The Paths to Abstraction: Paintings by Otis Huband and Jim Woodson

The Paths to Abstraction: Paintings by Otis Huband and Jim Woodson January 26 - February 16, 2013

The Paths to Abstraction: Paintings by Otis Huband and Jim Woodson In The Paths to Abstraction, WFRA takes great pride in showing a strong selection of recent works by two accomplished and respected veterans of the Texas art scene — Otis Huband and Jim Woodson. This exhibition follows our successful Texas Expressionism show, and continues our reflection upon the dynamic qualities of abstract paintings

by Texas artists. In this show, the divergent brands of abstraction produced by these two seasoned artists combine to create a compelling two-man exhibition. Both artists demonstrate uncommon skill and compositional acuity in their chosen modes of abstraction. Likewise, both yield incredibly beautifully canvases textured in rich color and exuding with energy. So with the quality and workmanship analogous, it is the contrast of their abstract styles that provides the power and story-line for this show. The splendid differences in the works of these two fine artists underscore the fact that exceptional abstract canvases may assume many forms, and that the best works derive their particular form from the creative vision or “path” to abstraction which each artist chooses to pursue.

Otis Huband, whom we consider to be a local genius at work in our city, has been a fixture on the Houston scene since the mid-60s, teaching art and methodically producing grand paintings and collages. While consistently maintaining abstract references to figurative subject matter, Huband offers more non-representational renderings than his exhibition counterpart; with works reflecting a highly-charged, frenetic style of humanistic expressionism.

On the other hand, Jim Woodson, recently retired from a three-decade teaching career at Texas Christian University, produces ethereal, finely-worked abstracts which are inspired by the natural landscape and organic forms of the high desert country in Texas and New Mexico. While using landscape as a representational frame of reference, Woodson skillfully transforms his paintings into amazing abstractions simply by accentuating phenomena which he feels or observes as desert earth, wind, and light colliding to ignite mysterious, surrealistic “incidents” or energy bursts within the rigorous terrain.

Both of these artists have obviously pursued divergent intellectual paths to produce engaging abstract paintings of great quality, and the results of each are quite exceptional.

To us, this grand divergence in subject and style reinforces the infinite possibilities presented by great abstract painting. The works of these two esteemed artists also remind us that the best of abstract painters possess incredible facility with paint and that their aesthetic visions emerge from deeply-held inspirations which drive their personal narratives through their own distinctive forms of abstraction.

Clearly, both Huband and Woodson are unusually good artists, their works worthy of viewing and well worth the viewer’s journey along their respective paths to abstraction.

Enjoy the trip.

Bill Reaves, Jennifer Pryor, & Elizabeth O’Dowd

Cover images, left to right: Otis Huband, Meadow Dance, 2007, oil on canvas, 69.5 x 42 inches Jim Woodson, Reserved Erotic Postulates Distinguished, 2012, acrylic and oil on paper, 30 x 23 inches

EXHIBITION CHECKLIST The Paths to Abstraction: Paintings by Otis Huband and Jim Woodson Plate Artist 13 2 10 5 12 6 11 8 14 1 4 7 9 3 17 21 18 20 27 15 24 23 16 19 25 26 28

Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband Otis Huband

Title of Work

Date

Medium

Dimensions

Bay Front Property Exquisitely Mine Fallen Figure Five Large Considerations No. 2 Five Large Considerations No. 3 Five Large Considerations No. 2 French History Late November Meadow Dance Montauban Mountain Pass Smokey Pink with Pearls The Long Walk Tides A Sudan Thought About the Infant Abrivated Promise Crackers in the Snow Deep Sea Monster Fashionable Quotes Memories of the Last Child Mother and Daughter Not Really a Korean Poem Postal Service Bust Quarry Swimmers Saint with Abraded Black The Doubter with the Blue

2010 2011 2010 1990 1990 1990 2010 2007 2007 2000 2000 2007 2007 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009

oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas collage collage collage collage collage collage collage collage collage collage collage collage collage

67 x 43.25 in.

