DreamWorks Animator Devin Crane (http://www.devincrane.com) will debut his latest collection of art at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City titled “Love and Tears.” Bombarded by the daily reports of America’s economic decline, Crane’s showcase examines America’s obsession with excess in relation to the manifested need for love and interpersonal connection. Inspired by Crane’s own personal experiences and pain from a series of relationships, “Love and Tears” captures the essence of 15 subjects and their endless quest for true love.
A middle-class native to Los Angeles, California, Crane grew up with the all-too-familiar tale of “wealth and woes.” Surrounded by affluent friends consumed by brands and excess, Crane learned at an early age how “un-fabulous” the “fabulous” life truly was for the majority of his peers. Noting their obsession with high-end brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Chanel, Crane became intrigued with the complicated layers beneath the surface of the superficial. These living testimonies served as inspiration in his later years, along with artistic influences from painters such as Rembrandt and John Singer, in creating works that depict the internal private moment in which we all break down.
“I am an art nouveau fanatic,” states artist Devin Crane. “This showcase allows me to comb my background in film to create mood and atmosphere in my paintings, pulling the viewers into an experience of emotions. Audiences will find theology, classic themes and symbols woven into the paintings which add an identifiable layer for everyone of every culture.”
Crane’s obsession with art nouveau and theology derive from his Catholic school education. His first piece in the series, titled “The First Tear,” refers to Adam and Eve and the first bite of knowledge that catapulted humanity into sadness rather than eternal bliss.
“The show is about heartache over the duration of existence,” says Whitney Pentzer, Devin’s girlfriend and muse for the transforming finale titled “Love Reborn.” “Even though we all experience the heartache of falling out of love there is always the chance of falling in love again. Through the process of painting this show, Devin has been able to close the door of the past and open a new door to the possibilities the future may hold for any of us.”
Former bass guitarist for Matchbox 20 Adam Gaynor, who is the muse for “She Left With His Heart In A Gucci Bag,” said, “I was simply amazed at how Devin was able to translate such emotion into his painting, with each scene depicting a wide spectrum of feeling and emotion. From the very dark corners of his soul, to a lighter than air smile and perspective, he seems to make you feel what he has felt himself, when he poured his own being onto his canvas.”
