In the Gallery for RolePlay
We're pleased to feature three artists during this show, Sergio Turrubiartes (East Wall), Robert Standlee (West Wall), and George Lacy (Back Hall). Here is more about them:
Sergio Turrubiartes
Mr. Turrubiartes got his first true artistic inspiration at the early age of 12 when he accomplished his first painting following the steps of his older brother and role model, Albert, who was majoring in art at college. Since then, Mr. Turrubiartes became very passionate about techniques and styles and in 1984 he left his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, and enrolled in The Colorado Institute of Art in Denver, Colorado. He graduated with an Associate Degree in Commercial Art in 1986. In 1992 he moved to the DFW area and since then he has developed his unique style in different medium, from pencil to ink and airbrush to oils. His latest works were seen at ONSTAGE in Bedford productions of Footlight Frenzy, Running in the Red and most recenly, Sunday in the Park with George in the capacity of Scenic Artist. He is thrilled to be able to put this collection together in conjunction with his recently discovered passion, the theater arts. Thank You Stage West for this unique opportunity.
Robert Welburn Standlee, BFA
Robert is one of Fort Worth’s best kept secrets. He is a painter, singer songwriter, has a blog full of theoretical writings on Myspace, and currently plays electric guitar in the “not yet ready for the stage” project Scary Friendly. Robert has spent most of his life living in Fort Worth and until the age of 28 studied music. In 1993 a pivotal moment occurred when Robert’s music teacher’s told him NOT to study music because, “Studying music will ruin your ear for the fun kind of Rock and Roll you like to listen to.” Well, not wanting to get tired of all those Ramones records he had collected for so long, Robert decided to study art. In 2001, at the age of 37 from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, Robert graduated with his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing. There Robert studied for three semesters under Vernon Fisher! What a masochist! He also has fond memories of studying under Annette Lawrence and Robert Jessup and the now departed Rob Erdle. Robert has been living at home writing and recording his music and creating his art since he left school. Over the last couple of years Robert has decided to “take the plunge” and begin displaying his works.
As far as a Statement is concerned, I don’t like Statements. But the art that I have on display here at Stage West is simply an exercise in abstract expressionism. I have always maintained that my style of painting looks 50 years old, but that says a lot about today’s art world, when now the work of the Action Painters is actually looked down on but only 50 years ago it was the cutting edge of Fine Art. My work owes a lot to Richard Diebenkorn I think and the series of paintings he made called the Ocean Park Series, but obviously I don’t work that large. I hope to work larger in the future. My work may not contain lofty conceptual ideas but instead I am hoping to create an overall ambiguity through the choices of color and value I have used and to play with the imagery of the negative and positive space. The form of the Highway structures versus the space of the sky and ground that surrounds them.
My sites: www.rwsart.com and www.myspace.com/robbotheantiperformer
George Lacy, Mixed media
University of Dallas - MA, East Texas State University - BS
My work is not about illusion. I see each piece as having its own unique state of being, and it is my intention not to have the work be variations based only on color versions or design adjustments. Each piece becomes unique on its own merit but when presented together with other work I have created acquiring a connection of ideas, attitude and/or emotion. The pieces individually represent actions of the moment, cognitive relationships between objects, color, marks and their application to the work. Creating the work is mainly about process, because I enjoy making the pieces. The end result is entirely subjective and based on my personal reaction to what has been done on the surface of the "canvas". If there is a "story" in the work it is loosely drawn from my personal dialog of current experience and recorded as a diary relating the time that the pieces were created. I like to view the work more as my personal recording of the many times disregarded and often avoided acknowledgment of the invasive personal human experience.
If viewers are able to respond in an aesthetic, emotional or intellectual manner to the work, that is a step in the right direction.
