An Abstract Renaissance

    paintings by Henry L. Loomis



    The York Square Cinema Gallery    , October 30 - December 3, 1999
    61 Broadway, New Haven, Connecticut 06511

    Mexicali Grille, February 1 - 29, 2004
    322 Broadway, New Haven, Connecticut 06511

    CLAIRE'S CORNERCOPIA VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
     December 1, 2005 - January 31, 2006
    1000 Chapel Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510
 
 
   
 
Henry Luther Loomis began making art when he was 5 years old, carving duck decoys and birds of wood. When he received his MFA at Yale Art School, his teachers were many of the noted academic artists of the century: Abstract painter Jack Tworkov was then head of the department, and favored Loomis' work. Bernard Chaet, later Art Department chair, was his instructor for landscape and cityscape painting, and taught him the connective horizon in the painting of the diptych pair. Lester Johnson taught him portraiture. Al Held taught him the continuities of painting in series, and Richard Lytle taught him the techniques of printmaking.
   
 
   
 
"Red Tulips and Yellow Starflowers"
acrylic on canvas
(Collection of Victoria Cintron)
 
"Danish Nude "
acrylic on canvas, $POR
   
 
   
 
Loomis reinterprets the vision of 15th century Flemish painter Petrus Chistus, the 2-dimensional story worlds of Matisse, and the anti-gravitation of Fernand Leger. But in Mondrian, Loomis perceived the underlying resonances of Pure Geometry shown in natural life forms such as trees when they drop their leaves to reveal their structure. The open ended concepts of Abstraction he learned with George Wardlaw were to help him chart out a course through the deep waters of his own creative seas. Loomis' figures merge with landscape in a lyrical complexity of patterns and provide an integration of Reality which could only be perceived by a mind which has tasted and struggled with the forces which disintegrate reality.
   
 
 
 
"Ainsley's Deck "
acrylic on canvas, $POR
 
"People Watching Television"
acrylic on canvas, $POR
 
 
 
 

Recognition took many years to reach Loomis, but now he has won awards, and his paintings have found their way into international collections. Subtle and potential energies in his work reveal ever newer visions, which emerge from the depths into light.

Loomis has long been an activist for creativity as a member and Treasurer of the New Haven Paint & Clay Club, and has won awards for his painting over the years. But for a number of years his career languished with little outside recognition of his ideas, while his creative explorations continued to build the body of his work. During that time his talent was recognized by writer/artist and critic Cliff Mornay, then by New York art dealer Margaret Bodell, formerly co-director of Art In Heaven Gallery in New Haven. In 1991, Bodell included him in an important group show at the East Hartford Mental Health Center, where recognition began to take its course.  Thirdly, beginning in 1995, Loomis’ work was included in the Chris Butler Group in  Branford. In the 1990s and 2000s he began working with curator Johnes Ruta, and in the 2010s with Stephen Kobasa (now retired). From these venues, Loomis’ paintings have now found their way into national and international collections. The awareness of subtle, powerful, and potential energies continues to reveal ever newer visions which emerge from the depths into  light, and resolve into positive thought forms.

 
 
   
 
"Mother and Octuplets"
acrylic on canvas
(Collection of Johnes Ruta)
 
"Hallock Avenue Houses"
acrylic on canvas, $POR
   
 
   
 

"Garden Walk, St. Paul's School"
acrylic on canvas, sold
 
"Kids Playing"
acrylic on canvas, $POR
   
 
   
 
"Days Inn, Branford"
acrylic on canvas, $POR
   
 
   
 
   
 
OBITUARY --- February 5, 1943 - May 11, 2015

http://yale1965.org/henry-l-loomis/

Henry L. “Harry” Loomis, 72, husband of Monica Santa Loomis of East Haven passed away May 11, 2015 at his home. Father of Helen Loomis and Terissa Loomis both of East Haven and Luther Loomis of Pittsburgh, PA. Stepfather of Adrian (Tangie) Tramontano of Ansonia, Chrycinda Santa of East Haven and Julian Santa of Stratford. Son of the late Luther and Elizabeth Winslow Loomis. Brother of Sarah Grew of Boston, MA and Kenelm Loomis of Lexington. MA. HIs Loomis ancestors were among the Mayflower pilgrims in 1620. He attended St. Paul's Boarding School in Concord, New Hampshire, and received his MFA at Yale School of Art in 1965. Henry is also survived by 3 step grandchildren. Prior to his retirement Henry worked at the Hagaman Memorial Library in East Haven for many years.
    
 
   
 
   
 

The York Square Cinema Gallery

October 30 - December 3, 1999

Curator & Representative: Johnes Ruta, (203) 387-4933

Johnes portrait by Harry Loomis 1985
acrylic on canvas 28"w x 36"h

azothgallery@comcast.net