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The life and work of the Tulsa-based artist Stanley Hess.

By Rich Fisher

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwgs/local-kwgs-820212.mp3

Tulsa, Oklahoma – On today's show, a delightful and engaging chat with Stanley Hess. Still actively working and developing as an artist at the age of 85, Hess taught art for many years at Drake University in Iowa. Before that, he taught at the University of Oklahoma. He now resides in Tulsa, and a career-spanning retrospective of his work --- "The Art of Stanley Hess" --- will soon go on view at the Pierson Galley on East 15th Street here in town. (In fact, the opening reception for this show, at which Hess will be present, is Thursday night, February 12th, from 5pm to 8pm. The exhibition continues through April 16th.) Sometimes associated with magical realism or surrealism, the paintings of Stanley Hess occasionally, and often brilliantly, employ a "double image" approach, and his work also stems from the regionalist trends of American art. Additionally, Hess is an accomplished wood-carver and instrument-maker. He also taught typography, earlier in his career --- and has even created and designed his own alphabet. "I'm fascinated with letters," as Hess tells host Rich Fisher during their entertaining discussion, "Those are art forms, too." (Editor's note: You can learn more about Stanley Hess and his show at the Pierson, and view several examples of his painting, at the following link: http://www.bostonavenueframetheavenuestudio.com/stanleyhess.html.)