Art House 310 First Friday – Tara Hufford Walker & Mark Walker
August 2 - August 24
Art House 310 First Friday – Tara Hufford Walker & Mark Walker
Opening Reception | First Friday August 2nd, 2024 | 6-10pm
This event is free to attend and open to the public. Show hangs through August 24th, 2024.
Art House 310 is located at 310 S. Laura. Two blocks SE of Douglas & Washington in downtown Wichita.
TARA HUFFORD WALKER
Bright colors, intense contrast, and shadows – I like art that shouts at you, and draws the viewer in. I like art that makes one linger and ask, “is there a story there?” I also appreciate figurative imagery and subject matter – art that looks real, that demonstrates the artists appreciation for technical skill. I try to not shy away from things like teeth and hands, but embrace the opportunity to challenge myself – to better my craft.
I have been inspired by artists such as Caravaggio, and Philip Pearlstein with their extreme figurative poses, the lights and darks, the great painterly prowess. I also love the surreal artists such as Salvador Dali -his creepy, whimsical imagery – painted realistically, but in a dreamlike nonsensical way. Then there are the pop artists with their bright paint and shiny colors that make me smile and inspired to paint. Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, James Rosenquist, Wayne Thiebaud – so many! I’m always on the lookout for things, and people that make me think – “I want to paint that!!!”
See more of Tara’s work on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TaraHuffordWalkerArtist
MARK WALKER
I grew up loving watching my dad take photos of weddings in the 60s, a supplemental income from his day job. Spending nights in the darkroom with him … watching and looking at lots of photo magazines around the house. I Started taking more slide photos of my own more in 70s. Then In the 90s along came digital and I was intrigued in the prospect of manipulation.
Now comes smartphones and it’s just amazing what can be done. I have been taking photos for 50 years. Smartphone apps and lenses have made the amount of work and time much quicker. You can take and hold thousands of pics on your phone. I fuse them much as old double exposure used to but in an instant. Today I’m fusing 4 to 5 photo layers together using photos of my surroundings. I prefer the square format and still like smaller and larger pixel size when printing depending on exhibit.
I refer to myself as a self-taught Multi-Media Artist, because I also enjoy making art assemblages made of recycled materials, plus Experimenting rock music with video and guitar.
I moved to Wichita in 1974, worked at Wichita Art Association (Center for The Arts) for 17 years, USD259, Gallery Goon 16 years at Go Away Garage, and 15 years currently at Vertigo 232 Gallery, Founder, Director, Gallery Curator. I have been in gallery art exhibits around the state of Kansas since 1998. I am also a founding member of Artist Group “ Id…ology” (a group of 7 artists that makes art with recycled materials). I hope you enjoy my phone photos and thank you for your support of the arts in Wichita.
See more of Mark’s work on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarkWalkerArtistMusic and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mswalk5art.