Dan Dragich: The Art of Being Artistic

Featured Artist:  School's Open

Venue:               School II, Chanhassen, MN

Date:                 November 3, 2010

Time:                7:00pm

Does torment nurture the artist or does the artist nurture torment?  Where Dan Dragich is concerned, the answer may very well be "both - one cannot survive without the other."  Dragich subscribes to the theory that discord is the catalyst for artists and the art they create.  Without it, inspiration cannot thrive, creativity becomes dormant, and art will be dead.  Therefore, it is often the artist who creates situations in which struggle, discontent, disappointment, and solitude become abundant and provide an environment ideal for art's survival.  In a sense, a healthy environment for art must be unhealthy for the artist.

Dragich identifies with the ill-adjusted artists rather than those who appear well-adjusted.  He affords much of his own discontent to a simple lack of stimuli.  When life is well and good, Dragich is uninspired.  His art, however, can be inspiration to many.  Dragich has been working on a new Cd for a number of years.  He is currently able to play thirteen instruments including guitar, mandolin, violin, cello, accordion, piano, and various wind and brass instruments.  Along with being the sole musician on his Cd, Dragich is producing and mastering it himself.   He has acquired each of these skills simply because he is an artist who's art required the knowledge.  What would the world accomplish if we all approached situations in a like manner?

Although Dragich identifies with the darker side of life rather than the light,  it does not come without relief.  He is certainly a man who is able to laugh at his own idiosyncrasies.  When asked why he removed his music from various outlets on the Internet, he replies, "I don't know.  Probably because of my own self-conscious, arrogant cynicism," and chuckles.  Likewise, when his philosophy on tortured artists is turned on him, he is obviously amused.  

Travis Wavescorxs - your friend, Dan, thinks you're a good guy and he misses having you around.  (The inclusion of this sentiment could have been less direct, but discomfort also inspires art).

Come to School II in Chanhassen to support the music of Dan Dragich.