On the surface, Dan Matson is a typical lawyer.
But he’s also an artist with a passion for water colors, heavy oils, poetry and theater.
Serving as DeWitt’s city attorney, Matson has fused law and art throughout his career.
Matson published a collection of poems and pictures, “The Art of Art,” in September.
“MSU played a major role in this book,” Matson said. “The centerpiece of the book is a poem that I wrote while I was on campus at the Fairchild Theatre.”
Matson scribbled his thoughts for “Theatre” on a flier while sitting in the darkened Fairchild Theatre.
After he realized there was another stage behind him, the Auditorium stage, the setting invoked some thoughts about theater and the universe. Matson sees the universe as a theater of its own.
In 1992, Matson displayed an exhibit, also called “Theatre,” at the Lansing Art Gallery. “Theatre” was a large installation that portrayed Matson’s artistic interpretation of different aspects of theater. He also painted Detroit’s Fox Theatre box office, an outdoor theater in Italy and his take on the universe. These paintings are included in his book.
Matson, who was born and raised on the west side of Detroit, gained a passion for the arts while studying law at Wayne State University in the 1960s.Unlike other students, Matson studied for his classes in the fine arts library on campus. Because of the paintings on the wall, he gained a great appreciation for art.
“I used to study in the art library,” Matson said. “It was a quiet and beautiful place.”
Although his love for art began at the fine arts library, it didn’t end there. It was nurtured at the Detroit Institute of Arts and was fine-tuned while he traveled in Tasmania.
“When I was there I just started drawing,” Matson said. “I sat down and just drew what I saw.”
From there, Matson grew into a seasoned artist. He’s recreated many works of art, what he calls “impressions.” Each impression has a little of Matson, and he has also done his own work.
“I never knew I was marrying an artist,” said Marleen Matson, Dan Matson’s wife. “I thought I was marrying an attorney, but art’s his true love. He’s an excellent painter.”
Matson’s law office was once his art studio. His paintings cover the walls, creating an atmosphere much like the art library at Wayne State.
