I think, therefore I REVEAL
Meet Drawing Prof. James Grubola
A native Detroiter, Prof. Grubola (Fine Arts) found his passion early. During his time as an undergraduate, he first began work with the medieval drawing technique of silverpoint. Although he continues to work in a number of different media and techniques including printmaking, his true passion is for drawing. During his 40-year tenure in the College of Arts & Sciences, he has overseen many changes to the department including the creation of the Mary Spencer Nay Scholarship Endowment, the addition of a program in glass along with the construction of the Cressman Center for Visual Arts - the university’s first, permanent, non-medical facility located in downtown Louisville, and the adoption of a selective admissions policy for the department.
Grubola was named the 2008 recipient of the “Trustee's Award”, one of the university's highest awards which each year recognizes one faculty member who has had the greatest positive impact on students at the University of Louisville.
In this Q&A, we learn that Prof. Grubola is a man of few words who conveys his thoughts on paper, and that most Michiganders, even the unlikely ones, participated in this northern sport.
Name: James Grubola
Department: Fine Arts/Hite Art Institute
Years at UofL: 40
Current Research Interests?
My drawings focus on the liminal state between matter and space and between light and dark. Using natural forms such as thickets I build formal compositions that also explore the state between abstract and realism.
What are the goals you most want to accomplish in your work? Not so much the goals that are in your job description, but the goals you hold personally?
In 40 years I've had the opportunity to develop just about every course that I'm interested in, including Anatomy and Life Drawing - course that is an intensive study of the anatomy of the human skeletal and muscle systems combined with drawing directly from life. However, I would like to teach a course in compositional theory.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
My motto: "work hard, have fun."
What is one destination you dream of but haven’t gotten to yet?
The Caribbean.
What is something your colleagues don’t know about you?
I played goalie in hockey growing up in Michigan.
