Tom Scott (painter, born 1928)

Tom Scott

Born  | Thomas Jefferson Scott

January 13 1928 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Died  | February 26 2013

Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Alma mater  | School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Occupation(s)  | Artist, Teacher, Arts Administrator
Spouse  | [Piddy], Ann Scott, Simone Campbell
Children  | 4

Tom Scott (1928–2013)[1] was an American Abstract painter, teacher and arts administrator. His career, spanning six decades, included architecture, sculpture, furniture design, photography and video and demonstrated an underlying conviction that painting needed to embrace change to remain vital.[2] He was represented by Hilda Carmel Gallery[3] [4](1961–1963), Henri Gallery[5] (1963-1965), Studio Gallery[6] (1986-1987) and Touchstone Gallery[7][8] (1987-1999) His work is held in the collections of the University of Alabama[9], the Hunter Museum[10] and UMBC as well as private collections throughout the USA and Europe. He retired from Maryland Institute College of Art as Dean of the Graduate Division in 1976[6].

## Early life and education

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He was born in Chicago Illinois, to Marguerite and Walter Scott [1] and attended Hinsdale Township High School (1942–1946). He joined the US Army Medical Corps, working as an art therapist with returning veterans (1946–1948) and attended the Art Institute of Chicago under the G.I. Bill receiving a BFA in Painting (1948–1952). He worked in Tennessee as an architectural and industrial designer for modernist Architect Hubert Bebb (1952–1955), taught at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (1954–1955), was a visiting lecturer in art at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1955) and was a regular visitor to Black Mountain College[6].

## Early career 1950–1972

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Starting out as an Abstract Expressionist[9][10] he began painting on photographs in the 1950s[11] in response to the emerging world of digital image processing. Using a well defined photograph as a base, he added fine, hard-edged paint lines and slashes of bold colour before re-producing the painted photograph to a monumental scale and distorting it to interpret the original picture in a series of generations [12].

As Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (1955–1961)[6] he taught William Christenberry and met Godmother of the Kansas City Art Gallery Scene, Myra Morgan.[13] In 1961 he moved with his then friend, William Christenberry to New York City. He worked as Art Department Head at The Adelphi Academy Brooklyn, completed a Masters Degree in Education at New York University (1961–1963)[6] and had his first New York solo exhibition at Hilda Carmel Gallery on Tenth Street[3].

In 1965 he married fellow activist and feminist Ann London and designed posters for her campaigns. They were together until her death in 1975[14]. Following Linden Johnson's Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 he was appointed to the Center for Urban Education (1966–1969)[6] where he organised experimental art teaching during the New York Teachers Strike of 1968. He brought into schools clowns, puppeteers, drummers and other musicians, poets and visual artists to replace teachers who were on strike.

He supervised student teaching at The Pratt Institute Brooklyn where he worked with Dore Ashton and was Associate Professor at The College of Arts, Rochester Institute of Technology (1970–1972)[6]. Whilst upstate he would take his students to Woodstock to see the work of outsider artist and friend Clarence Schmidt .

## Mid career 1972–1985

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He settled in Baltimore in 1972 when he was appointed Graduate Dean and Director of Divisions for Maryland Institute College of Art (1972–1976). He took part in annual faculty exhibitions[6] and the school held a memorial following his death in 2013.[15]

Following retirement he worked as an art therapist at City Hospital[16] and exhibited work with Artists Equity and Artscape in Baltimore and with Studio Gallery and Touchstone Gallery in Washington DC[6] In 1982 he had a solo exhibition of large format painted photographs at The Women's National Bank.[17]

## Late career 1985–2013

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In 1985 he met art historian and Jungian Psychoanalyst, Simone Cambell-Scott [18]. They were married in 1987 and lived together in Baltimore until his death in 2013.

By the mid 1980s his large format painted photographs had come off the wall to become free-standing folding screens[6] soon accompanied by painted virtual (empty) screens described by the artist as "abstract coloured space frames".[7][19] A four-panel screen entitled 'Clarence Schmidt's Garden' was one of four works included in 'The Image and Beyond: an innovative photographic exhibition and lecture' held at Duke Ellington School for the Arts in 1987. The works were selected by Andy Grundberg, Photography Critic at the New York Times and Sharon Keim, Executive Director at the Washington Center for Photography.[20]

By the late 1990s when he exhibited at the Baltimore Chapter of the American Institute of Architects[21] he was making sculptural obelisk forms and collaborating with music, video and technology artists, Richard Bannister, Meg Heisse and Quoc-Bao Nguyen[22][8][23].

