MARCH 17 - MAY 2, 2015
Reception March 20th 6 PM - 8 PM
Flatbed is proud to present an exhibition of paintings and photographs by Austin’s celebrated artist Jimmy Jalapeeno. Jimmy, born Albert James Bonar, Jr. was best known as Jimmy Jalapeeno, his nom de plume created for performance art and a signature for his art sometime during his college years.
Jimmy discovered his love for painting and photography as a teenager and evolved over the years into the dedicated, prolific, genuine artist that his friends and colleagues came to know. Jimmy was born in Texas in 1947 and lived and worked in Austin up until his death in May of 2013.
Jimmy studied painting and photography at University of Texas, earning his BFA from UT in 1969. At UT, he was a protégé, lab assistant, and friend to the venerable documentary photographer, Russell Lee. As a graduate student at the University of California at Davis, he studied painting with William T. Wiley and Wayne Thiebaud and received his MFA in 1973.
After teaching art at the University of Houston for a year, he began his 29-year career in Austin as staff photographer for the Texas Historical Commission. He photographed everything from artifacts to Texas governors to courthouses for the National Register to La Salle’s s ship in an ocean site. After retirement, Jim Bonar enjoyed teaching Photography at Austin Community College.
Jimmy was a photographer by day and painter by nights and weekends. He was awarded two National Endowment for the Arts grants. His work has been seen in international, national, and frequent Texas exhibits.
Jalapeeno’s work hangs in numerous private collections and public institutions. On permanent display at the Austin/Bergstrom International Airport are six of his dramatic paintings of local natural areas. Those paintings emanate their own light and capture the soul and beauty of Austin for millions of travelers from all over the world.
The Flatbed exhibition will include both large and smaller paintings as well as his innovative photographs.