Douglas Cason-
…and with the ever increasing reduction of information due to short attention spans, brief media bytes and the loss of the library’s influence allows for a more rapid spread of
misinformation in the guise of truth. The gray area between truth and fiction is my
playground. The works created are a grouping of truths and half-truths based on parallel research of ancient civilization, fin de siecle and contemporary attitudes in a vicious effort to create newer truisms over and over again until they become a new history of the world."
- Douglas Cason
From readily accessible digital media and online social networks, a new fashion of (desperate)
narcissism and pornography has risen to serve as the modern day booty call.
Bevies of individuals now seek to reconceive their identities in a virtual world. Although some
people will use their real names, most who use the Internet for the purpose of reinvention prefer
the use of pseudonyms, which often reveal subtle or metaphorical hints of personal information.
As users interact with an established online identity a reputation builds which enables others to
decide whether the identity is worthy of trust.
The concept of the personal self, and how emerging technology influences it is currently studied
in the fields of psychology and sociology. Research suggests that unwise and uninhibited
behavior on the Internet rises as a result of the relationship between anonymity and (immediate)
audience gratification creating a loosening or even complete abandonment of social restrictions
and reticence that would otherwise be present in traditional face-to-face interactions.
The notion of “You don’t know me” equates to simple anonymity. Anonymity affords a sense of
protection, and feeling protected provides an individual with a virtual playground allowing for a
meaningful release. The release may be as simple as making a comment that would otherwise be
embarrassing in a conventional interaction, or as complex as an outlet for sexual fantasies.
Certain release-seekers photograph themselves in the mirror or with their own extended arm
striking seductive poses in scant clothing.
These studies in particular are the focus of my Zepeda paintings.
The women depicted show a complexity of character in an easily dismissed, attention deficit fed
forum. The need for the subject to photograph herself, rather than trusting another individual to
assist her may suggest the woman’s distrust of a flesh and blood world, finding the virtual world
more accepting and forgiving. Contrarily it may point to an isolation that previously existed, and a
need for attention that has not been gratified with real human contact. The isolation apparent in
each of these photographs is compounded by inattention for the setting or quality of the
photograph. Neglected environments made of dirty laundry, unmade beds, empty food containers
and flashes from the camera share the scene in a large collection of these on-line photos. The
disheveled environment casts a light on the women’s detachment from the material world, and
lack of interest in her daily drudgeries. The anticipated adoration waiting online preempts in
importance the need to care for home.
- Douglas Cason as Zepeda
Oil Painting on wood panel
Reverend Wayne -
"In an effort to connect the contemporary art of major, metropolitan areas to the
traditional decor of rural homes, Douglas Cason created the identity of the
Reverend Wayne to engage with the familial memorabilia, steeped in tradition
and often passed down through generations in these homes. The resulting
artwork is a process-oriented transformation that bends the original purpose to
one of a more modern aesthetic."
- Douglas Cason as Reverend Wayne
CV
1995 BFA, University of Texas at Austin
Solo and Small Group Exhibitions
2015 F(r)iction, Brenham Heritage Museum, Brenham, Texas 2014 Terminal Inexactitudes in Circumlocution, Avis Frank Gallery, Houston, Texas 2011 Explicit Content, Avis Frank Gallery, Galveston, Texas 2011 Discarded, Gallery 1724, Houston, Texas
2011 Zepeda likes this, Gallery 1724, Houston, Texas
2009 RAW, Three person show, O’Kanes Gallery, the University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, Texas
2007 Magnificent Obsession, Irvine Valley, Irvine, California
2006 Unhinging the Distance, Kathy Kelley-curator, Commerce Street Warehouse, Houston, Texas
2006 MFA Thesis Exhibition, Blaffer Gallery, Houston, Texas
2006 Small Things in Large Spaces, Projex Gallery, Houston, Texas
2005 No Body Puts Baby in a Corner, Redbud Gallery, Houston, Texas
2004 Keep These Objects Safe, Mackey Gallery, Houston, Texas
2003 Artificial Artifacts, The Davenport, Houston, Texas
2002 Sub-Surfaces, Forbidden, Dallas, Texas
Selected Group Exhibitions
2011 Spectrum, Lisa Qualls-curator, Avis Frank Gallery, Galveston, Texas2012 Ladies Show, Parlor Gallery, Asbury Park, New Jersey 2012 Texas National, Dave Hickey-juror, Cole Art Center, Nacogdoches, Texas
2011 Curation Myth, Cameron Blaylock and Stephen Thomson-curator, Box 13 Artspace, Houston, Texas
2011 Reflections, Scott Lykin and Tom Richard-curator, LTC Gallery, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Monticello, Arkansas
