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Professor of Art
M.A. (19 75), M.F.A. (1977), Stephen F. Austin State University
Biography
Gary Q. Frields received his B.F.A. from Baylor University, and was recognized as the Outstanding Honor Graduate of the Motion Picture Laboratory, Department of Aerospace Photography, Denver. He earned both M.A. and M.F.A. degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University. He worked as a Motion Picture Technician (editing and assembly) for the USAF Audio Visual Services, San Bernardino; was a Gallery Assistant, Riverside Art Center and Museum, Riverside, CA. Frields was Chairman of the Art Department, Kilgore College, Kilgore, TX, where he also taught courses in Art Survey, Design, Drawing, Sculpture, and served as Gallery Director. Frields is a Professor of Art at SFA, and he teaches courses in Design, Drawing, and Sculpture. He served as Gallery Director from 1987-1991. Professor Frields enjoys travel centered around art study, and he has visited France, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Holland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
Gary Frields has been honored with the SFASU Teaching Excellence Award. In nomination for this award, Dean of Fine Arts, Richard Berry stated, "In my three years in the Dean's office, I have come to consider Gary one of the most valuable teachers in the Department of Art. His dedication to the student experience is unsurpassed on this campus. The success of his students, many of whom are successful professional artists, public school teachers, and university professors, bear this out."
Frields' professional studio work is the life's blood of his teaching. His philosophy has been to submit his artwork to a process of validation of the highest standards in a non-commercial setting, entering national and international juried exhibitions in which work is evaluated in comparison to 500 - 1000 artist entrants. A select list of important jurors who have chosen Frields' work for exhibition and awards are: Ann Goldstein, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art; Susan B. Hershfeld, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Neal Benegra, Art Institute of Chicago; Elizabeth Brown, National Museum of Art, Washington, D.C.; Jim Fusher, Curator, Ft. Worth Contemporary Art Museum; Neil Printz, Menil Collection, Houston,TX; Diana R. Bloch, Curator, Amon Carter Museum, Ft. Worth,TX; Becky Reese, Director, El Paso Museum of Art; Dore Ashton, art critic; Marisol Escobar, international artist; and James Surls, celebrated Texas artist. Frields’ involvement in national juried exhibitions helped in establishing the SFA Texas National, originating the name and designing the logo. This event brings in some of the most celebrated contemporary artists as jurors and is arguably the very best of the events of this kind in the nation. Frields has helped establish 70's, 80's & 90's Reunion Exhibitions, to build a link between current students and successful alumni. Now an esprit de corps department tradition, the Art Prom* (originated by Frields) is a costumed celebration/awards presentation that is eagerly anticipated with participation by the community, former students, exhibitors of the Texas National, and current students.
Frields has presented workshops, exhibitions, and slide lectures on a regular basis at colleges and universities such as: San Antonio Art institute, Southwest Texas State University, Baylor University, University of Houston, Texas A&M University, Richmond College, Del Mar College, University of Texas at Tyler, Temple College, and Mary Hardin Baylor. He has served as the keynote speaker for the Texas Art Educators Association Regional Conference and as state/regional juror for the Visual Arts Scholastic Event the past ten years.
Artist Statement
I have recognized that my mind plays at putting together diverse strategies of form. It is an open process that may merge any style (classical, minimal, expressive, naive, etc.) in an intuitive pooling of time-acquired knowledge with discoveries of an instant. A work may begin as a subconscious response, influenced by: reading, travel, movies, relationships, icons, chance encounters, etc. The unexpected feel in the finished piece.
Teaching Philosophy
At the core of Frields teaching is the desire to convey to students that they are studying something that is as important as any discipline on campus. His goal is not to just have informed students, but students who are transformed into more creative, sensitive beings through art study. A studio atmosphere is established to question perceptions of art as merely being a relaxed hobby activity, based solely on hand and eye coordination. Awareness that it is as intellectually challenging and rewarding to master some art forms as it is to understand advanced mathematical and scientific concepts, is vital for the sustained effort and commitment that art study requires. Art principles are presented in assignments that allow for individual exploration, while vocabulary and conceptual understanding are gained through group critiques. Even though there is a seriousness of purpose in the classes, Frields’ flexible persona allows him to explain clearly the assignment's objective while also relating tales of monkeys, werewolves, Elvis or his UFO abduction. Frields believes this playfulness keeps the class from being too rigid, allowing students to let their guards down, giving up old limiting and inhibiting habits. Through their work, students progress in understanding the value of the magic of art as something that is as important as anything in the universe and worthy of a life's commitment.
Classes
ART 100 Drawing I, ART 101 Drawing II, ART 110 Design I, ART 130 Three-D Design, ART 270 Advertising Design, ART 400 Drawing III, ART 401 Expressive Drawing, and Graduate Studio courses.
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