ARTIST STATEMENT
John Michael Barone (John Mike is Dead) is an Artist working and living in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia. His work dives into the deepest states of the psychedelic and esoteric. In his work he is constantly trying to reach new peaks of technical skill, surreal abstractions, and awareness. As an Artist his creativity skirts the edge of lucidity, flirting with it to determine where the boundaries of metaphysical surrealism lie. John Meditates on these ideals to become aware of their abstractions and concepts, thus using them to construct his unique visionary process.
John believes while we gain success as artists and entrepreneurs it is our duty to help the art scene grow. It is exceptionally important now for artists to be seen as key contributors to the future of our communities. If we do not forge a strong path and build platforms for artists failure may be inevitable. Working together we can set sound examples for the future of the arts. We teach them and they will teach us. We guide them and they will show us the way. As Artists young or old, professional or amateur we can all learn from each other. This will help us all achieve our goals of reaching higher peaks of learning and expanding our knowledge of the art making process.
Currently I have been trying to see my works metaphysical boundaries in a critical light. Questioning the process, how it shapes my work, and in turn myself. I equate this to the idea of dying, death, and rebirth as a current ongoing circulating metempsychosis of creativity. The work that is currently on the easel involves complex ideas based in religious iconology and philosophies like the Allegory of the Cave or holographic universe theory. I want to make complex ideas like these simple for the viewer to interpret in the hopes of causing deep thought that creates a detachment from the physical realm.
-A BRIEF SELECTION FROM RESUME-
John Mike has been a professional emerging artist, exhibition/event director, curator, coordinator, fundraiser and advertiser for over 10 years with great success. John has over 40+ local Exhibitions/events that he has directed, coordinated and secured funding for. He has also won several national/international awards for printmaking and painting. John Mike has several paintings, prints and and other media on permanent display in government buildings (state, national, and international). He has been featured in countless art exhibitions, websites, and publications. He has also done a great deal of work for charities, Non profits, concert tours and professional musical artists. Below is a brief selection from his resume for your consideration.
Solo Exhibitions (self coordinated)
(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for all of these shows)
-“John Mike is Dead”, Mountain Music festival, Ace resort, Beckely WV - Jun 2022 (Highest selling Artist) -“John Mike is Dead”, Mountain Music festival, Ace resort, Beckely WV - Jun 2021
-“Life in the Projects”, (Morgantown Arts Walk) Monongalia Arts Center — Oct 2017
-“American Legends: The heroes that inspire”, Atomic grill, Morgantown WV – January- 2014 - *Musical Acts- Hillbilly Gypsies
-“American Legends: The heroes that inspire”, West Virginia’s Independence Hall, Wheeling WV – July 2014 -“Saturdays on the porch”, Appalachian Art Gallery, Morgantown WV – June 2013
-Morgantown Arts Walk, Mirrors Image Morgantown WV -2012 -“Saturdays on the porch”, Appalachian Art Gallery, Morgantown WV – June 2012
-Morgantown Arts Walk, Octane, Morgantown WV -2011 -Morgantown Arts Walk, Mirrors Image, Morgantown WV
-2011 -Morgantown Arts Walk, Rocked Records, Morgantown WV -2010
Group Exhibitions
-“Gothic Art Show” - October 2023,Tammarack, Beckley WV
-“Unsettled:Monstrous Emotions” October 2023, Presented by Redfishbowl Gallery and Studio, Pittsburgh, PA
-“Summer Equinox” - August 2023, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, Wappingers Falls, NY
-“Lawrenceville Art Crawl” - August 2023, Presented by Redfishbowl Gallery and Studio, Pittsburgh, PA
-“Gathering of the Funguys” - 2023, Redfishbowl Gallery and Studio, Pittsburgh, PA
-“Best of West Virginia” -June 2023, Tammarack, Beckley WV
-“West Virginia Juried Exhibition”-Oct 2021, Charleston, WV (Won WV Award of excellence in painting)
-“Birds of a feather”- Oct 2021, Tammarack, Beckley WV
-“Tall tails”- Aug 2021, Tammarack, Beckley WV
-“West Virginia Juried Exhibition” - June 2021, Tammarack, Beckley WV
-“Best of West Virginia” -June 2021, Tammarack, Beckley WV
- “Summer Solstice” - June 2019, Sleeping Octopus, Pittsburgh PA
-“Oh, you pretty thing” - January 2019, Philadelphia PA, Ruckus Gallery, Philly Loves Bowie week
-“Screen Shots” - September 2018 Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High st, Morgantown Wv. ACWV
-“Art Gig 3” May 2018, 123 Pleasant st. Morgantown WV.
