Jim Gilbert

1952...
Transferred from the School of mathematics & Engineering to the Department of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Early influences were Klee, Chagall, Picasso and contemporary Americans.

1953...
Continuation of studies - emphasis on painting and drawing. Spent summer in Taos. First group show at Harwood Foundation, Taos.

1954...
Graduated from U.N.M. (major Painting & Drawing, minor, math.). Exhibited in group shows at Albuquerque Modern Museum. Inducted into U.S. Army.

1955...
Stationed at 7th Army HQ., Stuttgart/Vaihengen, Germany. Established a painting studio in Vaihengen. Studied German Masters.

1956...
Discharged from Army in Europe, moved to Perugia, Italy. Evolved a unique painting medium with A.Y.A.T. plastic and dry pigments. First one-man exhibition (Saletta Brufanni, Perugia).

1957...
Moved to Rome and then to Vienna. Studied Etruscan art and in Vienna spent much time with the works of Peter Brughel. Concentration on drawing. Made many contacts in the classical music world, and was particularly involved in applying musical principles to painting.

1958...
Moved to Florence, Italy. Focus on both painting and drawing. Main subjects were children, musicians & family. Studied Italian Masters, especially Massacio, Leonardo, and Piero de la Francesca. Sketching trip to Sardinia. Had 2nd one-man exhibition (Berlin, Gallerie an Platanallee), sponsored by the city of Berlin.

1959...
Moved to Settignano (suburb of Florence). Produced large series of portraits. Had one-man exhibit at the Amerika House in Berlin. Met and had a three-year affiliation with Prof. Dr. Roberto Assagioli (Psychosynthesis Research Foundation) - emphasis on art in human communication. Travel through Yugoslavia. Represented by galleries in N.Y. (Salpeter), Rome (L'Oblisco) and Berlin (Gallerie Springer).

1960...
Did series of large paintings devoted to the concept of "Energy Dynamics"- works that constituted a large one-man show at the Festival of Two Worlds (Spoleto, Italy). First prize at annual invitational exhibition in Sassaferato, Italy. Involvement in the use of art as a human development tool.

1961...
Participated in Group exhibits in Florence and Posetano, Italy. Did group paintings with professionals in diverse fields. Created a series of small paintings which focused on color energy dynamics in Capolona, Italy.

1962...
Moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico with family. Opened a studio, and painted a group of large works which focused on energy dynamics.

1963...
One-man exhibitions at Galisto St. Gallery (April) and Contemporaries Gallery in Santa Fe (Nov.). Contracted by the New Mexico State Planning Office to do a survey of the arts in New Mexico (first of its kind in the nation).

1964...
Intensive painting - one-man exhibition at the Contemporaries in Santa Fe. Taught painting for one semester at the Institute of American Art in Santa Fe.

1965...
Numerous private shows in own studio, participation in group shows in New York (Roko Gallery), in Denver (Denver Art Museum), Phoenix (Phoenix Art Museum) and Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe. In November decided to take work out of all galleries.

1966...
Lecture series on art in communication. On-going dialogues with a small group of scientists at the & Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory on art and technology. Produced series of large paintings (up to 8' X 10')

1967...
Decision to move to California. Taught one semester at U.C. Santa Barbara.

1968...
Moved to Los Angeles. Taught at University of Southern California until 1970. Concentration on drawing.

1969 & 1970...
Experiments with film and photography as an art medium. Continuation of drawing series related to energy dynamics.

1971...
Began doing "House Shows" of own paintings & drawings. Involved with E.A.T. (Engineering, Art & Technology) - group dedicated to creating environmental art projects.

1972...
Death of wife, time of adjustment & care of 3 children, little art production.

1973...
Wrote and illustrated series of fables.

1974...
Series of works on psychological symbolism. Began noting processes which use line drawing as a communication tool. Created "The Bear" - a New Age fable. Group involvement in the use of line as a communication tool at the Center for Healing Arts in Los Angeles.

