Jim Houser is a self-taught US painter and installation artist, well known for his personal images on small canvases, juxtaposed with text and found objects. His folk-art vibe reverberates themes of secret thoughts, surfing life, the handmade and of mapping ones thoughts.
When asked once to describe his work best for someone who might know his thing, he said, "My art is a combination library / sea diary / searchlight / shooting range / operating room / animal shelter / row house on a nice quiet block ."
For his new exhibition in Sydney, The Pregnant Pause, Houser continues to translate an acute awareness of words and sensitivity to his surroundings through his art. Working in a style of free-association, Houser creates profound and uplifting poetry, which renders his art carefree and innocent. Houser’s fascination with word association parlays to a distinct aesthetic and mode of communication — a new visual language.
This promises to be an exhibition of work that is extremely personal and accessible, rich with iconography of word, phrase and symbol fused beautifully together to illustrate the human condition. “That’s how I wanted to present my work,” explains Houser, “in the context of the world that I occupy. All my influences are present there.”
THE PREGNANT PAUSE
NEW WORKS BY JIM HOUSER
Opening Night, Thursday 25 February 2010
from 6pm
Exhibition will run 26 February - 18 March 2010
20 Burton Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010