BILL KUCHA
Education
MFA in oil painting, City Unversity of New York, 1969
BFA in oil painting, Boston University, 1967
Born
March 29, 1945, Cleveland OH
Exhibitions
2005 Window in the Pearl, (on-going exhibit of sculpture and painting) 425 NW 9th Portland, OR 2004 Sitka Invitational (Sculpture), Portland, OR Human Form Show, Newport OR Judged by Henry Sayer and Sandy Brooks One Man Show, Home Garden/Gallery, Depoe Bay, OR 2003 Sitka Invitational (Sculpture), Portland, OR Installation of Bayfront mural in Newport, OR. New City Hall 2002 Kows for Kids, designed and painted the Klad Kow, Portland, OR Human Form Show, Newport, OR One Man Show, Blackfish Cafy, Lincoln City, OR 2001 One Man Show, "Three Perspectives of Mexico", Studio/Gallery, Depoe Bay, OR Sitka Invitational, Portland, OR 2000 Triad Gallery, Seal Rock, OR. One-Man Show Newport Visual Arts Center, Newport, OR. Juror Clint Brown. Human Form Show Mid-Career Retrospective, Newport Visual Arts Center, Newport, OR Sitka Invitational, Portland, OR 1999 Toledo Art Invitational, Toledo, OR Margo Jacobsen Gallery, Portland, OR. Group Show 1998 Sitka Invitational, Portland, OR 1997 Sitka Invitational, Portland, OR Triad Gallery, Seal Rock, OR. One-Man Show. 1996 Lower Columbia Community College, Longview, WA. Two-Person Show Newport Visual Arts Center, Newport, OR. Group Invitational Festival of Flowers Installation, Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, OR 1995 Art Bridge Happening, Performing Arts Center, Newport, OR Newport Visual Arts Center, Newport, OR. Four-Man Show Sitka Invitational, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR Gallery at Salishan, Gleneden Beach, OR. One-Man Show Gango Gallery, Portland, OR. One-Man Show Gango Gallery, Portland, OR. Group Show Local Color, Newport Visual Arts Center, Newport, OR. Juried Group Show Juror's Merit Award ango Gallery, Portland, OR. One-Man Show 1994 Gango Gallery, Portland, OR. Group Show Self-Portrait Invitational, Newport Visual Arts Center, Newport, OR Group Show, Maveety Gallery, Gleneden, OR Human Form Juried Group Show, Newport Visual Arts Center, Newport, OR Gango Gallery, Portland, OR. One-Man show Columbia Art Gallery, Hood River, OR. One-Man Show 1993 10/10 Invitational Group Show, Newport, OR Sitka Invitational, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR International Pinor Noir Celebration, McMinnville, OR. Two-Man Show Gango Gallery, Portland, OR. One-Man Show Portland Art Museum Rental/Sales Gallery, Portland, OR. Featured Artist 1992 Local Color Juried Show, Newport Visual Art Center, Newport, OR Best of Show Gango Gallery, Portland, OR. Group Figure Show Marianne Partlow Gallery, Olympia, WA. One-Man Show Selections from Corporate Art Collections, Heathman Hotel, Portland, OR 1991 Oregon Biennial, Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR Gango Gallery, Portland, OR. One-Man Show Human Form Show, Newport Visual Art Center, Newport, OR 1990 Monteverde Costa Rica. Summer Workshop, One-Man Show Salishan Lodge Gallery, Gleneden Beach, OR. One-Man Show 1989 Governor's Office, State Capital, Salem, OR. One-Man Show Marianne Partlow Gallery, Olympia, WA. One-Man Show Gallery El Pinar, Malaga, Spain. One-Man Show
Bill's work has been purchased through the State of Oregon 1% for Art Appropriation and the State of Alaska 1% for Art Program. His works have been purchased by the City of Portland and hang in corporate collections including Kaiser Permanente Hospitals, Providence Hospital, Oregon Health Sciences University and Northwest Natural Gas, Portland, OR
ARTIST STATEMENT
The making of art has always been about the adventure of seeing the world in a new way and finding an appropriate expression to portray it. This approach has led me to use many different mediums as well as technical innovations. The process of creating carries with it many risks, however, the thrill and challenges inherent in creating more than compensates me.
Recently, I have changed from two dimensional to three dimensional art. My two dimensional work has always dealt with space, form and light, so sculpture seems like an obvious extension of my previous efforts.
I work with stone and steel now. Working in stone feels like a collaboration when compared to beginning on a blank canvas. With stone, so much is already begun. Stone inspires and when "spoken to" reveals directions to be taken in the making of a piece. Much of the stone I work with is collected on the basalt headlands of Cape Foulweather, where I live. The basalt cliffs have always informed me, even as a painter. However, now, partnering with them feels very complete.
The stones are worked, chiseled, sawed and polished, as well as articulated with welded steel. The combination, while being quite non-objective and abstract, alludes to many moods and concrete situations, depending on one's imagination. Sculpting is very energizing and provocative for me. I hope it is for the viewer as well.
August 2005