Till Death Do Us Part: Dana Ellyn & Matt Sesow's Wedding, 2010

The wedding

Friday, February 5, 2010

On Friday, February 5, 2010, Dana Ellyn married painter Matt Sesow at the opening reception of their two-person show Till Death Do Us Part at Long View Gallery, 1234 9th Street NW, Washington, DC. The wedding was free and open to the public. Instead of gifts, the couple asked guests to buy art.

They had been a couple for eight years. Dana first saw Matt’s paintings at his 2001 show at Aroma, a bar and gallery in Cleveland Park. The paintings in the show were about love, commitment and marriage, and Dana’s and Matt’s work hung on opposite walls of the gallery.

The blizzard later known as Snowmageddon began that night, and the opening was one of the few events in town that wasn’t canceled. A humanist celebrant, Jennifer Kalmanson, led a short ceremony near the gallery entrance, and Dana and Matt spoke their own vows. Matt drew in the fog on the windows while he waited for her. The bride wore teal.

“I promise not to kill him.”Dana’s vows, as reported by Washington City Paper

After the vows, the couple sold 30 paintings that night, according to the Washington Post. Their wedding announcement ran in the New York Times.

The facts: dates, venue, officiant & more

Event: Wedding at the opening of a two-person show
Artists: Dana Ellyn & Matt Sesow
Show: Till Death Do Us Part (promoted as “Art Brings Us Together: Till Death Do Us Part”)
Venue: Long View Gallery, 1234 9th St NW, Washington, DC
Dates: February 5 – March 1, 2010
Opening: Friday, February 5, 2010, 6:30–9:30 p.m., with the wedding during the reception
Officiant: Jennifer Kalmanson, humanist celebrant
Dana’s work: 38 paintings, including 15 painted on photos from her 1993 wedding album
Public relations: Massey Media
Music: Möbius Strip

Press

February 2010 · tap a clipping to read it

Style section front page · February 10, 2010 · by Dan Zak

United Artists

“I decided there was more to life than functionality. And when I met Matt, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s the ‘more to life’ I’ve been expecting.’ ”Dana, in the Washington Post

Front page, C1 →Continued, C9 →Text version (PDF) →

The Washington Post Style section front page, C1, February 10, 2010, with United Artists

The Washington Post, page C9, February 10, 2010: For artists, Till Death Do Us Part was more than wedding vows

February 8, 2010 · by Maura Judkis · photo by Matt Dunn

A Nice Day For a White Wedding

“The couple of eight years has long held nothing sacred in its art, so why should the wedding have been any different?”Washington City Paper

Read the article (PDF) →

Washington City Paper, A Nice Day For a White Wedding, February 8, 2010

February 5, 2010 · by Michael O’Sullivan

Gallery opening of the week

“The show, called ‘Till Death Do Us Part,’ runs through March 1. The marriage, presumably, longer.”The Washington Post

See the clipping →PDF →

The Washington Post, Gallery opening of the week, February 5, 2010

February 3, 2010 · page 17 · by Jessica Gould

Till death they’ll do art: Creative couple plans to wed at art show

“If it doesn’t get better than today, then great. Today is so good.”Dana, two days before the wedding

See the front page →

The Northwest Current, Northwest Passages front page, February 3, 2010

February 4, 2010 · photos by Matt Dunn

Photos: The Hanging at Long View

Matt Dunn’s photos from the day before the wedding: Dana and Matt putting up show posters around town, signing posters at Long View Gallery, and the two of them in the gallery.

See the article →

Washington City Paper, Photos: The Hanging at Long View, February 4, 2010

February 4, 2010 · by Libby · photos by Kimberly Cadena

Inside The Artist’s Studio: Matt Sesow and Dana Ellyn

“I mean it really doesn’t get any better than this. This would be great forever.”Dana, the day before the wedding

Read the interview →

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow during the Brightest Young Things interview, 2010

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow during the interview

February 9, 2010 · photos by Kimberly Cadena

PHOTOS: Matt Sesow’s & Dana Ellyn Wedding + Exhibit Opening

“Here are some photos of the event itself: snow, old and new friends, dancing to Mobius Strip and memories.”Brightest Young Things

See the photos →

Long View Gallery in the snow on opening night, February 5, 2010

Matt Sesow raises a fist during the wedding ceremony

Video

The wedding · filmed by a guest, posted to YouTube February 6, 2010

Watch on YouTube →

Photos

The wedding & opening · 32 photos · tap to enlarge

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Dana and Matt arriving in the snow — Dana and Matt arriving in the snow

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: "Matt" and "Dana" with hearts, drawn in the fog on the gallery window — “Matt” and “Dana” with hearts, drawn in the fog on the gallery window

