Robert Dean Stockwell: Collages and Bones 
Click here to listen to the Stockwell interview on KTAO Radio (mp3 file - may take several minutes to download using high speed internet connection)

An element of risk is always involved when an artist tries a new medium. But artist Robert Dean Stockwell thrives on dicey situations that stretch his creative juices. When he “rolls them bones” – a colloquial term for tossing dice – everyone wins. Because of their color, shape, wit and enigmatic qualities, Stockwell’s pieces are simply irresistible. There’s not a snake eye in the bunch. His foray into three dimensional art is another example of the depth of Stockwell’s intuitive creativity. The overall effect of the multi-colored dice in these works, with the pips placed randomly, creates an abstract plane that is enigmatic as well as beguiling. Light flowing through the varying colors creates a kaleidoscopic effect.

The artist relies on his fertile intuition in creating the collages. “I look for something that represents a stage where elements can be found that create a drama,” Stockwell says. “Then I look for ingredients that go with that piece. It’s all intuitive.” The narratives that arise from Stockwell’s subconscious have a surrealistic edge that beckons viewers to track the symbolism underlying the juxtaposition of the images. As the dots are connected, the artist’s unique perception is revealed.

Mr. Stockwell has had one man shows at the Craig Krull Gallery in Santa Monica, Gerald Peters in Dallas, as well as the R. B. Ravens Gallery in Ranchos de Taos. He has a host of collectors, including Dennis Hopper and director David Lynch. Mr. Stockwell, also known as “Brother Cavil” on the television series Battlestar Galactica, has been an actor most of his life, appearing in such films as Long Day’s Journey into Night and Blue Velvet.