A Studio Session

By Natalie Downey

Light streams in through six foot windows, illuminating paths of air like spaceship beams. This former orthodox synagogue is full again, albeit the images that fill its space now are slightly less orthodox.

Faces are everywhere, frozen fragments of life. Some are smiling, some are serious, some eyes hold secrets of stories one can only guess the meaning of. The human body is reverently and unapologetically exhibited, an homage to life in its most vulnerable form.

Each face is different, each work inspired at a different moment in time, perhaps a meeting in town or a connection begun casually in a coffee shop.

The studio belongs to local artist Dr. Garry Pound, who reposes surrounded by his masterpieces. His work in our community has unfolded over the years as a procession of tales that illuminate the lives of the people who live here, or at least hint at their stories.

Art is in Garry’s blood. Growing up in a home where both of his parents were artists, Garry was used to having access to art supplies, seeing the artistic process carried out, and being supported by his parents in his artistic endeavors. He grew up surrounded by an appreciation for the aesthetic that translated to not only his art, but also to his work to make Columbus a more beautiful place.

Though he left Columbus for a while to get his Ph. D, Garry returned after finishing his studies and has had a studio in the city for the past 40 years. He has made an impact on our community not just as an artist, but also in the part he’s played in the restoration of at least 12 properties in the Historic District area. As the Historic District was coming to life, so was the part of Columbus now known as Uptown, and today, Garry says, “It’s been amazing, the transformation that has occurred. There’s an energy here that there wasn’t when I first moved down to the area.”

While Garry’s talent comes naturally, his commitment to producing quality work is a character trait that sets him apart and solidifies his reputation. His focus is on authenticity and a raw, genuine representation of the person he is painting or drawing.

Inspiration is the elusive white stag for an artist. While some artists wait for inspiration to strike, Dr. Pound has an interesting approach, remaining committed to his work, though he admits there are “good days, bad days, good art, and art that stinks.” He shows up, brush in hand, and gets to work, and the inspiration eventually catches up. “It’s not about the inspiration, it’s about the work, and that creates the inspiration. When I’m pushing the work and get on a roll, it seems to pour out.”

Garry’s work is vast and his skill is indescribable, his subject matter often focuses on the human figure, portraits, faces. “There are so many nuances in the human face,” Garry says, noting that, “It’s always a challenge to try to capture somebody’s personality with a pencil or a brush.” Garry has predominantly worked on commissioned pieces for clients, mostly portraits, and his work can also be found around town.

Art is a vulnerability to both the artist and the subject. Garry’s art speaks to the vulnerability of the human being, the human body in its most natural state, and the intimacies of the details of the human face.

Many people in our community have enjoyed his series of portraits that line the walls of the Fountain City Coffee shop (1007 Broadway), a series called Fountain City Faces. An idea which began with Garry thinking he’d only be drawing a handful of faces for display in the coffee shop has turned into a series of around 180 different faces drawn by Garry. The project has led Garry to begin conversations with and ultimately draw the faces of people he would not ordinarily approach, people who strike him as interesting, inspiring him to draw them, another face added to the collection on the wall, each unique in its own way.

The portraits cover the walls of the coffee shop now, giving passersby a glimpse of the kaleidoscope of faces that make up our community.

In a culture where people seem to hardly notice one another’s faces, Garry’s work invites us to look closely, to see this freckle, those wrinkles, that sparkle in the eyes. It arouses a curiosity, a desire to hear the story, an empathy felt in the realization of the commonalities we share as a human race. Skin, noses, eyes, imperfections. Garry’s work captures the essence of life as the humans we truly are.

Perhaps artists such as Garry possess a special sixth sense for seeing life as if it is happening in a still frame, inspiring to memorialize a moment, a glance, a flicker of light on a person’s face. “Art, above all, is about awareness,” Garry says.

Garry’s work continues to inspire our community and will undoubtedly leave a legacy that future generations will value. The portraits he has created will endure long after the faces in them have changed and aged, and the faces he has drawn will continue to tell the collective story of the humanity of our city.

His work can be seen on his curated Instagram account @garrypoundstudio & @poundstudio on facebook, which he seeks to use as a sort of weekly diary. His studio is located in Columbus at 100 7th Street and is open to the public.