Name Blue Sky
Born September 18, 1938
Current residence -- Columbia, South Carolina
B.A. University of South Carolina -- Columbia, South Carolina 1964
M. Ed. University of South Carolina -- Columbia, South Carolina 1970
Art Students League -- New York, New York (aka Warren E. Johnson) 1965
University of Mexico -- Mexico City, Mexico 1961
Smithsonian -- Washington, D.C.
The White House -- Washington, D.C.
Columbia Museum of Art -- Columbia, South Carolina
South Carolina State Museum -- Columbia, South Carolina
Mississippi Museum of Art -- Jackson, Mississippi
Florence Museum of Art -- Florence, South Carolina
McKissick Museum -- Columbia, South Carolina
The State Art collection -- Columbia, South Carolina
Cayce Historical Museum – Cayce, South Carolina
University of South Carolina -- Columbia, South Carolina
IBM
Price Waterhouse
R.J. Reynolds (RJR Nabisco)-- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Wachovia Bank -- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Federal Reserve Bank of Virginia -- Richmond, Virginia
Federal Reserve Bank -- Charlotte, North Carolina
Springs Industries -- New York, New York
Bank of America -- traveling collection
John L. McMillan Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse -- Florence, South Carolina
Wachovia Bank -- Columbia, South Carolina
K-Mart Headquarters -- Troy, Michigan
Springs Mills -- Fort Mill, South Carolina
Sea Pines Plantation -- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Seibels Bruce -- Columbia, South Carolina
Carolina First -- Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina
Congaree Swamp National Park – Columbia, South Carolina
Russian Tea Room -- New York, New York
Richland County Library – Columbia, South Carolina
Governor’s Mansion – Columbia, South Carolina
Henry Kissinger
Charles Wadsworth
Hundreds of others…
Selected quotes on the art of the artist, Blue Sky
“Fresh and bold... His work has both the technical ability and the freshness of vision, the feeling that something familiar is being seen for the first time, that has produced some of the best American painting of the past ten years... makes me want to see more of the artist’s work.”
Henry Geldzahler, (then)Assistant Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture,
Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York, N. Y.
“...A combination of illusion and reality.”
Diane Waldman, (then) Curator of Exhibitions, Guggenheim Museum, New York, N.Y.
“...an unexpected combination. The artist has taken a realistic subject and has moved it into something else. Beneath this realism is a beautiful abstraction.”
Harry Lowe, (then) Assistant Director, National Collection of
Fine Arts, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.
“...subtle distinguished work... a poetic distillation of reality... very agreeable... brilliant.”
Perry T. Rathbone, (then)Director of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts
“Great fun... nice assemblage... a marvelous combination of good humor and craftsmanship.”
Dr. Brian O’Doherty, (then)Editor of “Art in America”
“Shows enormous good humor with a perfect selection of materials... a very masterful transition.”
Tracy Atkinson, (then) Director of the Milwaukee Art Center
“Like Picasso, his work is innovative and he sees beauty in items others would miss...”
Martha Beaver, (then)
Art Critic,
The State Newspaper
“... elegant, physically elegant.”
Donald B. Kuspit, (then) Chairman, Department of Art History, State University of New York at Stony Brook
“Even sober drivers blink and often screech to a halt as the familiar old Federal Land Bank in downtown Columbia, South Carolina comes into view. There before astonished eyes is a veritable mirage: a Tunnel hewn out of mountain rock, through which a clearly marked highway curves off to a brilliant orange sunset... The reaction to “TUNNELVISION” ranges from cheers to puzzlement. No one has tried to detour through the tunnel -- yet. But there have been near crashes as motorists gawk at the phantasmagoria -- apparently transfixed by the prospect of driving off into Blue Sky’s wild blue yonder.”
People Magazine
February 9, 1976
“His canvases are romantic and have a nineteenth-century or early twentieth-century sensibility, recalling the American landscape and seascapes of Winslow Homer. They suggest the sublime -- that ineffable quality of nature that is simultaneously both terrifying and beautiful. Blue Sky’s images are nostalgic and romantic; he derives his imagery from the things he loves and seeks to convey simply that sense of love. As realistic pictures, the landscapes capture some of the timeless qualities.”
