PHOTOGRAPHIC
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Present—1985 Denis Kelly, World Photographer, LLC: Self-employed
producing portraits, landscapes and audio recordings worldwide. Personal
assignments have taken Denis to four continents through wilderness areas,
ancient ceremonial sites and modern cities. His photographs have appeared
in gallery exhibitions, in national magazines and newspapers, in most
all the local press, and in hundreds of private collections. He produces
large-format Gicleé photographs and digital audio recordings.
Currently, he is touring two multimedia exhibitions: "Life on the
Edge--Eco-conscience" and “Holy Lands, Journeys of a Pilgrim
Artist”.
Present—2009 Adjunct Instructor of Digital Photography at the
Art Institute of Indianapolis. Awarded Part-time/Adjunct Faculty of
the Quarter, 2011.You may hear an interview with Denis on WFYI Public
radio's show, "The Art of the Matter" .
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, graduated
1984; Major study of World Religions, and significant study of Art,
Philosophy, Anthropology and Biology
Apprenticed to Fine Artists Sandy Skoglund and Agnes Denes, New York
City, ‘83. Mentoring by Agnes Denes has continued throughout the
years.
“The Digital Photography Summit” Vail, CO, 2002 with James
Balog, Joe MacNally, Dave Black, Chris Anderson, et al. Denis exhibited,
"New York City and Our Current Crisis"
Sponsored participant in, “Survival and the Arts, a Global Forum
at Sundance” 1992.
Black and White Photography with Michael Bowman, Indianapolis Art League,
1989-’90.
Color Photography with Chris Scoates, Indianapolis Art League, 1986-’87.
Cardinal Ritter High School, Science and English Major, graduated 1980;
Essentials of Photography with Fr. Papano, 1977-’78. He set up
a darkroom in 1977 and has had one continuously ever since. Now it includes
high performance, color-managed computers and an Epson 9800 archival
wide-format printer.
EXHIBITIONS
(* One-man shows):
2011 *"Life
on the Edge--Eco-Conscience", Marian University, Indianapolis,
co-sponsored by the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Marian University’s
Center for Organizational Ethics and Richard G. Lugar Franciscan Center
for Global Studies at the conference, "Super Cities Don't Wreak
their Watery Worlds"
2011 "New Art Exhibition" the Offices of the Mayor of Indianapolis,
25th floor of the City County Building
2011 *"Beloved Community with Diverse Origins", Christian
Theological Seminary, Indianapolis
2011 *"Holy Lands, Journeys of a Pilgrim Artist, VIII", Brebeuf
Jesuit Preparatory School, Indianapolis
2010 "Faculty Art", The Art Institute of Indianapolis
2010 "Indianapolis Arts" the Offices of the Mayor of Indianapolis,
25th floor of the City County Building
2010 * "Holy Lands, Journeys of a Pilgrim Artist, VII (Origins)",
Mordoh Art Gallery, JCC, Indianapolis
2010 * "Holy Lands, Journeys of a Pilgrim Artist, VI", including
poetry inspired by the artworks by Norbert Kropf, Joe Heithaus, Ruthelen
Burns and Joyce Brinkman, Indiana Interchurch Center
2009/10 *”Holy Lands, Journeys of a Pilgrim Artist, V” Clowes
Memorial Hall of Butler University, Indpls. Co-sponsored by The Peace
Learning Center and International Interfaith Initiative with generous
support from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
2009 "Entering in..., the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem"
at “The Confluence of Religion and Politics” with a Keynote
conversation between Hon. Lee Hamilton and Rev. Richard Hamilton
2009 "Entering in..., the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem"
at “The Other Peace Process: Inter-religious
Dialogue in Israel in the Service of Peace”
2009 * “Holy Lands, Journeys of a Pilgrim Artist, IV” Wabash
College, Crawfordsville, Indiana
2008 “Cranes Ascending” The Nest Gallery, Carmel, Indiana
*“Holy Lands, Journeys of a Pilgrim Artist, III” Chase Tower
on the Circle, Indianapolis
*“Holy Lands, Journeys of a Pilgrim Artist, II” Christian
Theological Seminary, Indianapolis
2007 *“Holy Lands, Journeys of a Pilgrim Artist” The Gallery
Below the Sanctuary, FMHPC, Indianapolis
* “Liberal Arts among Natural Beauty” 30 piece Permanent
Exhibition, The Center for Inquiry in the Liberal Arts, Wabash College
2005 “Communion in Faith”, Santiago Apostol, Honduras, Central
America
2003/4 *“In the Wake Zone”, exhibition and Artist-in-Residence,
Marian College, Indianapolis
2002 *“New York City and Our Current Crisis”, Mordoh Art
Gallery, JCC, Indianapolis
2001 “Among Ancient Cypress, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Florida,
USA” EyeBlink Gallery, Indianapolis. Nominated for inclusion in
the Indianapolis Museum of Art Collection
2000 “Art and Healing” Riley Children’s Hospital purchased
twenty-two large pieces for permanent exhibition.
