St. Thomas University Presents Unique Paintings of Destry Sparks

Written by Lucy Cienfuegos Monday, 28 November 2011 21:24

Miami Gardens, Florida.- The Sardinas Gallery at St. Thomas University is pleased to present "Spiritual Painting with Physical Objects" by United States painter Destry Sparks . This is the artist's first exhibition in the Miami metro area after solo shows earlier this year in New York, Richmond (Virginia) and at the University of North Carolina Charlotte.  Seventeen of his assemblage paintings featuring worn found objects attached to burlap, window screens & wood pallets are on display until January 13, 2012. Sparks is known for a distinct brand of visceral painting.  The objects he attaches to a range of rough surfaces are both natural and manufactured.  The natural objects include wood sticks, dried leaves, parched white bones and seashells.  The manufactured items often consist of colorful smashed bottle caps and wires, rusted mechanical parts, and window frames well past their prime.

After the objects have been attached by discreet use of industrial strength adhesives, he carefully paints around them.  The unaltered objects retain their unique individual characteristics while blending together to form a cohesive whole thanks to the composition of the objects and orchestrated color schemes.  Despite the deterioration of the things he works with, the titles of his works frequently suggest some ultimately triumphant end above and beyond the readily apparent frailty of his materials of choice.

Sparks works out of Greenville, North Carolina as artist and curator. "My work is an integration of diverse influences with particular attention to Paul Klee , Joan Miro , Anselm Kiefer and deep respect for Native American, African and Aboriginal art.  I want to reach the audience on every level from the intellect, to the gut, to the spirit.  My undergraduate major of anthropology (the study of cultures) plays a role in that.  I'm looking for timeless work that transcends the here and now of the contemporary scene.  My art is cross cultural in that its imagery isn't restricted to a learned system like an alphabet or stylization that depends on a learned iconography from a given society at a set point in history.  The breadth of the human and mystical experience addressed by Christian theology provides an umbrella to cover these concerns while accounting for forces affecting us which remain beyond our ability to fully grasp.  If my art doesn't contain at least a tinge of infinity, then I have failed," Sparks said.


St. Thomas University is about 10 minutes North of Miami's famed Wynwood gallery district. The Sardinas Gallery is located on the second floor of the Main Library building. The University maintains a robust collection of modern and contemporary works on permanent display in buildings across campus.

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