Craig Adcock, (then) Professor of Art History, Florida State University
“Masterful use of materials in presenting a contemporary if absurd -- image of the south through the theme of the American highway. The viewer, mesmerized by the clearly rendered details on the back of a large truck ahead, is made to feel uneasy by the implied danger of the vantage point. At first glance, “Air Brakes” appears to be a serious realistic work. But on closer study, one notices that bottle caps are used for tail-lights; a zipper serves as a closure for the rear doors, and behind the wheels are satin mud-flaps inscribed: “Passing Side” and “Sssuicide”.
David Scott Bundy, (then at)
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
“...Blue Sky’s work depicts everyday life: settings and locales that the average man might take for granted. The perceptive artist lifts these common experiences out of the ordinary with his bold authenticity of color and varied contrast of light and shadows. He achieves a strong statement of night life by presenting a certain energy and passion through a stark study of contrasts. Subtly duplicating the eerie casts of nocturnal light, he applies the deep dark colors in unique juxtaposition to the very brilliant. As a result, his work is not only pleasantly realistic, but sensual. The artist Blue Sky has significantly and honestly shared his emotional and electrically-charged visions with a receptive audience.”
Peggy C. Henderson, (then at) Art Voices South
“The idealized paintings of Blue Sky are developed with an intense realism, almost classical in approach. His works are developed with a technical virtuosity which has a timeless appeal (and a) concern for specificity.”
Lynn Nelson-Mason (then at) Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, South Carolina
“His paintings are lyrical. No other mural compares to “TUNNELVISION”.
Dr. John Bryan
Author and Historian at the University of South Carolina,
Columbia, South Carolina
“TUNNELVISION” -- Federal Land Bank -- Columbia, South Carolina 1975
“Moonlight on the Great Pee Dee” -- John L. McMillan Federal Building
and U.S. Courthouse -- Florence, South Carolina 1978
“Overflow Parking” -- Flint Journal Building -- Flint, Michigan 1978
“Winter Beach” -- Sumter, South Carolina 1980
“Spirit of the Air” -- Charlotte, North Carolina 1982
“Incident at the Kirkwood Inn” -- Camden, South Carolina 1982
“Old Darlington Public Square” -- Bicentennial mural -- Darlington, S C 1985
“The River Jordan” -- Three Fountains Church -- Springdale, S C 1987
“Full Moon Over the River Jordan” -- New Hope Church -- Pelion, S C 1988
“Gervais Street Extension” -- South Carolina State Museum – Columbia, SC 1989
“Five Points -- 1948” -- Harper’s Restaurant -- Columbia, South Carolina 1991
“Man Escapes” -- Satchel Ford Elementary School -- Columbia, S.C. 1994
“Partly Cloudy” -- Azzurro’s Restaurant -- Richmond, Va. 1994
“University of South Carolina” -- Visitors Center 1994
“Night Train” -- Fort Pierce, Florida 1995
“Cayce Historical Museum Mural” -- Cayce, South Carolina 1996
“Overflow” Crayton Middle School -- Columbia, South Carolina 1997
“Adopt Us” Animal Shelter mural and sculpture -- Columbia, S C 1999
“The Other Side of the Tunnel” --Ag First Bank – Columbia , S C 2000
“Congaree Swamp” – Congaree Swamp National Monument Federal Park 2002
“This is Not a Tree” – Five Points – Columbia Steel Palmetto tree project 2000
“Neverbust” – Main Street – Columbia, S. C. between Kress & Sylvan Buildings 2000
“Busted Plug Plaza” – Ag First Bank – Columbia, SC 2001
“Ped-Xing” – Doors project for Cultural Council 2002
“Kawa-saki-sauraus” – South Carolina Bank & Trust 2003
(Hasn’t actively entered competitions since the early 80’s)
1993 University of South Carolina Alumni Art Show -- First Place purchase award
1989 -- 1993 Voted Best Artist in South Carolina -- State Newspaper Readers
1990 -- 1993 Voted Best Artist in Columbia -- Columbia Metropolitan Magazine
1988 First Place -- Visual Arts -- Piccolo Spoleto -- Charleston, South Carolina
1983 Awards in the Visual Arts (AVA 2) -- Chicago, Illinois
1980 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
1978 General Services Administration (GSA) “Third Design Award” -- Washington, D.C.
for the GSA commissioned mural, “Moonlight on the Great Pee Dee”