56.5 x 44 in.

51.5 x 38.5 in.

68 x 44 in.

68 x 44 in.

68 x 44 in.

68 x 45 in.

69.5 x 44.25 in.

69.5 x 42 in.

75 x 44 in.

56.5 x 40 in.

60 x 48 in.

35 x 27 in.

57 x 41 in 11 x 8 in.

11 x 8 in.

11 x 8 in.

11 x 8 in.

11 x 8.5 in.

11 x 8 in.

11 x 8 in.

11 x 8 in.

11 x 8.5 in.

11 x 8 in.

11 x 8 in.

11 x 8 in.

11 x 8 in.

EXHIBITION CHECKLIST The Paths to Abstraction: Paintings by Otis Huband and Jim Woodson Plate Artist

Title of Work

Date

Medium

Dimensions

22 29

Otis Huband Otis Huband

Threatening Still Life Veil Dance

2009 2009

collage collage

11 x 8.5 in.

11 x 8 in.

38 30 41 32 33 37 34

Jim Woodson Jim Woodson Jim Woodson Jim Woodson Jim Woodson Jim Woodson Jim Woodson

2012 2007 2012 1997 2012 1997 2011-12

acrylic and oil on paper oil on canvas acrylic and oil on paper acrylic on paper, canvas acrylic and oil on panel acrylic on paper, canvas oil on canvas

23 x 30 in.

36 x 24 in.

23 x 30 in.

7 x 26.5 in.

23 x 30 in.

7 x 30 in.

48 x 60 in.

42

Jim Woodson

2009-10

oil on canvas

36 x 48 in.

31 48 49

Jim Woodson Jim Woodson Jim Woodson

2006 2009 2009

oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas

60 x 48 in.

72 x 48 in.

72 x 48 in.

50

Jim Woodson

2012

oil on canvas

48 x 60 in.

35 40 39 44 47 36

Jim Woodson Jim Woodson Jim Woodson Jim Woodson Jim Woodson Jim Woodson

2012 2006 2007 2005 2004 2008

acrylic and oil on paper oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas oil on canvas

30 x 23 in.

24 x 48 in.

72 x 46 in.

69.5 x 45.5 in.

42 x 72 in.

72 x 48 in.

43

Jim Woodson

2010

oil on canvas

48 x 72 in.

46 45

Jim Woodson Jim Woodson

Adjusted Erotic Emergencies Remembered Approximate Post-Cognitive Recollections Captured Semi-Integrated Personal Distraction Deterred Impulse Big Bend Dimly Given Fluctuating Emergencies Ecstatic Inclination Big Bend Intuited Upward Conflated Contingencies Partially Choreographed Erotic Rememberances High Desert Post Differentiated Cohering Recollections Previous Potential Discourse Activated Recurrent Resolved Coalescences High Desert Registered Sequential Separations Transitioning Horizontally with Self Portrait Reserved Erotic Postulates Distinguished Semi-Concealed Activating Articulations N.M. Simultaneous Intuited Intrusions Simultaneous Realized Articulations N.M. Simultaneous Unrestrained Mediation New Mexico Transitory Expansive Mediations High Desert Triangular Compulsive Continuous Erotic Emergents High Desert Unifying Horizontal Revelations N.M. Vertical Partially Infused Realizations High Desert

2006 2008

oil on canvas oil on canvas

24 x 48 in.

48 x 72 in.

Plates: Otis Huband

2. Huband, Exquisitely Mine, 2011, oil on canvas, 56.5 x 44 inches 1. Huband, Montauban, 2000, oil on canvas, 75 x 44 inches

