Lives Played Out on Canvas: Paintings by Otis Huband, Richard Stout and Dick Wray

WILLIAM REAVES FINE ART

Lives Played Out on Canvas:

Paintings byOtis HubandRichard Stoutand Dick Wray

Introducing An Exciting Eighth Season!

September 13 - October 5, 2013

Lives PLayed Out On Canvas:PaintingS by

OtiS HubanD, RiCHaRD StOut anD DiCk WRaySEpTEMbER 13 – OcTObER 5, 2013

Special Events:Saturday, September 14, 2013

3 - 4:30pm: Artist Talk with Otis Huband and Richard Stout5 - 8pm: Opening Reception

William Reaves Fine art inaugurates a momentous eighth season and milestone 50th exhibition with a grand selection of paintings by Otis Huband, Richard stout and dick Wray, three of the Bayou City’s most recognized artists. Given our mission of tracing developments in the visual arts of texas from early twentieth-century until now, it seems only fitting that we feature works of this group of Houston artists in one of our most exciting exhibitions aptly entitled, Lives Played Out on Canvas. Certainly it would be difficult to reflect upon the emergence of the Houston art scene without considering the influence and contributions of these fine painters over their six decades in the city.the three artists were among those who put down roots in the Houston arts community in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and then proceeded to blaze independent trails through a burgeoning local arts scene. in the decades that have followed, they, like so many of their Houston contemporaries, have shared inspired lives with us through the paintings they have produced. Working continuously within the city, the three have achieved worthy regional and national reputations, playing out their painterly pursuits before us in strong, dynamic bodies of work. Our own lives (and indeed, the entire Houston art scene) are undoubtedly richer due to their presence, and while the city still mourns the recent passing of dick Wray, Richard stout and Otis Huband are still very much with us, working daily on sublime canvases which emanate from their Houston studios.in showing the three artists together, we do not present them as a triumvirate “school” of Houston artists, nor do we suggest that they worked together as a tightly-knit threesome

Lives Played Out on Canvasof collaborating painters. such is not the case. as noted above, the three pursued and perfected independent styles over the years. stout and Wray, while close personal friends, had no serious influence on the art of the other. Certainly Huband, who eschewed the local gallery scene for most of his career, developed his style in relative isolation from the others. nonetheless, the three artists seem naturally bound through a shared local history as companions of a sort, if only by the place and longevity of their work. they now rank among the city’s highest echelons of painters, having made their case over time on the basis of their creative edge, painterly facility and consistency of production. Rather than broad retrospective overviews, we have focused the exhibition on select periods representative of each artist. We feature stout paintings from the 1960s through the 80s (along with a small selection of his more recent bronzes), Wray works from the 1960s through early 2000s, and Huband’s more recent paintings, ranging from 2003 to present. it is a magical mix, and the result is an exhibition filled with show-stopping examples of the artists’ oeuvres. it is a show for serious students of Houston arts, presenting a remarkable collection of grand abstractions affording poignant insight into the creative lives and visions of three Houston greats.Richard stout’s paintings represent exquisite testaments of a thoroughly accomplished artist. His evocative abstractions, the earliest in the show, are possessed of inspired personal narratives, alluring viewers and subtly drawing them closer for sustained examination of underlying story lines. as always, stout paints with refined purpose and meaning, building elegant compositions crafted on a reverence for natural

