Publications / Press / Media

Surprised by Grace

Dennis McGeary's "Jonah", published in "Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels" by Tullian Tchividjian. Along with the beautiful artwork, Tchividjian also describes it's contents and symbolism on page 70.

"Hawaiian artist Dennis McGeary depicts Jonah's condition well in 2001 abstract painting entirely in black, white and gray. A mass of contoured lines takes up nearly all the painting, suggesting simultaneously both the interior massiveness of a whale-like creature and the swirling waves of the storm. Almost hidden in the center, a few lines are bent up, -saillike- the tiny ship in a storm. Along the uprising lines on a lower side we see a man falling, his hands raised uselessly as he descends where he does not wish to go--Jonah cast overboard. Finally, set off in an undersized black square in the opposite corner, is the small, hunkered form of the swallowed prophet, brooding over what has happened to him. How he must wonder at God's design in all this!"

An Art Cathedral

RASA FOURNIER MIDWEEK September 5, 2012

"Wind down the luxuriously wide driveway lined with a water fountain and bougainvillea that leads to Honolulu Country Club. Walk up the stairs and swing open the giant doors to a foyer where the walls are set with paintings by a selection of emerging and established artists.Sunshine streams in through large glass panels that look out on a garden, and light from overhead is filtered through a vaulted stained glass ceiling, giving the effect that you’re in a hallowed space. Dizzying paintings by Dennis McGeary tease the imagination with their Biblical deluge of waves and land masses turning in on themselves like something from a dream – images more far-out than the movie Inception produced. Cosmic chaos mingles with order as perfectly patterned ag fields rise into a vortex that sends their harvest dissipating in all directions."

Friends find escape, comfort through painting classes

Ho'okele Staff | Apr 25, 2014

Concerning Dennis' painting student Michaelle Gall

“I love it. I’m enjoying every minute of it,” she said. Latzka signed up for the first class in part to help a close friend.“Michaelle Gall and I came to know each other through our commonality. We were both military spouses recently stationed in Hawaii, but what brought us together was our shared diagnosis: lung cancer,” Latzka said.

Gall was diagnosed at age 40, while Latzka was diagnosed at age 46. The two met about a year ago after Gall read an article about cancer in the local Midweek paper, prompting her to contact Latzka.

Painting served as a temporary escape for the two.

“Life as a cancer patient is full of unpleasant things – surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, clinical trials. Every single moment of every day you’re focused on the disease,” Latzka said. “I wanted to give her two hours a week to escape from being a patient and to find her inner creative woman.”

Neither of the women had ever painted before when they signed up for Dennis McGeary’s Hawaii Landscape Painting class at the center, but just taking part in the class helped Gall.

“It gave her the opportunity to not think about cancer,” Latzka said, adding that it helped her friend to have time away from all the craziness in her life.

At the end of the four-week class the friends completed their first piece. “Michaelle created a beautiful painting,” Latzka, said. That encouraged them to sign up for another class. But two weeks after the end of the first class, Gall passed away just shy of her 42nd birthday. Now, Gall’s family keeps the sunset painting she created as a cherished memory. “Her husband refers to it as ‘Michaelle’s sunrise and sunset,'” Latzka said.

Midweek

Landscapes, snakes on the art scene
by Suzanne Tswei

ART lovers have grown accustomed to the shock of the new every year at the "Artists of Hawaii" exhibit at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. But this year, the surprise may be the pleasant landscapes of the sort that look good above the sofa and won't raise eyebrows."The word I am hearing back is that there is a nice feel of Hawaii to the show," said Jennifer Seville, the academy's curator of Western art. "I think people are responding to the representational landscapes. For some reason, this year there are a lot of wonderful paintings, and they are Hawaiian landscapes."

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that this year's juror was Wayne Thiebaud, a San Francisco artist known for his exuberant landscapes.

Out of 1,113 entries submitted by 454 artists, Thiebaud culled 94 pieces by 92 artists for the annual statewide, all-media exhibit. Cash awards were given to:

Dennis McGeary, Melusine Award for Painting, $1,000

Charles Cohan, Roselle Davenport Award for Artistic Excellence, $1,000

Chris Campbell, Jean Charlot Foundation Award for Excellence, $500

Kids get their turn at PAINTING
Ho'okele Magazine | Mar 16, 2018

Dennis McGeary leads his group of young artists during one of the Cookies and Canvas sessions at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Arts and Crafts Center.

Now kids on base get to have their own painting party, just like the ones their parents and other grownups do. Cookies and Canvas is a new activity at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Arts and Crafts Center and it’s geared strictly to youth.
This single session at the center guides the kids through the process of creating their own painted masterpiece on canvas, while enjoying a sweet treat. Held every other Wednesday, each session features a different subject. The intent is to create a fun learning experience revolving around art.

dennis mcGeary

Publications / Press / Media

Surprised by Grace

An Art Cathedral

HI ON ART 9 - A Vanderpoel Film

Folio 94 : conversation for those who create

Friends find escape, comfort through painting classes

Midweek

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