[Obituary]

RIP Dennis Paul Batt (1952-2012)

Reported by Katherine Sweetman

"Dennis" Painting by Jen Trut..

Selections from Dennis Paul Batt personal website:

Dennis was a Past-President of the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild and a former trustee of the San Diego Museum of Art (2000-2002). As Guild President he developed the first democratically juried art exhibition for the organization at the Boehm Gallery in Palomar College and by changing outdated policies, helped grow the Guild membership from 140 to over 600 artists during a two year period. During his tenure with SDMA he started a policy of sharing with other institutions. The Guild joined the Oceanside Museum of Art as a circle member and he worked with the California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum on a strategic planning committee to help reopen the museum after it was closed by the city. He is also the author of “The Living History of the Guild” and was the creator of and contributor to a cutting-edge online magazine called the Artists Ezine.

. .. A long-term resident of Carlsbad, California, he was the co-founder and co-managing trustee of the Outdoor Art Foundation. He served on the board of the Synergy Art Foundation and worked with the committee of the San Diego Visual Arts Network. He also served on the board of COFAC (Consejo Fronterizo de Arte y Cultura – Border Council of Arts & Culture) and worked with the committee of the Oceanside Museum of Art Artists Alliance. He was the founder and web-person for the San Diego Visual Artists Guild, and aided in the creation of a cooperative artist gallery in downtown San Diego (1098 9th Ave.) called the SDVAG Fine Art Gallery.

. .. Dennis was the founder and the executive director of a charitable organization called, the Museum Artists Foundation (MAF). As director of MAF, in accordance with its policy of sharing with other organizations, he presented an elegant fundraiser called “Façade” in conjunction with the Small Opera of San Diego on May 21, 2005. He helped create and designed a multi-phased curated Wildlife Art Exhibition & Sale, which was open to all regional artists, in the San Diego Natural History Museum, Balboa Park, dates August 12, 2005 – January 1, 2006. He assisted in the creation of two Carlsbad Masquerades, held on February 25, 2006 and February 24, 2007, to benefit the Outdoor Art Foundation’s Outdoor Art Initiative. He also partnered with Doctors Offering Charitable Services (DOCS) to create “The Unveiling” an Art and Opera fundraiser held on May 19, 2007. He created and keeps current a comprehensive database of over 2,900 regional visual artists including 2,000 email addresses. This database has been shared with several organizations looking for artists to donate work or enter exhibitions. It is growing, kept current, and is made available on request for museums and qualified art organizations.

. .. In January 2007 Dennis launched a new business venture called Virtual Fine Art. He was the owner and President of the company, which features a 3D Interactive Virtual Art Museum. Dennis was a member of the executive steering committee for a local think tank, Imagine Carlsbad. In May, 2007 Dennis was invited to join the San Diego Group Leaders, a multi-organizational networking group of professionals and leaders of various charitable organizations. He was then put on the Campbell Networks with his own events list, which provides information on events for artists, fans of art and those who wish to support the arts, primarily those with an interest in the visual arts.

. .. Since then, Dennis assisted Martin E. Petersen, curator emeritus of the San Diego Museum of Art, to publish his manuscript called “Alice Klauber”online. He was also the curator of a new art gallery, part of the New Village Arts Theater, in Carlsbad. He created the website for San Diego’s Movers & Shakers in the art world.

. .. Dennis was the artist/curator for an exhibition in the Parker Gallery of the Oceanside Museum of Artcalled Commesso: Made in America “Gemstone Fine Art.” The show ran from March 2 – May 1, 2009. This is the first art museum exhibition of commesso di pietre dure e tenere created by American artists. He talked about the exhibition to a standing room only audience on April 25, 2009. In 2009 he joined the Pink Party team and became their art curator and webmaster. In 2010 and 2011 he was the art curator for the Crime Victims Fund annual benefit.

. .. Recently Dennis joined with the House of the Future to create and promote incredible art happenings. He is assisting the Oceanside Museum of Art, and Art San Diego Contemporary Art Fair with promotion of their events. Dennis is also working with the San Diego Botanic Gardens Sculpture in the Garden program.

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