Questions & Answers, with artist Austin Danson

Questions & Answers, Artist Residence Program @ Morris B. Squire Foundation   

with Artist; Austin Danson

" Sooperfunction! " Installation view

November 2013

How long will you be staying at the foundation?


I will be staying here for about three and a half months; mid June to the end of September

What art projects will you be working on?

My main focus will be a continuation and exploration of my painting practice—a lifelong project of developing my own visual vocabulary for expression, communication, and intellectual stimulation through paint. It will be interesting to see how being back in Santa Barbara, where I grew up, will influence my paintings. I am looking forward to working on some more distinctly autobiographical work as well, which will focus on religion.
Additionally, Morris contacted me a few years ago about working on one of his projects. I didn’t have the skill set at the time to be able to, but now know how to create what he had in mind, and so would like to do that if we can find some sketches or writings about the proposed work.

"Before"

Sumi ink and water color on sized rice paper with mica

24"x56"

How did you hear about the program?


I wanted to come back home to Santa Barbara for the summer to process my last year in LA. I was looking around for any residency programs, and a friend told me about the foundation. I contacted Ashley Hollister with some ideas, she seems to have liked them, and here I am!

What are you looking forward to during your stay?


Having the time to focus solely on my artistic practice, and to be able to choose solitude when necessary, and yet experience the magic of our town when I choose to. As an artist (a young artist in particular), space and time are really luxuries and large amounts of them give you the opportunity to vastly grow your practice.I am also very excited about contributing to the artistic upwelling of Santa Barbara born people of my generation. We’re living in an exciting moment for the city. A lot is changing very quickly, and its great to see us grow and open up to a larger contemporary dialogue. There is an energy in this push for a more contemporary and active Santa Barbara that I am anxious to draw upon in my work.

What are your plans for the future?

I’ll be graduating UCLA next June, and then it’s off to grad school to pursue my MFA. After that, making, showing, thinking, writing, learning, and exploring for as long as I can.

"Gentle Thrills"

acrylic, oil, flash, and shaving cream on canvas

20"x20"

To learn more about Austin Danson & his art, visit:www.austindansonart.com

To learn more about the Artist Resident Program at the Morris B. Squire Foundation, a non profit art foundation in Santa Barbara, CA, visit:http://www.morrissquirefoundation.org/#!resident-artist-program/c1rwj

New artwork arrives at Morris B. Squire Foundation in Santa Barbara

Several mediums of new artwork collection arrives at Art Non-profit in Santa Barbara.

This week the Morris B. Squire Foundation transported a number of artworks owned by Mr. Squire from his residence in Chicago, IL to the foundation's office in Santa Barbara, CA. There's a variety of mixed media (yarn sewn into abstract compositions on the canvas), acrylics, watercolors, & more, which will be added to the current database of artwork on morrissquirefoundation.org which holds several sculptures created in a variety of mediums; steel, concrete, fiberglass, & dimensional digital giclee prints.

Several of the paintings were stored unframed to keep in good condition over the years. They will be properly cleaned before professionally being reframed.

The Morris B. Squire Foundation is a non-profit art foundation that donates art installations from their artwork collection, to public spaces that will help beautify the space. Some of exhibits are months long, with some of the sculpture installations being years to permanent. The non-profit helps out organizations that don't have funds set aside for artwork, and help cover the costs.

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara receives donation from Morris Squire Scholarship Fund

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara received a gift of $4,000 from the Morris Squire Foundation. $2,000 of this gift will be added to the Morris Squire Scholarship Fund, and $2,000 will be added to the Morris Squire Art Scholarship Fund. The commitment to scholarships for local students brings positive impact to the entire community. Rachel Scheib was the 2014 Morris Squire Art Award recipient in January.

"I don't think my interest in art ever began, I think it is there by nature." -Rachel Scheib 

She has been drawn to art since she was a child, especially ink drawing. Her experience at the Visual Art & Design Academy at Santa Barbara High has exposed her to a different artists. Here's a video of Rachel receiving her award: