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Y! MyWebArt exhibit showcases three generations
Sunday, May 04, 2008
The 6-year-old boy peddled his wares for passers-by in front of his Spring Hill Avenue home in Kettering, and it wasn't lemonade. He was selling his artwork. The little kid's sign was scrawled in red crayon on brown paper:
"5¢ good drawings
Extras
A love of art runs in the Armstrong family. Pictured (clockwise from left) are Zachary, George and Jackson Armstrong. "Things Found, Forgotten & Remembered"
- Where: Cannery Art & Design Center, 520 E. Third St., Dayton
- When: Continues through June 6
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
- More information: (937) 228-2232, www.canneryarts.com
10¢ very good drawings
15¢ exalant drawings
20¢ great drawings
25¢ perfect drawings"
That was 16 years ago, and now Zachary Armstrong is all grown up with a little budding artist of his own — Jackson Maximo Armstrong. Father and son are having a group exhibit, and it's all in the family. Zachary's older brother, Noah, and their father, George Armstrong, are also presenting works in this show.
"I grew up with my dad being an art teacher, and every night we would get down on the floor with big books and draw like crazy," said Zachary Armstrong. "We always had tons of art supplies, and you could make a mess without getting into trouble."
His childlike drawings have grown into large-scale abstract art that goes for much more than 25 cents. He is showing several vibrant paintings that are part of his square series, comprising multiple layers of paint, outlining and sanding. He is also presenting mixed-media sculpture using sentimental family pieces and objects found on construction sites and along railroad tracks.
Still in the childlike stage is his son, Jackson. He is showing an "abstract" piece from the age of 17 months, and a more recent collaborative drawing of his house.
George Armstrong retired from Fairborn High School two years ago, and he's had some exhibits at Centerville Art & Design, In-Step Design and the Town & Country Gallery. He is showing various media, including his found-object sculpture work. The abstract figural pieces in his "Karen's Guardian" series include cement, rebar, rusted metals and other found objects.
"I was always doing things with the kids and never got to focus on my own work," said George Armstrong. "After a year in retirement I decided to make a go of it. My goal is to get some representation and make a second living at it."
Art is also a passion for his other son, Noah, who has a BFA from Miami University, and works as a graphic designer at Notre Dame. He is moving to Washington, D.C., in June. He is showing landscapes that show his connection to the Midwest.
Contact contributing writer Pamela Dillon at pamdillon@woh.rr.com.
