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Blue Sky (artist)
Encyclopedia
Blue Sky is the legal name (formerly Warren Edward Johnson) of an American painter
and sculptor best known for his mural
, Tunnelvision.
, South Carolina
, as Warren Edward Johnson. In 1954, his first foray into art won him a national poster competition, two years before he graduated from Dreher High School
. For the next six years, he served as a jet aircraft technician in the Air National Guard
, 169th Cameron Squad, while working several different jobs to pay for college – as a parade float builder, a layout artist, and a dance instructor, among others.
Sky attended the University of South Carolina
from 1958 to 1964. During this time, he received instruction from accomplished Ash Can painter Ed Yaghjian. Meanwhile, he sold original works through USC student art auctions at McMaster College. At the Springs Mills Show in 1964, in which over 700 artists participated, he was judged "best of show" by Henry Geldzahler
, then curator of modern art at the Metropolitan Museum. Sky was then invited to study at the Art Students League of New York
, where he lived and worked for the next year.
Upon moving back to Columbia in 1966, Sky worked as a draftsman and conceptual artist for Wilbur Smith & Associates before returning to USC for graduate school. In 1970, he graduated, earning a Master of Education
, because the university had not yet been certified to award a Master of Fine Arts
.
In 1974, Sky legally changed his name from Warren Edward Johnson to Blue Sky. He signed paintings before this year with the abbreviation "WAR."
In 2000, Sky was awarded the Order of the Palmetto
, South Carolina's highest civilian state honor, for his contributions to the arts - particularly, for painting the state's first large-scale public mural in 1975.
. Blue Sky Gallery opened in 1981, and it has displayed his artwork exclusively since 1989. It is owned and operated by his wife, Lynn Sky.
Sometime after graduating, Sky took an interest in painting a mural on the wall 34.006753°N 81.03203°W of the Federal Land Bank in Columbia. He applied to the South Carolina Arts Commission several times before they accepted his concept design for Tunnelvision and told him to approach the Federal Land Bank for funding. The bank refused to fund the project, but agreed to grant him permission to use the wall on the condition that he wasn't a communist (see: Diego Rivera
).
Sky claims that the idea for Tunnelvision appeared to him in a dream (thus the title). Although the work is technically rendered in trompe-l'œil style, Sky intended the mural to have a spiritual impact as well; a 'window' to transcendental reality. Sky has restored and fully repainted the mural five times, and each version has featured at least one new element to extend the metaphor; for example, the most recent addition, a street sign which reads, "One Way."
Tunnelvision may be regarded as Sky's masterpiece
in the classical sense, because the mural is both part of his juvenilia and the work which has earned him the widest recognition, starting with an article in the February 1976 issue of People Magazine. Rumors abound that several drunk drivers have attempted to drive into the tunnel.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and sculptor best known for his mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
, Tunnelvision.
Biography
Blue Sky was born on September 18, 1938, in ColumbiaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, as Warren Edward Johnson. In 1954, his first foray into art won him a national poster competition, two years before he graduated from Dreher High School
Dreher High School
Dreher High School is a co-educational four-year public high school in Richland County School District One located in Columbia, South Carolina. Dreher, established in 1938, is one of the oldest public high schools in the state...
. For the next six years, he served as a jet aircraft technician in the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
, 169th Cameron Squad, while working several different jobs to pay for college – as a parade float builder, a layout artist, and a dance instructor, among others.
Sky attended the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
from 1958 to 1964. During this time, he received instruction from accomplished Ash Can painter Ed Yaghjian. Meanwhile, he sold original works through USC student art auctions at McMaster College. At the Springs Mills Show in 1964, in which over 700 artists participated, he was judged "best of show" by Henry Geldzahler
Henry Geldzahler
Henry Geldzahler was a curator of contemporary art in the late 20th century, as well as a modern art art historian and art critic...
, then curator of modern art at the Metropolitan Museum. Sky was then invited to study at the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
, where he lived and worked for the next year.