2011 Intersecting the Book, Ray Ogar-curator, Baum Gallery, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas
2010 Gambol, Miranda Lash-juror, Art League of Houston, Houston, Texas
2010 Raining Cats and Dogs: Invitational Group Exhibition, Mother Dog Studios, Houston,Texas.
2010 Salon des Refuses, Gallery 1724, Houston, Texas
2010 The Big Show, Paul Middendorf -juror, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, Texas
2010 Self Portrait Show, Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, New York.
2010 Faculty Show, College of the Mainland, Texas City, Texas
2010 Texas National, Judy Pfaf-juror, Cole Art Center, Nacogdoches, Texas
2010 The Dirty Show 11, Bert's Warehouse Theater, Detroit, Michigan
2010 Nude 2010, Lexington Art League, Lexington, Kentucky
2009 The Motel Show, City Center Motel, Los Angeles, California
2009 The Dirty Show 10.5, Bert's Warehouse Theater, Detroit, Michigan
2009 The Big Show, Laura Fried-juror, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, Texas
2009 12 x 12 x 122, BECA Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
2009 Texas National, Mel Chin-juror, Cole Art Center, Nacogdoches, Texas
2009 Sketchbook Project, traveling show, originating at Art House
2008 Erotica, Gallery Lombardi, Ron Prince & Rachel Koper-jurors, Austin, Texas
2008 2nd Place, The Big Show, Aram Moshayedi. -juror, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, Texas
2008 Faculty Show, College of the Mainland, Texas City, Texas
2007 The Book “ever after”, College of the Mainland, Texas City, Texas
2007 Works on Paper, Clint Willour and Anne Wilkes Tucker-jurors, Abercrombie Gallery, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana
2007 Bookworks, Clint Willour-curator, Galveston Arts Center, Galveston, Texas
2006 Honorable Mention, The Figure Show, TAACCL, Nassau Bay, Texas
2006 Caged fish and Gloryholes, Buffalo Bayou Art Park-Law Offices, Houston, Texas
2006 2nd Place, Erotica, KSpace Art Studios, Corpus Christi, Texas
2005 P-philia, Bootleg Studios, Houston, Texas
2005 Erotica, Gallery Lombardi, Austin, Texas
2005 The Back Room, 101 Gallery, Houston, Texas
2005 Hello Again, TAACCL, Nassau Bay, Texas
2005 The Big Show, Michael Olijnyk-juror, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, Texas
2005 Best in Show, Erotica, KSpace Art Studios, Corpus Christi, Texas
2004 Line Up: A Drawing Show, 101 Gallery, Houston, Texas
2004 Rock, Paper, Scissors, Commerce Street Warehouse, Houston, Texas
2003 Miniature, Hooks-Epstein Gallery, Houston Texas
50/50, Commerce Street Warehouse, Houston, Texas
Art Car Showcase, Local Arts Houston, Houston, Texas
2001 Faculty Show, College of the Mainland, Texas City, Texas
2000 Puppets and Rockets, Forbidden, Dallas, Texas
Bibliography
Ray Ogar, “Pilcrow 02” http://www.lulu.com/, 2010
Lisa Qualls, RAW, http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/901291, 2009.
Felipe Barral, “2800 Sketchbooks”, CNN, (uncredited) http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/living/2009/04/27/barral.sketchbook.project.cnn
Rob Kimberly, “Review: RAW at O'Kane Gallery”, http://www.29-95.com/art/story/review-raw-okane-gallery, Fall 2009.
Bob Stevenson, “Big Show interview”, originally aired on The Front Row, 07/14/2008 on KUHF 88.7, Houston, Texas
Catherine Lu, “Bookworks interview”, originally aired on The Front Row, 02/12/2007 on KUHF 88.7, Houston, Texas.
T.L. Hamilton, “Exhibition spotlights use of text, books in art,” The Galveston Daily News, January 21, 2007, D1-2.
Dusti Rhodes, “Painters’ influences run wild,” The Daily Cougar, April 19, 2006, 8.
Roxanne Gayle, “Erotica puts you in the mood for Valentine’s Day,” fyi, Volume 2, Issue 6, February 2006, 14.
Kathy Kelley, “Doug Cason: One heck of an artist and all around nice guy”, http://www.kkelley.net/uhkk/writing/dougcason.htm, Fall 2005.
Selected Public and Private Collections
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston, Texas
Tom and Barbara Solis, Houston, Texas
Dixie Friend Gay, Houston, Texas
Apama Mackey, Houston, Texas
Gus and Sharon Kopriva, Houston, Texas
Todd Wingate, Riverside, California