Artist Talk: Al Burts
Al Burts, our January Artist-in-residence sat down with AoN to talk about his creative processes, who he is as an Artist and a few of his favorite things. Take a moment to get to know Al Burts.
AoN: Hello, Al please give us some insight into who you are as an individual and as an Artist.
Al Burts: I'm a Family Man, married with five children. I am a Desert Storm Vet and a retiree from the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. As an Artist…I am classically trained in art and spiritually lead.
Your work is very precise, how long does it generally take you to complete a piece?
Well, it’s really a mindset, not a time frame. Passion flows may wake me at 3am and push me into the studio. Sometimes it may take a while to get a breakthrough but ultimately the piece will tell me what it will be, and my will may lean towards understanding what it's trying to tell me.
Who or what inspires your work?
Un-staged faces are untamed and beautiful to me. It allows me to tell a story with a single image.
What is the hardest part of creating your pieces?
Patience! Give the piece a chance to communicate to me.
What is your favorite piece in the exhibition & why?
My favorite piece would have to be, “I Am! If a man dies, shall he live again?” This piece asks the question of life and what are we doing with it. The question of Physical, Spiritual and Social death. Can it be resurrected? The answer is YES!
I Am!
During this pandemic, how have you managed to keep creating?
Art has always taken me away from the problems of the world.
What advice would you give to inspiring artists?
Always return your gift to the source. Only the Creator knows what you were created for.
Who are some of the musicians/artists you listen to when creating?
Old Jazz Masters (Louis Armstrong, Coltrane) Old school Go-Go and Neo-Soul.
Thank you, Al for taking the time to speak with us. Al’s exhibition has pieces for purchase in our shop. The artwork is still on view at the gallery. The closing reception is taking place this Saturday, January 29th.