Upon moving back to Columbia in 1966, Sky worked as a draftsman and conceptual artist for Wilbur Smith & Associates before returning to USC for graduate school. In 1970, he graduated, earning a Master of Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
, because the university had not yet been certified to award a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
.
In 1974, Sky legally changed his name from Warren Edward Johnson to Blue Sky. He signed paintings before this year with the abbreviation "WAR."
In 2000, Sky was awarded the Order of the Palmetto
Order of the Palmetto
The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina. It is awarded to persons who make contributions of statewide significance. An auxiliary honor is "The Order of the Silver Crescent." Today it is awarded to persons who make community or professional...
, South Carolina's highest civilian state honor, for his contributions to the arts - particularly, for painting the state's first large-scale public mural in 1975.
Career
Sky has been solely supported by his art since 1970. Although he is perhaps best known for his public art, many of his public projects are self-funded, and his living is earned primarily through the sale of original artwork through the Blue Sky Gallery in Five PointsFive Points (Columbia)
Five Points in Columbia, South Carolina is a shopping, restaurant, and nightlife area that attracts customers from the nearby University of South Carolina and throughout the Columbia metropolitan area. It is the center for the city's annual St...
. Blue Sky Gallery opened in 1981, and it has displayed his artwork exclusively since 1989. It is owned and operated by his wife, Lynn Sky.
Tunnelvision (1975)
Diego Rivera
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, an active communist, and husband of Frida Kahlo . His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in...
).
Sky claims that the idea for Tunnelvision appeared to him in a dream (thus the title). Although the work is technically rendered in trompe-l'œil style, Sky intended the mural to have a spiritual impact as well; a 'window' to transcendental reality. Sky has restored and fully repainted the mural five times, and each version has featured at least one new element to extend the metaphor; for example, the most recent addition, a street sign which reads, "One Way."
Tunnelvision may be regarded as Sky's masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
in the classical sense, because the mural is both part of his juvenilia and the work which has earned him the widest recognition, starting with an article in the February 1976 issue of People Magazine. Rumors abound that several drunk drivers have attempted to drive into the tunnel.
Public murals
- Tunnelvision - AgFirst Farm Credit Bank - Columbia, SC (1975)
- Moonlight on the Great Pee Dee - John L. McMillan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse - Florence, SC (1978)
- Overflow Parking - Flint Journal Building - Flint, MI (1978)
- Winter Beach - Sumter, SC (1980)
- Spirit of the Air - Charlotte, NC (1982)
- Incident at the Kirkwood Inn - Camden, SC (1982)
- Old Darlington Public Square - Bicentennial mural - Darlington, SC (1985)
- The River Jordan - Three Fountains Church - Springdale, SC (1987)
- Full Moon Over the River Jordan - New Hope Church - Pelion, SC (1988)
- Gervais Street Extension - South Carolina State Museum - Columbia, SC (1989)
- Five Points - 1948 - Harper's Restaurant - Columbia, SC (1991)
- Man Escapes - Satchel Ford Elementary School - Columbia, SC (1994)
- Partly Cloudy - Azzurro's Restaurant - Richmond, VA (1994)
- University of South Carolina - USC Visitors Center - Columbia, SC (1994)
- Night Train - Fort Pierce, FL (1995)
- Cayce Historical Museum Mural - Cayce, SC (1996)
- Overflow - Crayton Middle School - Columbia, SC (1997)
- Adopt Us - Animal Shelter mural and sculpture - Columbia, SC (1999)
- The Other Side of the Tunnel - AgFirst Farm Credit Bank - Columbia, SC (2000)
- Congaree Swamp - Congaree National Park - Columbia, SC (2002)
Public sculptures
- This is not a tree - Columbia Steel Palmetto Tree - Columbia, SC (2000)
- NEVERBUST - Main Street - Columbia, SC (2000)
- Busted Plug Plaza - AgFirst Farm Credit Bank - Columbia, SC (2001)
- Ped-Xing - Richland Cultural Council doors project - Richland County, SC (2002)
- Kawasakisaurus - South Carolina Bank and Trust - Columbia, SC (2003)