1971-08 Artist Easy About Honor

Republished by Jean Jarvaise on Mar 24, 2017 at 09:02 PM in Article Archives 1940s to 1970s in Article Archives 1940s to 1970s

6 Works to hang Permanently in Smithsonian

Los Angeles Times, August 10th, 1971

1971-08 Smithsonian Acquires Abstract Expressionist James Jarvaise

What for many Artists would be a dream-come-true is just "a nice addition to the biographical data," to Oxnard College~ art instructor Jim Jarvalse.Six of Jarvaise's paintings have recently been accepted for the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution. The works will hang in Smithsonian's Hirshhorn : Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Jarvaise, slender, tanned, and smelling of turpentine, leaned back behind the cluttered desk in the tiny cubicle that serves as his office, and explained why he is nonchalant about an honor that would thrill most artists. His intensity, steady gaze and long delicate fingers make it easy to visualize him brush in hand, stationed behind an easel. “Ive been in the business a long time” the 46 year old artist explained, fingers intertwined. “I am very delighted, but you can’t let this type of thing, get you too excited. If you do you might end falling on your face."

Jarvaise’s 30 year career as a Professional artist has been punctuated by a number of similar honors. His paintings are on display, in galleries, museums and private collections through out the United States and Europe A private collector who Jarvaise said has about 15 more of his work donated the six paintings to the Smithsonian. They were done primarily in France and Spain during the 1960s and have been exhibited widely since. All are oil paintings, done on Canvas. They are entitled "Bell Tower," "Woman with Cat," "Woman Looking Through Window," "The Incident," "Sailboats at Eden Roc," and "Red Vase." He describes the works as being from his more "figurative and subjective" Period. "They have a more sub- jective and sedate look than the works from periods I was in . when I first began and that I've been in since," he explained.

Because the Smithsonian usually likes to have works of most of an artist's major periods, Jarvaise figures they may be requesting more of his works in the future. According to Jarvaise, all artists go through different periods of style as their moods and views change and evolve. When he graduated from the Philadelphia Art Academy at the age of 15 the style was much more abstract and emotional. I was being exposed to the abstract expressionist list., And as a young person I was terribly affected by it he recalled when I got out of the academy I really broke loose, his style has since gone full circle from the more subjective works represented in his early paintings, to his stylistic and sometimes figurative collages and watercolors.this may be the style I spend the rest of my life in but you never really can tell he said, you really have no control over whether changes or not it just does.

At 17, Jarvaise was signed to a contract with this first gallery. His experience working for a number of galleries has helped him become very prolific. In the Gallery business you have to work very hard to put work out that they can sell. If you don’t you are out of business. As the years passed and the awards and honors were gathered , driving up the price of his art, Jarvaise was freed from the necessity of having to work to put out a commercial product. The finical benefits are obvious in addition to a beach from home in Oxnard, he maintains residence in Santa Barbara and Spain. But the rewards from his artistic endeavors have been more than just material.

“ I’m in a position, finally where I can do just the the things I want to do” he said “I’m working on some things now that will never be able to sell. If they end up anyplace it will be a museum somewhere. That’s a wonderful luxury to be able to afford, just satisfying yourself”. Despite the lack of emotion towards a gallery career he insists emotions are the most important part of his paintings. It's not how they look but how they feel. You must become one with the work from the first marking on the canvas your subconscious takes over. It becomes what are you aren't you be become the total thing. You let your emotions and subconscious bring out the awareness of life.

Jarvaise five-year tenure in Oxnard College is by far the longest of his teaching careers. He was also instructed to Pennsylvania State University Occidental College, Chenard Art Institute, California Institute of the arts, the Santa Barbara Art Institute, and the University of Southern California. A change of geography he feels is necessary to his heart. When I arrive in a new atmosphere I become inspired by what’s around me, it's something I have to do from time to time he said I don't question it. He explains that the extended stay in Oxnard simply when we got here we moved out on the beach I've never lived on the water before and it was just so damn exciting to me. Jarvaise doesn't know how much longer he will remain inspired by Oxnard I may remain here for a long time or I might be gone very soon he said they will come to a point with my own sanity and my work I'll have to go when that happens I'm sure I will pick up and move along.