Specimen #2 by Dick Lane, on exhibit at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art.
The Lead On, Creatively series highlights TCU College of Fine Arts alumni, students and faculty who are putting their passion into practice.
We spoke to Dick Lane, professor and Director of the School of Art, about his unique work acquired for the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art’s permanent collection. Lane was featured in “Awe-some,” an exhibition celebrating leading fine art photographers.
Lane stayed in close contact with his former graduate professor, who mentioned the opportunity to have work featured at the museum.
“I genuinely loved the experience of my education,” said Lane. “The bonus was becoming friends and colleagues with those that helped me along the way.”
What does it mean to have your work included in the Harn’s permanent collection?”
It is an incredible honor to be in the permanent collection of the Harn Museum. An artist’s goal is to have work collected by individuals and institutions. On a human level, it certainly feels like validation for the time and energy put into every facet of the journey.
Dick Lane, professor and Director of the School of Art.
What is your area of focus in fine arts photography?
My work is in the realm of landscape. I manipulate the images through handwork and software. Conceptually my work explores the varying interpretations of the landscape through different mediums, including storytelling, metaphors and documentaries.
What themes do you explore through your work?
My work at the Harn is from a series called “Specimens,” resulting from surviving a misdiagnosis of Crohn’s disease when I actually had chronic appendicitis and a ruptured appendix.
In the grand scheme of things, my work has always touched on nature as a metaphor for the human experience. Being an artist allows me to explore the themes of life as they apply to me and hopefully to others as well.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists?
The “myth of being an artist” is that…a myth. Constant work and acceptance of failure are required steps to excel in your craft. The best teacher is artwork that fails because you can learn and gain insight.
Fear of failure hinders pushing your skills and concepts to the limit and instead, you will continue working in a safe territory where there is nothing to gain.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on multiple photography projects. It’s a strategy I adopted years ago to keep me busy throughout the year. I’m still working with subjects in nature and exploring color, light and abstraction.