1975 & 1976...
Created a series of about 100 mixed media works depicting philosophical, esoteric and mundane themes.

1977 & 1978...
Two year work on second series of mixed media and poetry works (A Walk Through the Garden of Us).

1979 to 1981...
Creation of a third series of third series of mixed media works, this one devoted to a higher degree of specificity than previous efforts ("The Transcendence of Mysticism") the result of this was 150 mixed media pieces on paper.

1982 to 1984...
Exploration into the graphic implications of Energy Dynamics. Though a very productive period, most of there works were destroyed.

1985 to 1987...
Production of large painting that represented the efforts of the three previous years. Continuation to of work with line drawing - emphasis on use of this direction as a tool for individual development and group communication.

1988...
Began using the computer as an electronic sketch pad. Moved to Dixon, New Mexico, prolific painting period resulting in a One-Man Show in Dixon.

1989...
Series of paintings devoted to healing. One-Man Show in Dixon. Designed show for & Co-founded the Odysseus Project, a community/planetary approach to peace and global healing.

1990...
Series of paintings further exploring the implications of Energy Dynamics as applied to healing. Synthesized this direction in a One-Man exhibition at the Mission Building. Participated in the Dixon Studio Tour.

1991 & 1992...
Continued to produce paintings devoted to healing. One-Man exhibition during the Studio Arts Tour in Dixon. Participated in group shows in Albuquerque, NM (computer art exhibit at the Kimo Theater Art Gallery), and Albuquerque Convention Center and in Los Alamos at the Fuller Lodge. Production of works devoted to healing. On-going classes with children from Dixon Elementary School using paintings as a point of departure in communication.

1993...
Continued painting devoted to healing and energy dynamics. Participant founder of Casa de Piedra, a cooperative gallery in Dixon.

1994...
Produced a series of black and white line drawings which characterize diverse human conditions, and a series of large paintings devoted to color energy dynamics.

1995 to 1997...
Concentration on the use of the computer as an art medium. This has resulted in a series of prints which he and his son, Kevyn have produced and exhibited at the Dixon Studio Tour and in various Northern New Mexico shows.

1998...
Print series – “Imagine” approx 50 images created on the computer.

1999...
Extensive number of studies for acrylic paintings.

2000...
Creation and publishing of a book of B&W drawings, Common Threads; ongoing involvement in 3-D animation.

2001...
Further testing of material for a book which makes use of line as a communication/exploration tool (working title – Line Games)

2002 & 2003...
Did a series of large acrylic paintings, and experimented with digital photography. One Man exhibit in the Annual Dixon Studio Tour (2001 & 2002).

2004...
Testing the application of “Line Games” as a developmental tool. Began a series of drawings using a fictitious location (The Fine Men’s Apparel Store in Carlsbad New Mexico in 1944) as the setting to depict an allegorical portrayal of characters and human events.

2005...
Painting, 3D Animation, painting studies for extended series.

2006...
Painting new series which marries the qualitative world with the abstract. Began marketing Giclée prints of works. Political/environmental work – “Homage to Valle Vidal” Dixon Studio Tour Show

2007...
Continued working with acrylic media, cataloging work for planned retrospective. Represented by Portal Projects Artist Management.

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

BIRTH
Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 26, 1929

MARITAL STATUS
Married to Camille Gilbert. Six children: Gulcin, Diane, Julia, Arin, Xahra, Kevyn

EDUCATION
B.F.A. (Painting & Drawing) University of New Mexico, 1954; M.A. (Psychology) Sierra University, Santa Monica, California 1987. Additional study: University for Foreigners, Perugia, Italy; University of Tubingen, Tubingen, Germany; Stuttgart Art Academy, Stuttgart, Germany; Berlin Art Academy, Berlin, Germany; Akademi fur Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Vienna, Austria; University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Private study with Prof. Dr. Roberto Assagioli, Florence, Italy.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY TEACHING
University of California at Santa Barbara; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; Antioch West, Santa Monica, CA; Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, CA; Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA; Sierra University, Santa Monica, CA.