Postcards from Nowhere: Artworks by Rich Curtis

In his series of mixed media drawings, artist Rich Curtis depicts scenes from his daily life. A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Curtis currently lives and works in Thomasville, Georgia. He takes cues from his surroundings to create narrative works that document and illustrate bucolic life.

Using a variety of drawing materials, from ink and watercolor to pen, pencil, marker and crayon, he shows us the inherent beauty in a well-worn washstand and a humble bouquet of sunflowers. He often makes his own pigments from natural materials such as walnuts, clay and ocher.

By deliberately staining the paper with rust, wine, flower petals, coffee and dirt, Curtis reinforces the power of his imagery with materials that originate from his environment.  The abstract surface becomes a kind of atmosphere in which the drawing lives.

Inspired by vintage postcards and vernacular photography, his goal is to capture something sublime within the most ordinary places. From soaring water towers and defiant structures slowly being recaptured by time to pecan groves and lumpy sweet potatoes, Curtis reminds us to revel in the often-overlooked charms of our rural communities.

The exhibition continues through June 10, 2019 and is one of many rotating exhibitions curated by the Council on Culture & Arts on behalf of the City of Tallahassee as part of the Art in Public Places program.