The work of an artist who continues to evolve after decades of creating and through health issues is being showcased through August at The Art Place in Chilhowie.
Award-winning artist Jarata, also known as Jack Taylor, lives in Sugar Grove, where he creates compelling artwork and realistic paintings, some of which incorporate a 3D aspect when viewed through special glasses. He even creates unique and colorful styles of shoes.
Jarata has been creating various forms of art for many years, most recently at his home and previously at The Henderson in Marion. His caricatures, especially of blues musicians, and surreal landscapes often draw the viewer into a fantastical world of color and movement. The 3D paintings are a new form for him and feature both reality such as flowers and imaginary objects.
The 3D work resulted from problems with his eyesight, Jarata said. Uneven vision and colors led him to create his process for this style.
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Fighting through health issues, Jarata continues to create and find new artistic methods. The 3D work relates back to work he did many years ago in what is today called artificial intelligence. He especially likes painting poppies.
“I had all these images in my computer so I went and picked a few of them out,” he said. “And the first one I picked out was the poppy. ‘Poppy Love’ I call it. I remember that because that was the first flower I ever recognized and remembered because my mom set me on the back porch and poppies were growing right beside me.”
He started experimenting with his programs for the 3D pieces. “It was very complicated for me to develop,” he said, adding that it all began in 1965 when he was working with a man whose son worked with computers.
Jarata has examples of his work on display and for sale at The Art Place on the corner of Highway 11 and Whitetop Road in Chilhowie right at the traffic light. An opening reception was held on July 14 and a second reception is planned for Sunday, Aug. 11, from 2-4 p.m. The show runs through Aug. 31.
The Henderson Jammers, who performed at the first reception, will be back for the second one with live music, and the artist will be there to meet anyone who may have missed the opening.