(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) *Musical Acts- YDU, Wax Brain, Hovel -“Saturday Evening Cartoons” April 2018, Monongalia Arts Center, Morgantown WV
(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) *Musical Acts- Culture Thief
-“The man. the myth” Feb 2018, M.A.R.S Gallery, Morgantown WV
(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show)
-“Philly Loves Bowie” Jan 2018, Ruckus Gallery , Phil. PA
-“Transcending the Gutter” Oct 2017 Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High st, Morgantown Wv. ACWV
(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) *Musical Acts- Hericide
-“Rebel, Rebel” Feb-April 2017 Oct-Dec 2016 Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High st, Morgantown Wv. (I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV
-“Morgantown Under Ground” Oct—Dec 123 Pleasant st, Morgantown WV - (I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV *Musical Acts- HillBilly Gypsies
-“Cabal of the hidden” Oct-Dec 2016 Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High st, Morgantown Wv.(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show)ACWV -“Art to Rescue, A benefit for West Virginia Flood Victims” Morgantown Brew Pub, July-Aug 2016 *100% selling rate
100% of the proceeds donated (I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV *Musical Acts- Apple Pappy, Soup Camel, Open Mic
-“Best of West Virginia 2016” Tamarack, Beckley WV June-Aug 2016 -“Royal Devotion- to Honor Prince” - June-Aug 2016 Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High st, Morgantown Wv.(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV
-“For the Love of David Bowie” - Feb-April 2016 Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High st, Morgantown Wv.(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV
-“Art gig 2”, 123 Pleasant st, Morgantown WV - Dec- Feb 2015/2016
(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV *Musical Acts- Large Mixed line up -“Wreaths”, Atomic grill, Morgantown WV - Dec- Jan 2015 (I directed, coordinated this show) ACWV
-“Return to Twin Peaks”, Atomic grill, Morgantown WV - Nov- Dec 2015 (I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV *Musical Acts- Silencio -“At hand”, Gallery 201 (formerly arts mon) Morgantown WV – Sept-Oct 2015
(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV -“Fan-O-Mania” 123 Pleasant st.Morgantown WV – june-july 2015
(I directed. coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV *Musical Acts- False Pterodactl -“Hypnagogia”123 Pleasant st.Morgantown WV – April- may 2015
(I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV
-“paper cut ups” (printmaking show) 123 pleasant st Morgantown WV – Feb-March 2015 (I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV *Musical Acts- False Pterodactl Comedy- BY “Fearless Fools”
-‘’Art gig”, 123 Pleasant st.Morgantown WV – jan-feb
2015 (I coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV *Musical Acts- Hillbilly Gypsies, live Djs
-“Board with art, 24+ artist 24+ boards”, Atomic grill, Morgantown WV – Aug-Sept 2014 (I directed, coordinated and secured funding for this show) ACWV - Wheeling Art festival- West Virginia’s independence hall, wheeling WV – June 2014
-“Dali”, Art Bar, St Louis, MO – Feb 2014
-Opening for Connector Art Gallery, Marion County visitors center – Mar- May 2014
-West Virginia State Group Prospectus, Commissioners Gallery, Culture Center, Charleston WV
-BFA show West Virginia University, May- 2012 -“Gothic”- Seven Gallery, Huntington Beach, California – May - 2012 -Morgantown Arts walk, Appalachian Art Gallery Morgantown WV – June 2012
-Morgantown Arts walk, Delia’s - Morgantown WV – June 2012
-Woody Guthrie Centennial Festival, Okemah OK- 2012 -West Hempfield Arts Festival, West Hempfield College, Hempfield Pa – 2011
-West Hempfield Arts Festival, West Hempfield College, Hempfield Pa – 2010
-International Printmaking Exhibition, Highland, Scotland - 2010
Grants/Awards/
-WVDCH - Purchase award, WV Award of excellence - 2021
-WVDCH - Impact grant - 2020
-WVDCH - Training and travel grant - 2018 (COSM)
-COSM, Alex and Allison Grey Master Painting intensive, Master course - 2018
-Purchase award by PRN (Prince Rogers Nelson) Memorial Estate, San Rafael, CA - 2017
-Purchase award by the Grateful Dead Museum / GD Archive - 2015 (Relief Painting “Ramble on Bertha” on permanent display).
