This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  Kirk Hughey (1940-)
The following comes from the artist:
A little family background:
My father's family was primarily settled in Pennsylvania-large landowners there- an ancestor was a scout on the Revolutionary War-
My grandfather married a German - Jewish immigrant and both were disowned by their families-he for marrying "below" she for marrying "above" - both were "exiled to Denver and died of tuberculosis in their mid-twenties within a year of each other.
My father was orphaned and an uncle lost the family properties playing golf and shot himself- father was put in an orphanage- ran away when about 11 - later taught himself accounting and court reporting. His family generally was connected to several of the "60 families": Mellons, Johnsons(wax), Jones (Jones & Laughlin Steel, Heinz etc (there was a family legend that my great-grandmother refused to invite the Rockefellers to tea because they were "nouveux-riche lol) My father found out this stuff when he was able to track down a cousin and had a correspondence about it all) My mother came to this country with her family from Finland at age 12- grandfather on her side was a blacksmith......she had little to do with her family later though- I remember no contact after about the age of 12....no artists in either family or any interest beyond Andrew and Paul Mellon's collecting-which hardly counts...........
Born: Sept 1, 1940 Grand Rapids, Minnesota/ only child born 18 years after parents were married (considered ‘impossible’ but going against the prediction)
1945 moved to Greeley, Colorado –father managing an ice manufacturing and storage plant there – spends childhood largely drawing while listening to radio –and reading but did organize ‘dramas’ involving friends-cowboys and Indians-that sort of thing(trying to minimize school which I found largely boring—earliest anecdote from a friend was that on the first day of kindergarten I complained that there was no magenta in the color box) I had little interest in team sports though some interest in risky things like wandering in mountains or fast bicycles.
1952-1958 teen years –marked by occasional rebellion against school systems and by contracting a case of acne so extreme it made news in medical journals(this became a neurotic case too of considering myself profoundly unattractive not contradicted by a very skinny (though oddly strong) body-definitely not the quarterback football hero.
First rebellion: took a short writing test at beginning of 8th grade and was shunted off to a English skills (slow learner) class –in two days the teacher realized I didn’t fit there and gave me the workbook to finish at my own speed-did the semester work in two weeks and spent the rest of the class time reading (Menninger’s Basic Psychiatry was one I got involved in). First loves found: philosophy (metaphysics) comparative religion (zen and Vedanta attractive) art -now on the level of painting-two books major influences; van Gogh and Musashi (The Shrike has been a lasting model for me). Second rebellion: in junior year the English teacher assigned the class to write and autobiography-I thought this was rather silly for 16 year olds so wrote something rather ‘experimental’ –teacher handed it back with a zero and told me to rewrite it in ‘normal’ fashion. I walked out of school and refused to return-(gathered support from adult friends teachers etc.) was persuaded to return by the principal who let me design my own curriculum- mostly painting and writing outside of normal class hours—this became the basis for the first program for gifted children in Colorado.
1959 -1962 rejected the idea of going to college- my experience with school wasn’t too salutary-right? Determined to learn to paint by painting and retain some originality (ok arrogance and indifference to risk and social approbation are among my many defects- but this decision was also reinforced by a mentor, Watson Bidwell, a major CO artist and professor of art at CSCE). Worked for my father and learned accounting (has been useful largely for dealing with income taxes) the plant was sold by the heirs to the major stockholder- father (and I of course) losing his job and the money he had in stock (3rd largest).
This is my first experience with ‘downsizing’(going broke)- for many years my will had a provision that my ashes should be sprinkled in the air conditioning ducts of the First National Bank of Greeley. My parents though could retire on social security so they survived fairly well.
I got married. First wife was the daughter (art education major at local college) of a large wheat farmer in Nebraska- I worked on the farm for a year or so (driving tractors et al) then she got a teaching job at the local school and we lived in town…..assembling a small zoo of cats, dogs, boas and an ocelot. Met another attractive teacher in neighboring town who then became an off and on mistress- vaguely ménage a trios (this was the ‘60’s and the concept of open marriage was interesting then). All through this, of course, I paint paint paint and write (mostly poetry and turgid philosophy)
1965-1967 following my compelling interest in the work of Nikos Kazantzakis I carry on a correspondence with his widow, Helen…..then decide to try living in Europe - follow some of the steps of Kazantzakis-and see the art and art scene there. We sell everything and go to Switzerland with two bags of clothes and paint materials. We teach about 9 months at the American College –and travel to the Netherlands, Spain and Greece. Traveled through Spain with two young Israelis –sabras-one night we meet with two Syrians, a Lebanese and a couple of Egyptians for a game of poker- ended more or less amicably largely because the Americans won –this was two weeks before the six-days war.
I make a drawing of Kazantzakis that Helen uses for the cover of the UK edition of her biography of Nikos……….leave some paintings with an art dealer in Amsterdam (who had presumably discovered the Cobra painters) - “receive” the verses for the Scroll and finish the first painting for it.
1967 to 1972 we return to the US and live in New Mexico-first on the Navajo Reservation then close to the Apache in two different locations. Living in Cuba, NM I write to Georgia O’Keeffe and am invited to meet her in Abiquiu- spend an afternoon with her –learned much that I would carry with me for a life. “Keep going, you’ve got something” this was at a time when she wasn’t even seeing museum directors……..especially the Museum of New Mexico….
