James Dean Tribute

James Byron Dean On Sept. 30, 1955, less than a week after completing the final scene of Giant, actor James Dean was on his way from Los Angeles to a sports car race in Salinas. The actor was driving at less than the posted 60-mph speed limit when he was involved in a collision with a Ford sedan driven by Donald Turnupseed at the intersection of Highways 466 (now 46 East) and 41 near Chalome, Calif. Though nearly 50 years later Dean's rebel image and enduring spirit still lives on as a legend that is without equal. For young people coming of age, including myself, Dean was someone they could easily identify with: an outsider, a loner--he was the opposite of everything a well-behaved youth was supposed to be. Dean's recklessness and commitment to having lived his life to the fullest had its appeal as well.
While it may be every kids dream to live in Hollywood, drive exotic cars and have the longing eyes of every girl in America on him. Dean actually did it....In a way, the kids feel he did it all for them. He was, moreover, the one hero who would never sell out... He would never have a chance to.
	Living my whole life near the area where Dean lost his life, his memory holds a special place in my heart. Frequent trips to the steel sculptured memorial erected to honor James Dean by Japanese business man Seita Ohnishi placed the idea inside of me to create a painting inspired by the turbulent memory of James Dean. Visit the American Spirit gallery to view this painting. "I think there is only one form of greatness for man. If a man can bridge the gap between life and death. I mean, if he can live on after he has died, then maybe he was a great man. To me the only success, the only greatness, is immortality." James Dean
The figure eight turned sideways is the symbol for eternity prominently featured on the stainless steel memorial representing Dean's life and death.