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Dave Alber
Dave Alber
Born	1969 (age 52–53)
Nationality	American
Citizenship	United States of America
Education	Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art; Master’s Degree in Mythological Studies;
Alma mater	St. Petersburg College; The State University of West Georgia;
Occupation	VR Artist; Writer; Graphic Designer;
Years active	1993 - present
Organization	Dave Alber
Known for	Hybrid VR Paintings invention; The Floating Gallery [online virtual reality gallery];
Website	davealber.com

Dave Alber (born 1969) is an American painter, art inventor, travel artist, author and graphic designer, who is a leading figure in the present visual art movement known as virtual art.^[2]^[3] He is best known for inventing a new medium of art, Hybrid VR paintings and has also created The Floating Gallery and the VR Paintings app.^[4] His work maintains the continuity of the oil and acrylic painting tradition, taking these physical media into virtual reality environments, thus blending physical and virtual art. Three of Dave’s art books use QR code technology to enhance images in print with interactive virtual art experience.^[5]^[6]

Alber received his formal education in arts at St. Petersburg College and Pinellas Vocational Technical Institute.^[7] Influenced by graphic designing and technology, from a young age, he became increasingly attracted to blending traditional fine art that occupy physical space on the wall with virtual reality technology in virtual hybrid paintings.^[8]^[9]^[10]

Alber initially pursued a successful career as a graphic designer and illustrator working for Franklin Templeton Investments, drawing illustrations and designing literature for print, web, and multimedia. After leaving the job, he moved to Nepal, Thailand, Taiwan, and Costa Rica. He began teaching in universities in China, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal. From 2018, Living and traveling abroad, he created Hybrid VR Paintings.^[11] Galleries and art patrons connect with him to collaborate, buy, or commission his artwork.^[12] ^[13]^[14]^[15] ^[16]^[17]

Alber is also considered a prominent author for books on the topics of art and mythology.^[18] He has published a number of books including To the Dawn, Myth And Medium, Alien Sex in the Silicon Valley, and the Travel Art and Travel Writing series, that are highly acclaimed amongst the artistic circles around the world. Alber’s Hybrid VR Paintings have been featured in a number of media outlets and his paintings have been exhibited in the solo show Old World New World at KunChef in Kunshan, China as well as in the online virtual reality galleries The Floating Gallery and Resilient Americana.^[19]

Early life and education[edit]

In 1989, Alber enrolled in the St. Petersburg college, where he studied art for two years along with getting trained in graphic design technology from the Pinellas Vocational Training Institute. In 1995, Alber went to the State University of West Georgia where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a major in printmaking. After his graduation, Alber attended Pacifica Graduate Institute where he did a master’s course in mythological studies with an emphasis in depth psychology.

Career[edit]

Soon after getting his certification as a graphic designer in 1993, Alber joined Visual Odyssey where he worked for three years creating educational charts for the chiropractic community.

In 1995, Alber also started graphic designing and promotions for the United Services Organisation (USO). As an Art Director for the USO, Alber designed, illustrated, and oversaw advertising and promotional work. Alber art directed the International Renaissance Festival of Naples, Italy, where he designed event graphics, coordinated an international group of people, and oversaw public relations activities. He worked for almost a year on this project.

In 1999, Alber joined the e-Staff consulting group for another project where he designed literature for print, created illustrations and organized desktop publishing work. During his tenure with this firm, Alber worked with Miller Zell, General Time Corporation, C.B. Richard Ellis, Creative Foundry, and Carroll White Advertising.

Soon after the completion of the project with the e-Staff consulting group, Alber did a similar project for Aquent Partners.

In 2000, Alber joined Franklin Templeton, where he worked for over a decade. As an integral member of the firm, Alber designed literature for print, web, and multimedia along with giving presentations on latest technology and industry issues as a chairperson and overlooking the maintenance of Creative Services internal website. Alber developed, implemented and oversaw design and technology proficiency testing procedures for Poland design staff, he also trained the Indian staff through video conferencing.

Alber also worked for almost two years with The Rhythm Of Health as a product developer and editor.

After acquiring his masters degree, Alber started his own website in 2010 that focused on Myth, Arts and Culture, Hypnosis and English learning/teaching. During this time, Alber started his journey as a writer and began the research for his books.

In 2011, Alber joined Henan Polytechnic University where he taught English for five years. After a year, in 2012, Alber was appointed as a product developer and editor for Easy American Accent where he works on creating, writing, developing, editing, and marketing ESL products and e-learning environments.

