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From DallasVoice.com Art Four years ago, Mitch Morken knew nothing about art except that he wanted to paint. Now he's enjoying his second major solo show in a year
For Morken, all the attention takes a lot of getting used to. He doesn't come from an "artsy" family (he grew up in Mesquite, with all that entails) and readily admits he has "no formal art training whatsoever" nor any knowledge of the art world. He didn't even pick up a brush until 2003 when he walked into an art supplies store and told the clerk, ""'I want to paint a picture; what do I need?" For several years, even those endeavors were for his personal consumption "just things around the house," he says. But some of his artist friends saw potential in his work, which ranges from sexy abstract manscapes to what he calls kaleidoscopes colorful geometric works. One night, on the pretense of going to dinner, they kidnapped Morken and brought him to Bill Henderson, owner of Uptown Vision, the Cedar Springs eyewear boutique that also serves as a gallery for local artists. "Before I could say no, [Henderson] had me down for an exhibition date," Morken says. It probably took such a seismic event to motivate Morken. A gifted-student science teacher for DISD by day, Morken has no problem standing in front of 100 kids and lecturing on chemical reactions and the formula for acceleration. But the idea of offering up his art for public scrutiny was terrifying. "I don't do well in public settings and was scared to death of putting myself out there," he says. "I wasn't confident about any of my artwork. It's only now I think I'm o.k. with it." Fortunately, he overcame his fear. His first show last December drew 250 patrons on opening night, and his pictures have since hung at Buli and Primo's. His current show is back at Uptown Vision for a rare two-month run, including another artist's reception on Dec. 7 for the shop's sixth anniversary. "Everything has been very positive," he says. "Before this, my idea of art shows was that they were full of stuffy, snooty people, but it's not like that at all." Morken's interest in art was first piqued, he says, "when Deep Ellum was still artsy and full of galleries." He and his partner at the time would wander around, admiring the paintings without every buying. "Being a teacher, I couldn't afford anything," he says. Then a trip to Los Angeles cemented his resolve. "There was beautiful artwork everywhere," he says. "I figured, what's the worst that could happen?" His skepticism proved unfounded. Sales of his paintings have been brisk and he's even won a number of commissions from people attracted to his colorful, provocative acrylics ("I don't have the patience for oils," he confesses). But he's also trying to go in new directions with his art. "The colors I use are so bright, I'm trying to see if the same things work out with plainer colors; so far, I'm finding they don't have the same effect," he says. He's also playing with textures, incorporating words into his canvases and even attempting his first female nude. "I'm not sure that's going to turn out," he says. "I guess breasts are just not my thing." Mitch Morken's exhibit continues at Uptown Vision, 2504 Cedar Springs Road, through Dec. 29. He will be in attendance at Uptown Vision's sixth anniversary party during ArtWalk on Dec. 7, 6-9 p.m. Uptownvisiondallas.com. This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 30, 2007 © Copyright by DallasVoice.com |
