Hubertus Q. Winnubst is a Dutch native based in Dallas, Texas.
Winnubst has traveled extensively throughout the American West and Southwest. Drawn by the desert, sky and forest, he has been coming to Taos since the early 80s, and after finding himself returning again and again, inspired by the expansive landscape, he eventually bought a home and studio in Arroyo Hondo, where he continues to soak up the High Desert vibes that inspire his singular style.
With an academic background in literature, philosophy, metaphysics, art history, photography and design, he cites his painterly influences as fellow Dutchman, Willem de Kooning and Robert Rauschenberg among others.
The title of this show – 16 x 20″ – relates to the size of the canvases the artist is for the most part exhibiting, but Jimmy Murray the Envision Gallery’s owner, says he may include a few larger works that already hang at Envision, including the one at the top of this page.
Winnubst’s use of a knife to build his heavily layered surfaces and his richly hued palette, reference the influences he acknowledges, but his unique vision and gesture, makes them totally his own.
This body of work represents Winnubst’s philosophy: “My work is an expression of my visceral response to the moment as it unfolds during the act of creation. For me, image making is the result of an intuitive process that reacts to the stimuli around and within me-my thoughts, fears, joys, and passions. I am informed by the seasons, music, and the world in which I participate. I am an evolving human in an evolving world, and I strive to reveal my reactions to this world on my canvases.”
I had met Hubertus one afternoon last year at the Envision Gallery where he shows in Taos, I was there visiting Jimmy who is an old friend, and learned he was also an accomplished chef and musician besides. A Renaissance man indeed! And so when I stopped by the gallery again recently, I asked Jimmy to send along a few questions to Hubertus for me. Here are his responses.
1)How did you first discover Taos?
Been going to Taos since the 80’s. I’d come stay here for a few days , then venture further out west – I couldn’t get enough of all the colors and rock formations I’d discover. But I’d always come on back to Taos, well because it felt like the place to be.
The sky, the people, the colors in the sky, the colors all throughout the town, the colors of the horizon, the desert next to the mountains, the rivers, the gorge, the history of the Pueblo, the art , the attitude of the people, the characters that have lived there and I got to meet ,especially in the 80s, the clouds, every road is different, every one of them within 47 miles for sure and the vibe!
2) Can you tell my readers a little about the work in this show at Envision?
These paintings come at a time where the there’s a lot of darkness in the world today. I’m sure I don’t need to explain myself – these paintings come from a place of unconscious where there is a great need for healing, peace, love, happiness – and what a better way than through color. A feel good process for myself to project some kind of hope and maybe it’ll put a smile on someone’s face. That’d be cool
3)You are also a musician with a new CD out called Colorblind – a strange title for an artist who is a colorist! Please tell us about that.
Ahh yes… I moved back to Dallas in 1985 and almost immediately helped start a band (The Potatoes). We were really into it and went through all the startup details; the name, the logo, we even thought about getting some Rockskins drum wraps for the kit.
We played at the first two South by Southwest events. It lasted 8 years or so, I played bass. So I play a little guitar and was asked to perform a 30 minute or so set of songs from this cd a friend of mine was putting out – I got my son involved who was 14 at the time and we did it and then after that I was pressured into making a cd. Now mind you I hardly play at all and I thought why? My son was learning guitar at the time so I thought why not get him into a studio situation? Next thing you know we’ve got 22 songs.
The name “Colorblind” came to me because years ago, after studying black and white photography, I decided to study color photography, so went to see a counselor at the University of Texas after two years at another college, and he said I had to take a color blind test which I failed! He said I couldn’t study color photography. So what do I do instead? I started painting.
Since our debut we have made two cds. where every song has a different vibe music wise and for some reason the white album came up and we decided to make it colorful but taking it even further by not having any words in the packaging, and with the cds you get a color sticker, a color booklet and a color poster.
16 X 20″ Opens tomorrow, Saturday, September 7th, with a Reception for the artist from 5-7pm at the Envision Gallery at Overland Ranch.
Norlynne Coar’s opening will happen at the same time, next door at Magpie, so it’s bound to be a party!
What a great way to celebrate Fall Arts in Taos!
For more information, please visit the site linked below.
All images thanks to Jimmy Murray at Envision