-Mon Arts Impact Grant - 2014 (For medium sized etching press)
.- Purchase award by the Avatar Meher Baba Trust - 2014 (Sketch of Meher Baba on permanent display)
-Purchase award, WVDCH - 2013 - West Virginia’s Independence Hall (Painting of Sen. Waitman T Willey on permanent display)
-Purchase award, 2011 - West Hempfield Arts Festival- West Hemp-field College, Hempfield Pa (Lithograph – “untitled)
-International Printmaking Award for Excellence, Sligo, Ireland 2011 (Lithograph “Stewing”)
Positions/Degrees
-Artist Collective West Virginia - Executive Director
-Monongalia Arts Center, 2016-2020 Artist Outreach and exhibit coordination and direction. MY goal was to find artists nationally and internationally to display work in our local city. I also had to secure and direct funding for exhibitions. This was a really rewarding position
-Art Monongalia Board (Mon county WV), Appointed - 2017-2020 Purpose of setting up community programs for artists and create a platform for communtiy projects
Recent Free Lanced Published Work Over View
- Chapel of Sacred Mirrors Journal 11, Gallery book for Entheon- 2024
- 10 Animated Shorts - 2020
-“Philly Loves Bowie” - /gig poster Flyer design/Bus covers- 2017 X2
-Iggy Pop Drop Logo and Merch Design- 2016
-Phoenix Bakery Logo -2015
-Unknown Hinson tour Merch Design-2014
-Hillbilly Gypsies “West Virginia Line” album cover and tour poster - 2014 -West Virginia commemorative enamel pin design for wild and wonderful pins - 2014 -Wayne “the train” Hancock T-Shirt and Merchandise Design - 2013 -Jersey subs Morgantown WV, Box design and logo design – 2013 -Schmitt’s Saloon Morgantown Wv, Stage sign – 2013
-“Kickin’ Up Dust Tour” Poster/flyer- 2013
-Woody Guthrie Centennial Guthrie commemorative wood cut prints of Woody Guthrie and Huddie
Ledbetter – 2012
-Commemorative Poster Willie Nelson and family - 2012 -Tour Merchandise/ -Commemorative Poster “Rail Road Revival Tour” - 2012
-Artist Collective of West Virginia
The Artist Collective of West Virginia was founded in 2014 to help build a platform for local artists to present their work to the public and to introduce WV residents to art work from around the world. The ACWV is a 100% volunteer not for profit collective founded and ran by artists. To this date the artist collective has had more
than 30+ art exhibitions and has worked with more than 100 artists local, national and international. We have raised over $5000 for numerous charities in our area including Flood relief and after school food programs. Our mission is to strengthen the community through art and to create a sustainable future for art/artists in WV.
The ACWV also offers and has offer many classes/courses in Drawing, Painting, printmaking, web design, video production and music.
Upcoming exhibition, events and projects for 2024
- Publication in Chapel of Sacred Mirrors Journal for opening of Entheon museum, Whappinger Falls, NY. Classes and events
-The Big Freak Out Art Show, Durham NC, I am spear heading
- Gallery Artist at Mountain Music Festival
- Live painting at Sleeping Octopus
- “Night Gallery” - A dark visual experience (I am directing, coordinating and securing funding for this show)
- “Artcycle” - Recycling art materials and how to properly dispose of unusable art waste (I am directing, coordinating and securing funding for
this show)
- “Figuratively Plein” - A plein air painting event involving live models (I am directing, coordinating and securing funding for this show)
- HIllbilly Gypsies - Tour poster
- “Black Bible” - fine art publication
- Alien Gold Art Company exclusives