In 2018, Alber also started a travel blogging website named ILoveTravelArt where he shares his travel write ups, fine art exhibitions, and fine art auctions. Alber’s travel articles and illustrations have been featured in That's Shanghai, That's Guangzhou, Suzhou Review, Shaving In the Dark, Open Magazine, and Nepali Renaissance.

Hybrid VR Paintings[edit]

In 2019, Alber developed a new mode of art, Hybrid VR Paintings. These actual physical oil and acrylic paintings occupy physical gallery space while simultaneously manifesting within the virtual world as stereoscopic and touch screen virtual reality experiences. With this invention, Alber converted his oil and acrylic paintings into interactive virtual reality experiences. After this, Alber’s physical paintings have been showcased as 360° panoramic VR experiences.^[20]

With the advent of technology, Alber also founded an application that offers online and cellular VR gallery solutions with the motive of offering art enthusiasts a virtual reality experience thus combining traditional art with 21st century technology.^[21] VR Paintings is a virtual reality application that launches The Floating Gallery in a stereoscopic VR viewer cellular application via Google Cardboard or a VR headset. This application is available on Android, Oculus Go, and as a download for HTC Vive.

Hybrid VR Paintings are featured in Alber’s books A Curious Heart’s Wanderlust in China, Ravages of Time & Permanence of Wonder and 2020 Is the Year of Hybrid VR Paintings.^[22]

These paintings were also exhibited in Old World New World at KunChef in Kunshan, China and in the online virtual reality galleries The Floating Gallery and Resilient Americana.

Exhibitions[edit]

Solo Exhibitions[edit]

2019: Old World New World, KunChef, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
2019: Contact, WangDe Art Shop, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
2018: Intimations, KunChef, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
2006: Myth & Medium, Minds Eye Gallery, Campbell, CA
1998: Meditations, Neva Lomason Memorial Library, Carrolton, GA

Collective Exhibitions[edit]

2020: Unlocked, and in the permanent collection, Wuhan Revolutionary Museum, Wuhan, Hubei, China
2020: The Big Show, Art Center Sarasota, Sarasota, FL
2020: Emergence From the Shadows of a Pandemic, Pour Yours, Clearwater, FL
2019: Ravages of Time & Permanence of Wonder, two-person show with Benji Kinenga at Suzhou Arts Collective, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (March 8–May 11)
2008: A Sense of Place, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2007: Students of Cherise Thompson, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2007: Printmakers of the Pacific Art League, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2007: Figures: Human & Anatomical, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2000: Figurative Art, City Art, San Francisco, CA
1998–2000: The End of the World, starting at The University of Tennessee and touring the U.S. for two years
1997–1998: The Hand, three exhibits in Carrolton, GA
1996: The Renaissance Festival of Naples, Italy, (Art Director) USO, Naples, Italy

Apart from this Alber’s comic art and illustrations have been featured in That’s Shanghai, Suzhou Review, Shaving in the Dark, and Open Magazine. His comic “Bedding Shanghai” was also featured in the Shanghai International Literary Festival.

Publications[edit]

2020 Is the Year of Hybrid VR Paintings (Published in 2020)"VR Paintings on Oculus Go". Oculus. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
Alber, Dave (March 9, 2020). "2020 Is the Year of Hybrid VR Paintings".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Alber, Dave. "Dave Alber Travel Art 2019 Ravages of Time & Permanence of Wonder Travel Art & Travel Writing". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2020-09-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) (Published in 2019)
"Travel Art & Travel Writing: A Curious Heart's Wanderlust in China". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2020-09-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)(Published in 2019)
Dave Alber: Travel Art 2018: Part 1: Intimations (Published in 2018)
The Sound of English: English Pronunciation Practice (Published in 2017)
Heart of Myth: Wisdom Stories From Endangered People (Published in 2016)
Heart of Myth: Wisdom Stories From Endangered People (Published in 2016)
The Taotie Image in Chinese Art, Culture, and Cosmology (Published in 2014)
Chinese English: English for Chinese Speakers (Published in 2014)
50 Idioms That You Absolutely Must Know (Published in 2013)
English Idioms: An Idiomatic Journey to the West (Published in 2013)
Alien Sex in Silicon Valley (Published in 2011)
Myth and Medium (Published in 2007)
Alien Sex in Silicon Valley (Published in 2006)
To the Dawn (Published in 2005)
Myth and Medium The Art of Dave Alber (Published in 2005)
"VR Paintings". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2020-09-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)