By 1999 he had removed his hand entirely from direct contact with the two and three dimensional surfaces on which he painted, creating distance by solely utilising spray paint laid down in stripes of horizontal and vertical colour. Often resembling textiles and using the language of graffti, the works reveal the artist's interest in the way that light falls.[2] In 2002 he was awarded a Baltimore City Arts Grant and a residency at L'Ecole Des Beaux Arts Régional, Caen in France where he developed further his painting methodology of layering colour as light which he would pursue until his death in 2013.

## Solo exhibitions

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* 1955, 1957, 1959 University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa[6]
* 1956 Hunter Gallery, Tennessee[6]
* 1963 Tom Scott, Exhibition of Paintings, Hilda Carmel Gallery 84 East Tenth Street, New York City (8-28 March)[3]
* 1963 Exhibition of Pictures by Tom Scott, Henri Gallery, 113 South Royal Street, Alexandria, Virginia (8-31 September)[24][25]
* 1976 Tom Scott Recent Painted Photographs, Gallery 641, 641 Indiana Ave Washington DC (26 March - 17 April)[26]
* 1982 The National Women's Bank 23rd exhibit by Washington Area Artists [27]1627 K Street N. W. Washington DC (12 February - 8 April)[17]
* 1985 Paintings on Photographs/Folding Screens, Studio Gallery 420 7th Street NW Washington DC (2-26 October)[6]
* 1987 Tom Scott, Painted Photos, Painted Screens, Painted Virtual Screens, Touchstone Gallery (June 23 - August 2)[7]
* 1989 Tom Scott Folding Screens and Painted Photos, Touchstone Gallery (7-26 February)[11]
* 1992 Objects of Divination, Touchstone Gallery 2009 R Street NW Washington DC (23 June - 12 July)[28]
* 1994 Before the Wall and Beyond, Touchstone Gallery 2009 R Street NW Washington DC (26 April - 22 May)[29]
* 1996 Tom Scott Sculptures +, Maryland Arts Place Fells Point 1820 Aliceanna Street (7 -29 December)[30]
* 1996 Over the Edge:Out of the Picture, Touchstone Gallery 406 7th Street NW Washington DC (16 February - 10 March)[31]
* 1997 Tom Scott Sculptor, American Institute of Architects 11 West Chase Street Baltimore[21]
* 1998 Opening Bound, Touchstone Gallery 406 7th Street NW Washington DC (9 September - 4 October)[8]
* 1999 Bright Shadows: Recent work by Tom Scot, Halcyon Gallery, Margarets Cafe 909 Fell Street Fells Point (18-27 February)[32]
* 2002 Tom Scott Painting and Sculpture, 57 Fine Art 57 N Street NW Washington DC (1 June - 24 August)[33]
* 2002 Tom Scott Blind Reflection, L'hotel Galerie de L'ecole Régionale des Beaux-Arts de Caen (2 October - 8 November)[34]
* 2009 Solstice, Project 1928, 1628 Bolton Street, Baltimore (13 December - 24 January 2010)[35]
* 2014 Tom Scott Retrospective, UMBC Center for Art Design and Visual Culture (9 October- 13 December)-[36]
* 2015 Tom Scott Transcriptions in Paint, Creative Alliance at The Patterson Baltimore (4-12 December)[37]

## Group exhibitions

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* 1954 Momentum, Chicago Illinois[6]
* 1955 Forum Gallery, NYC[6]
* 1960 Hunter Museum, Chattanooga Tennessee (8 May - 4 June)[38]
* 1962 Hilda Carmel Gallery 84, 84 East Tenth Street, New York City [6]
* 1964 ARCCO Henry Street Settlement 263 Henry Street, New York City (10 June)
* 1964 Knapik Gallery, NYC[6]
* 1964 Henri Gallery, 113 South Royal Street, Alexandreia, Virginia (August)[12][39]
* 1966 Lightings, Hilda Carmel Gallery 84, 84 East Tenth Street, New York City (22 April - 12 May)[4]
* 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 Maryland Institute College of Art Faculty Exhibition[6]
* 1975 Alabama Bag, Gallery 641, 641 Indiana Ave Washington DC[6]
* 1980, 1981,1982, 1983,1984, 1985 Artists Equity, Baltimore[6]
* 1983 ARTSCAPE, Baltimore[6]
* 1987 Touchstone Gallery (19 February - 23 March)[40]
* 1987 The Image and Beyond, Duke Ellington Gallery, 35th & R Streets, NW Washington DC (19 February - 23 March)[20]
* 1990 Object D’Art: Contemporary Folding Screens,[41] Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (4 May - 20 July), Piedmont Arts Association (16 October - 27 November), Portsmouth Community Arts Center (8 December - 17 February 1991), Della Plaine Visual Arts Center Frederick (26 February - 30 March 1991), The Ellipse Arlington Virginia (2 May - 28 June 1991)
* 1997 Tom Scott, Dave Yocum, Matt Lucas, Studio 302, 302 South Central Avenue Baltimore (8-29 November)[42]
* 2000 Halcyon Gallery, Margarets Cafe 909 Fell Street Fells Point (January) [43]
* 2006 Linear Abstractions: Laura Yang and Tom Scott, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis [44]

