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Benjamin DukeDancing Plague - Colorful and Joyous Painting of a Dancing Crowd - Ben Duke2023
2023
About the Item
**This artwork is on exhibition and if purchased will be available to ship after June 15, 2025
Choreomania refers to a phenomenon that occurred during the medieval and early modern periods, characterized by spontaneous and uncontrollable dancing in large groups of people. It was also known as "dancing mania" or "St. Vitus's dance" in reference to the patron saint of dancers and performers.
One of the most famous cases of choreomania is associated with a woman named Frau Troffea, who lived in the city of Strasbourg, which is now part of France. In the summer of 1518, Frau Troffea started dancing fervently in the streets without any apparent reason. Her dancing continued for several days, and soon others in the city joined her.
As the days went by, the number of dancers increased significantly. People from different walks of life became afflicted with the strange compulsion to dance uncontrollably. The dancing became so intense and widespread that it began to take a toll on the participants' health, with some dancers collapsing from exhaustion, injury, or even death due to heart attacks or strokes.
Authorities at the time were perplexed by the situation and attempted to address it in various ways. They constructed stages and organized musicians to accompany the dancers, hoping that it would help them "dance out" their frenetic energy. However, these efforts seemed to have little effect, and the dancing continued unabated.
Eventually, medical professionals and theologians were called upon to investigate the phenomenon. They proposed theories that the dancing was caused by supernatural forces, such as demonic possession or divine punishment. Some even suggested that it was a result of imbalanced bodily humors or a form of mass hysteria.
The outbreak of choreomania in Strasbourg finally subsided after several months, but not without leaving a significant impact on the city and its people. The event was documented by contemporary chroniclers and has since become a notable case study in the history of mass psychogenic illness, shedding light on the potential influence of social and psychological factors on human behavior. –Ben Duke
Ben Duke
Dancing Plague, 2023
oil on canvas
67h x 87w in
170.18h x 220.98w cm
BSD040
Ben Duke
b. 1977 Louisville, KY
Education
2006 M.F.A., Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
2002 B.F.A., University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
2001 Summer School of Music and Art, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Selected Exhibitions
2023 Ben Duke & Suk Ja Kang: New Work, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL
2022 This Is Home, Crooked Tree Arts Council, Petosky, MI
2020 Benjamin Duke: Paintings, Vickers Theater, Three Oaks, MI
2019 Family Reunion, Roy G Biv Gallery, Columbus, OH
2018 Wrap It Up, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL
Portraits and Place: Select Works from Gallery Victor Armendariz, curated by Corporate Art Advisory,
Metropolitan Capital Bank, Chicago, IL
Liberation, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL
2017 Distortion, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL
Coming Attractions: Inaugural Exhibition, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL
2015 The Suburbs Eyes: Picturing the Sprawl, (invitational), Ernestine M Raclin Gallery, Indiana University, South
Bend, IN
2014 21 and Counting, The Painting Center, New York City, NY
A River Without Banks, Paul Collins Art Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI
The Contemporary Figure, Ben Duke and Robert McCann, Moss-Thron Gallery of Art, Fort Hays, KS
2013 Benjamin Swallow Duke and Nathan Barnes, Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture, Bozeman, MT
Benjamin Swallow Duke and Esther Randall, Rosewood Gallery, Kettering, OH
Thresholds, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE
2012 Sublime Rupture, Target Gallery, Catalog with Essay by Dominique Nahas, Alexandria, VA
2011 Identity In Itself, Lapham Gallery, Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Center, Glens Falls, NY
Benjamin Duke, Tony Shumsky, Roy G. Biv Gallery, Columbus, OH
Upheaval, [traveling solo exhibition] University Art Gallery, Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, MI
2010 Kuandu Museum Residency Show and Open Studio, Kuandu Museum of Fine Art, Taipei, Taiwan
Biennial Faculty Exhibition, Kresge Art Museum, East Lansing, MI
Art Chicago, Merchandise Mart, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
Upheaval, [traveling solo exhibition] Cloyde Snook Gallery, Adams State College, Alamosa, CO
Floating, Fitton Art Center, Hamilton, OH
2009 Disrupted Particulars, Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, Clinton Township, MI
Art Chicago, Merchandise Mart, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
Notwishstanding, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
SOFA (Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art), 7th Regiment Armory, Ann Nathan Gallery, New York, NY
Biennial 25, South Bend Museum of Art, South Bend, IN
2008 We Drew a Circle and Called it and Island, Garden City Art Space, Taipei, Taiwan
Benjamin Duke and Teresa Dunn, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, WI
Imaginary Cities, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL
Awakening, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
2007 SOFA (Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art), 7th Regiment Armory, Ann Nathan Gallery, New York, NY
Art Chicago, Merchandise Mart, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
Palm Beach 3, Palm Beach County Convention Center, Ann Nathan Gallery, West Palm Beach, FL
Above and Beyond, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
Darkness: World and Culture, Caladan Gallery, Beverly, MA
Baker Arts Center 10th National Juried Exhibition, Liberal, KS
Nude International, Lexington Art League, Lexington, KY
2006 Launch: Graduate Thesis Show, Baltimore, MD (solo)
Second Chance: Brewer’s Art, Baltimore, MD (solo)
Biennial Faculty Exhibition, Kresge Art Museum, East Lansing, MI
Academy 2006, Conner Contemporary, Washington, DC.
Opening Exhibition, Touchet Gallery, Baltimore, MD
Only Human, School 33, Baltimore, MD
Go Figure, Maryland Federation of Art, Baltimore, MD
2005 Emerging Artists, Maryland Federation of Art, Baltimore, MD
real vs. Real, City Café, Baltimore, MD
Artscape Art Fair, Baltimore, MD
Group Show, Hoffberger Gallery, Baltimore, MD
2004 Clamor, Rose Wagner Center for the Arts, Salt Lake City, UT (solo)
Boxing, Fox Gallery, Baltimore, MD
2003 Paintings, Finch Lane Gallery. Salt Lake City, UT (solo)
Regional Show, Saint George Art Museum, Saint George, UT
Show us Your Stuff, Left Bank Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT
Spring Salon, Springville Art Museum, Springville, UT
2002 Trasa Urban Arts, Salt Lake City, UT
2001 Seen and Unseen, Union Art Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT (solo)
Professional Experience
2006-present Assistant Professor, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
2006-2005 Instructor, Ruriart Community Art Center, Ellicott City, MD
2004-2003 Instructor, Peterson Art Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Selected Awards
2015 Alfred and Trafford Klots International Program for Artists, Lehon, France
2011 2011 Individual Artist Award, Roy G Biv Gallery, Columbus, OH
2010 Best in Show: Figuratively Speaking, Village Gallery, Montgomery, AL
2006 Vermont Studio Center Fellowship Award
Best in Show: Go Figure, Maryland Federation of Art
2004 Hoffberger Fellowship, Maryland Institute College of Art
2003 Merit Award, Spring Salon, Springville Art Museum
2002 Stoeckel Fellowship and residency, Yale University
- Creator:Benjamin Duke (1977, American)
- Creation Year:2023
- Dimensions:Height: 67 in (170.18 cm)Width: 87 in (220.98 cm)
- More Editions & Sizes:1 of 1Price: $18,000
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Framing:Framing Options Available
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:Seller: BSD0401stDibs: LU554315921452
Benjamin Duke
Benjamin Swallow Duke was born in Louisville, Kentucky and grew up in Utah. He studied Literature, Philosophy and Art at the University of Utah receiving his BFA in 2002. He received his master of fine arts at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore Hoffberger School of Painting and has been teaching painting and drawing at Michigan State University since 2006.
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