1978 Honor of Distinction -- 4th annual Seibels-Bruce Caroliniana Watercolor competition -- Columbia, South Carolina
1978 Merit Award -- Guild of S.C. Artists annual show -- Columbia & Florence, S.C.
1977 Watercolor Award -- 19th Annual Springs Art Show for North and South Carolina
1977 Third Merit Award -- 3rd annual Seibels-Bruce Caroliniana Watercolor competition -- Columbia, South Carolina
1977 Federal Highway Administration -- “10th Annual Awards - The Highway and it’s Environment” -- Inspired outdoor mural rendering -- “TUNNELVISION” --
Columbia, South Carolina
1976 Traveling Show -- 18th annual Springs Art Show -- North and South Carolina
1976 Best of Show -- 2nd annual Seibels-Bruce Caroliniana Watercolor competition -- Columbia, South Carolina
1974 Merit Award -- Guild of South Carolina Artists annual show -- Florence, S.C.
1973 Open Media Award -- 15th annual Springs Art Show -- North and South Carolina
1972 Merit Award -- Guild of South Carolina Artists annual show -- Greenville, S.C.
1971 Best of Show -- Purchase Award -- 13th annual Springs Art Show -- North and South Carolina (“Cream Puff”)
1970 Traveling Exhibition -- 105th Annual American Watercolor Society Show -- New York, New York
1970 Honorable Mention -- Guild of South Carolina Artists Show -- Florence, S.C.
1969 Purchase Award -- Guild of South Carolina Artists Annual Show -- Columbia, S.C.
1964 Best of Show -- Purchase Award -- 6th annual Springs Art Show -- North and South Carolina
1963 First Prize -- Motorola Regional Art Show
1962 Honor Award -- North and South Carolina’s college art annual show
1961 Merit Award -- NESA International Design competition -- Chicago, Illinois
1960 Merit Award -- Artists Guild of Columbia annual Spring Show -- Columbia, S.C.
1956 Honorable Mention -- National Safety Council Poster Design Competition -- Chicago, Illinois
1954 Commendation Award -- National Safety Council Poster Design Competition - Chicago, Illinois
1954 Mascot design award -- Dreher High School -- Blue Devil logo still in use.
2003 “Garage Art Project” – SC State Museum, Columbia, SC
2002 “Doors- Connecting the Past to the Future” – Columbia, SC
2000 “Palmetto Tree Project” – Fall outdoor exhibit in Columbia
1999 S C State Museum --”100 years, 100 artists” (One of few living artists included) October 1999 – March 19, 2000
1999 McKissick Museum --Splendor of the Box -- Mar 21 - Apr 23, Columbia, SC
1996 McKissick Museum -- “This is not an endowed chair” -- Mar. 7 - Apr. 21, Columbia, S.C.
1995 McKissick Museum -- “This is not an endowed chair” -- Apr. 27 - Jun. 11
1992 Columbia Museum of Art -- “South Carolina Expressions” -- Jan. 24 - Apr. 26 --
Columbia, S.C.
1991 The South Carolina State Museum -- Columbia, S.C.
1990 York County Museum
1989 McKissick Museum -- University of South Carolina -- “Concentric Circles” Aug. 13 - Oct. 1 -- Columbia, S.C.
1988 Waterworks Visual Arts Center -- “Somewhere in Between” -- The 11th Waterworks Invitational -- Jan. 24 - Mar. 6 -- Salisbury, N.C.
1988 The Gibbes Museum of Art -- “NCNB Traveling Art Exhibition”
1987 Florida State University Gallery & Museum -- “Nocturnes and Nightmares” -- Mar. 12 - Apr. 18 -- Tallahassee, Florida
1986 Columbia Museum -- “South Carolina State of the Arts” -- Apr. 13 - Jun. 29 -- Columbia, S.C.
1985 The Gibbes Art Gallery -- “The South Carolina Arts Commissions 1985 Annual Exhibition and Invitational -- Jan. 20 - Feb. 22 -- Charleston, S.C.
1983 - 1985 “Painting in the South -- 1564 - 1980” Show itinerary:
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts --Sept. 14 - Nov. 27, 1983 -- Richmond, Va.
Birmingham Museum of Art -- Jan. 8 - Mar. 4, 1984 -- Birmingham, Ala.