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Dana and Matt by the gallery window — Dana and Matt by the gallery window

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Matt raises a fist during the ceremony, as TV cameras film — Matt raises a fist during the ceremony, as TV cameras film

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Vows — Vows

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Dana and Matt — Dana and Matt

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Dana with the officiant — Dana with the officiant

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Signing the marriage certificate — Signing the marriage certificate

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Matt and Dana with their nieces at the wedding — Matt and Dana with their nieces at the wedding

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Guests at the opening — Guests at the opening

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Matt being interviewed — Matt being interviewed

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Matt being interviewed, with Dana — Matt being interviewed, with Dana

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: TV cameras at the opening — TV cameras at the opening

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: TV crews at the opening — TV crews at the opening

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Guests with Dana's paintings — Guests with Dana’s paintings

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: The crowd at Long View Gallery — The crowd at Long View Gallery

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: The crowd — The crowd

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: The opening — The opening

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Putting up show posters the day before the wedding, February 4, 2010 · Photo: Matt Dunn / Washington City Paper — Putting up show posters the day before the wedding, February 4, 2010 · Photo: Matt Dunn / Washington City Paper

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Putting up show posters, February 4, 2010 · Photo: Matt Dunn / Washington City Paper — Putting up show posters, February 4, 2010 · Photo: Matt Dunn / Washington City Paper

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Signing the show posters at Long View Gallery, February 4, 2010. Signed posters were for sale to wedding guests. · Photo: Matt Dunn / Washington City Paper — Signing the show posters at Long View Gallery, February 4, 2010. Signed posters were for sale to wedding guests. · Photo: Matt Dunn / Washington City Paper

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: At Long View Gallery, February 4, 2010 · Photo: Matt Dunn / Washington City Paper — At Long View Gallery, February 4, 2010 · Photo: Matt Dunn / Washington City Paper

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: At Long View Gallery, February 4, 2010 — At Long View Gallery, February 4, 2010

Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow's wedding at Long View Gallery, 2010: Matt's parents, his sister Jana and her daughters (Dana and Matt's nieces) with Dana and Matt, February 4, 2010 — Matt’s parents, his sister Jana and her daughters (Dana and Matt’s nieces) with Dana and Matt, February 4, 2010

Dana’s paintings

23 on canvas · tap to enlarge

Till Death Do Us Part, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 24 in. x 30 in.

Institution of Marriage, acrylic on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 30 in. x 40 in.

Letting Go of the Fairy Tale, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 22 in. x 28 in.

Garden of Earthly Delights (triptych), oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, three 12 in. x 36 in. panels

Playing House (Playing by the Rules), oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 30 in. x 40 in.

Engagement Chicken, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 20 in. x 24 in.

Best. Gift. Ever., oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 14 in.

My Grass is Green, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 30 in. x 40 in.

Bringing Home the Bacon, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 24 in. x 36 in.

Date Night, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 14 in. x 18 in.

Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride, acrylic on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 20 in. x 24 in.

Floret Girl, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 24 in. x 30 in.

Great Catch, acrylic on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 22 in. x 28 in.

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil (Forever Hold Your Peace), acrylic on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 20 in. x 24 in.

Chicken Dance, acrylic on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 14 in. x 18 in.

In Sickness and In Health, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 30 in. x 40 in.

Floating a Trial Balloon, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 10 in. x 30 in.

Sesow's (Big) Head, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 30 in. x 40 in.

No, Not Even Then, acrylic on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 20 in. x 24 in.

Cuddling is for Teddy Bears, acrylic on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 20 in. x 24 in.

Nurture Nature, acrylic on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 18 in. x 24 in.

This Side Up, oil/acrylic on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 24 in. x 36 in.

Cupid Said So, oil on canvas by Dana Ellyn, 20 in. x 24 in.

Painted on her first wedding album

15 paintings · 11″×11″ each

For these paintings, Dana painted directly onto photographs from her first wedding, in 1993, and left parts of each original photo untouched.

Reaching, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Chicken Dance, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

La Chat Noir (Cat and Mouse), acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Wedding, Party, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

First Dance, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Groomsmen, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Toad, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Wedding Circus, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Day of Mourning, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Coupling, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

For Lease, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Happy Face, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Life of the Party, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Any Way You Slice It, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Help, acrylic on (my old wedding) photo by Dana Ellyn, 11 in. x 11 in.

Till Death Do Us Part

Domestic

Puppy Love

Mutual Support

The other half of the show

Matt Sesow’s paintings

Matt’s work hung on the opposite wall, including his “100 for $100” small paintings and Domestic, 56″ × 67½″, which the Washington Post called the biggest piece in the show.

See all of Matt’s wedding paintings →