ARTIST STATEMENT || as it pertains to the culturally based imagery.

In the African American community, we are slowly rediscovering our history that has not been fully illustrated. It’s my job as visual communicator to review historical information and inform the community by bringing these concepts to life and help visually define our identity. And to distribute these stories about the strengths and trials of the African American community.

I want to illustrate the life-cycle of the inner life of a black person. From innocent to informed. From recklessly defiant to determined. How the weight of American history can either crush you or harden you. And, how either result often has to be hidden from view just to get through the day. The anger of the African-American community is often portrayed as a threat. The anger of “traditional’ communities is depicted as righteous. This paradigm feeds stress and despair back into black lives and thus stokes the fires we try to simultaneously hide and harness.

Currently, there is a newly intensified wave of empathetic consciousness in all forms of artistic output. I want the community to seize this moment in history to create work that tells a story and compels them to seek out empathy and activism for the sake of others. My hope is the work I’m creating can help do that. I want to spark conversations that have, historically, been hard to start.

ARTIST STATEMENT || concerning the landscapes.

I create free standing crumpled paper still-lifes, then photograph them and manipulate the images until I’ve created something that straddles reality and fantasy. I want to show you something familiar and then alter your perspective. These shapes and “views” are familiar but I want to you conjure up places you have been and seen. Not simply reproduce a vista for its own sake.

I combine my love of photography, art and graphic design to create works that speak to the viewer by communicating something specific and obvious but also harboring subtexts that require repeated viewing or discussion. My work as a graphic designer has been to communicate quickly and efficiently through logo and branding work. That economy of message can be applied to art.

Exhibitions

June 2023 | Generation Loss: Image Making in an Age of Over-Saturation
Group Show, Cloud Tree Gallery, Austin Texas

November 2022 | PYRE Solo Show
Ivester Contemporary, Austin Texas

March 2022 | From Innocent to Informed Solo Show
Anya Tish Gallery, Houston, Texas

Feb - Mar 2022 | Juneteenth Cincinnati: Voices of Freedom Group Show
Exhibition Types: Lindner Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio

February 2022 | Bárbara Miñarro/Dave McClinton: Negotiation Spaces
Art Department at Austin Community College, Austin Texas

October 2021 | All Due Respect: Solo Show
Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, Lubbock Texas

August 2021 | Fortune Teller: Group Show
Ivester Contemporary, Austin Texas

March 2021 | State of Being
Commerce Gallery, Lockhart Texas

December 2020 | Absolute Relativism
A Solo show at Ivester Contemporary, Austin Texas

October 2020 | Reinventing the Rules: Group Show
Ivester Contemporary, Austin Texas

JULY 10, 2020 | “THIS IS AMERICA”
A group show at 5 Points Art Gallery & Studios, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

June 2020 | ‘Unique by Nature’ Juried Art Show.
McKinney Performing Arts Center

October 2019 | Austin, Texas | Atelier 1205
Laura Caffrey and Dave McClinton: CARRY THE REMAINDER

October 2020 | Select as Poster Artist for the Texas Book Festival

May 2019 | Austin, Texas
WEST Austin Studio Tour 2019: As a guest of National Geographic photographer Greg Davis at Gusto Studios.

January 2019 | Austin, Texas | Dougherty Arts Center
Despite It All: A solo show of the artwork of Dave McClinton.

November 2018 | Austin, Texas
ARTBASH returns in 2018 to the Native in East Austin. The opening celebration will take place on Friday, November 9th and consist of a Preview Reception and party to follow ARTBASH will layer temporary site-specific installations and performance pieces to create a dynamic and exciting evening for art and highlight November as Austin Art Month.

September 8 - October 28, 2018 | Austin, Texas
Group Show at Sixth Street Gallery by CAMIBA art: Past and Present - Past and Present showcases artist who are using old mediums to have current conversations and present mediums to continue old conversations. The works included in this exhibition range in media and depict different narratives and realities.

May 2018 | Austin, Texas
WEST Austin Studio Tour 2018: Temporary exhibit featured 15 professional artists in the historic upstairs space at Antone's Nightclub. 

Feb 2018 | Austin, Texas
People's Gallery 2018 Exhibition at Austin City Hall: The Cultural Arts Division announces the opening of the 14th annual People’s Gallery exhibition at Austin City Hall! Featuring a wide array of painting, sculpture, drawing and other media by 102 artists from across the Austin area. More here: http://www.austintexas.gov/peoplesgallery. 

November 2017 | Austin, Texas
EAST Austin Studio Tour 2017: During the East Austin Studio Tour, a group of twenty artists joined Austin Art Refugees and exhibited at EAST tour stop, The North Door.

May 2017 | Brooklyn, New York
Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Arts: May 12th to June 4th, this exhibition will highlight both emerging and established artist of the African Diaspora, many of which have previously exhibited at MoCADA and supported MoCADA since its inception. This exhibition will also serve as an opportunity for patrons to support MoCADA’s mission of using art to build community, by purchasing a piece of artwork. 

May 2017 | Austin, Texas
WEST Austin Studio Tour 2017: at the Mercury Mambo office building located at 1107 S. 8th St. This temporary exhibit featured ten professional artists. 

Spring 2017 | Austin, Texas
THE ART OF CELEBRATION: January 18th - April 8th: Co-created by Art for the People and Austin Blanks. The power of twenty-one artists and their unique interpretation of celebration. A percentage of sales will go to support local art nonprofits; Hope Outdoor Gallery and Share Art Heal.

December 2016 | Austin, Texas
VERGE Winter Arts Show: Sunday, December 4, 2016: Austin’s premiere fine art pop-up show returns for it’s winter installment on Sunday, December 4th, 2:00pm- 8:00pm at the Aveda Institute. 

November 2016 | Austin, Texas
EAST Austin Studio Tour 2016: Austin Art Refugees, a collection of Austin-based artists, found a home for East. Exhibiting the work of six artists in a restored turn of the century east side Austin craftsman style home. 

May 2016 | Austin, Texas
WEST Austin Studio Tour 2016: Austin Art Refugees presents SOUND:VISION featuring five Austin artists. Each artist brings a unique interpretation to the exhibition's theme influenced by the sounds created at our temporary, nontraditional gallery within Space Rehearsal & Recording. 

March 2016 | Austin, Texas
VERGE Spring Arts Show: UNREAL- A Night of Art and Music: A diverse show of 16 hand-picked local artists, with a light focus on surreal, stylized and illustrative artwork. 

November 2015 | Austin, Texas
EAST Austin Studio Tour 2015: During the East Austin Studio Tour, a group of twenty artists joined Austin Art Refugees and exhibited at EAST tour stop, The North Door.