National Academy of Design -- Apr. 12 - May 27, 1984 -- New York, N.Y.
Mississippi Museum of Art -- Jun. 24 - Aug. 26, 1984 -- Jackson, Miss.
The J.B. Speed Art Museum -- Sept. 16 - Nov. 11, 1984 -- Louisville, Ky.
The New Orleans Museum of Art -- Dec. 9 - Feb. 3, 1985 -- New Orleans, La.
1983 - 1984 “Awards in the Visual Arts II” Show itinerary:
Museum of Contemporary Art -- Jun. 11 - Aug. 21, 1983
The Mint Museum of Art -- Sept. 11 - Nov. 6, 1983
DeCordova and Dana Museum and Park -- Dec. 4 - Jan. 29, 1984
Equitable Gallery -- Feb. 8 - Mar. 2, 1984
1983 “Springs 25th Anniversary Art Show” -- Lancaster, S.C.
1982 Columbia Museum of Art -- “The South Carolina Connection” -- Aug. 8 - Sept. 26
Columbia, South Carolina
1981 Mississippi Museum of Art -- “Realm of Realism” -- Sept. 18 - Nov. 11 -- Jackson, Mississippi
1980 “Southern Realism” Show itinerary:
The Alexandria Museum -- Alexandria, Louisiana
University Museums -- Jan. 21 - Mar. 5 -- University, Mississippi
Roanoke Fine Arts Center -- May 26 - Jul. 9 -- Roanoke, Virginia
Montgomery Museum of Art -- Jul. 28 - Sept. 17 -- Montgomery, Alabama
Pensacola Museum of Art -- Oct. 3 - Nov. 19 -- Pensacola, Florida
1980 “Across the Nation: Fine Art for Federal Building 1972 - 1979” -- NCFA and it’s Renwick Gallery -- Smithsonian Institute -- Jun. 4 - Sept. 1 -- Washington, D.C.
1979 “Art Patron Art” Show itinerary:
SECCA (Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art) -- Jan. 6 - Feb. 15 -- Winston- Salem, North Carolina
Columbia Museum of Art -- Jun. - Jul. -- Columbia, South Carolina
Contemporary Arts Center -- Aug. - Sept. -- New Orleans, Louisiana
East Carolina University Art Gallery -- Oct. - Nov. -- Greenville, South Carolina
Tennessee Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood -- Dec. - Jan. 1980 -- Nashville, Tennessee
1979 “Southern Realism Show” -- Mississippi Museum of Art -- Sept. 7 - Nov. 11 -- Jackson, Mississippi
1979 Columbia Museum of Art -- “Moselle Skinner and her students” Mar. 18 - Apr. 15 -- Columbia, South Carolina
1979 “Art by Carolinians” an exhibition from the art collection of Springs Mills, Inc. -- itinerary: North and South Carolina colleges, museums, galleries, and public buildings
1978 Columbia Museum of Art -- “4th Annual Seibels-Bruce Caroliniana Watercolor Competition” (Award of Distinction) -- Sept. 10 - Oct. 8 -- Columbia, South Carolina
1978 The Gallery -- Spartanburg, South Carolina
1978 Florence Museum -- “Palmetto Art Day - 28th Annual Guild of South Carolina Artists Exhibition” -- Oct. 5 - Oct. 31 -- Florence, South Carolina
1978 “The 1978 Springs Traveling Art Show - Art of the Carolinas” itinerary:
Springs Building -- Jan. 9 - Jan. 27 -- New York, New York
Greenville County Museum of Art -- Feb. 8 - Mar. 5 -- Greenville, South Carolina
Charlotte Observer News Building -- Mar. 10 - Apr. 2 -- Charlotte, North Carolina
Mai Rutledge Building, Winthrop College -- Apr. 6 - Apr. 27 -- Rock Hill, South Carolina
Asheville Museum -- May 2 - Jun. 4 -- Asheville, North Carolina
1977 Columbia Museum -- “Annual Spring Show of the Artists Guild of Columbia” -- Mar. 20 - Apr. 20 -- Columbia, South Carolina
1977 Columbia Museum of Art -- “3rd Annual Seibels-Bruce Caroliniana Watercolor Competition” (Third Merit Award) Sept. 11 - Oct. 9 -- Columbia, South Carolina
1977 “The 1977 Springs Traveling Art Show - Art of the Carolinas” itinerary:
Columbia Museum -- Jan. 7 - Feb. 6 -- Columbia, South Carolina