beauty, as well as an affinity for music and poetry. His canvases tend to integrate paintings within paintings, his shifting planes and partitioned views present an amalgamation of moments recalled and experiences encountered in a single, unified view. Within his compositions, stout demonstrates his expertise with paint, carefully controlling brush, color and tone to create mood and mystery in each work. He combines a delicate palette with alternately precise strokes and strong gestural gashes to create intriguing canvases, rich in form and color. His paintings reflect an ethereal sense of light and space and glow with a subtle inner strength.While stout’s paintings hold subtle energy and strength, hardly anyone would accuse dick Wray of subtlety in life or art. Robust, “in-your-face” compositions convey Wray’s bombastic pronouncements in art. thickly painted on raw canvas or overlaid atop digital prints, Wray paintings are lashed with dramatic color and resonate with vivacious energy. Painting with a reckless abandon, Wray formed his powerful, distinctive style, punctuating his canvases with darkened contours and chiseling strong passages into vibrant, oozing streams of paint. His output is at once messy and exuberant, chaotic yet under-laid with order. every inch of the canvas is used to the artist’s expressionist advantage. Like the artist, himself, Wray’s paintings are not quiet; they shout heartedly across a room, and whether one likes them or not, they command their space and require viewers to take notice. Otis Huband, on the other hand, has quietly forged a unique brand of figurative expressionism inspired by more classic modes. His paintings revel in color, manifesting gorgeous, finely worked surfaces. Consistent with the exhibition title, Huband literally does play out the lives of his characters on

canvas, offering dramatic and forceful studies which convey sublime discourse of the human struggle. Figures emerge from Huband’s canvases, conjured up from splendid color schemes and slashing, frenetic strokes. Huband’s figures, however, seldom suffer from artistic lethargy, but rather they roil with physiological energy and psychological tension, generating paintings that are filled with movement and tingling with energy. Like Wray, his canvases are highly charged in terms of color, emotion and verve, yet his works stand more easily with those of stout in terms of their sensitivity and depth. all-in-all, Lives Played Out on Canvas makes a wonderful exhibition, and offers the perfect backdrop for yet another great season of texas art at WRFa. the exhibition explores the creative genius of three Houston giants, showcasing their exceptional paintings and celebrating their wonderful diversity of approach and style. the works on display are serious and important, and the materials are presented in a dramatic and compelling fashion. it is a worthy opener, certain to stimulate and engage any and all comers. We invite you to join us for our inaugural exhibition of the 2013-14 season. We welcome you back and think you’ll agree with us that we Houstonians are of good fortune to have had these artists, and others, play out their wonderfully art-filled lives here within our midst. Cheers!

Bill ReavesPresident, William Reaves Fine Art

Lives PLayed Out On Canvas: pAINTINGS bY OTIS HUbAND, RIcHARD STOUT AND DIcK WRAYseptember 13 - October 5, 2013

image artist title of Work Date Medium Dimensions (inches)

