Artist Profile: Tara Walker
Artist Profile: Tara Walker
Meet one of Olean’s First National Bank Art Studios & Lobby Gallery’s Artists
Photo / Tri-County Arts Council
EllicottvilleNOW has been sharing with you spotlights about local artists whose works have been chosen to be on display in Olean at the restored First National Bank through the combined efforts of Tri-County Arts Council, New York-based ChaShaMa (it provides free and subsidized space for artists to live, work, and present, partnering with developers and property owners to transform their vacant buildings into centers of creativity with the added benefit of increasing local foot traffic and supporting area businesses) and developers, Savarino Properties. This program provides work and display space for five artists through the end of the year while bringing the work and the artists into the city, offering an unusual opportunity for interaction and a chance to watch them working at their art. It also provides an opportunity for the public to see the newly renovated bank building that Samuel Savarino came in to develop into 22 market-rate apartments and commercial space. The metamorphosis of the building will take your breath away!
Tara Walker, this week’s featured artist, could have made the building one of her subjects in its down-trodden days. She says she particularly likes to show in her work the potential of nature to overtake environments like crumbling barns and houses. The bank had not perhaps reached that point, but she would not have known, regardless, since she and her husband came to Olean from Colorado in January 2000 to accept positions as professors at St. Bonaventure University, she as an Assistant Professor of Communications. Timing was not good with the pandemic hitting in March. Isolating for the first year, she finally wandered into the Arts Council, met Sean Huntington, joined, and became involved.
Like many artists, Walker was exposed to art at an early age. Her grandmother was a painter, so like many observant kids, she learned a lot from her and the other artists she was exposed to through that environment. Walker received degrees from the University of Colorado (PhD) and MFA from the School of Art Institute in Chicago. Having spent most of her life around both words and art, her artistic bent first took Walker to writing when she put out the book of poetry and drawings, EXQUISITE DISGUST, after which she turned to the art of painting … and got hooked
Walker’s style might be considered eclectic. She says she goes back and forth and loves using unique materials, recycled things. Subjects can be barns, birds, bugs and even pet portraits. Yes, she would be delighted to have you commission her to paint your precious furbaby. On her Facebook page (Tara Walker) you will find a painting called Museum. Here is where you are introduced to her quirkiness and sense of humor. She uses it to suddenly take the observer on an unexpected deeper dive into what first appears to be light-hearted and “un-serious.” Looking much like a grid or a map, the work catches the observer off-guard with things like “wing of stupid feelings,” “special collections: wing of personal mythologies,” etc. Unlike some abstract art, this piece gives you hints and clues and before you know it, you may have spent twenty minutes perusing a piece you might have otherwise given a cursory glance. Walker likes the abstract because it “says things that words cannot say.” She calls it “wordless wonder.”
Asked about her experience of shared space at the Bank facility, Walker admitted, “I’ve always been careful when I first show my work to people. This experience has been good for me. It’s all about learning – to be a bit more public and less defensive. It has helped me to be much more comfortable. We learn from each other and I’m enjoying the serendipity of things.”
Opening Friday, November 15th (mark your calendars) three artists including Tara Walker, Eve Potter and Fileve Tialoc will be sharing a display of their work. This opening will coincide with the Tri-County Arts Council Small Works Show at the Peg Bothner Gallery inside TCAC.
Aside from the scheduled showings, the studios are open to the public Tuesday 10:00am-4:00pm, Thursday 3:00-7:00pm, and Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm. They are located on the first floor of the First National Bank Building, 108 N. Union Street in Olen, NY. Be sure to visit this delightful addition to the Olean Arts scene.