Artists Biography

page one

Jerry Burgess began drawing and painting at about age three. During the Mid-Fifties, The five year old artist was enrolled in a program for gifted children at John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis. His first oil painting was sold to one of the patrons of the institute at a charity auction hosted by the institute. The woman purchase two paintings at the auction. The young Burgess's first and another by artist Joan Miro.The remainder of the artists early years were split between school, the institute and a great deal of time at his grandparents farm in the town of Crawfordsville, Indiana. His grandmother ran a fur shop and Burgess spent many hours learning to work with furs and found objects from th wooded area, developing an early interest in mixed media projects.

Jerry Burgess at five years old

Burgess at age eight

Burgess moved to Arizona at age eight for health reasons. He continued to pursue mixed media artwork and develop his drawing skills at another program for artistcally gifted children at Arizona State University in Tempe.

During his high School years Burgess continued his pursuits of drawing and painting and became involved heavily in the field of robotics and animatronics. He designed and directed the animation and construction of a number of large snimated displays and statues that spoke moved, and rolled thier eyes at passers by and classmates.

Burgess at age sixteen

During the early seventies , after leaving ASU, Burgess found himself associated with Paul Coze, who was regarded as the resident artist for the city of Phoenix , as well as the French Consulate for the state of Arizona. This association produced a lifelong friendship as well as the opportunitiy to learn the trade of existing as a professional artist in a rapidly changing societal landscape.

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email the Ravensnest at jcburgess@az.rmci.net

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