By Rob Goald
rsgoald@comcast.net
Photos by Rob Goald

A.R.T. evolution
Thursday, July 31
Odyssey Lifestyle & Art encounter
Vance A. Larson

 Odyssey Presents A.R.T.evolution and the “Imaginative” Work of Vance Larson

On Thursday, July 31, nationally acclaimed artist Vance A. Larson exhibited a retrospective of his paintings in an opening event entitled A.R.T.evolution, The Artistic Relationship to Thought, sponsored by Odyssey and Art Encounter. Held from 6 – 8:30 p.m. in the Las Vegas offices of Odyssey Lifestyle off Sunset and Durango, the exclusive event featured delightful champagne and wine compliments of Vin Sauvage and  hors d’oeuvres served by the students from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas. Guests  were given the opportunity to view Larson’s work up-close and interact with the artist as well as share intimate question-and-answer sessions throughout the evening. Based on the  reactions of attendees the overwhelming favorite piece on display was Vance’s “Northern  Lights.” The vibrant colors mixed with petroglyphs drew a constant crowd with attendees repeatedly saying how they felt it  captured the true essence of the Northern Lights Phenomenon.

Mr. Larson’s work displays a style of abstract expressionism which he called  “imaginativism”. Blending a hint of Naïve and Da Da art, his paintings portray different emotional qualities by creating a dreamlike state that exude an enveloping soothing aura. His technique is accomplished by the mastery of composition, color, hard and soft edges, varying textures and dynamic movement.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1951, Larson was raised in Minnesota where he was first introduced to Native American cultures. He later moved to New England and studied at Paier School of Art in New Haven, Connecticut. He then returned to Minnesota, completing his studies at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Larson spent his early career in pastel and charcoal portraiture in New Orleans and throughout the U.S. and then moved to Southern California where his work evolved into dreamlike abstract pastels with soft, yet vivid colors. Eventually, Larson’s deep love and respect for Native American and other aboriginal cultures led him to make the Southwest his home and add petroglyph and neo-primitivism to his works.

In 1976 Mr. Larson, under the pen name of Eric van Larson, was chosen by Leroy Neiman as one of the top 20 artists in the country for a retrospective of art for the Nation’s bicentennial in the permanent collection gallery of the Minnesota Museum of Art. The show was called Metamorphosis One. After this show, Mr. Larson went back to his given name, “Vance A. Larson”, and to this day he has developed a dream of his own with his unique painting style.

Since 1970, Mr. Larson has created over 10,000 original works of art in several different mediums and has won over 30 Best of Show awards in shows from New York City to Beverly Hills.

Vance A. Larson’s style portrays different qualities of emotion by use of elements of nature in a dreamlike state-not necessarily tangible as real life, but more of a feeling to soothe. He prefers to work with pastel because of its purity. He is a master of oil paints as well.

For those unable to attend the opening reception and would like to see Vance Larson’s art work, the collection will be on display at the Odyssey Lifestyle offices through September 30, 2008.