Santa Fe Film Festival 2008

This film is an artistic statement about ART--its nature, and it's significance in a world 're-designed'. The philosophy & storyline is developed through the presentation of the life, times, and works of American Artist, Dean Howell. It uses Howell's 'personal story' --as a metaphor--to project the 'global story' of Art.The essential message is that 'Primal Fear is the front of Humankind', and that it's this fear, which leads and shapes us into a 'craft-like existence'...rather than an 'artistic' one. The film illuminates the fact that 'art is not work', but rather a 'transcendent experience', which renders the 'art object' and the 'actual work' involved, as secondary components; it goes even further to re-define the Avant Garde to include the transcendent experiences of ordinary people--in addition to those of the so-called artist! Still further, it clarifies the distinction between 'art' and 'craft'. Thus...it calls for art as a normal and dominant part of everyday life...there-by reversing our current way of living a 'craft-like existence' to the 'artistic' one.How this message connects with, and defines ART constitutes the content and beauty of this undertaking...and speaks to the question of, 'How' and 'If' we--in the long run--can muster the where-with-all to remain on the evolutionary chain.The message involves the relationships of our primal selves, our intellects, our civilized ways...and our souls trying to surge toward freedom and transcendence.Howell's work, philosophy, and teachings exemplify--and document--the illusive message. Enhancing the message, Howell's family, friends, collogues, teachers and students offer personal, in-depth & first-hand accounts of its affects--as encountered through Howell's teachings, and personal example.The film traces his development from his first memory, all the way through his personal life and artistic career, to his current times in Santa Fe... where he is the messenger, the subject, and principal creator of this effort. The film documents his passion, his love, and his mission to understand and promote the intrinsic values of ART! 'Though definitely humbling--if not daunting--I'm concerned that such a focused objective might appear self-serving! However, our progress so far -the form & content--is shaping-up, and promising to be a most unusual and provocative contribution to understanding the world, and the essence of ART... Therefore, it's worth taking such a risk!' Dean Howell

The piece 'inorganic transmissions' functions a as conversation that is not taking place. In it, elements of natural disintegration attempt to engage with the artificial and man-made in a childlike dance. This piece mocks the advances of technology, which claim to improve connections, but often hinder our ability to interact with one another.