## References

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1. ^ a b "Thomas Scott Obituary (2013)". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
2. ^ a b Press Release, Bright Shadows: Recent Work by Tom Scott, Halcyon Gallery at Margaret's Cafe, January 18 - February 27, 1999, Presented by the Fells Point Creative Alliance
3. ^ a b c Exhibition invitation, Hilda Carmel Gallery, 84 East Tenth St. New York, N.Y. Tom Scott Exhibition of Paintings, Opening March 8, 8-11pm until March 28 1963
4. ^ a b Exhibition invitation, Gallery 84, Lightings, Tom Scott, On 4/22, Off 5/12, 84 East 10th St N.Y.C. Carmel, Clark, Epstein, Friedman, Fuerst, Goodwin, Guibord, Gurevitz, Hunter, Hyams, immerman, Jablin, Krooker, Lee, List, Mandel, Morrell, Ratan, Richards, Rowland, Scott, Sebold, Stanley, B. Wagner, L. Wagner, Werner, Williams, Wilner
5. ^ Archives of American Art: Henri Gallery records: Series 2: Alphabetical Files: 2.1: Name Files, 1947-1966
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Exhibit List with Artist's CV, Painted Photographs / Folding Screens, Tom Scott, STUDIO GALLERY, 2801 R Street NW Washington D C, 20008 Exhibition Feb 3-28, 1987
7. ^ a b c Press Release, Touchstone Gallery, Tom Scott painted Photos, Painted Screens, Painted Virtual Screens, June 23 to August 2, 1987,
8. ^ a b c "Tom Scott Wednesday Sept 9 to Oct 4 Touchstone Gallery Opening Bound". City Paper. 2 September 1998.
9. ^ a b ""In This House" Adds Context to a Collection". University of Alabama, Department of Art and Art History, College of Arts and Sciences. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 2004-08-06.
10. ^ a b "Still Life (abstract) Tom Scott (1928-2013)". The Hunter Museum. Retrieved 2004-08-06.
11. ^ a b Benhaioun, J (February 1989). "Tom Scott Painted photos and Screens". Eye Wash.
12. ^ a b Valentine, Paul (23 August 1964). "Oil-Photo Troth Is Told Here". The Atlanta Journal.
13. ^ "Kansas City Star". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
14. ^ "Ann Scott Papers, 1932?–1976 Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass". Hollis Archives. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
15. ^ Program, Tom Scott (1928–2013) A Celebration of Life in Art, Reflections, Exhibition, Film, November 17 2013
16. ^ Dick Schraeder, Memorial Speech (2013), Tom Scott, The Adventure of a Life in Art
17. ^ a b Press Release, The Women's National Bank, 1627 K Street, N.W. Washington D.C. 20006, For Immediate Release, Exhibition, Thomas J Scott, Painted Photographs, Dates February 12 - April 8, 1982
18. ^ "Jungian Directory". JungianDirectory. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
19. ^ Eye Echo, Multi-media environmental installation Proposal, Tom Scott and Dick Bannister
20. ^ a b Press Release, THE IMAGE AND BEYOND, Duke Ellington Gallery, Duke Ellington School for the Arts, 35th and R Streets, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20007, February 19 - March 23 1987, with Lecture by Andy Grundberg, Thursday February 26.
21. ^ a b Exhibit list, AIA BALTIMORE (The American Institute of Architects, Baltimore Chapter) Tom Scott, Sculptor
22. ^ Olsen, Augusta (September 1998). "Tom Scott to Oct 4 Touchstone Gallery, Washington DC".
23. ^ Craig Kittner, Touchstone Gallery, Press Release August 15, 1998, Re: OPENING BOUND, Art Exhibit
24. ^ Getlein, Frank (29 September 1963). "Henri Gallery". The Sunday Star, Washington DC.
25. ^ Ahlander, Leslie Judd (1963). "the Henri Gallery". The Washington Post.
