The figure has been a staple in the history of art ever since humans started expressing themselves pictorially. From the caves of Lascaux, France, 20,000 years ago and the petroglyphs in the desert southwest, exquisite Hellenistic marbles, to the present, with its varied visions of contemporary artists, the figure has been the foundation of the visual arts. All periods, from the Renaissance to the Dutch Masters, the Romantics to the New York Ashcan school used the figure as the most direct, clear, and cathartic form of expression. Go Figure! was a juried show, and the winner of Best of Show was George Strasburger of Tucson Arizona. We were amazed by his grasp of the anatomy of the human figure in space and light, coupled with his handling of contemporary issues through its depiction.
This collection of paintings and drawings have been selected from the past 10 years and show an evolution. Many are of my local surroundings and may represent some of the people there. When I see some of these people and their limitations, I see myself. For example, a person I portray in financial poverty speaks to me about a larger, more general poverty that may be shared by me or anyone else, without regard to wealth. And so is true of any other issues portrayed. This work is like a diary, a journal of my thoughts about my time, or my life or wherever my ruminations take me. A simple premise, I think. I go for a nostalgic and timeless image of who we are, beautiful and plain, common and extraordinary.
Strasburger was born and raised in a blue-collar neighborhood of Scranton PA, the son of a painter and a homemaker.
His first art influence was the murals in the Catholic Church he attended as a child He’s lived and created in PA, NYC, Boulder Co., and presently in Tucson, AZ. His life experiences have varied, laboring in personal care aid, Classical guitarist, gardener and home renovations.
His work began as minimalist in the 80s and has become figurative and narrative over the years. He’s exhibited extensively in the Southwest with awards.