By SARAH DEASON

smd025@latech.edu

 

Recognized internationally and revered by coworkers and students, Edwin Pinkston exhibits his life in art. “Edwin Pinkston, Retrospective” is on display until Dec. 4 at the Masur Museum of Art, located at 1400 S. Grand St. in Monroe.

Glenn Kennedy, a graduate student of studio art, who worked under Pinkston as an undergraduate and graduate student, is looking forward to Pinkston’s retrospective.

“This is an exhibit of the evolution of Pinkston’s journey towards his current work, which is, in my opinion, his best,” Kennedy said. “He is constantly producing new and vital work, so fresh I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Pinkston’s work has always been innovative and unique, Kennedy said.

“Originality is valuable in a world full of imitation,” he said. “It’s very difficult [to be original], especially in abstract art.”

Although Pinkston’s latest work is heavily abstract, it will be featured in his retrospective, with nearly 40 years of abstract and realistic art from 150 exhibitions and collections, Kennedy said.

“Pinkston understands abstraction and realism,” he said. “He’s one of the best artists I’ve encountered who understands the importance of perceptive drawing.”

Kennedy worked on his undergraduate and graduate degrees with Pinkston, who he met in basic drawing class in the early 1980s.

“Pinkston influences everything I do, every time I pick up a brush or pencil,” Kennedy said. “He is that engrained in my functional ability as an artist.”

Pinkston influenced majors of all disciplines of art by teaching them the roots of observation through drawing, Kennedy said.

Scott Tammaro, a junior photography major, took a drawing class that was led by Pinkston.

“I realized I could do better as a photographer when I learned from Pinkston that I wasn’t really ‘seeing,’” Tammaro said. “He taught me, through drawing, to observe space and form.”

Pinkston’s oral critiques were pertinent to students’ growth as artists, Tammaro said.

“Pinkston’s criticism was so constructive; students always walked away with some idea or technique to apply to their art,” Tammaro said. “His negative criticism showed me my weaknesses and how to improve.”

Pinkston’s critiques are a powerful tool for art education, Kennedy said.

“Pinkston’s critiques are so acute and dead-on; pieces transform before your eyes,” he said. “They taught me to check my ego, listen, absorb and apply.”

Pinkston’s work continues to influence the School of Art as a whole, Kennedy said. “Most of what I teach my students in basic drawing comes from Pinkston.”

In addition to 36 years of teaching at the School of Art, Pinkston’s accomplishments are internationally recognized.

The Louisiana Division of Arts Fellowship for Painting, University’s Research Grants and University Foundation Inc.’s Professor of the Year are among Pinkston’s honors as an artist and educator.

Pinkston’s work is featured in the Southern Living magazine Idea House in Choudrant, the Sears Tower in Chicago, Sharper Image Corporate Offices in San Franciso, the New York City Public Library and the Dallas Museum of Art.

Sue Prudhomme, director of the Masur Museum of Art, had no idea so many people would attend Pinkston’s opening Oct. 22.

“The community is familiar with Pinkston, but never gets the opportunity to see his work,” Prudhomme said. “We had a really overwhelming and positive response.”

Nearly 300 students, faculty, family and friends gathered at the Masur Museum of Art Saturday to support Pinkston’s retrospective.

“To see his older work next to his new is amazing,” Prudhomme said. “Just to have someone like Pinkston in the community is a huge boon for Louisiana.”