Name: John Diephouse

City of Residence: Lansing MI

Featured Artwork: 4-2-4

Exhibition: 10 FOLD, CTAC - Traverse City Cornwell Gallery

On View: now through May 23, 2025

Tell us about the creative process for the featured piece in our exhibition: 
I often start with a simple reflection of a simple observations of what I see around me in our daily life, such as the bolts and shadows of a highway bridge abutment shown in the image 4-2-4, and am also attracted to and inspired by the abstract patterns and symmetry that occur around us.

Who or what inspires your creativity? 
I am an observer by nature, and have always felt the pull to document what I observe or perceive, either realistically or my impressions, using a variety of mediums. I am inspired by the patterns displayed in nature, but also by observations of the man-made shapes and patterns found in architecture and mechanical objects such as machinery. Lastly, I am always drawn to the human expressions that reveal the personalities and experiences of people, either in isolation or in group interactions.

Where can visitors learn more about your work? I regularly update my Instagram account (@jhdiephouse) with some of my latest efforts.

Artist Bio: I am a self-taught photographer and collage artist and am attracted to a variety of subject matter. My interests range from natural landscapes, botanicals and wildlife to images that provide either abstract expression or social commentary. I share images that evoke a story of some kind that may be simply documentary, reflect a sense of time and place, or resonate on a more abstract level of color, shape or form. Others provoke an indefinable question that does not readily yield answers without further study and reflection. Most often I am drawn back to images created while wandering through the back roads of the upper Midwest. These images of architecture, commerce and social life often reflect a mixture of nostalgia and a changing set of forces that shape life in the heartlands. I have exhibited widely and have earned recognition in local, regional, and national exhibitions. My photographs are also included in several corporate and private collections.

LIGHTNING ROUND!

• When I work, I listen to: The sound of silence.
• For example: I have a wide range of musical interests, from folk, classic rock, and electronica to world music. I also enjoy listening to NPR, but find listening to anything tends to interrupt my creative flow\, so prefer to work without the distraction.
• I studied: Nothing formally, at least as it relates to my creative work. I am largely self-taught, but draw inspiration by observing the artistic efforts of others through visits to museums, websites and other publications.
• "One" art-related thing I can't live without: A camera, either professional level gear or with increasing frequency, the camera on my smart phone.
• Three words that best describe me: Methodical, planful and observant.
• Three words that best describe my art: Eclectic, introspective and interpretive.

Thank you to John for jumping in and joining us for the Artist Spotlight Q&A in Traverse City!