J. Mark Cox,DDs, and John McBurney with some of their artwork.

Studio 3600 Series features 'old friends'

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Posted: 2/5/10

By Mary Neufeld
EP Page Editor

One person looking at a particular photo framed on the wall, while another group discussed an arrangement of bowls on display was the scene at the opening reception for the Studio 3600 Series.

The reception, art and sandwiches at high noon, was held at the McCormick Gallery Jan. 21 to showcase the works of longtime Midland College students J. Mark Cox, a photographer, and John McBurney, a 3D artist.

Both McBurney, a pilot, and Cox, a dentist, have been taking art classes at MC for several years while managing to fit them into their careers.

"I enjoy art because it's a continuous, lifelong learning experience," McBurney said. "Every day is a new day for artistic possibilities." He said he uses his job, people in his life and daily events as inspirations.

McBurney said his favorite piece in the show was the ceramic bowl arrangement he called "Celtic Warrior Vessel" because of his Celtic background and his daughters working on a genealogy project for school.

With his interest in genealogy and archeology, he said he wanted his bowls to be reminiscent of the feuding days of Scotland and Ireland.

"I wanted the bowls to look as if they were ancient artifacts being dug up," McBurney said.

Cox said his favorite photograph in the show is "Ft. Union Door." The picture was taken on the Santa Fe Trail.

Cox and McBurney both agreed that one of the best things about art is that no two pieces are ever alike. Cox said that he can take several pictures of the same scene and something will always be different.

"Sometimes it's just the lighting that's different or the photo can be manipulated in the processing," Cox said.

Cox said he also likes "happy accidents." These are what he calls good accidents that aren't planned. For example, when he looks at a negative and notices something on the wall that he didn't notice before. He can zoom in on that and make that the focus of the picture.

Both artists have had their art featured in other art shows. McBurney participated in an art show called "Empty Bowls." Artists create bowls and help raise money for starving people. Cox has had his art displayed at the "Celebration of the Arts."

Cox and McBurney both said they felt that most artists learn to deal with criticism.

Cox said he's entered shows before where his art didn't get chosen and it bothered him, however, he shoots for himself and not others.

"Yes, I want other people to enjoy my work, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion," Cox said.

McBurney offered some advice. He said to always look around for new ideas and inspirations. "Think outside the box and don't be afraid to try new things," he said.

McBurney said there is a firing technique called "soda fire" that he had always heard of but never tried. One day he took a class and students applied this particular method to their work and now it's his favorite technique.

Cox had a similar story about a photo process called "lith" which is short for lithograph. He bought a book explaining the process and details about this particular method but he never tried it. It sat on a shelf for years until one day he looked at it and realized he could do that and now it is his favorite process.

McBurney said the reason he likes the art classes at MC is because the same classes can be taken many times. Some schools limit the number of times a person can take the same course. He also said that each time he takes a class he learns something new and that the class is never the same.

"The art teachers at MC are great because they are caring, nurturing and enjoy teaching," McBurney said.

He also said he likes the atmosphere at MC because he is comfortable here, like he's part of the MC family.

"I feel very much at home when I'm at MC," McBurney said.

The Studio 3600 Series hangs through March 4. McCormick Gallery in the Allison Fine Arts building is open 8 a.m. - 10 p.m., Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday; and 1-5 p.m., Sunday.