The artistic possibilities of metal, that luminous backbone of modern civilization, have always intrigued me.
I strive to create pieces abstracting natural forms, motions, or social interactions.
The Art and Science of Dale Durran: University of Washington College of the Environment Profile
Dale grew up by the ocean and developed a love for light on water. He studied mathematics, but hoped to also pursue metal
sculpture and took classes in industrial welding and aluminum casting as an undergraduate at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
But the sculpture plans remained perpetually sidetracked.
In 2007 Dale finally managed to start sculpting, beginning by auditing a class at the University of Washington, where he
is a professor of Atmospheric Sciences. He owes a great deal to Professor Amie McNeel at UW and to many instructors at
the Pratt Fine Art Center in Seattle who have taught him a tremendous amount about sculpture.
Dale has recently created pieces that relate art and science. The Emergent Behavior pieces bring viewer-perceived order
out of random processes. With this series ENSO Lantern illustrates the way light is reflected and refracted in wiggling
falling water droplets, while Symphony for 32 Bassoons creates an impression of ever-shifting auroral lights from
flickering bassoon reeds. Most recently Balance illustrates our high-tech world in a precarious, misaligned, but not
fallen, state. Will we heed the warning signs?
Dale’s Professorial Website in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington
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