Distinguished alum visits
Lauren Bear
Issue date: 9/24/09 Section: Culture
Barry Moser, artist, illustrator and 1993 UTC Distinguished Alumnus, spoke about his work and views on art September 17 at UTC.
Moser attended UTC and Auburn University and graduated from The University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is an author, artist, illustrator, painter and publisher.
Moser is known for his reinterpretations of literary works such as "Alice in Wonderland," "Huckleberry Finn," "The Wizard of Oz" and "Frankenstein."
Steven Cox, head of special collections at Lupton Library, said there are two displays of Moser's work in the library.
"Our section of Barry Moser will have a bright spot in the new library," Cox said.
He said Moser's work is displayed at The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., The British Museum, Cambridge, Princeton and Harvard universities, as well as other national and international exhibits.
Cox said Moser has received many awards including 2001 Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the University of Louisville and the National Book Award for Illustration and Design in 1983.
Moser said most children draw when they are young, but stop because someone tells them it is wrong to doodle in class.
"That little flame is snuffed out by an ignorant remark by someone with no art education," Moser said.
But Moser said he never stopped drawing and that little flame only grew bigger. The artist said he was a satisfactory student throughout his education, hardly ever picked up a book at UTC or Auburn.
Moser said the best way to become a good artist is to observe everything and realize "all you have to work with is your materials and imagination."
He said his best ideas come from repeatedly doing his work and the foundation of art is based on form and structure.
The artist said his work is tightly bound to subject matter, a lesson he took with him from UTC.
Nolan Walker, a Chattanooga graduate student, said he enjoyed Moser's speech and was very impressed with his resume.
Walker said he agreed that structure and repetition are necessities for good art and related these ideas to the music he makes.
"You have to be sitting and doing it," Walker said. "Waiting for inspiration won't happen."
Moser attended UTC and Auburn University and graduated from The University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is an author, artist, illustrator, painter and publisher.
Moser is known for his reinterpretations of literary works such as "Alice in Wonderland," "Huckleberry Finn," "The Wizard of Oz" and "Frankenstein."
Steven Cox, head of special collections at Lupton Library, said there are two displays of Moser's work in the library.
"Our section of Barry Moser will have a bright spot in the new library," Cox said.
He said Moser's work is displayed at The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., The British Museum, Cambridge, Princeton and Harvard universities, as well as other national and international exhibits.
Cox said Moser has received many awards including 2001 Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the University of Louisville and the National Book Award for Illustration and Design in 1983.
Moser said most children draw when they are young, but stop because someone tells them it is wrong to doodle in class.
"That little flame is snuffed out by an ignorant remark by someone with no art education," Moser said.
But Moser said he never stopped drawing and that little flame only grew bigger. The artist said he was a satisfactory student throughout his education, hardly ever picked up a book at UTC or Auburn.
Moser said the best way to become a good artist is to observe everything and realize "all you have to work with is your materials and imagination."
He said his best ideas come from repeatedly doing his work and the foundation of art is based on form and structure.
The artist said his work is tightly bound to subject matter, a lesson he took with him from UTC.
Nolan Walker, a Chattanooga graduate student, said he enjoyed Moser's speech and was very impressed with his resume.
Walker said he agreed that structure and repetition are necessities for good art and related these ideas to the music he makes.
"You have to be sitting and doing it," Walker said. "Waiting for inspiration won't happen."
