Larry Turbes Opening Reception

Join us for the opening reception of Larry Turbes’ exhibit in our atrium on Thursday, June 6 from 4-6pm!
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About the Exhibit:
An artist friend gave me seven large canvases and suggested trying something new, to paint big and abstractly. This show is the result.
“Gone Abstract” was painted without much thought, consciously that is. I did, however, start with one premise, to draw a pair of curved lines based on a previous project titled “Dance”. The set of lines represents the form of a modern dancer.
Beyond residual dancer lines, there wasn’t any planning to represent anything, I just wanted to allow my background as a figurative artist show through somehow. Work was instinctual, free flowing, fun at times, difficult at other times. I drew and painted until the canvas was covered, sometimes recovered, until finally everything was comfortably resolved. My goal was to create something genuine and beautiful.
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Artist Statement:
My art is drawn from a strong affection for the form and spirit of the human figure, its expressive beauty. I look for the timeless enduring nature of the human figure.
My practice in art started after attending a life drawing class in 1993. As an architect on a long-term industrial project, I needed a new creative outlet. This led to many years of life drawing and painting. I often look back at these studies and project the feelings gained into current work.
When once asked why I only paint the figure, I replied “What else is there?” What I meant was our presence in the world physically and culturally is the epicenter of our existence. Exploring humanity by focusing on the figure and its many truths brings me closer to life.
I work as both a painter and sculptor, often creating collective series of each while exploring a particular subject. My process is focused and organized, but my work is more exploratory and spontaneous. I’ve recently moved from representational art to abstraction, continuing to draw inspiration from the human figure.
There’s a soft flowing quality that permeates my work. Working primarily with oil paint on canvas, paintings are usually brightly hued, color is a primary medium of expression. The swerving sensuous line often plays a role as well. Sculptures also follow an allegiance to the contoured form of the figure, either sculpted in clay, molded and cast, or constructed with steel armatures directly modeled over with epoxy. Organic is an appropriate qualifier for my art.