A Biography of Michael Florin Dente by Sarah Florin Dente January 24, 1996 - Updated August 6. 2007
	Michael Florin Dente was born on September 25th, 1948 in San Jose, California. He is the oldest of seven children. His name, Michael, is after his grandfather and Florin after his father. Florin Dente, Michael's father, was a Merchant Marine Officer and was at sea for months at a time. Because of this Michael and his mother Georgia Jean lived with Florin's parents, Josephine and Steve in San Jose. At four years old Michael had asthma, hay fever, and eczema, so he spent much of his time in the house and his bedroom where he learned to make things with clay. He made little animals and people in boats or clay airplanes.
Long walks in the country enabled Michael to think deeply and allow his creative imagination to develop. He would play and practice with his clay for hours and hours at a time. He would create canoes and little people to ride in them. They would sail to another island (twin bed) and there they would explore, sometimes to find animals of the real variety and of the fantastic such as dragons, minotaurs, etc. He would sometimes arm the little clay men with swords and they would battle. When Michael's sister, Barbara, was born on Sept. 30, 1949 the family moved to Seattle, Washington. At that time Florin was called into the Navy Reserve for the Korean War. In 1950, Michael, his mother, and sister moved to Milton Freewater, Oregon to live with Georgia Jean's Aunt Frankie When Florin got out of the service the family settled in Fruit Vale, Oregon on a 10 acre fruit ranch. A year and half later the family moved back to San Jose and bought a 10 acre walnut orchard in Morgan Hill. Michael's second sister, Josephine, was born on June 15, 1953. There was no shipping work available there so the family returned to Seattle to find work. Florin a transport job and the rest of the family returned to Fruit Vale. This is where Michael started school. Michael attended Fruit Vale school through the fourth grade. Fruit Vale school was a three-room school house for K-8. There were only 64 students in the whole school. Michael's third sister Georgia Anne was born on Jan. 15, 1956. During the summer after his fourth grade year Michael's family moved to Camas, Washington. In the fall of that year Michael started the fifth grade at Mill Plain grade school. The move was difficult and his grades began to suffer. During the next few years Michael's parents had three more children. Anthony Lee was born on August 7, 1963. Kathryn and Paul are twins and were born on Nov. 24, 1964. Michael's mother was a very busy woman with seven children and a husband gone out to sea for months at a time. But the family grew and thrived in a loving atmosphere of family and relatives. Michael attended Evergreen Jr. and High school where he graduated in June, 1966. Shortly after graduation from high school Michael met Laurel Anne Cusick. Michael decided to attend Clark Jr. College in Vancouver and his major was pre-law. This was a tough area of study and he just couldn't get interested enough to get good grades. It was at that time when his girlfriend, Laurie, suggested he try his hand at studying the arts. It was during his college years that his talent in art blossomed. In 1970 Michael married his high school sweetheart Laurel Anne Cusick. They moved to Portland, Oregon where Michael attended Portland State University. It was here where he earned his B.A. and was then accepted into the Masters program. In 1975 he earned his M.F.A. degree. During the summer of 1973 Michael and his wife traveled through Mexico where he studied the works of Jose Clemente Orozco, Rafino Tamayo, Rivera and several other Mexican and Spanish Masters During the summer of 1974 they traveled through Canada studying art and touring the country with their two dogs, Andy and Daisy. On December 31, 1978 Michael's and Laurel's first son, Nicholas Amedeo Dente (Amedeo-after Amedeo Modigliani) was born. Not long after the birth of their first son a second son arrived. On April 24, 1980 Vincent Tamayo Dente (Tamayo-after Rafino Tamayo) made his debut. During the summer of 1981 Michael was hired to travel to Saudi, Arabia to set up an art program for the children of ARAMCO employees. Michael says that this was a very tense and eye opening experience. While there he created several murals. Upon returning form Arabia, Dente was employed as an adjunct art professor at the University of Portland. Here he began his college teaching career. On the evening of July 1, 1982 while teaching painting to his students (among them was his wife Laurie) Laurie went into labor with Michael's third child. Sarah Florin Dente (Florin-after Michael Florin Dente) was born at 1:20 AM July 2nd, 1982. My dad Michael Florin is, in my eyes, a great man, good husband, wonderful father and famous artist. Michael Florin Dente has contributed to and influenced this world and our society in many ways. As a father he contributes his time, love and influence to his children to teach them to be the best people they can be. My dad is an art professor that young and old alike praise. His patience and expertise in his field have earned him the love and respect of hundreds of students. As a teacher and professor of art he contributes his endless encouragement and talents to all that seek it. His way and style of teaching has molded many young minds. He is loved and respected by all of those people that are fortunate enough to study with him. My dad's contributions to the art world are magnificent. He has done several monuments in the Northwest including the 6' St. Francis which is placed at The Sanctuary of Our Blessed Virgin (The Grotto). At the University of Portland on the bluff overlooking the river is a monument "The Naming of Mt. Jefferson." This was dad's first monument and was erected on December 10, 1988. In Benicia, California in the middle of the Dominican cemetery stands an eight foot tall monument of St. Dominic. In San Diego, California Michael has just finished a life size bronze teas relief of St. Theresa and St. Martin DePoors for Bishop Borm. Dad is currently working on a three foot sculpture of St. Catherine of Sienna. Michael works with many children here in the Northwest creating murals for their schools. Here in Portland he has been painting murals at Peninsula Elementary and Glencoe Elementary for more than fifteen years. For many years dad has coached basketball and baseball. When his children didn't make their school teams Michael would start his own team for them. As a coach he contributes his patience, time and knowledge of the game to many boys that may otherwise be out on the streets. Today dad continues teaching at the University of Portland. When he is not with students he is home creating wonderful works of art. He is currently working on a monument of Martin Luther King Jr. with three other figures that will be eight feet tall and placed in front of the Oregon Convention Center when it is completed. "The Dream." Michael has been gifted with a God given talent not shared by many. Because of his ability to create and teach art he has inspired me to follow in his footsteps. My dad, Michael Florin Dente! Addendum - August 6, 2007 After leaving the niversity of portland in 1999 Dente finished up several local commissions. In August of 2000 Michael was commissioned to create several bronze monuments for the Skaggs Catholic Center in Draper, UT. Upon completing these sculptures Dente was hired to setup the art program for Juan Diego Catholic High School, "a state of the art" complex (part of the Skaggs Catholic Center). His art and talents were reveived with such enthusiasm that a large studio was given to him for the creation of future works of art. In 2001 Dente created 27 sculptures for the ne St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, also athe the Skaggs Catholic Center. In Deceber of 2002 Dente was invited to show int he Florence Biennial. Michael was in Italy for a month where he participated in the biennial and enhanced his knowledge of art. He also traveled to Italy for a month in the the summer of 2005 to participate in a two man art show in Mondragone, Italy, a sea side resort area. At this time Mr. Dente still resides in Sandy, UT with his wife, Laurie, their middle son Vincent, Vincent's girlfriend Alyssa and his grandson Dominic Tamayo Dente, who is almost five. Currently Michael is working on several commissions, liturgical, historical and abstract. He continues to travel, when ever possible, viewing art world wide.