Figure 8 by James Busby Artist Reception

Please join us for the artist reception of 701 CCA exhibition, Figure 8 by James Busby, winner of the 701 CCA Prize 2012. Meet the artist who is in residency at the center, view the works, and celebrate art in Our community at 701 Center for Contemporary Art. Beer and wine will be served as well as complimentary hors d?oeuvres by Linda Phillips Catering. James Busby, winner of the 701 CCA Prize, comes to 701 Center for Contemporary Art for a solo exhibition of new and recent (b. 1973, Rock Hill, S.C.) is an artist and art educator. His recent solo exhibitions include those at the Reynolds Gallery in Richmond, Va.; Stux Gallery in New York, N.Y.; and the New Gallery/Thom Andriola in Houston, Texas. Group exhibition include shows at Galerie Jean-Luc & Takako Richard in Paris, France. Since 1999, Busby has participated in more than 30 group exhibitions in New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, including a 2007 exhibition organized by the University of Richmond Museum, which traveled to seven cities across the Unites States. Busby holds an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. He has taught and lectured at Pennsylvania State University, University Park; the University of South Carolina, Columbia; Benedict College, Columbia; and Virginia Commonwealth University. Busby will be an artist in residence at 701 CCA, August 16 - September 27, 2014. A solo exhibition at 701 CCA by the abstract painter will run August 21 - October 12, 2014. Busby lives in Chapin, S.C. and is the winner of the  701 CCA Prize 2012 ? an award that recognizes the state?s most talented artist 40 years of age or younger. Busby, who has critical acclaim in the New York art world through sold-out exhibitions, was selected from two dozen applicants. Statement of support: In modern art, several artists have worked either in a monochromatic palette or have pushed the boundaries of depth by shaping their canvases. The former include Agnes Martin, Lucio Fontana and Ad Reinhardt, while Frank Stella illustrates the latter. Perhaps as a nod to the aforementioned, James Busby has developed a unique style. Methodically building up successive layers of gesso, Busby next carefully cuts away the gesso and sands and polishes the surface, creating variations in depth and consequently challenging our perceptions of space ? are they paintings, are they sculptures, or are they a unique combination of the two? -Brian J. Lang, Chief Curator and Curator of Contemporary Craft, Arkansas Arts Center.