Ian Danac / Dayle Crawford

Bio

Decade1

Typical non-religious, liberal, indifferent selfish parents who gave parenting to the TV to do.  Dad drank and Mom bitched about it. They'd break up and get back together often! The insanity of their marriage usually made me close my eyes and create a beautiful world for myself. I knew I didn't want to live a life like my parents. I would often lie and tell people I was adopted.

 Survived daily homophobia and continual bullying in the province of Ontario's education system. I faithfully delivered straight A's and learned I could draw as well if not better than professionals. I was a smart terrified child.

Decade 2 

Suburban High School had a staffed visual arts program and a homophobic Principal and Vice Principal. I painted my entire bedroom black - Mom lost her mind. I was forbidden from bringing a male to prom or face being expelled and not allowed to graduate. My art teachers groomed me to attend OCA, (Ontario College of Art).  So I could fast-track out of Newmarket, Ontario - a hick town full of intoxicated bigots and medicated housewives. 

 I was amongst the youngest ever accepted at OCA. I was 16 and looked 12. My folks discovered I was queer and I quickly learned art college had nothing to teach me. I dropped out, got a pink-collar job, and moved in with a boy my age. I discovered I had a passion for whole foods and learned to cook. I painted on anything and everything - nesting like Maud Lewis!

 Decade 3

Fell in love several times. I wanted to join the Canadian military but blatant homophobia interfered in my life yet again. Then I couldn't get a coveted job with the government because the Canadian government wouldn't hire an openly gay man.  Surprised? I bought a sweet house, survived an abusive man, and the vanilla banality of London, Ontario.  

 Decade 4  

 Helped usher in the Industrial 'look" and thrived while rolling on molly and living out rave fantasies. Lived wild and free with a loving artist in Toronto's gay ghetto. Designed clothing. Sold clothing. I painted and collaged. It was a marathon of dancing and sexual discoveries.

 I was a Cool-hunter, (reported to fashion moguls what was cool), Made a feature art film, toured with it, and drank too much at film festivals. Moved to Park Slope-Brooklyn, NY with a banker right after 9/11.  Created my first large series of nudes - collaging images together to create an elevated image - 2D collaging 3D photography - not unlike an image generator - it was a slow painful process back then!

 Decade 5  

Moved to Washington DC. Fell in love with all the white sculptures and started collaging with 3D objects - male dolls and painting them white - then military green - etc. Seduced a handsome cellist and opened a posh-BoHo boutique in the Art and Design district of Toronto.  Avoided social media but embraced online dating. Learned as much as I could about photo manipulation.  Got married to a man from Texas and filed for divorce 6 months later and charged him with assault.  

 Decade 6

Got remarried and watched him die of cancer. Became disillusioned. I smoked Trudeau-weed, yet ended my place in line at the LCBO and ended my nicotine dependence during the COVID-terrorism years. I needed to be stoned to survive the destruction of my once-affordable country now noticeably poor and dangerous. I hated my Trudeau-hate. 

 Decade 7

 Concentrating on love, homosexual poetry, and enjoying AI sculpting.

 I am forever addicted to beauty, love, and men. xoxo