STEVE HUSTON
	FOREWORD Muscles taut from exertion and brows dripping with sweat, the iconic images of men who endure physical labor are the subjects of Steve Huston's newest body of work. Whether in the profile of a toiling worker or the stance of a parrying pugilist, Mr. Huston sees heroism in the sacrifice of the body for the completion of a daunting task. Yet, like most great artists, it is in the faces of his men and their underlying emotions that he is able to convey a deeper and more spiritual element -- one, which transcends the already intense impact of his paintings. Also new to this exhibition is Mr. Huston's interpretation of the classic American struggle of man versus machine. A motif first brought to light during the Industrial Revolution, it is in the current technological era, that the struggle for these laboring men is especially potent. His figures are, at times, dwarfed by the immensity of their surroundings, yet, they remain the compelling force and focus of his work. In the epic painting entitled "Cement Mixer," men ascend a subtle incline amidst the dust and glowing light of creation. They bear their burdens in an almost sacrificial procession, to be deposited into the mechanism, which will transform the raw materials into the marrow of a future landscape. A single figure descends, relieved and aglow in light, but destined to repeat the journey again and again. In this brilliant painting, Steve Huston elevates a commonplace scene to one of allegorical proportions, heightening our awareness of an everyday drama we so often overlook. In contrast to that panorama, "The Crate" is a painting whose focus is highly centralized and palatable. Captured in mid-movement, the contents of the crate are unknown, but the weight and the struggle are evident. The strain on hands, arms and legs is individual, yet the task is a joint effort of balance and trust. "Displaced halos" are represented by two elliptical lights suspended askew above the figures. These hidden symbols are the artist's tribute to the sacrifice that a lifetime of physical toil brings to the body and mind. A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Steve Huston received his Bachelor Degree in Fine Art from the Art Center College of Design in 1982, where he would later become a member of the faculty. He began his artistic career as an illustrator with such clients as Paramount Pictures, MGM Studios and Universal Pictures. His talent for depicting the anatomical reality and details of the human form was so accomplished that Disney, Warner Brothers and Dreamworks requested that he teach their animators classes in life drawing. In the mid 1990s, he began to exhibit his fine art in earnest, winning Best of Show at the California Art Club Gold Medal Show in 1995. Since then, he has participated in numerous solo and group shows both in the United States and London. Mr. Huston has received much acclaim and has been featured in such publications as ARTnews, American Artist, Southwest Art and American Arts Quarterly.
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