Next week, Tim Gibbons's one-man art show debuts in Ybor City.
Gibbons, who has taught at the Life Enrichment Center in Forest Hills, will present "Portraits and Faces" from June 27 to July 23 at The Bunker, 1907 N. 19th Street. The purpose is to showcase his work in acrylics and pen and ink.
We recently talked to Gibbons about how he became interested in art and why his work is important for the community of South Tampa.
On how he became interested in art: "I became interested in art at an early age. I had difficulty in school, and in the fifth grade, I had a male teacher who would give me extra credit on my spelling tests if I could write from one to twenty using the Aztec faces as numerals. This gave me confidence that I could duplicate things that I saw and gave me the desire to go beyond the Aztec facial forms. By the seventh grade I became interested in comic books. Once I began reading comic books and seeing the art from comic books from the late '50's to early '60's, I realized that comic book art was beautiful. Again, this inspired my imagination and my artistic and creative ability. From there, it was just a tsunami of imagination and creativity that paved the road on which I am still traveling and learning."
About his artistic speciality: "I love pen and ink drawings, acrylic painting and printmaking. I also love conceptual art. I find sitting and drawing for hours on end is my best means of relaxation, creativity and enjoyment. I enjoy visiting 'Tim World' where line and form meet creative function."
On what sets this show apart from others he's done: "All the work in the 'Portraits and Faces' show is new work, completed in the last six months. I focused more on setting mood and atmosphere through the study of faces throughout the ages. I explored different historical books of portraiture, current magazine, newspaper and other media portraiture, as well as faces I view everyday."
Why it's important for the South Tampa community to view his work: "Visual art is a solitary expression that is usually only seen and enjoyed by the person who has created the images. To provide this art to the community gives me feedback and is one of the most humbling endeavors for a visual artist. Opening your creative soul up to the public and having them like or hate your art is the function of art in any society. Hopefully, it expands the viewers understanding of the experience of life itself, as well as that of the artist."
On what he hopes his artwork says about him: "That I am someone who takes a chance, is searching for new horizons and has fun creating images that resonate with the inner creative human that dwells inside us all."
Do you plan to attend the show? Tell us in the comments.
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