Springs Building -- Feb. 11 - Feb. 25 -- New York, New York
Charlotte Observer News Building -- Mar. 6 - Mar. 27 -- Charlotte, North Carolina
Gibbes Art Museum -- Apr. 1 - May 1 -- Charleston, South Carolina
School of Design, North Carolina State Universtiy -- May 6 - May 31 -- Raleigh, North Carolina
1976 Columbia Museum -- “2nd Annual Caroliniana Winners” (Purchase Prize) Nov. 21
- Jan. 2, 1977 -- Columbia, South Carolina
1976 Objects -- Columbia, South Carolina
1976 The Gallery -- “Carolina: 200 years” -- Oct. 16 -- Spartanburg, South Carolina
1974 “Springs Traveling Art Show” -- (Open Media award for “Cecils Diesel”) itinerary Springs Building -- New York, New York
One year traveling in North and South Carolina colleges, museums, galleries, and public buildings -- specifics unknown
1972 “Twenty-Second Annual Exhibition” Guild of South Carolina Artists, Nov. 10-Dec 7,
Greenville County Museum of Art, Greenville, SC
1972 “Springs Traveling Art Show” -- (Purchase Award winner for “Cream Puff”)
itinerary
Columbia Museum of Art -- Jan. 7 - Jan. 23 -- Columbia, South Carolina
St. Johns Art Gallery -- Jan. 27 - Feb. 13 -- Wilmington, North Carolina
Asheville Art Museum -- Feb. 13 - Mar. 10 -- Asheville, North Carolina
The Hickory Museum of Art -- Mar. 15 - Apr. 4 -- Hickory, North Carolina
Mai Rutledge Building, Winthrop College -- Apr. 10 - May 2 -- Rock Hill, South
Carolina
Gibbes Art Museum -- May 7 - May 28 -- Charleston, South Carolina
Charlotte Observer News Building -- Jun. 2 - Jun. 25 -- Charlotte, North Carolina
Greenville County Museum of Art -- Jul. 1 - Jul. 30 -- Greenville, South Carolina
Randolph Lee Gallery, Clemson University -- Aug. 6 - Aug. 20 -- Clemson, South Carolina
Augusta College, Performing Arts Building -- Aug. 27 - Sept. 10 -- Augusta, Georgia
East Carolina University, School of Art -- Sept. 17 - Oct. 8 -- Greenville, South Carolina
St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Vardell Hall -- Oct. 15 - Oct. 29 -- Laurinburg, North Carolina
South Carolina State College -- Nov. 5 - Nov. 19 -- Orangeburg, South Carolina
Converse College, Milliken Fine Arts Building -- Nov. 26 - Dec. 10 -- Spartanburg, South Carolina
1970 American Watercolor Society - 105th Annual American Watercolor Society Show” -- New York, New York
1967 Sea Pines Plantation -- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
1967 Summer School of the Arts -- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
1965 Art Students League -- New York, New York
1989 to present -- Blue Sky Gallery -- Five Points -- Columbia, South Carolina
2001 Carolina Reflections – Spartanburg, South Carolina
1999 Aiken Center for the Arts – Aiken, South Carolina
1989 to 1996 -- Charleston Galley(Now Blue Sky Gallery) Columbia, South Carolina
1995 USC Beaufort -- Performing Arts Center -- South Carolina Humanities Festival -- January -- Beaufort, S.C.
1992 Newberry College -- Newberry, South Carolina
1989 Florence Museum -- “Retrospective” -- Florence, South Carolina
1989 Seibels House -- “Retrospective -- Autumn Sky” -- Columbia, South Carolina
1988 Spartanburg Arts Center-- Spartanburg, South Carolina
1988 Gibbes Museum of Art -- Charleston, South Carolina
1987 Charleston Gallery -- Charleston, South Carolina
1987 Heritage South -- Columbia, South Carolina
1985 McKissick Museum -- “Skylines” -- Columbia, South Carolina
1984 Lynn Smith Gallery -- Marriott Hotel -- Columbia, South Carolina
1984 South Carolina National Bank (SCN) -- “Travel Sketches” --