about

Biography

I grew up in a small town in Minnesota attending an experimental ‘experiential-learning’ K-12 school where I raised Pigeons, audio recorded the elderly in retirement homes, excavated a cave floor, and witnessed civil disobedience demonstrations against the Vietnam war. My education was experiential–one of learning through participation and action and this, along with some rather complex social politics in my community, a location where in all too recent history was the site of a mass hanging of local indigenous people shaped my perspective. This formed the foundation for my re-imagining art as more a social and sited practice– one in which observations of who I am include who we are, and who we are is inclusive of what ailments we carry.

McDiarmid’s work has been supported by grant money from, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Joan Mitchell Foundation, Aldo Leopold foundation, Conemarra Foundation as well as numerous academic institutions and arts non profits. His work has been presented in fine arts venues including The Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, the Columbus Museum of Art, Carnegie Mellon Gallery, Santa Fe Art Institute, The Lab, and ACC Galerie in association with Bauhaus University Weimer Germany. His actions have been made possible by cooperative participation of a diverse set of community partners, the Federal BLM and National Forest Service wilderness division. The Caves of Sonora, The Goldwell Outdoor Museum, American Wildlife Inc. Stone house Artists Residency, Anderson Ranch, Spiro Arts, The City of Visalia CA– and many more

‘My most important work appears through happenstance in landscapes, and back alleys, and hard to reach canyons here I share conversation ritual and absurdity with an activated public on an intimate scale’.

McDiarmid is currently a celebrated educator and chair of Sculpture + Expanded Practice at Ohio University.

Contact

740 541 0962, duane mcdiarmid

740 985 3679, Dandylion Refuge & Center for creative research

44886farm@icloud.com

mcdiarmi@ohio.edu

duanemcdiarmid@yahoo.com

Dandylion Refuge & Center for Creative Research

44886 Carr rd Coolville Ohio USA, 45723

Artist Statement