"You Should've Been There/M.O. (Watercolor on Canvas) Duke Webber's work will be in the Artistry Unhoused exhibit at the Arts Council starting next week.
After years of substance abuse and addiction, experiencing homelessness and committing crimes to pay for drugs, Duke Webber sought treatment for his addiction.
Part of his recovery involved rediscovering a childhood dream of creating art. He paints abstract watercolors on canvas, in some cases without adding water to the paint.
The arc of his work shows a path to recovery from the addiction. Earlier pieces are dark, while his later pieces are bright and busy. In the piece at right, "1890", Webber says the smears in the red paint are from his own breath. He blew on it while the paint was still wet to get the effect.
I talked with Duke Webber on July 30th at Aurora of Evansville.
The Artistry Unhoused exhibit opens August 10th at the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana gallery on Main Street. It closes August 28th with a reception with the artists and an awards presentation.