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Education
1973 BArch Science (Physics), University of Waterloo
1977 BArch. Environmental Studies (Pre-Professional Arch.), University of Waterloo
1979 BArch. Architecture, University of Waterloo
1973-1979 Attended Courses in the Fine Arts program at the University of Waterloo
1975-1978 History of Art in 4year Cultural History program(i.e.450BC to Present)
Solo Exhibitions
2018 Art Gallery of Sudbury,” Finding the Space, Finding the Figure
2016 Open Studio, Sudbury
1998 “97/6 Suite - New Work”, Laurentian University
1996 La Galerie du nouvel - ontario center d’artistes, Sudbury
1992 “My People: Recent Works”, Laurentian University Museum and Art Centre, Sudbury
Group Exhibitions
2009 sUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES, Art Gallery of Sudbury : Curated by Mary Sue Rankin
2005 ‘Trip the Switch”, Art Gallery of Sudbury
2001 Off 17 – on the verge, Art Gallery of Sudbury
1999 The Sudbury Basin: Industrial Topographies, Art Gallery of Sudbury
1998 Northern Visions, Art Gallery of Sudbury, Juried Exhibition
1997 Guest Artist -Toronto, suite of Rick Bartolucci M.P.P.
1997 “Sudbury Art Now”, Art Gallery of Sudbury
1992 “Dream Pipe de Reves”, Vacant Commercial Space, Sudbury
(Dennis Castellan, Ray Laporte, Luc Robert, Doug Donley)
1991 “Visual Arts of Sudbury - Sudbury Artists Retrospective”, Laurentian University Museum and Art Centre, Sudbury
1990 “Figure Drawings”, Carrefour Francophone, Sudbury
1988 “Five Artists”, V.I.P. Lounge, Work Junior Olympics, Laurentian University, (Dennis Castellan, Ray Laporte, David Blake, Bruno Cavallo, Gail Balfe)
1987 “Figure Drawings”, The Attic Sudbury (LUMAC)
“Figure Drawings”, Le Centre des Jeunes, Sudbury
Grants
1999 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
1998 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
1992 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
Reviews
2017 Sudbury Living Magazine
1999 Art and the Cityscape”,(Laurence Steven), Highgrader Magazine, Summer 1999
1998 “Northern Visions Features Many Fine Works, Sudbury Star (Rob O’Flannagan)
1996 Sudbury Star (Rob O’Flannagan)
1992 “Superstack surveyed”, Sudbury Star (Carolyn Fouriezos)
1992 “Castellan Exhibit has ‘poetic base’”, Sudbury Star (Chris Grant)
1989 “Drawing Show Well Attended”, Sudbury Star (David Paton)
Exhibition Catalogues
The Sudbury Basin: Industrial Topographies (1999) , Art Gallery of Sudbury
Commercial Gallery
Dennis was represented, in the past, by the Joan Ferneyhough Gallery, North Bay
Other
§ One of three artists short listed as a finalist for the Spanish War Memorial, Ottawa, Capital Hill (2001).An invited international competition for a memorial commemorating Canadians who fought for Spain in the Spanish war of 1939.
§ Paintings (3) hanging in the Superior Court of Justice (Sudbury)
§ Jury member on various juried art programs
§ Paintings in numerous private and corporate collections
§ Public Lectures given at Solo Exhibitions
§ Board Member at LUMAC(Laurentian University Museum and Arts Centre),predecessor to the Art Gallery of Sudbury
§ Founding Board Member of Art Gallery of Sudbury
About
“finding the figure, finding the space.
space finds the figure, the figure finds the space.”
‘Finding’ comes from an intentionally provocative process that begins either with a figure , or figures, which generates a spatial field - or, by first creating a spatial field and then allowing the figures to ‘find’ a place in that space.
In this way the gestural nature of line/form/figure and a space, together, create an emotionally charged image. It’s an iterative building up and building together process.
This approach relies on the power and suggestiveness of the figure, as a searching inquisitive line, or form, and the power and suggestiveness of the space of the picture plane evolving together. The space of being in, around and between are all fundamental to the work. My approach is relational and it’s ‘open’.
The natural and human - made are both equally important and critical to my work. I also shift back and forth from paintings with and without the human form in order to expose techniques, materials and expression.
The ‘figure’, for me, is a human figure, an object or building(s)/structure(s) in a spatial field that ranges from landscape to white space.
Work in recent years is dominantly ‘black on white’, intentionally eliminating colour, thereby creating a new propositional platform for finding and expressing.
