Robert W. Shotola: A Retrospective
Blackfish is honored to present "A Retrospective" from guest artist Robert W. Shotola. These paintings represent various ideas and approaches that have interested Shotola over the past seven decades. Consistent influences have been the environment and cultures of New Mexico and his relationship with music.
Shotola did graduate work in painting at the University of New Mexico with the transcendentalist Raymond Jonson. This was interrupted by a stint as the jazz drummer in the US Army Far East Band in Japan during the Korean War. After returning to Albuquerque for twelve years, he was active as a professional musician and always involved in painting and photography.
Shotola and family then moved to Madison, Wisconsin where he earned a PhD in Sociology. After teaching at the University of Wyoming for two years, he came to Portland in 1970 as a member of the Sociology faculty at Portland State University. One of his key interests was in the Sociology of Art. He and painter Harry Widman conducted extensive interviews with Portland-area WPA artists, which were used as primary sources by art historian Roger Hull of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art for his monographs for important retrospectives for artists, such as Charles Heaney. For several years, Shotola was a member of the Northwest Artists Workshop. Shotola retired from PSU in 1997 and continues to paint, play the drums, and take photographs.
Recommended for you
Blackfish is honored to present "A Retrospective" from guest artist Robert W. Shotola. These paintings represent various ideas and approaches that have interested Shotola over the past seven decades. Consistent influences have been the environment and cultures of New Mexico and his relationship with music.
Shotola did graduate work in painting at the University of New Mexico with the transcendentalist Raymond Jonson. This was interrupted by a stint as the jazz drummer in the US Army Far East Band in Japan during the Korean War. After returning to Albuquerque for twelve years, he was active as a professional musician and always involved in painting and photography.
Shotola and family then moved to Madison, Wisconsin where he earned a PhD in Sociology. After teaching at the University of Wyoming for two years, he came to Portland in 1970 as a member of the Sociology faculty at Portland State University. One of his key interests was in the Sociology of Art. He and painter Harry Widman conducted extensive interviews with Portland-area WPA artists, which were used as primary sources by art historian Roger Hull of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art for his monographs for important retrospectives for artists, such as Charles Heaney. For several years, Shotola was a member of the Northwest Artists Workshop. Shotola retired from PSU in 1997 and continues to paint, play the drums, and take photographs.
Artists on show
What's on nearby
