It’s not a coincidence that Greg Hausler’s art could be considered unique or untraditional.
Hausler’s journey to becoming an artist is not one that took a conventional path.
His work entitled “Tales Among Old Threads” is on display at the Arts Council of Wayne County through Friday.
A native of Kansas, Hausler did not have aspirations at an early age of pursuing art.
His original plans were to become an electrical engineer, but after experiencing the adversity associated with his parents splitting up, Hausler found painting as an outlet for his teenage emotions.
“When I was 13, I started painting with no formal training, and I just did it on the side,” Hausler said. “I graduated from Kent State University, but I went there because at the time, especially in the midwest, they were only second in engineering to MIT. I went through all the way to my junior year, and I just kind of failed. I didn’t do well, I didn’t like what I saw my future would be as an engineer. My entire senior year I spent most of my time in the (art) studio. I was paying my way through school, art supplies are prohibitively expensive, and I couldn’t afford to buy canvases. I had old flannel shirts and I thought why can’t I try that? That was probably the start of things.”
Rather than painting directly onto canvases, Hausler takes a more unconventional approach by painting clothing, fabric, and other materials. Hausler also doesn’t use frames, his artwork wraps around all four sides, creating unique three-dimensional perspectives.
“It’s fine art painting, but done in an atypical manner,” Hausler said. “I paint on clothing, fabric, and found objects, which gives an entirely different impression than what the paintings actually are. It makes it sound more arts and crafty-like, but it’s certainly not. Everybody seems to have their own vision of it once they see it, and then people do see it that haven’t gotten that explanation before they enter, have a different view. What ends up happening with the artwork, is it becomes very rich in texture.”
Hausler’s hope for his artwork while it’s on display in Goldsboro, is that it will move those who view it and cause them to contemplate what they’ve seen.
“Well, I am under no illusion that for the most part artwork is a life-changing thing, or that I will make people better people,” Hausler said. “Hopefully, it entertains them, and it gives them food for thought, and it makes them think. When I make the work, it is purely selfish. It is something that I do for my own enjoyment, and because I love doing it. Once it’s done, I want people to see it and enjoy it.”
To learn more about Hausler’s art visit wonkystarstudios.com.