4. Huband, Mountain Pass, 2000, oil on canvas, 56.5 x 40 inches 3. Huband, Tides, 2010, oil on canvas, 57 x 41 inches

5. Huband, Five Large Considerations No. 2, 1990, oil on canvas, 68 x 44 inches

6. Huband, Five Large Considerations No. 4, 1990, oil on canvas, 68 x 44 inches

7. Huband, Smokey Pink with Pearls, 2007, oil on canvas, 60 x 48 inches

8. Huband, Late November, 2007, oil on canvas, 44.25 x 69.5 inches

9. Huband, The Long Walk, 2007, oil on canvas, 35 x 27 inches

10. Huband, Fallen Figure, 2010, oil on canvas, 51.5 x 38.5 inches

11. Huband, French History, 2010, oil on canvas, 68 x 45 inches

12. Huband, Five Large Considerations No. 3, 1990, oil on canvas, 68 x 44 inches

13. Huband, Bay Front Property, 2010, oil on canvas, 43.25 x 67 inches 14. Huband, Meadow Dance, 2007, oil on canvas, 69.5 x 42 inches

15. Huband, Fashionable Quotes, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

16. Huband, Not Really a Korean Poem, 2009, collage, 11 x 8.5 inches

17. Huband, A Sudan Thought, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

18. Huband, Abrivated Promise, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

19. Huband, Postal Service Bust, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

20. Huband, Crackers in the Snow, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

21. Huband, About the Infant, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

22. Huband, Threatening Still Life, 2009, collage, 11 x 8.5 inches

23. Huband, Mother and Daughter, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

24. Huband, Memories of the Last Child, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

25. Huband, Quarry Swimmers, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

26. Huband, Saint with Abraded Black, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

27. Huband, Deep Sea Monster, 2009, collage, 11 x 8.5 inches

28. Huband, The Doubter with the Blue, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

29. Huband, Veil Dance, 2009, collage, 11 x 8 inches

Plates: Jim Woodson

30. Woodson, Approximate Post-Cognitive Recollections, 2007, oil on canvas, 36 x 24 inches

31. Woodson, Post Differentiated Cohering Recollections, 2006, oil on canvas, 60 x 48 inches

32. Woodson, Deterred Impulse Big Bend, 1997, acrylic on paper mounted on canvas, 7 x 26.5

33. Woodson, Dimly Given Fluctuating Emergencies, 2012, acrylic and oil on panel, 23 x 30 inches

34. Woodson, Intuited Upward Conflated Contingencies, 2011-12, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 inches

35. Woodson, Reserved Erotic Postulates Distinguished, 2012, acrylic and oil on paper, 30 x 23 inches

36. Woodson, Transitory Expansive Mediations High Desert, 2008, oil on canvas, 72 x 48 inches

37. Woodson, Ecstatic Inclination Big Bend, 1997, acrylic on paper mounted on canvas, 7 x 30 inches

38. Woodson, Adjusted Erotic Emergencies Remembered, 2012, acrylic and oil on paper, 23 x 30 inches

39. Woodson, Simultaneous Intuited Intrusions, 2007, oil on canvas, 46 x 72 inches

40. Woodson, Semi-Concealed Activating Articulations N.M., 2006, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 inches

41. Woodson, Captured Semi-Integrated Personal Distraction, 2012, acrylic and oil on paper, 23 x 30 inches

42. Woodson, Partially Choreographed Erotic Rememberances High Desert, 2009-10, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches

43. Woodson, Triangular Compulsive Continuous Erotic Emergents High Desert, 2010, oil on canvas, 48 x 72 inches

44. Woodson, Simultaneous Realized Articulations N.M., 2005, oil on canvas, 45.5 x 69.5 inches

45. Woodson, Vertical Partially Infused Realizations High Desert, 2008, oil on canvas, 48 x 72 inches

46. Woodson, Unifying Horizontal Revelations N.M., 2006, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 inches

47. Woodson, Simultaneous Unrestrained Mediation New Mexico, 2004, oil on canvas, 42 x 72 inches

48. Woodson, Previous Potential Discourse Activated, 2009, oil on canvas, 72 x 48 inches

49. Woodson, Recurrent Resolved Coalescences High Desert, 2009, oil on canvas, 72 x 48 inches

50. Woodson, Registered Sequential Separations Transitioning Horizontally with Self Portrait, 2012, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 inches

