Mark Dicey

Mark Dicey has been using percussion since the mid 70's as a way of exploring music and sound. From the 90's to present day, directions have been towards more experimental free improvised work collaborating with other local musicians. Groups that Dicey has played with in the past and works in presently are: Street of Crocodiles, Tomato Tomato, tokyosexwhale and scum de terre. Along with music and sound explorations Dicey has used performative work as a vehicle to physically bring the studio and creative process to the audience through action. This has led to many collaborations (duo and group) to pursue new levels of creative investigation.

During the past two decades Mark Dicey has entered into many creative activities in the Calgary Arts Community. Exhibiting in artist-run centres, public galleries, the commercial gallery setting and independent projects at temporary sites. As a practicing studio artist Mark Dicey works in painting, drawing, sculpture and installation.

Mark Dicey's recent work is influenced by many different sources: landscape and the human figure are main drivers in the generally abstract work. Other influences are sound and rhythm that Dicey pursues as a percussionist, listening to sounds/noises in our urban environment and tuning in to the rhythms of our own bodies. Also included in these observations are the processes and actions (pulsations) of making the work/objects in the studio. Dicey actively responds to the materials and processes used in making the work revealing the physical actions that take place. Dicey finds it important to use experimentation with/through process to investigate and re-investigate painting and drawing along with the other disciplines mentioned.