DICKENS44 & HIS ART TOUR (THE QUEST FOR HIS MARIN COUNTY STUDIO)

The following is a tale about an extremely inspired and internationally recognized artist that has been creating unique art in Bocas for the last 7 years. He’s an artist with over 1,000 original artworks sitting in a studio 4,000 miles away. He would be able to return to his studio however his family’s bank doesn’t feel it’s in his “best interest.” The bank has his money but won’t give it to him because they don’t approve of his art. They want him to sell his art, but he can’t possibly do that without his money. This is the story of the amazing artist Dickens44 and the paradoxical situation in which he finds himself.

Dickens44 was born at 4:44am on the 44th day of 1944 and named such by his father, who was a successful multimedia artist and advertising star in 50’s. Dickens was a major player in the psychedelic art movement in the San Francisco Bay area. You could find him in Haight-Ashbury, brushing shoulders with the likes of Timo- thy Leary, Alan Watts, Janis Jopin Joni Mitchell and other iconic figures of the time. He started the first Free Store in Marin County, co-ran the Unknown Museum in the 70’s and is internationally known for his psychedelic-fusion art combining mosaic, painting and sculpture. He was also the 1st creator & co-designer of the 1st Mosaic-Fusion decorated car. He the inventor of his own art form which he appropriately calls “re-psychadelic art” and a very prolific painter.

Dickens has been trying to sell his art in Bocas del Toro, but marketing and business are not his skills. He has 5 shipping containers filled of his original art from his time in South East Asia and the Carribean in his studio in Novato, California along with memorabilia and American artifacts. Dickens would love to be there to deal with his art, however the Wells-Fargo trust department that manages his account will not allow him money for the $1,100/month rental. He refuses to stop paying rent on the studio (and thus losing his art from afar) so he uses the bank’s stipend from his family’s trust to pay the studio rental and consequently has no money to live on. The bank does not approve of his art or studio and states it is not fund-able even though his parents would approve of it. Do you?

With the help of his friends and others Dickens is starting a tour of his art to show and sell it. In addition, his greatest goal would be to take his art to child- rens hospitals and hospices to inspire, entertain and create with the disabled and terminally ill kids.

Dickens will be showcasing his art on Wednesday, January 25th at the Bookstore and Monday, January 30th at RAW Fusion. The art will be available for purchase and 10% of the proceeds will go to the non-profit NGO Give & Surf, specifically for buying art supplies for the children. Every piece sold at these shows will go to provide art supplies for over 100 students at the Give & Surf summer camp and preschool programs!

Stay tuned for other art shows and you can find Dickens’ art for sale all over town. For more information, check out his artist page on Facebook: “Dickens 44.” Feel free to email repsychedelic44@gmail.com for any information on art shows and pieces for sale and we leave you with this quote from Dickens44 himself: “Art is the worlds biggest unorganized religion and is to be enjoyed”