Biographical Information

OTIS HUBAND Biographical and Career Highlights • 1933, Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia • 1955-1956, Attends Richmond Professional Institute of the College of William & Mary (now Virginia Commonwealth University) • 1956-1957, Ventura Junior College, Ventura, California • 1957-1958, California College of Arts & Crafts, Oakland, California • 1958-1961, B.F.A. and M.F.A.,Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia • 1963-1964, Attends Accademia di Bella Arti, Perugia, Italy • 1967-1971, Art Instructor at Houston Museum School of Fine Arts (now Glassell School), Houston, Texas • 1967-1972, Art Instructor, Rice University, summer school for high school students, Houston, Texas • 1971-1982, Art Instructor, Art League of Houston, Houston, Texas • 1975, Art Instructor, life drawing, University of Houston, Houston, Texas • Resides in Houston, Texas Selected Exhibitions • 1956, Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, Virginia • 1960, Erick Schendler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia • 1964, Circolo di Universita, Perugia, Italy • 1965-1966, The James Bute Gallery, Houston, Texas • 1966-1967, Dubose Gallery, Houston, Texas • 1966-1970, Erdon Gallery, Houston, Texas • 1972-1990, Louisiana Gallery, Houston, Texas • 1974, University of Houston - Downtown, Houston, Texas • 1976, Ars Longa Gallery, Houston, Texas • 2010, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • University of Houston Faculty Exhibition, Houston, Texas

Selected Collections • Giacomo Colderone, Perugia, Italy • Mitchell Energy and Development Corporations • Houston Grand Opera, Rigoletto painting for cover • Merrill Lynch, Exploration & Development Department

JIM WOODSON Selected Biographical and Career Highlights • 1941, Born in Waco, Texas • 1965, B.A. in painting, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas • 1967, M.F.A. in painting, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas • 1968-70, Technician and Instructor, University of California at Davis, Davis, California • 1970-72, Extension Instructor, University of California at Davis • 1973-74, Curator of Art, California Historical Society, San Francisco, California • 1974-75, Visiting Artist, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas • 1975-81, Assistant Professor, Texas Christian University • 1981-2002, Associate Professor, Texas Christian University • 2002-present, Professor, Texas Christian University • Resides in Fort Worth, Texas

Selected Public Collections • Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), Dallas, Texas • BNSF Railway, Permanent Collection • El Paso Museum of Art • Union Pacific Resources Co., Fort Worth, Texas • Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth • San Angelo Museum of Art • University of Dallas, Irving, Texas

Selected Exhibitions • 1967, Jim Woodson, Maverick Studios, Austin, Texas • 1972, Jim Woodson, Vacaville Art Center, Vacaville, California • 1979, Made in Texas, invitational exhibition, University Art Museum (now Jack S. Blanton Museum), University of Texas at Austin, Texas • 1983, Art in The Metroplex, exhibition juried by Barbara Rose, Moudy Exhibition Hall, Texas Christian University, Dallas, Texas • 1986, The Texas Time Machine, sesquicentennial invitational exhibition, curated by Joan Seeman-Robinson, The Cullen Center, Houston, Texas • 1991, A Sense of Place – Recent Acquisitions, San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, Texas • 1993, Reunion: The Young Texas Artists Series, invitational, Amarillo Art Center, Amarillo, Texas • 1999, Biennale Internazionale Dell’Arte Contemporanea, international invitational exhibition, Fortezza da Basso, Florence, Italy • 2001, Place: Day/Night Large Paintings by Fort Worth Artists: Daniel Blagg and Jim Woodson, Arlington Museum of Art, Texas • 2005, The Barrett Legacy: Exhibition of Paintings from the Collection of Richard and Nona Barrett, Old Jail Art Center, Albany, Texas • 2011, Dallas Art Fair, represented by Valley House Gallery, Dallas, Texas

William Reaves Fine Art 2313 Brun Street • Houston, Texas • 77019 Tel: 713.521.7500 • Fax: 713.521.7504 Email: jennifer@reavesart.com www.reavesart.com