We’d love to introduce someone to you – meet Dean Cross, our new Associate Producer.
He sat down with Thom Smyth to have a chat about his arts practice, career before Performing Lines, and what he’s looking forward to getting stuck into.
Image by Janelle Evans
Thom: Oh hi! You’re Dean Cross. What do you say you do when people ask?
Dean: Up until recently I would say I am a visual art who works primarily in Sculpture (although it seems much simpler to write – I usually squirm when I am asked that question face-to-face!). Now I say I have two hats – I am an artist and now I am also an Associate Producer with Performing Lines.
Thom: You’ve recently joined the Performing Lines team here in our Redfern office. First impressions?
Dean: It is great having Norman the office dog occasionally running by for a pat and some attention!
Thom: Tell us a bit about your background. Have you always been based in Sydney?
Dean: I was born and raised on Ngunnawal/Ngambri Country on a few hundred acres north of Canberra. After high-school I moved to Brisbane to study Contemporary Dance at QUT. When I left there I moved to Sydney to continue my peripatetic career as an artist. I worked in a lot of great places from New York to Birmingham, UK, to Launceston to the Pilbara. In particular I have worked a lot in youth dance with QL2 Dance based out of Canberra – of which I am now also a board member. After dance I re-trained as a visual artist at Sydney College of the Arts. Since making that transition I have been exhibiting regularly across Australia, as well as recent shows in Paris and Washington D.C, with my work being acquired by major public institutions like The National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Thom: You’ve trained and performed extensively as a dancer, then made a move into more visual media. You’re working with us a producer. Do you see these areas as distinct, with a different approach or brainspace required, or do they all kind of inform and support each other?
Dean: There are overlaps in what I am doing with PL. As an independent artist you are often producing yourself, whether it is performance, studio time or exhibition making. There is big difference creatively and methodologically from the studio to the office though – but like anything each does inevitably find a way to inform the other.
Image: Lorna Sim and QL2 Dance
Image: Lorna Sim
Installation view, RUNS DEEP, Alaska Projects, Sydney. Photo Credit: Document Photography
Thom: What are you working on with Performing Lines? What are you excited to get stuck into?
Dean: Currently I am working on getting the always exciting Pony Express team to Shanghai so they can continue their Epoch Wars. I have also been assisting a little with Sunshine Super Girl, which I am hoping to be more involved in as the show progresses.
Thom: What are you vibing on at the moment? Any shows/tunes/eats/internet rabbitholes that you’re stuck on?
Dean: I just finished watching UNBELIEVABLE on Netflix – it had an unusual tone to it, which I enjoyed. And I have just picked up Sovereign Words: Indigenous Art, Curation and Criticism. I am really looking forward to getting stuck in to this as some friends have contributed some really great essays to it! As for food – the best meal I have had recently was at SANG by Mabasa in Surry Hills. It is owned by a friend and his parents and they are making really amazing contemporary Korean food!
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This position has been supported by the New South Wales Government through Create NSW’s Creative Koori program.
