Meet George Casprowitz
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” I have always loved traveling; visiting galleries and experiencing what artists do in different cultures and climates. I hope I never stop looking and having moments of “Wow.”
About the Artist:
Artist George Casprowitz was born in Hollywood, California. He is a trained architect, who has been a working artist for over fifty years. His quiet demeanour is a contrast to his art in which throughout the many different phases of his work uses vibrant colours, shapes and abstracts to draw in the viewer’s eyes. His abstract work is influenced by his architectural background and love of nature.
George has done solo shows in Toronto, New York, London, Seattle, Portland, Calgary, Victoria, and Philadelphia. His work is also featured in corporate, private and public art galleries.
- Tell us a bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? What did you study?
I was born in Hollywood in 1940 and moved to Burbank in 1952. I worked at Warner Brothers to pay my way through college at the University of Oregon. After College, I worked in New York City and Philadelphia as an architect. I decided I would like to see if I could make a living as an artist and pick a city I had always liked. I moved to Vancouver in 1970 and had my first show at the Gallery Allen. I’ve never looked back.
- Are you mostly an abstract artist or do you ever do tactile art?
In my background, I did landscapes and still life, but when I decided I was just going to paint and give up architecture, I was only interested in doing hard edge work, sometimes on shaped canvas – still true to my architectural background.
- You have an architecture background. How is the juxtaposition of architecture and art reflected in your art?
I learnt as an architect that space is as important to a good building as walls, doors, windows, etc. In my paintings, I’m as interested and concerned with the space between any object I use. Good architecture is more than walls, doors and hardware. Good architecture needs to function well, but should also be good aesthetic experience. I try to do this in his art. My paintings use lines and solid forms as a format but the remaining space is of equal importance. And then there is colour and texture. Color is the constant through all the various forms in my paintings, prints and sculptures since my first one-person show in 1970 in Vancouver.
- Which era in your career reflects the height of your creativity?
The next one I enter!
- When did you join Semiahmoo Arts and what was your motivation?
I joined SAS in 2019. I was President of the Surrey Art Society and had some small part in getting the Surrey Art Gallery built. I have always tried to be active in helping young artists (not necessarily by age) in getting and maintaining a career.
- You are a very versatile artist, as you also do ceramics. There is an element of practicality in your artworks, such as the famous chessboard…..
My first show was just paintings. I felt it was missing something in a smaller scale and texture, so I did some print making and wood and clay sculptures.
- What would you like Semiahmoo Arts to offer its artists community?
Just the exposure of the artist’s work and the tremendous variety of artwork that is about us in our community.
8. Are there any moments in your life that were challenging and that you channeled into something creative?
I was close to death in my first year, so everything from that time on has been wonderful and exciting, including my life with my wife Kathleen!
- Would you say that your travels have influenced how you make your art and that art connects different culture?
I have always loved traveling; visiting galleries and experiencing what artists do in different cultures and climates. I hope I never stop looking and having moments of “Wow”.