2000 “INVISION 2000”, The Indianapolis Artsgarden
1999 “INVISION 1999”, The Indianapolis, Artsgarden.
1998 “ The Amazon”, Two pieces in The Alliance Gallery at
the Indianapolis Museum of Art
“ INVISION ‘98”, The Indianapolis Artsgarden.
1996 * “The Quinault Rain Forest”, Design Industries Gallery,
New York City.
* “In the Flow of Wildness”, Borders at River Crossing,
Indianapolis, Indiana.
1995 “Glimpses of Refreshing Wildness”, “INVISION
‘95”, Capital Center, Indianapolis.
1995 “Killing Acres of Neighborhood Trees To Pave a Parking Lot,
Indianapolis”, Churchman- Fehsenfeld Gallery, Indianapolis, Indiana.
1994 * “Great Forests of the Americas II”, The Gallery Center,
Indianapolis, Indiana.
“ INVISION ‘94”, Stephen Rose Gallery, Indianapolis,
Indiana.
1993 * “Moments of Grace in Wild Places”, Books and Co.,
Dayton, Ohio.
“Art After Wabash”, Eric Dean Gallery, Wabash College, Crawfordsville,
Indiana.
1992 * “Great Forests of the Americas”, William Engle Gallery,
Indianapolis, Indiana. “Ancient Sequoias by the Light of Venus
and the Stars”, awarded in
Creative Images, Churchman-Fehsenfeld Gallery, Indianapolis.
1991 * Agnes Denes’ New York loft showing resulting in an invitation
to “Survival and the Arts:
A Global Forum at Sundance” and purchase by a collector.
“A Daughter of the Native Peoples, Guatemala, awarded in Creative
Images.
1990 “The Sanctuary of Santa Katerina, Peru”, Churchman-Fehsenfeld
Gallery, Indianapolis.
“Indigenous Guatemala”, Pilsin Art Tour, Chicago.
1989 * “Life in the Spirit, Close to the Earth”, William
Engle Gallery, Indianapolis.
“A Garden Walk...”, Twining Gallery, SoHo, New York City.
* “Lest We Too Fall...Machu Picchu” Eli Lilly and Company,
Indianapolis.
“Two Great Cities”, The Greenhouse, Indianapolis.
1988 “Indiana Directions ‘88”, competition judged
by Anthony Jones, Indianapolis Art League. Awarded The Glick Purchase
Award.
* “World Photography”, Books and Co., Dayton, Ohio.
“New Works 1988”, Alliance Gallery, Indianapolis Museum
of Art.
“Creative Images”, Indianapolis Art League judged by Brooks
Johnson.
“Machu Picchu composite no. 1”, Marian College, Indianapolis.
* “Children of Peru”, Allisonville Elementary School, Indianapolis.
1987 * “Peru Photographs”, PAX/I Gallery on the Circle,
Indianapolis.
* “Images of My Journey to Peru”, Crystal Mountain, Indianapolis.
“Pan-American Arts”, Clowes Memorial Hall, Indianapolis.
“Creative Images”, Indianapolis Art League judged by Willis
Hartshorn.
“Indiana Hosts the Pan-Am Games”, CCA Gallery, Indianapolis.
MAJOR PHOTOGRAPHIC TRIPS: (*featured in exhibitions)
*Germany and Austria, ancestral homeland for my mother's and part of
my father's families, 2010.
*Israel/Palestine, major pilgrimage sites for Judaism, Christianity
and Islam, 2006
* Redwood Forests and coast of Northern California including the Russian
Ft. Ross Chapel, 2006
*Ireland, pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick, Inis Mor, the Burren, and Holy
Island, 2004.
*Manhattan, NYC, 18 months after 9/11, Denis took his exhibition, “New
York City and Our Current Crisis” to artist, Agnes Denes, and
curator, Lisa Schiller, who gave their endorsement of its value. Agnes
offered to curate an exhibition one day. Lisa added her journal entry
of the 9/11 ordeal to the exhibition. He photographed and recorded audio
for the developing perspective.
*Honshu, Japan... photographing, chanting prayers and recording audio
in Christian and Buddhist monasteries, among natural wonders and the
Peace Park of Hiroshima, January, 2003.
*Colorado Rockies and Northern California, two trips June and August,
2002
*NYC just after the WTC attack, near ground zero, He produced portraits
and cityscapes and shared stories and recorded live audio on DAT, September,
2001
*The West of Ireland, Inish Mor, June 2000. 4x5” portraits and
landscapes.
