After settling in New York in the 1970s, Dennis quickly turned from painting to three-dimensional work. With a deeply complex practice, Dennis has consistently pushed the perceived limitations of sculpture and its inevitable intersection with architecture as she considers structure, the use of found materials, and site. Two Stories with Porch (for Robert Cobuzio) mimics the appearance of a functioning house but produced at a human scale, distinguishing the work from an architectural model. Lit from inside on the second floor and on the first with a green neon "vacancy" sign, the structure suggests a welcoming yet uncanny refuge, creating an almost cinematic tableau. Based on a phone booth that Dennis saw in New Jersey, the work references her long-standing interest in vernacular American architecture and artists such as Edward Hopper and Walker Evans.
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the artist (until 2024; sold through O'Flaherty's, New York to MMA)
New York. Whitney Museum of American Art. "1979 Biennial Exhibition," February 6–April 8, 1979, unnumbered cat. (p. 27; dated 1977–78, lent by Holly Solomon Gallery, New York) [on view fourth floor, February 6–April 1, 1979].
Washington, D.C. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution. "Directions," June 14–September 3, 1979, no. 56 (dated 1978–79, lent by the artist, courtesy of Holly Solomon Gallery, New York).
New York. Holly Solomon Gallery. "Donna Dennis: New York and New Jersey," March 19–April 9, 1980, no catalogue.
Neuberger Museum of Art, State University of New York at Purchase. "Donna Dennis/Night Stops," September 22–December 22, 1985, no catalogue.
New York. O'Flaherty's Gallery. "Donna Dennis: Houses and Hotels," March 9–May 5, 2024, no catalogue.
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. November 29, 1978 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, p. 225, ill. (sketch)].
Howard N. Fox. Directions. Exh. cat., Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution. Washington, D.C., 1979, pp. 32–33, 94, no. 56, ill. (color).
John Ashbery. "The Perennial Biennial." New York Magazine 12 (March 19, 1979), p. 71.
Hilton Kramer. "Art: Variety of Styles at Whitney Biennial." New York Times (February 16, 1979), p. C17.
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. January 31, 1979 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, p. 233, ill. (color)].
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. March 7, 1979 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, p. 235].
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. March 4, 1979 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, p. 234], calls it "Two Stories".
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. June 1, 21, and 24, 1979 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, pp. 238–39], calls it "Two Stories".
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. July 7 and 8, 1979 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, p. 239], calls it "Two Stories with Porch".
Richard Martin. "Dr. Spock's Generation: A Crystal Palace of Childhood." Art Journal 39 (Summer 1980), fig. 3.
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. January 28, 1980 [published Ref. Miller 2023, p. 247 n. 202].
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. February 13, 1980 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, p. 248], calls it "Two Stories".
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. March 5, 1980 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, pp. 252–53], calls it "Two Stories".
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. March 16, 1980 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, p. 254], calls it "Two Stories".
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. November 15, 1980 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, p. 272], calls it "Two Stories".
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. August 28 and 31, 1981 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, p. 297], calls it "Two Stories".
Robert Jensen and Patricia Conway. Ornamentalism: The New Decorativeness in Architecture & Design. New York, 1982, ill. p. 249.
Donna Dennis. Journal Entry. May 4 and 7, 1982 [published in Ref. Miller 2023, pp. 306–7], calls it "Two Stories".
William Zimmer. "An Unusual World of Edifices at the Neuberger Museum." New York Times (October 20, 1985), p. 24.
Deborah Everett. "Donna Dennis: Home Away from Home." Sculpture 25 (June 2006), p. 47, ill. (color).
Jan Riley. "Donna Dennis: Re-Imagining an American Vernacular." Woman's Art Journal 33 (Fall/Winter 2012), p. 17, colorpl. 2.
Nicole Miller, ed. Writing Toward Dawn: Selected Journals 1969–1982. Whitmore Lake, Mich., 2023, p. 11, ill. pp. 198, 213 (color, maquette), 205 (color, preparatory drawing), 212 (journal sketch), 223 (study), 226, 228 (in progress in the artist's studio), 231 (color, detail), 255 (color, installation photo, Exh. New York 1980).
Helaine Posner. "Donna Dennis: Poetry and Prose." Donna Dennis: Poet in Three Dimensions. New York, 2023, pp. 13, 25.
Donna Dennis. Donna Dennis: Poet in Three Dimensions. New York, 2023, pp. 64, 68, 222, ill. pp. 64 (color maquette and journal sketch), 65 (watercolor and gouache study), 66–67 (color, overall).
Walker Mimms. "Like Edward Hopper’s Spaces Made Real." New York Times (April 12, 2024), p. C12, ill. (color).
David Ebony. "Donna Dennis: Houses and Hotels." brooklynrail.org (April 2024), ill. (color).
Aaron Douglas (American, Topeka, Kansas 1899–1979 Nashville, Tennessee)
ca. 1935–39
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