Donal McKinney Landscape Artist Design Styles

Donal Bio

Donal McKinney
P.O. Box 940125
Plano, Texas 75094
(469) 446-0411

EDUCATION

82 Union High School Tulsa Oklahoma, High School diploma
83 Richland College, Dallas Texas - Associate Degree in Applied Arts and Sciences for
     HORTICULTURE.
85 Irrigation License - Texas Board of Irrigators
91 Certified Landscape Professional Contractor accreditation
94 Collin County Community College, Texas - Associate of Arts.
94 International Sculpture Conference, Rhode Island School of Design. Stone carving.
97 Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass – Graduate School of design, Summer
     Program on Small Garden Design.
98 International Sculpture Conference, Chicago Group project for public garden
     entrance.
00 Southern Methodist University, Dallas Texas – Bachelor of Humanities, Major in Art
     History, Minor in Studio Sculpture.
01 International Sculpture conference Pittsburgh June 2001, Public Arts Study.

EMPLOYMENT

82-83 Foreman, Tierra Vista Inc. Landscape maintenance and construction
83-89 Vice President, Genesis - Landscape Maintenance and construction
89-03 President, TerraTech – Landscape design/construction
02-04 Director, Aesthetic Investments .com web based art gallery.
04 Currently working as Landscape Artist, sculptor, designer and consultant.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EXHIBITIONS

94 President Texas Association of Landscape Contractors, Dallas.
95 Merit Award – Texas Association of Landscape Contractors Environmental
     Improvement Awards.
95 State Fair of Texas, Dallas. Public Art installation in conjunction with Juried show
     for the Texas Sculpture Association. “Time Line”
97 Award of Distinction – Texas Association of Landscape Contractors Environmental
     Improvement Awards.
98 First Place – Art Center Plano fall juried show by: Texas Sculptors Association
99 First Place – Collin County Community College Art Building, juried show
01 Plano Public Arts Committee – committee member
02 Plano Downtown Mural Project – committee assistant
02 Art in The Courtyard – Art in public space, sculpture exhibitions
03 Best Landscape Display – Howard Garrett garden show , Show Technologies
     Arlington Convention Center
98-04 City of Richardson Wildflower Festival, Public Art Installation in conjunction with
     the festival.
02- 04 Visions Women's EXPO, Dallas, Texas for the Belo Expositions. Public Art
     Installation in association with Debra Ballard.
02-04 City of Richardson Cottonwood Arts Festival, Public Art Installation in
     conjunction with the festival.
03-04 Belo Expositions Outdoor living & Flower Show, Dallas Texas Juried acceptance
     to create one of 12 Gardens for the Event.
04 Permanent installation for Amicus Properties at Legacy Village, Plano, Texas
04 City of Richardson Cottonwood Arts Fall Festival, Courtyard Sculpture installation
04 Shelter Cove California public art installation “Shelter Cove”, “Lost Coast”,
04 State Fair of Texas public art installation “‘Growing”

DONAL

ARTIST STATEMENT

Starting in 1995 my work began expanding out from landscape design and into the creation of space. My focus is not on the creation space that aspires to be art. The work moves toward a tranquil balance between the flowing curve-to-liner elements of nature and the architectonic forms of our lineal man made environment. I believe the natural form relieves the tension that exist with-in the architectonic environment. The contrast of the two elements work together to inspire one harmonious space.

Landscape work develops around a flowing curve-to-liner space involving: plants, water, natural stone, and made elements. Architecture, sculpture, mosaics, and natural stone flat work contribute the man made elements. I feel that water and stone are the ultimate icons for the natural elements. The balanced integration and expression of these elements together create a tranquil, contemplative environment that strives to influence the human participants in the space. .

Sculptural expressions have developed from totemic or monument like man made vertical forms with cultural or mythological subjects. Sculptures have also included a man made or technical process to contain the beauty of nature. Both my landscape and sculptural work strives to express the same theme of contrast between man and nature.

The presents of man is an undeniable consistent in both my landscape and sculptural work whether represented by man made elements or the actual physical form. Man gives reference to my landscape work with regard to perspective, scale, form and how the work is experienced.