On Tuesday evening, October 21, the GANG (Geauga Arts Network Group) will visit the studio of abstract impressionist artist Dennis Killeen at 119 Main Street on Chardon Square. The general public is invited to attend this educational program in which teacher and multi-media artist Deb Steytler will be painting Killeen’s portrait “live,” as Killeen shares stories of his life as an artist, Global Volunteer, and former music industry executive. The program will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Refreshments will be provided and guests are encouraged to bring finger-food appetizers or desserts to share.
After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a major in painting and a minor in French, Killeen intended to go to graduate school at Yale University, but joined the army reserve as a military policeman instead. He eventually landed a job creating the in-house advertising agency for Capitol Records, spending over ten years in the fast-paced record industry, including a stint as marketing director for CBS Disques in Paris and lastly as CBS International VP Creative Operations, Europe.
In the mid-80s, he began reprioritizing his life to make room for art and family. One of eight children, Killeen had close family in Northeast Ohio. Not long after retiring from the music business in 1985, he found his way home to help care for his mother. In 1987, he happened upon, and fell in love with, the then vacant and dilapidated Odd Fellows’ Hall on the Square in Chardon. After a year rehabilitating it in accordance with National Historic Register guidelines, he opened his studio space there in November of 1988 – kicking off a renaissance of Chardon, Ohio’s Main Street.
With friends in many corners of the world and years of volunteer service with the Global Volunteers Organization, Killeen is well-traveled. His life experiences are the inspiration for his work which adorns the walls of his studio/gallery. Steytler, who will be painting his portrait during the GANG program, is a long-time admirer of Killeen’s work and teaches art at Chardon High School.
The Killeen Studio is not handicap accessible.
The Geauga Arts Network Group is an ad hoc group whose mission is to promote communication, collaboration, and cooperation across artistic disciplines for artists living and/or working in Geauga County. For further information, contact Joanne Durante, 440-729-6481.
More GANG news can be found HERE.