1970 move to La Luz, NM- live at the restored La Luz Pottery owned by Ray A. Graham III-the site of the first Whole Earth gathering and inception of the Catalog. Visit Trinity Site-and stand in the crater left by the test (before all this was closed to the public). In this period I meet Raymond Jonson- professor of art at UNM and one of the American Transcendentalists- informal study with him and work on extending the range of acrylic effects
Divorce in July, 1972 –I work on a construction project-La Trasteria- with two other artists in southern NM.
1973-75 marry the daughter of a western novelist and movie producer- try doing real estate sales then get a job as apartment manager for 68 unit complex in Santa Fe-survive and paint (less writing).
1975 to 1977- separate but I also move to Albuquerque to make stone jewelry to support paint-employer is coke dealer so I wind up getting paid in cocaine (which I don’t use or want to get into selling so I give it away) while living with another female friend and her world –including the head of the Albuquerque mafia, outlaw bikers and vice cops.
1977 I meet prospective wife #3 –she gets job writing for the Park Service - I take a month off from apartments to paint and stay with her back on Navajo reservation. Later she takes paintings around to galleries in Santa Fe and I get work in one. Joan moves up in Park Service becomes quite influential and does some important work with the Navajo tribe and the Georgia O’Keeffe site/collection.
1978 to 1983 marry again (Joan)- and meet Romona and Fritz Scholder-he is major SW painter and becomes a mentor- Romona is a psychotherapist and becomes my ‘shrink’. Romona says I need a piece of paper to prove I’m intelligent- I apply to St.John’s College –Santa Fe campus for the Master’s program and am accepted on the basis of a paper I write and recommendations from graduates and other academics. I skip undergraduate school and wind up with a Master’s in Liberal Education (philosophy essentially).
1980-82 assistant curator of a working exhibit of 19th century letterpress printing-Museum of New Mexico (wrote most of Running Man in this period)
I begin showing the horse and rider paintings- they take off- and my dealer puts together a package to syndicate me (like a racehorse).
1983 to 1993 syndicate fails because dealer takes the 100k and several paintings and skips. I get divorced again and begin to sell by myself and through dealers in other states.
1983- 84 Volunteer in the Parks at Gran Quivira Natl Monument (lived on one on three sites of 16th cent Spanish Mission ruins) in the middle of nowhere-outside Mountainaire, NM - painted a series of didactic paintings of the history of these for the Natl Park Service
I meet JM (not to marry this time but I count her as a wife) and live with her most of this period making and disposing of a relatively large amount of money from paintings. I am haunted though by sense I’m failing my ‘mission’ -not doing the kind of work that needs to be done.
1989-meet and become friends with Agnes Martin-a philosophical influence now.
1993-95 SW art market collapses (along with the international art market) wind up with debt and no money-JM and I split –. I am able to survive by milking collector list and from sales of abstracts in a gallery in Columbus OH.
1995-2000 meet Carole through intro by mutual friend and contact by fax and email-she flies to Santa Fe, we marry and stay in NM for short time then sell everything and try Paris(with stop in Columbus)- this begins the shibuyi series of abstracts. Paris 11months money runs out-- back to Columbus—stay there 2 years –then gallery closes – money thin and want to make sure C is at least safe so back to Paris and living with mother-in-law.
1998-2006 survive ok on very small income - few expenses but food and paint. Living situation strained at times- but…..the abstracts continue and grow becoming what I felt was my true direction. I also write quite a bit-philosophy and letters online-art criticism/theory for NYArts Magazine. Keep up study in general particle physics, macroeconomics and metaphysics – somehow also directed back to art.
2006 to 2008 Carlos finds me online after 40 years-buys several horse paintings at discount-then sells 23 of the Paris abstracts to Scott Storch- collects 50k of the 150k and encourages me to move to Miami where he will do catalogue, gallery and promotion. I go in 2007- C stays in Paris-later decides to stay there (having a job she loves for the first time. The relationship remains a bond–but also I finally had a serious break with mom-in-law so that bridge burned) Turns out no money gets collected, Carlos fails to come through with commitments and life at his house rather nutsy –I spend most of the winter in Boone, NC –Blue Ridge Mountains-( perfect setting for me and painting-mist!) roommates with a young woman met on second life (who was and remains devoted to the work). Times are difficult but some good paintings done –but money drying up-move to friends and collectors house in Columbus to try and restart.
September 2008-paint—begin the Darkness Series…………
May 2009-moved into a small live-in studio in Worthington, OH - Carlos retrieved the paintings from the Storch residence but their disposition still in limbo somewhat-a lawsuit against Storch continues. Agustin Abril makes me an offer for 12 of the Darkness paintings -I accept-and later in the year he buys three more -all of which keeps me going and painting. The Dreamcatcher series follows along with some continuation of the Darkness themes. In 2010 I begin two new series: the Openspaces and the Elementals........
Information provided by the artist's representative Jon Lefko |
| ** If you discover credit omissions or have additional information to add, please let us know at registrar@AskART.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|