Powers Studio Information

I have maintained a studio/workshop since 1958. I was primarily a painter until the late '60's, except for work in mosaic, Then I began to work in plastic and produced a large body of work. There was an overall interest in technology here and I became a Northern California pioneer in the use of this material. In 1972 I had simultaneous one man exhibits in San Francisco and New York. In the late '70's there was a serious illness, melanoma, probably caused by a solvent {now banned} and I dropped acrylic like a hot potato. Later, after surgery and while teaching in England, I learned to cast sculpture in bronze which I continue to this day. I was Coordinator of Spatial Arts at San Jose State and taught drawing, sculpture (primarily metal), and graduate seminars for many years. I was artist in residence for a semester in Australia and in France. Both of these, and art history, honed my interest in primal cultures. This now combines with a deep interest in contemporary cosmology and I feel a rapport between the two which nourishes my work in both sculpture and painting. I have had since student days an interest in the integration of art and architecture and have executed several works in concrete, mosaic. and metal which are sited and integrated with their architectural host. I have often lectured on this subject to community and professional groups. My wife, Lynn, is a painter and has an adjoining studio.