue. May, 2006.
• “Screen Dreams.” Article on Pacific Edge Film Festival. May, 2006.
• “TCS Student and Faculty to Perform at the Mondavi Center.” May, 2006.
• “Art [At] Temboo.” May, 2006.
• “Pacific Edge Film Festival.”
• “An Interview with Diran Lyons and Jesse Wilson.” May, 2006.
• “The Pacific Edge Film Festival.” May, 2006.
• “ARTFILMPERFORMANCE — Synthetic Zero Event TOMORROW, May 3, 7, and 27.” May, 2006.
• “May 2006 Event at Synthetic Zero.” May, 2006.
• “Artist Profile: Diran Lyons.” April, 2006.
• “Artist Profile: Diran Lyons.” Tampa Bay Metro Magazine. April/May issue. Metro art section. Page 20.
• “[FL]WHAT.IF?SOCIETY: Performance/Public Artwork in Centro Ybor.” Catalogue for the 4th Annual Ybor Festival of the Moving Image. Page 72. April, 2006.
• “Declare Your Independence.” The Tampa Tribune, Friday Extra section. Page 20.
• “Podcast Episode: Experimental Media Series at WPA\C.” March 26, 2006.
• “Experimental Media Series at WPA\C.” Sunday, March 26, 2006.
• “WPA\C Presents: After Effects [Night #1 of the Experimental Media Series].” March, 2006.
• “Mirta’s Art Show A Mix of Elements.” Feb. 16, 2006.
• “Scholarly Spotlight.” The Tampa Tribune. Section: South Tampa, January 12, 2006. Front Page.
• “Reduced: An Exhibition of Black and White Artwork by Emerging Artists.” December 2005.
• “A Tale of Two Cities.” The Tampa Tribune. Friday Extra. December 9, 2005. p.3.
• “Two Cities Rise on Common Ground at Covivant.” December 2005.
• “Motor City Meets Big Guava at Show.” December 2005.
• “Different But Same.” Tampa Weekly Planet. December 7-13, 2005. p. 33.
• “Braving.The.Storm [At.Indian.Rocks.Beach]: A Performance by Diran Lyons and HCC Spatial Studies Students.” December 2005.
• “313 vs. 813” The Tampa Tribune. Thursday, December 1, 2005. BAYLIFE 1 and 8.
• “313 vs. 813” December 2005.
• “313 vs. 813” Juxtapoz.com. December 2005.
• “313 vs. 813.” December 2005.
• “Brave New World.” St. Petersburg Times, September 22, 2005. p. 33 Section W.
• “Brave New World” Tampa Bay Online, September 2005.
• “Making Sense of a Mod World” RES Magazine, p. 67. RES June 2005.
• Errata in response to abovementioned article, RES Magazine, p. 8. July 2005.
• “Video Work: Brian Springer, Diran Lyons, Jesse Wilson, and Janice Kang at Corridor 2122 Gallery.” February, 2005.
• “The Glass Box” Contemporary Arts Forum, July 2004.
• “Making The Grad” Santa Barbara Independent, June 3rd, p. 45.
• “2004 UCSB M.F.A.” Santa Barbara Visual Arts Calendar, June, 2004.
• “In/Between” Analysis of Vladimir Todoroviç’s video installation by the same name, January 2004.
• “Artist Tackles Theme of Infinity in Solo Show.” The Fresno Bee. Friday, August 3, 2001. E8.
• “Vincent’s Chair.” The Collegian, California State University Fresno. December 1, 1999. Front page.

Teaching Experience

• Hillsborough Community College, Tampa FL. Full-time faculty. 2005-
• Fresno City College, Fresno CA. Adjunct faculty. 2004-2005.
• Terronez Middle School. Fresno, CA. Spring 2005.
• University of California, Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara CA. Lecturer. 2004.

Hillsborough Community College, Tampa FL. Full-time faculty. 2005-

• Courses:
• Introduction to Painting, HCC, Ybor City Campus. Fall 2005, Spring 2006. Fall 2006.
• Advanced Painting. HCC, Ybor City Campus. Spring 2007.
• Directed Independent Studies in Painting. HCC, Ybor City Campus. Fall 2005, Summer 2006.
• Introduction to Drawing, Hillsborough Community College, Ybor City Campus. Fall 2005.
• Introduction to Digital Photography, HCC, Ybor City Campus. Spring 2006. Spring 2007.
• Introduction to Graphic Design, HCC, Ybor City Campus. Spring 2006. Fall 2006. Spring 2007.
• Introduction to Sculpture, HCC, Ybor City Campus. Fall 2005, Spring 2006. Fall 2006. Spring 2007.
• Advanced Sculpture, HCC, Ybor City Campus. Spring 2006.
• Directed Independent Studies in Sculpture. HCC, Ybor City Campus. Spring 2006. Fall 2006.
• Introduction to 3D Design, HCC, Ybor City Campus. Fall 2005. Fall 2006.
• Art Appreciation. HCC, Ybor City Campus. Spring 2007.

Fresno City College, Fresno CA. Adjunct faculty. 2004-2005.

• Courses:
• Introduction to 3D Design, Fall 2004, Spring 2005.

Terronez Middle School, Fresno, CA. Part-time teacher. Spring 2005.
*Courses Sponsored by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s program, “Arnold’s All-Stars.”

• Courses:
• Painting: Graffiti Art
• Introduction to Drawing
• Sculpture: Figuration and Abstraction

University of California, Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara, CA. Part-time lecturer.

• Courses:
• Art Studio 4D: Meditations on Time and Space, Summer 2004.

UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA. Teaching assistant. 2002-2004.

• Courses:
• Introduction to Photography: Master teacher, Kip Fulbeck. Spring 2004.
• Introduction to Digital Media: Master teacher, Marko Peljhan. Winter 2004.
• Art Theory 1A: Visual Literacy: Master teacher, Luke Matjas. Summer 2003, Fall 2003.
• Introduction to Digital Media: Master teacher, Graham Budgett. Spring 2003.
• Introduction to Digital Media: Master teacher, George Legrady. Fall 2002, Winter 2003.

List of 5 Professional References’ Contact Information:

• Colin Gardner
• Professor
• Integrative Studies, Critical Theory
• Department of Art
• University of California, Santa Barbara

• Marko Peljhan
• Assistant Professor
• Interdisciplinary Studies, Science, Technology, Performance, Digital Media, Space Art
• Department of Art
• Media Arts and Technology
• University of California, Santa Barbara

• Ed Gillum
• Professor
• Sculpture
• California State University, Fresno

• Dan Nadaner
• Professor
• Video Art, Painting, Drawing, Art Education
• California State University, Fresno

• Jane Mulfinger
• Assistant Professor
• 3D/Spatial Studies
• Department of Art
• University of California, Santa Barbara

© 2006 Diran Lyons. All rights reserved.