James Arthur Surls is a world-famous American modernist artist. His masterpieces seem simple and strange at first glance. However, this impression is deceptive. They are recognized all over the world. True connoisseurs of modern art wait in long lines to buy them. Is this real art or just the eccentricity of the rich to get something that is not understood by the majority and is in demand? Let’s figure it out on houston1.one.
Father’s hopes and studies in various institutions
The future sculptor was born on April 19, 1943 in Terrell, Texas. His father was Joe William Surls, a carpenter and farmer. His mother, Martha Lucille Surls, née Ramsey, was not only a farmer’s wife. She was appointed an honorary elder of the Cherokee tribe. She held the position of one of ‘The Wisdom Givers’. The boy grew up in a cozy home environment. Mom loved her firstborn more than anything. A father sought to raise a true heir and successor to the profession. Thus, James was always with his father. He helped with the household chores, performed simple tasks and tried his hand at carpentry.
Later, the Surls family moved to the town of Malakoff, in northern Texas. Here, the future artist spent most of his childhood. He graduated from school and continued his studies at Henderson County Junior College. Later, he continued his studies at San Diego College. At the new educational institution, he got the news of the military draft and was forced to return to Texas.
However, James Surls did not get into military service. Instead, he continued his studies in Huntsville, at Sam Houston State University. In college, he received a pedagogic education. The artist graduated from Alma mater in 1966, receiving a bachelor’s degree. He continued his studies at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
By this time, he had been interested in various artistic directions. James was especially attracted to drawing. However, at the Academy of Art, he visited the class of sculptor Julius Schmidt. This teacher managed to captivate him so much that he decided to connect his further creative life with sculpture. He graduated from this university in 1968, receiving a master’s degree.
Art history teacher
After graduating, James Surls moved to Dallas. He received an offer to teach at Southern Methodist University. He did not stay there for long. The art teacher moved to Houston. After some time, he began teaching art at the University of Houston.
James Surls discovered his creative potential in this institution. He captivated many students with modern art. Under his guidance, such now famous artists as Mary Jenewein, Peter McClennan, Robert Graham, Mark Diamond, Robert McCoy, Chris Huestis, Diane Falkenhagen, Bernard Brunon, Donald Woodman and many others studied. He rallied his students around modern art. The artist was happy to collaborate and the students enthusiastically accepted his ideas and methods.
Lawndale Art Center — modern art to the masses
In 1979, the idea arose to create the Lawndale Alternative Art Space. The idea was that Lawndale should become a bridge from the world of real to modern art. For artists, especially little-known newcomers to the industry, this space should become a kind of springboard. Anyone could demonstrate their creative work here. The idea was very good, so there was no shortage of enthusiasts and like-minded people.
However, the problem arose. There was no funding for an ambitious youth project. Without money, it was impossible to rent a space. Therefore, the first location for Lawndale was an abandoned warehouse where the University of Houston organized studio space. Therefore, from the 100 thousand square feet of this warehouse, art professor James Surls and his students allocated 15 thousand square feet. They cleaned the place, organized the decor and created the first exhibition space for contemporary art.
Among the first works presented at the Lawndale Art Center were the creative works of the university students. The space quickly gained popularity. The number of visitors grew every day. Therefore, it was not long before local artists also began to exhibit their works here.
Ten years after its founding, Lawndale received the status of an independent non-profit organization. The curiosity of Houston residents and visitors did not pass as expected. Therefore, the need arose for a new space. In 1992, Lawndale Art Center moved to the Museum District of Houston. This allowed to expand the space and audience even more.
Now, Lawndale remains one of the largest creative centers in the region. Exhibitions, open competitions and festivals are held here every year. This helps young artists to demonstrate themselves and local residents to get involved in contemporary art.
Sculptures by James Surls
The professor of art at the University of Houston not only taught and organized creative spaces. He actively created sculptures. They are unusual. He chose wood and metal as the material for his works. The skills he received from his father, a carpenter, came in handy. The highlight of his creations is the rough processing of wood. They look even brutal. However, this is precisely their uniqueness. Almost all the sculptures have the appearance of rough unhewn wooden parts connected by metal rods. These modern sculptures exude some kind of primal power. This effect is enhanced by the size of the works. For the most part, they are not just large, they are colossal.
In addition to sculptures, James Surls is also an artist. His paintings are even stranger than sculptures. At first glance, these works are monotonous. However, if you look closely, each of them is unique and has deep symbolism. His works are kept in many museums in the United States. In Houston, the artist’s sculptures and graphics can be seen at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Another iconic location for Houston is Market Square Park. It houses Surls’ sculpture called Points of View. This installation is a kind of symbol of Houston. By the way, there are such abstract sculptures in other cities of the USA. Five bronze-steel bouquets of Surls were installed on Park Avenue in New York.
Current life
At the moment, the artist James Surls lives in Carbondale, Colorado. He has his studio and continues to create new masterpieces. The artist is in his third marriage. He has three children from his first marriage to the famous artist Martha Ann Gebhart. His last wife was his student at Southern Methodist University. The couple also raises three children.
Despite his advanced age, the artist does not stop working. He continues to amaze with his creations. Some critics say that all his works are monotonous. However, he makes each detail individually and manually using hand tools. Each sculpture, drawing or engraving reflects James Surls’ unique sensitivity to nature. As proof of this, his works are housed in many major museums around the world. Private collectors are also hunting for the opportunity to buy the artist’s wooden masterpieces.