Dean Manning (Issue One) is most well-known for his talents as a musician, but for as long as he’s played music, he’s also painted, in fact Dean painted all the images that became the Leonardo’s Bride (his previous band) posters and album covers. After thrice being selected for Salon des Refusees (the alternative Archibald & Wynne Prize selection) Dean decided to let his painting take centre stage for 12 months. The result is a body of work that is quintessentially Dean and will be exhibited next month.
Over the 12 months Dean travelled through Mexico and Guatemala, drove across Australia and settled into the rural town of Temora, NSW. He stripped bare discarded closets and scoured local timber yards for wood to paint scenes inspired by election rallies, wrestling matches, speedways, greyhound meets & fairgrounds often figuring himself into the picture.
The works are viewable online at Damien Minton Gallery and will be exhibited in the gallery itself in Redfern, NSW from Wed 2 April to Sat 19 April, 2008.

Issue One : Dean Manning: Introduction