Artist Biography: California-born mixed-media, multi-visual creative Spirit Dune-Micheli Patten seriously started his professional career in 2002; although, Patten has enjoyed inclusion into numerous group exhibitions- previous to 2002- to get his feet wet while under study at The University of Houston. Houston-based, although world-focused, Dune-Micheli is largely a self-taught artist and is always in search and support for artistic research and development. Dune says, "...that in order to be a viable entity one must become like Abraham who wandered in the wilderness following his own path in faith that he was destined for something better. And in doing so, God was with him." Dune has shown and continues to show his works in group and individual exhibitions around the Houston area; as well as both nationally and internationally. A promising career was almost ended when, in the Fall of 2001, he was victim of an automobile accident which left him partially paralyzed and in rehabilitation that lasted almost another year. During this time, he turned inward to his spirituality; that is to say, a God-focused spirituality. Seeking peace- listening to music and reading poetry- which also found himself in uncharted territory; he began, again, to read books. In this, he says, "My passion was slowly restored. This restoration led me to explore a new way of thinking and using my art." His spiritual strength, passion, and fortitude led to his miraculous recovery and first major installation project titled, "Treasures in Jars of Glass: Modern-Day Essenes," at Project Row Houses- Third Ward, TX. This is installation resonated with the spirit of discovered truth and his testimony. Dune says, "Art is not simply communication. For me, art is a substantial transference of energy; with the Spirit at the core of it. Art should say nothing; but it should be true and resonate everything. Art should be spherical; going in all directions but still having a specific point- it's origin. In my opinion, if art communicated more than one thing, then it lies to itself and to the audience. To this mean, I have sought to develop a style in which to 'speak' without compromising my position of not using art solely as a communicative tool. I had to somehow fit my ideal into a form in which art and communication could reasonably merge and become one flesh. In doing this, I was faced with the challenge of appropriating a language in which communication would be clearly understood." Furthermore, He says, "Everything became referential- words, text, signs, symbols; everything. A spherical collection. In all this, while repristinating a childlike innocence and sensibility to keep it simple and pure, a language library began to emerge. This two year journey was the birth of my new style which I have termed URBAN EXPRESSIONISM- copyright 2002"

Updated November 9, 2008