*Rome, Italy visiting his artistic mentor Agnes Denes at the American
Academy, 1998.
North Woods along Lake Superior and in wolf country, N.E. Minnesota,
‘94 & ‘95.
South West Florida: back-bay estuaries, Corkscrew Swamp..., Nov. ‘93,
March ‘94.
North West Coastal United States: Quinault Rain Forest and Redwood forests...,
November-- December, 1992.
Ireland: Glendalough, the Burren, Slea Head..., October--November,1991.
Northern California: Yosemite, Redwoods..., January--February, 1991.
Belize, Central America: Maya descendants, Vaca river valley, Xunantunich,
Barrier Reef..., March-April, 1989.
Guatemala, Central America: Maya descendants, Peten Rain Forest, Tikal,
Volcanoes, Holy Week in Antigua..., March--April, 1989.
Peru, South America: Andes, Machu Picchu, Holy Week in Lima, Amazon
Rain Forest..., March--April, 1986.
Ireland: Gaelic Speaking Irish, Connemara, Glendalough, New Grange,
Dublin during Christmas..., November 1984--February 1985.
Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, February--March, 1985.
SELECTED PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
"The Art of the Matter", special interview for NPR channel
90.1 WFYI, 12/2010
Colloquium in conjunction with "Holy Lands..." exhibition,
Wabash College "Big Bash", 2009
“Reflections of a Pilgrim Artist”, Christian Theological
Seminary, Indianapolis 1/08
“The Art of the Matter”, featured interview for NPR channel
90.1 WFYI, 11/02
“New York City and Our Current Crisis” Carmel Junior High
School 9/11/02
“What Makes a Photograph a Work of Art?”, The Photography
Gallery, 2000.
“Moments of Grace in Rome” The Indianapolis Art Center,
1999
“My Work as a ‘World Photographer’ ”, Books
and Co., Dayton, Ohio, 1993.
“Great Forests and my Aesthetic”, William Engle Gallery,
1992.
“The Wilderness of Belize”, The Indianapolis Art League,
1990.
“Life in the Spirit, Close to the Earth”, William Engle
Gallery, 1989.
REVIEWS AND ARTICLES:
NUVO blog review of "Holy Lands, Journeys of a Pilgrim Artist"
at IIC, 10, 2010
“Activate Brotherhood: Denis Ryan Kelly Jr.” The Shield
of Phi Kappa Psi, 2007 Annual Report
“Sacred Spaces, Rising Sun”, cover story by Steve Charles,
Wabash Magazine, Fall 2003
“New York City and Our Current Crisis”, NUvo, July, 2002
“An Eye for Creation”, by Steve Charles, Wabash Magazine,
summer 1997
“Still Photographer Straddles Worlds of Painting, Cinema”,
by Steve Mannheimer,
The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, August 30, 1992.
“Twenty minutes with...” by Carol Weiss, Arts Indiana, May,
1992.
“Local Artist Shoots for the Planet”, by Carol Elrod, The
Indianapolis Star, May 18,’91
“What is a Photograph?” by Brandon Mitchner, Wabash Notes,
Fall, 1987.
“Creative Images”, by Michael Odem, New Art Examiner, May,
1987.
SOLO A CAPPELLA SINGING AND DANCE PERFORMANCES: (*recording available)
"100 Acre Arts Park and the Rhythms of Life Percussion and Dance
Ensemble", Indianapolis Museum of Art, July, 2010 Denis danced,
photographed, audio recorded and
* "Ave Maria" at the Church of Reconciliation, Dachau Concentration
Camp, Germany, 2010
* “Ave Maria” at the Church of the Annunciation and Incarnation,
Nazareth, 2006
*“Were you there?” Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem,
2006
“Rhythms of Life” Indianapolis Museum of Art, 2006
“Wind upon the waters” Rose Awards, Indiana Convention Center,
3/2005
“Spring” Rhythms of Life Ensemble, Indianapolis Artsgarden,
3/2005
“Tis a Gift to be Simple”, Rhythms of Life Ensemble, Burkhart
Elementary, Indianapolis 2/2005
“Day of the Innocent, Rhythms of Life Ensemble, Indianapolis Arts
Center, 12/2002
“Remembrance”, Rhythms of Life Ensemble, Indianapolis Museum
of Art, 9/11/2002
“Art and Healing”, Rhythms of Life Ensemble, Marriott Hotel,
downtown Indianapolis 11/2002
“Becoming”, Theater of Inclusion, CTS Auditorium, Indianapolis,
November, 2001
Schubert’s “Ave Maria” for the congregation and Archbishop
to the United Nations at Santa Maria in Trestevere, Rome, Italy, 1998