1 Otis Huband Carnival Family 2011 oil stick on canvas 56 x 44

2 Otis Huband Celebrating Irrational Behavior 2009 oil stick on canvas 57 ½ x 43 ½

3 Otis Huband Durac 2011 oil stick on canvas 56 ¾ x 41 ½

4 Otis Huband Field of Fire 2013 oil stick on canvas 50 x 60

5 Otis Huband Late Evening 2008 oil stick on canvas 18 x 27 ½ x 14

6 Otis Huband Moonstruck 2007 oil stick on canvas 60 x 38

7 Otis Huband Mountain Vista 2006 oil stick on canvas 24 x 20

8 Otis Huband Mystical Painting 2013 oil stick on canvas 24 x 20

9 Otis Huband Nevermind All That 2013 oil stick on canvas 50 ¼ x 75

10 Otis Huband Pilgrim 2013 oil stick on canvas 36 x 34

11 Otis Huband Seated Figures 2010 oil stick on canvas 17 x 4 ½ x 5 ½

12 Otis Huband Sloth 2008 oil stick on canvas 19 ½ x 23 x 11

13 Otis Huband Slumber 2013 oil stick on canvas 50 x 50

14 Otis Huband Sometime Singing 2012 oil stick on canvas 50 ¼ x 60

15 Otis Huband Undisclosed Location 2010 oil stick on canvas 60 x 50

16 Richard Stout A Cycle and Arrow 1988 acrylic on canvas 60 x 50

17 Richard Stout Ark 2006 bronze 38 x 52

18 Richard Stout December 1961 acrylic on canvas 18 x 17 x 8

19 Richard Stout Discipline in Faith: Okada 1985 acrylic on canvas 12 ¾ x 5 x 4

20 Richard Stout Discipline in Faith: The Princess 1986 acrylic on canvas 16 ¼ x 20 ¼

21 Richard Stout Gate of Hell 1975 acrylic on canvas 60 ¼ x 48

22 Richard Stout Hamlet 1966 acrylic on canvas 36 x 48

23 Richard Stout Hero 2000 bronze 24 x 36

24 Richard Stout Hero 2005 bronze 27 ½ x 37 ½

25 Richard Stout Houston 1972 acrylic on canvas 42 x 30

image artist title of Work Date Medium Dimensions (inches)

26 Richard Stout Prodigal 1988 acrylic on canvas 50 ¼ x 60

27 Richard Stout Untitled (R607) 1978 acrylic on canvas 60 x 50

28 Richard Stout Untitled (R608) 1978 acrylic on canvas 60 x 50

29 Richard Stout Untitled 1973 acrylic on canvas 38 x 52

30 Richard Stout Untitled (2003-34) 2003 bronze 18 x 17 x 8

31 Richard Stout Untitled (2004-30) 2004 bronze 12 ¾ x 5 x 4

32 Dick Wray No Good Black Magic 1962 mixed media 16 ¼ x 20 ¼

33 Dick Wray Untitled 1043 2006 oil on canvas 60 ¼ x 48

34 Dick Wray Untitled 1137 2002 oil on canvas 36 x 48


36 Dick Wray Untitled 1133 n.d. oil on canvas 27 ½ x 37 ½

37 Dick Wray Untitled 1224 1994 monoprint, oil on paper 42 x 30

38 Dick Wray Untitled 1232, ed. 1/25 2005 etching 22 ½ x 17 ⅛

39 Dick Wray Untitled 1347 n.d. oil on canvas 18 x 24


41 Dick Wray Untitled 1458 n.d. mixed media on board 60 ¼ x 44 ¼


43 Dick Wray Untitled 1475 2003 mixed media on canvas on board 60 x 48






49 Dick Wray Untitled 1863 n.d. oil on canvas 45 ¾ x 58


Lives PLayed Out On Canvas: pAINTINGS bY OTIS HUbAND, RIcHARD STOUT AND DIcK WRAYseptember 13 - October 5, 2013

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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

OtiS HubanD

Selected biographical and career Highlights • 1934, Born in Beaumont, texas• 1957, school of the art institute of Chicago, Chicago, illinois, B.F.a. • 1969, the university of texas, austin, texas, M.F.a. • 1969 – 74, instructor, university of Houston, Houston, texas • 1975 – 95, Professor, university of Houston, Houston, texas • 2010, Caseta artist of the year (the Center for the advance-ment and study of early texas art) • Resides in Houston, texas

Selected Exhibitions• 1951, Beaumont art League, Beaumont, texas • 1953, school of the art institute of Chicago, Chicago, illinois • 1955 – 78, Beaumont art Museum tri-state annual, Beau-mont, texas (regular exhibitions) • 1956, 1014 art Center, Chicago, illinois (solo) • 1963 – 85, Meredith Long & Co., Houston, texas (regular solo exhibitions) • 1965, texas Painting and sculpture annual, Witte Museum, san antonio, texas • 1968 – 70, Contemporary american art, sponsored by the u.s. department of Commerce, toured australia • 1973, three americans, texas Fine arts association • 1974, abstract Painting in Houston, the Museum of Fine arts, Houston, texas • 1975, Contemporary arts Museum, Houston, texas (solo) • 1975, Five Painters, Pollock Galleries, southern Methodist university, dallas, texas • 1985, Fresh Paint: the Houston school, the Museum of Fine arts, Houston, texas

