Submitted by Pete Creasey
I wonder how many people remember Woody Gwyn. He is a renowned artist with a special talent for painting West Texas landscapes.
I can’t remember how I came to know Woody. I have lost touch with him and an attempt to reconnect was to no avail. Does anyone know a good source in or around Houston for Woody Gwyn art piece(s)?
Here is an interesting article…
[Quote from mrt.com]
Gwyn is a graduate of Midland High — Class of 1962 — and for decades, thousands of students have seen Gwyn’s work — whether they realized it or not — as they ascended or descended a staircase on the school’s east side.
Far above the reach of any student or school employee hangs Gwyn’s giant mural of an oil rig at night.
Gwyn is reserved in his comments about the mural because it’s been more than five decades since he created the work of art and handed — the gift of the Class of 1962.
“I was 18 years old when I did it,” Gwyn said in a telephone interview from his residence at Galisteo, New Mexico. “Dorothy Perkins, an English teacher at the time — it was her idea for me to paint (the mural) on behalf of the graduating class.”
He said that the Class of ’62 got the materials for him, including linen on which to paint the mural. School officials allowed him to use a classroom by the auditorium as a studio. Gwyn recalls working on the mural most of the school year.
“It is wonderful that it is still there and there are people that want to save it,” he said.
[/quote]
Thanks!
Pete
Woody Gwyn completed this pencil drawing of David White during art class at MHS in 1962. This now proudly is displayed in the home of David White. Please see comment section below for more info.
Rozi Gillham Doreen
for years he lived in or near Santa Fe and some of the galleries there carried his paintings. He may still be there. I saw some of his paintings in the Nedra Matteucci Galleries years ago.
I met Woody in my art class in 1962 and for some reason he wanted to do a pencil profile of me. He did so and it turned out very well. I had no idea he was such a great artist at that time. The profile took him less than 5 minutes. It still hangs in my house. I’m very proud of it.
Send us a copy David for the Book.
https://whatsinthewaterinmidlandtexas.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/woody-gwyn-pencil-drawing-of-david-white.jpg
Hey thanks for the notice that you sent on Woody. I tried to contact him several years ago and the closest I could come was on a beach in Cozumel Mexico. There I found one of his old classmates that he hung around with at MHS. The friend was running from the feds and we hung out for a week and he would sneak beer out to beach comers all day and night. But we found no Woody. But let’s keep trying!!!
Thanks for sharing Pete!
I’ve been dialoguing with a close friend of Woody’s and took the opportunity to tout our What’s in the Water site in the hopes that he might get Woody interested in it. We’ll see.
I’m still trying to find the right Woody Gwyn art work that’s suitable and affordable for a particular wall.
—
. Pete
—
___ J. Peter Creasey ___
___ Crehan Company, Realtors … 713-520-0270 ___
While I’m still looking (fruitlessly) for a particular affordable Woody Gwyn piece, here is one I’ve had hanging in our living room for quite a while…
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51301611902_99ae3b3831.jpg
—
. Pete
—
___ J. Peter Creasey ___
___ Crehan Company, Realtors … 713-520-0270 ___
A call came in today — it was Woody Gwyn. We had a long enjoyable conversation about almost everything e.g. art, Midland, MHS, friends, politics, etc.
One sad note. Woody fairly recently visited MHS and saw the mural he had done for MHS when he was 18 years old (see comments upthread). The sad thing is that during some kind of remodeling some serious damage was done to the mural. I asked if he could repair it and he gasped and said “restoration is nothing like creating art…completely different discipline”. Some folks there in Midland were going to have it repaired it; however, the restoration bids were $300,000 and above so the odds sound slim for restoring it.
Woody used the links I sent him and visited the site here, including reading this thread. He also observed the What’s in the Water Fund info which he and I discussed. Woody says he isn’t really a computer person so it doesn’t seem likely that he is up to joining the group here.
Definitely a feel-good conversation and re-connection with a valued old acquaintance.
—
. Pete
—
___ J. Peter Creasey ___
___ Crehan Company, Realtors … 713-520-0270 ___