What an incredibly nice guy and talented artist Curtis is! You must stop by his gallery if you are looking for that perfect piece of unique and original artwork for your home or office. All of Curtis' work is beautiful in it's simplicity - simple sophistication is what comes to mind when I am in his gallery. He will do well in SoWal.
I caught up with Curtis online for this week's SoWal Scene Q & A.
You are fairly new to SoWal - where did you move from?
My wife, Heather, and I along with our son Jackson moved here from Sarasota, Fl in 2005. Sarasota was very nice, but nothing compares to the natural beauty and beaches of South Walton. It always felt like home every time we visited, we are glad to have finally settled here.
Why SoWal?
After completing my M.F.A I worked and exhibited in Washington, D.C . While there I became friends with an artist who owned his own gallery and this experience pushed me to start thinking about doing the same. I began to look for a place to open my gallery. While on a vacation in SoWal, Heather and I said “This is the place.” Being from Jackson, MS we had visited the area all of our lives, so SoWal felt like home. The opportunity to move here and start the process of opening the gallery presented itself in 2005. We opened Weatherall Fine Art in 2007 and the support of a community that embraces creative endeavors has made it an easy transition.
I love your work - it's very unique and conveys such beauty in the simplicity of the design which I am very attracted to. Tell me all about your art - the medium, your inspiration, etc.
Thank you, it’s nice to hear that the work conveys ideas that are intrinsic to them. Typically, there’s juxtaposition present in my work, creating simplicity or harmony from that complexity is a process I enjoy working through. My approach is minimalistic, I work with the complexities of an idea and visually strip it down to what is fundamental. I’m attempting to communicate as much as possible with as little as possible. As for inspiration, artists I’ve been studying lately are Wayne Thiebaud, Andy Goldsworthy and Bryce Marden.
When did Weatherall Fine Art Open?
We are approaching our first year in business this March and I am thankful everyday to have this opportunity. I think the greatest compliment to an artist is for someone to collect their work.
How much time do you spend in the studio creating?
I try to be in my studio for some amount of time everyday. Even if I’m just exploring ideas it is important for me to be looking and thinking. I adhere to something I read by the composer Leonard Bernstein. It goes something like “Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the artist must develop an approach for the rest of the time... The wait is simply too long."
SoWal is a community that attracts many artists - any thoughts on that?
In general, I think it’s just an extremely visual and inspiring area. You can be yourself, there are very few places left where that atmosphere still exists.
I know you would like to spearhead an effort to bring the artist community together. Want to share your ideas here?
There is strong group of artists in SoWal that are scattered along the 30-A corridor and surrounding communities. It would be interesting to see a group of artists come together and mount an exhibition or event that celebrated the studios, galleries, and bodies of work we’ve all worked so hard to create. The CAA’s Champagne Arts Tour has been successful at creating both artists and community involvement. This spring will be our second year to participate in the tour. This leads me to believe that as the area continues to grow other ventures will also be successful.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off in SoWal?
Just take a walk, a drive, or sit on the deck with a nice breeze blowing. The gulf, coastal dune lakes, and architecture that are SoWal are constant sources of inspiration. I am incredibly thankful for each day here.
Thanks, Curtis!! Look foward to crossing paths with you again soon.