RiCHaRD StOut(Selected Exhibitions continued)• 1997, Richard stout: Paintings & drawings, Museum of east texas, Lufkin, texas (solo) • 2007, texas Modern, Martin Museum of art, Baylor univer-sity, Waco, texas • 2010, Richard stout: alternate Realities, the Beeville art Mu-seum, Beeville, texas (solo) • 2010, Richard stout: Paintings – sky, sea & earth, Houston Baptist university, Houston, texas (solo) • 2011, southeast texas art: Cross-Currents and influences 1925 - 1965, art Museum of southeast texas, Beaumont, texas

Selected collections• art Museum of southeast texas, Beaumont, texas • Blanton Museum of art, the university of texas, austin, texas • Butler institute of art, youngstown, Ohio • dallas Museum of art, dallas, texas • Mcnay Museum, san antonio, texas • Menil Collection, Houston, texas • the Museum of Fine arts, Houston, texas

Selected biographical and career Highlights • 1933, Born in Houston, texas• 1955-58, attends university of Houston, school of architec-ture, Houston, texas• 1959, attends Kunstakademie, dusseldorf, Germany• 1962, Receives Ford Foundation Purchase award• 1964, Guest artist at tamarind Lithography Workshop, Los angeles, California• 1968-82, instructor at Glassell school of art, the Museum of Fine arts, Houston, texas• 1978, Receives national endowment for the arts artist Grant• 2000, texas artist of the year, art League, Houston, texas• 2011, dies in Houston, texas

Selected Exhibitions• 1960, 35th annual Houston area exhibition, the Museum of Fine arts, Houston, texas• 1962, southwest Painting and sculpture exhibit, the Muse-um of Fine arts, Houston, texas• 1963, dick Wray Paintings, Louisiana Gallery, Houston, texas • 1969, tamarind Homage to Lithography, Museum of Modern art, new york, new york• 1970, dick Wray Paintings, the Museum of Fine arts school of art, Houston, texas• 1971, Other Coast exhibition ‘71, California state university, Long Beach, California• 1975, dick Wray, one-man exhibition, Contemporary arts Museum, Houston, texas• 1977, dick Wray: First new york exhibition, Lerner – Heller, new york, new york• 1979, Fire! Contemporary arts Museum, Houston, texas

DiCk WRay(Selected Exhibitions continued)• 1985, Fresh Paint: the Houston school, the Museum of Fine arts, Houston, texas• 1986, third Western state exhibition, Western states art Foundation, traveling exhibition to the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, new york; san antonio Museum of art, san antonio, texas; and other states. • 1990, Printmaking in texas: the 1980s, Modern art Museum, Fort Worth, texas• 1996, texas Modern and Post-Modern, the Museum of Fine arts, Houston, texas• 2007, texas Modern: the Rediscovery of early texas abstrac-tion, Baylor university, Waco, texas

Selected collections• albright-Knox Museum, Buffalo, new york• the Barrett Collection, dallas, texas• Modern art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, texas• Museum of east texas, Lufkin, texas• Museum of Fine arts, Houston, texas• Museum of Modern art, new york City, new york• Museum of south texas, Corpus Christi, texas• national Gallery of art, Washington, d.C.• Palm springs desert Museum, Palm springs, California• san antonio Museum of art, san antonio, texas• southern Methodist university, dallas, texas• university of Oklahoma, norman, Oklahoma• Witte Memorial Museum, san antonio, texas

Lives Played Out on Canvas: Paintings by Otis Huband, Richard Stout and Dick Wray

September 13 – October 5, 2013

*Houston Fine Art Fair – booth 108A*September 19-22, 2013

Hill Country Love Affair:

Interpretations of a Texas Heartland October 18 – November 16, 2013

The Texas Watercolor Tradition

November 22 – December 21, 2013

Holidays at the HaleyThe Haley Memorial Library, Midland, Texas

December 7 – 11, 2013

WiLLiaM REaVES FinE aRtFall 2013 exhibition schedule

WILLIAM REAVES FINE ART2313 bRUN STREET • HOUSTON, TExAS • 77019TEL: 713.521.7500 EMAIL: [email protected]

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Lives Played Out on Canvas: Paintings by Otis Huband, Richard Stout and Dick Wray