fayettevillearts.org

George Dombek donated a 40″ x 40″ watercolor from his Ozark Portrait series to the University of Arkansas Libraries May 19. The painting, entitled Medal of Honor, comes from a series of works titled “Ozark Portraits,” which feature bygone common household and farm tools. Dombek says, “The subjects are pieces of farm equipment; primarily exhaust pipes and oil cans, usually worn and rusty. As the series progressed the subjects began to take on life-like forms, thus the name Ozark Portrait. For instance, a group of cans became a ‘family’; grandmother, grandfather and their triplet grandchildren. Now I’ve reached a point where I have specific people in mind when I do a new Ozark Portrait piece.”

Originally from Paris, Arkansas, Dombek received a Bachelor’s degree in architecture (1974) and a Master’s of Fine Arts in painting (1975) from the University of Arkansas. Dombek went on to teach architecture and art at universities in Arkansas, Ohio, Florida, Saudi Arabia and Italy. The donated painting will hang in the Fine Arts Library. Dombek says, “While going to school at the University of Arkansas, few days went by that I didn’t spend some time in the Fine Arts Library. The library played an important part in my education; as important as the classes or aspects of my career as a student. It is fortunate that the University has a separate library that contains fine art. The University gave me a great gift, and my intention is to return the favor. It was a great experience – the happiest time of my life.”

Over a forty year period Dombek has generated an impressive catalog of work. Predominantly working in watercolor, he refers to his distinctive style as abstract realism. His works appear in over 800 museum, corporate and private collections and have been exhibited in more than 150 solo and group shows, including shows at the Arkansas Arts Center, the Butler Institute of American Art, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Art, the Birmingham Museum of Art, and the Oakland Museum.

His more than eighty awards include: recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arkansas Arts Council, Florida Arts Fellowships from the Florida Arts Council, and most recently, a New York Studio Residency from the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation, and a Pollack-Krasner Award.

Dombek now divides his time between his Brooklyn, New York, studio and his self-designed home and studio in the Arkansas Ozarks. The Dombek Studio is located at 844 Blue Springs Road, east of Fayetteville, near Highway 45. For more detailed directions or to view examples of Dombek’s work, visit www.georgedombek.com” href=”http://www.georgedombek.com/”>www.georgedombek.com. In May, the public is invited to view Dombek’s work and tour his studio and grounds from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Dombek’s studio is also open by appointment during the periods when he is in town.