26. ^ Exhibition Postcard, Tom Scott, Recent Painted Photographs, March 26 through April 17 1976, Reception March 26, 6 to 9, GALLERY 641, 641 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington D. C. 20004
27. ^ Womach, Emily H. "The Women's National Bank - A Successful Business Venture". Sagepub.com. Retrieved 2004-07-22.
28. ^ Press Release, Mary Sawchenko, Director, Touchstone Gallery, 2009 R Street NW Washington DC 20009, For Immediate Release, Painter TOM SCOTT exhibits "OBJECTS OF DIVINATION" at Touchstone Gallery, Reception: Friday, June 26 6.30 to 8.30 pm, Tom Scott's recent works show the vital influence of unconsciously controlled or chance operations
29. ^ "Tom Scott Before the Wall and Beyond, Painting and Sculpture, Touchstone Gallery April 26 - May 22 1994 (with photo)". Washington Review. 1994.
30. ^ Exhibition Invitation, MAP, Fells Point, Tom Scott Sculptures +, Tex Andrews, Curator, Opening Reception Saturday, December 7, 1996 3-5pm
31. ^ Press Release, Touchstone Gallery, 406 7th Street NW Washington DC 20004, For Immediate Release, Exhibition of Painted Sculpture by TOM SCOTT, OVER THE EDGE & OUT OF THE PICTURE, Opening Fri Feb 16, 6 to 8, Tom Scott offers new "virtual windows and colour columns" including free-standing translucent works
32. ^ Ray, Anne. "Critics Choice: 'Bright Shadows: Recent Works by Tom Scott' Jan 18-Feb 27 1999 (with photo)". Baltimore Weekly.
33. ^ Exhibition Invitation, 06.01.02 - 08.24.02, TOM SCOTT, PAINTING AND SCULPTURE, RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST SATURDAY JUNE 1st, 4-6:00 PM with AUSTRIAN CELLO-GUITAR DUO Erich Oskar Huetter - Cello and Armin Egger - Guitar, Music by: Manuel de Falla, Vivaldi, Faure and others, 57 N Fine Art, 57 N Street NW, Washington DC 20001
34. ^ Exhibition Invitation, L'hotel, galerie de l'école régionale des beaux-arts de Caen, direction, Jean-Jacques Passera, Tom Scott, Blind Reflection, vernissage le mercredi 2 octobre 2022 a partir de 12h30
35. ^ "Tom Scott, Solstice". Project 1628. Retrieved 2004-08-14.
36. ^ "Tom Scott, A Retrospective". UMBC, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Center for Art Design and Visual Culture. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
37. ^ Exhibition Invitation, UMBC's Museum Practice Class, 2015 Presents Tom Scott: Transcriptions in Paint, Dec 4-12, Opening Reception: Fri, Dec. 4, 6-8pm, Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave. Baltimore MD 21224 Supported by the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship
38. ^ 1st Hunter Gallery annual May 8 - June 4 1960, Chattanooga, Tennessee (exhibition catalogue): Tom Scott, University, Alabama 138. Yellow Beam
39. ^ Brannino (August 1964). "Visiting the Suburban Galleries Alexandria: Henri's is offbeat, three floor high, image: Tom Scott Triptych". The Washington Daily News.
40. ^ "Image: Tom Scott Renwick acrylic on photo 3 panel folding screen 4'1" x 3'2 " at Touchstone Gallery". New Art Examiner. October 1987.
41. ^ Object D’Art: Contemporary Folding Screens, Hand Workshop Virginia's Center for Crafts (brochure)
42. ^ Exhibition Invitation, Fall 1997 Juried Sculpture Exhibit, Studio 302, 302 South Central Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202, STUDIO 302 PRESENTS: A Sculpture Exhibition in November, featuring the work of Tom Scott, Dave Yocum and Matt Luas, Exhibit Dates: November 8-29th, Opening Saturday 6pm - 9pm
43. ^ "Tom Scott at Halcyon (with photo)". The Sun. 13 January 2000.
44. ^ "LIVE//THE SUN What's Up Don't Miss Linear Abstractions". The Sun. Baltimore. 2006-09-14. p. 321.