ABOUT THE ARTIST
Cyrus Dvorak moved to Lake Worth, Florida from Portland, Oregon in 2008 for a manufacturing job. After a few months, he awoke to find the right side of his body paralyzed and shortly after was diagnosed with MS. During his recovery, he decided to pursue his dream of being a professional artist/animator. Since his initial MS attack, Cyrus has moved back to Portland, received his Associates Degree from Clackamas Community College and is currently enrolled at Portland State University, working on his Bachelor’s Degree in Art Practices with a Minor in Film Studies.
In his youth, Cyrus was obsessed with animation. He acquired his first 8mm camera at the age of six and began making stop-motion films in his backyard. This turned into studying the animation process through his adolescence with classes at Saturday Academy and the NW Film Center. He continued to pursue art/animation as a hobby through High School, receiving his diploma in 2000.
The last few years (2014-2016) Cyrus has been featured in serval group exhibitions at the Harmony Campus and Alexander Galleries. In 2015 Cyrus received the Lee Hutchison Art Excellence Award, for his work in Ceramics. During this time, Cyrus worked hard as a studio assistant to Dave Andersen, Kate Simmons, Nora Brodnicki, and Derrick Bogue.
Being an artist and having a disability has awoken something inside Cyrus. He regularly uses his art as therapy for healing his malfunctioning nervous system. He was born right side dominant and since his MS has had to relearn many simple tasks. He spends time doing ceramics, photography, sculpting, drawing, painting, storyboarding, animating, using digital media and creating new ideas/stories to share with the world.
He is currently working on making his presence known and name more marketable in the art world, so he can get off disability and close that chapter of his life.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2016 B.A. (Candidate) Art Practices, minor Film Studies, Portland State University, Portland,
OR (est. graduation 2019)
2017 AAOT (Graduate) Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
Workshops & Other Education
2014 Assistant to Dave Andersen, Horticulture Mural, Clackamas Community College,
Oregon City, OR
2014 Assistant to Dave Andersen, Estacada Jr High-school Mural, Estacada Jr High-school, Estacada, OR
2014 Assistant Proprietor to Kate Simmons, Gallery Director, Alexander Gallery, Clackamas
Community College, Oregon City, OR
2014 Assistant to Derrick Bogue, Music Department Mural, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
2014 Print Making Workshop, Derrick Bogue, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
2014 Studio Assistant to Dave Andersen, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
2000 Experiments in Nuclear Science (Winter Course) Saturday Academy, Reed College, Portland, OR
1999 Art Fire Studio Workshop (Fall Course) Saturday Academy, Portland, OR
1998 Assisted in Mural Project, Crossroads Alternative School, Oregon City, OR
1997 Computer Animation Workshop (Spring Course) Saturday Academy, Portland State University, Portland, OR
1993 Animation Workshop (Summer Course) Saturday Academy, NW Film Center, Portland,
OR
1992 Animation Workshop (Summer Course) Saturday Academy, NW Film Center, Portland,
OR
Grants/Awards
2015 Area Award - Ceramics - Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
1998 Area Award - Photography - Crossroads Alternative School, Oregon City, OR
Collaborative Projects
2014 SUNDAZED, Festival banner, acrylic on canvas (6ft x 9ft), Amiti Group Recordings,
H@lf-Dead Studios, Milwaukie, OR
2007 "Waves", Locusts (songwriter and drummer) Portland, OR
2007 "Sunshine", Locusts (keyboards) Portland, OR
Exhibitions
2016 Clackamas Film Festival, Mcloughlin Theatre, Clackamas Community College,
Oregon City, OR
2016 Group Exhibition, Alexander Gallery, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
2015 Group Exhibition, Harmony Campus Gallery, Clackamas Community College,
Milwaukie, OR
2015 Group Exhibition, Alexander Gallery, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
2014 Group Exhibition, Alexander Gallery, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
Commissions
2015 German Club, Event Flyer, (8½ x 11 in.) digital composition, Milwaukie, OR
2008 XuosouX, Concert Poster, drawing (9 x 12 in.), pencil and sharpie on paper, Lake
Worth, FL
2008 XuosouX, Under Sun (EP), Album Cover, small drawing (4 x 4 in.), pencil and sharpie on paper, Lake Worth, FL
Volunteer Work
2014 - 2016 Treasurer, German Club, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
2010 - 2014 Computer repair, Free Geek, Portland, OR