STUDIO INK. Mar 2021, Vol. 1, No. 2

LaBurn, Mullins to explore ‘Powers’ of visual storytelling

by Andy Coughlan

push stories forward,” Mullins said. “And it changes as time goes by.”

LaBurn and Mullins will present an exhibition of their titled “Powers at Play,” March 6-27, at The Art When Sirena LaBurn and Nathan work, Mullins met at the Studio School in Studio, Inc. New York, they shared more than an The pair met in 2012 where they were both students. affinity for paint — they shared an The Studio School features interconnected spaces interest in stories and mythologies. and Mullins said the artists could visit each other’s LaBurn, a native of Nederland, studios.

Texas, and Mullins, who hails from “I think that’s how we really came together, being Clarksdale, Mississippi, see their able to look at and think about the world in ways that paintings as part of the human meant a lot to both of us,” he said. narrative. work features Texas imagery that examines “It’s the idea of just trying to engage LaBurn’s perceptions people have of the state — images with the potential of all that’s come the before you,” LaBurn said. “That makes of ranching and cowboys and wide-open plains. me feel like I’m a part of a continuum “I’ve traveled a lot, and when people would ask of story makers. That makes me feel me where I was from, and I would say, ‘Texas,’ human.”

I could just see the look on their faces. A lot of Western movies take place in Texas, there’s “What humans do is tell stories, is the the myth of Texas associated with the imagery.”

10