Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Jax.
Jay, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I studied art and art history in high school. I spent many weekends as an adolescent sketching the masters in the Albright Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York where there is a larger than life “Mother and Child” wood sculpture by Henry Moore. That sculpture inspired the principals that have become my guiding mantra: Line. Form. Elegance.
After military service in the US Army, I returned to the United States and eventually settled in Houston where I put away my art and built my commercial printing business, where I have served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Press, Inc. since 1980.
Now, after thirty-five plus years of printing two-dimensional graphic works on paper, I have returned to the study and creation of sculpture that inspired me as a boy. The work springs directly from my passion for creating beauty in three dimensions. A lifelong study of classical to modern art fuels my artistic vision and guides the process. With wood grain as brush strokes and shaping as form, the work embodies the spirit of impressionism, cubism and a push for simplicity. With each piece, I am striving to inspire and engage the senses with purity of form and line.
In this sense, my work rings true with that of other contemporary minimalist artists who are working to captivate the viewer through simplicity of form. This philosophy for creating is evident in all my work, in the graphic arts and sculpture. The quest for beauty in its purest form guides my every artistic choice. This work is made to be experienced in the round and to evoke reactions of visual and tactile joy!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Earlier this year, I had the unique opportunity to partner with fellow artist Teresa Staley in the opening of Art Machine Gallery inside The Silos @ Sawyer Yards! Our mission is to promote emerging and mid-career artists from Houston and the surrounding area. Now I am a Gallerist and a sculptor! I learned long ago that management skills work no matter what kind of business you are managing. You can go from managing a supermarket selling peas in a can to managing a restaurant selling peas on a plate; the principles are the same. So going from managing a printing company to managing a gallery, I must say was easy, and now I have a home for my sculpture and I feel great about helping to promote emerging artists at the same time.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Art Machine Gallery – what should we know?
Art Machine Gallery is open every Saturday in The Silos @ Sawyer Yards from noon till 5pm, with summer extended hours till 10pm and by appointment for patrons and interior designers looking for that special piece for their clients. Other events include a Spring and Summer Bi-annual and also advertised Holiday special openings; to be announced. Currently, we have nine featured local artists, Amy Cummins, Olga Saldivar, Sheridan Bradshaw Tonche, Stacy Nekula Gresell, Angela Woodhouse Walling, Ernest Flores, Teresa Staley, Roy Staley and me. Featured artists work in a variety of mediums including oils, acrylics, metallics, encaustic, ink, found objects for mixed media works and of course local and imported woods.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The initial featured artists in Art Machine Gallery are artists I have met along the way on my journey as an artist. My partner, Teresa Staley was the first artist I came to know in the very first art show I participated in. Together I would like to think that we are encouraging and inspiring our featured artists to produce more exciting work and to enter local juried exhibitions. Our current exhibit including all our artists, “The Internal Artist” will be on display in the gallery from June 21 – August 10, 2019. I fully expect, within a year to expand the gallery into a much larger space and to at least double the number of talented artists we represent.
Contact Info:
- Address: Art Machine Gallery, 1502 Sawyer Street, Houston, Texas 77007
- Phone: (281) 513-1691
- Email: jtjax@mac.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_machine_gallery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artmachinegallery/?ref=bookmarks
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
