“A paper wasp creates a nest by making spit-based papier-mache, a cave swiftlet bird spins a natural nest from its secretions - are our nuclear power plants, factories, civic buildings, pagodas, sheds, windmills, birdhouses, skyscrapers, and houses really any different? What if nature and architecture are simply a system of ridiculous cause and effect? Intentionally using a variety of technologies real and imagined, my work explores and uncovers an underlying cosmos of the strangeness of nature, and Homo sapiens’ strange nature.

Much of my process starts with stamped relief prints that are used for paintings, drawings or mixed media works. The imagery is derived from a number of sources such as ancient architectural plans of the Hagia Sophia, Roman aqueducts, digital models, found objects and natural animal habitats. These ancient or sometimes modern references are then denied their completion by way of natural design or architectural elements.

Interested in how the “accidental” is used in a controlled manner in the context of the natural world and architecture, the architectural hybrids within the work become concerned with communication instead of just simply creating a shelter for people to inhabit.”
- D.S. Nicholas -

Biography

Education
Bachelor of Architecture with Design Honors, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA
Master of Fine Arts/Painting , University of the Arts, Philadelphia PA

Academic Positions

Temple University Tyler School of Art: Architecture Department
Dean’s Appointment: Assistant Professor of Architecture 2004-2007
Coordinator: First year design studio and foundations studio; Arch 250 Special Topics: “Installation/Intervention as Architecture”

Selected Solo Exhibits
2007 "Army of Me", Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2004 “Recent Work”, Meadow-wood Gallery, Plymouth Meeting Pennsylvania
2003 “Showing Work by D.S. Nicholas”, Gallery @ 834, Philadelphia PA
2000 “Recent Drawings”, The Parlor, Philadelphia PA
1998 “One Year’s Work” Khyber Pass Upstairs Gallery, Philadelphia PA
1998 Concurrent exhibitions Big Jar Books and Lionfish Café, Philadelphia PA

Selected Group Exhibits
2007 "Pattern Disruptive", Hopkins House Art Center, Collingswood NJ
2007 "Pink at the Perkins", Perkins Center for the Arts, Haddonfield NJ
2007 "Seams and Surfaces: Work of Students and Faculty: Tyler School of Art", Architecture Department, Temple University, Philadelphia PA
2006 "We'd Rather Not Tell You", Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia PA
2006 “Centennial CFA”, Regina Gouger Miller Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
2006 “Participation?”, Curated by Per Huttner; Basekamp, Philadelphia PA
2005 “Out of Line”, Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2005 “Philadelphia Cheek”, Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2005 “SUMFA 10”, Juried Exhibit Rosenfeld Wolf Gallery; Jurors : Robert Storr and Elaine Reichek
2003 “The Artful Architect", Juried Exhibition Gallery Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
2001 “Philadelphia Artists”, Washburn Center for the Arts Galleudette University, Washington D.C.
2000 “Mouth of Flowers Explodes”, MFA Thesis Exhibit, Rosenwald Wolf Gallery, The University of
the Arts, Philadelphia PA
1999 “Faculty Work”, Nesbitt Gallery of the Design Arts, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
1999 “Resident Artists”, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson VT
1999 “Architectural Explorations”, Juried Exhibition, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA
1998 “Works in Progress”, MFA student exhibition, Hamilton Galleries, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia PA
1998 “GODCO Multimedia Show”, The Trocadero, featured artist, Philadelphia PA

Selected Guest Lectures, Panels, Installations and Performances
2005 “Dissolving Machines”, 4 installations commissioned by Live Arts Festival, Bird Park and other Locations
2005 “Accumulation Process", Independence Foundation Performance, Spirit Wind Gallery; Philadelphia, PA
2004 “RIP Moxie”, Multimedia Installation, “The Parlor”; Philadelphia, PA
2004 “The Shed: City of Horns VS Mouth of Flowers”, Multimedia Installation, Bird Park, Philadelphia, PA
2004 Rural Studio: On Air Panel Participant, WITF Public Television; Harrisburg, PA
2004 Art or Architecture? Panel participant Temple University Architecture Department; Philadelphia, PA
2003 Philadelphia Juried Portion Fringe Festival “City of Horns-Book of Privileges”
2000 square foot multi-media and performance installation, Lithographic Building; Philadelphia, PA
2002 “Memory Comb”, 600 square foot interactive installation, The Parlor; Philadelphia PA
2000 Guest Lecturer, Washburn Center for The Arts Galleudette University; Washington D.C.
1999 “Group Work” Lecture, Vermont Studio Center; Johnson, VT

Publications, Articles and Research
2006 “An Alternate Lens: Installation Based Curriculum In Foundations Studies”
Forthcoming Conference Proceedings Intersections
2006 Ames Iowa, Iowa State University
2006 “Installation Art and Space: Participation as the Meta-medium” Forthcoming Conference
Proceedings ACSA 94th Annual Meeting, Getting Real: Design Ethos Now 2006, Salt Lake City
2005 “Space is the Place” Forthcoming Conference Proceedings “Improvisation”
ACSA Southwest Regional Conference
2005 “Dissolving Machines” Series of Digital Installations presented at ECAADE conference Instituto
Superior Tecnico; Lisbon, Portugal. Conference Proceedings: ECAADE 23
2005 “Cheek Please” Article by Roberta Fallon reviewing “Philadelphia Cheek” Exhibit at The Seraphin Gallery,
Philadelphia Weekly Issue: July 6-12
2005 “Command: Sort” Essay by Gerard Brown Catalogue to the Juried exhibit
“SUMFA 10” July 2005 Rosenfeld Wolf Gallery
2005 “Processes of Generative Analysis and Exploration: Considering Decisions Physically”,
Article discussing work from digital studio taught in 2003. Published in 2003-2004
Form z Joint Study Annual Report, Spring 2005 Publication
2004 DUTV Channel 48 presentation “The Shed”, footage of installation and performance.
2004 “Shared Prosperity” Booklet Temple University-Edited designed and produced booklet
detailing spring 2004 Urban Design Studio involving: Temple University Architecture
Department University of Pennsylvania Praxis Planning Studio, Village of Arts
and Humanities North Philadelphia
2004 Tyler Gestures: “Is It Art/Is It Architecture”-article by Jennifer Trachtman discussing Art or
Architecture Panel and participants-including my installations: “Book of Privleges” and “Memory Comb”.
2004 Village of Arts and Humanities “Shared Prosperity”, Received small grant as Professor
of Architecture to assist in urban design research and act as assisting professor with
Temple University Urban Design Workshop, University of Pennsylvania and Village of Arts
and Humanities. My grant was part of the larger Wachovia “Shared Prosperity” Grant which was
received by Village of Arts and Humanities, fall 2003.
2004 Member Harrisburg Urban Studio Task-Force: Harrisburg-Mayor’s Initiative,
Task force to create a design/build urban studio and education center in the City of Harrisburg,
Chairperson Curriculum Committee
2003-2004 Urban Design Workshop, digital support and research during summer 2003
created booklets documenting spring 2003 interdisciplinary projects of The Urban Design Workshop
in Norris Square Philadelphia. Designed and implemented Urban Database of Norris Square Community

Grants, Residency and Awards
2005 Live Arts festival featured installation artist
Received grant to create 4 commissioned interactive installations
2003 Fringe Festival Installation Grant “City of Horns: Book of Privileges”
Received grant to create 2000 square foot installation in the Lithographic Building,Philadelphia, PA
1999 Nickel Traveling Scholarship Grant: University of the Arts
1999 Visiting Resident Vermont Studio Center, Johnson Vermont Two month summer residency: Painting