"BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE RIVER YOU NEVER TOOK"
TERRY CHASTAIN received his BFA, (Painting and Printmaking), from the University of Texas. After college, he traveled, (by cargo ship, The Charlotte Lykes), to Budapest. As rivers flow, he ended up taking a garret room on the top floor of Hotel Cujas on the Left Bank, in Paris, continuing his soiree education. Life was sparse but good.
Upon returning to the States, Mr. Chastain moved to San Francisco. It was here he founded both Momi Tobys Revolution Cafe/Art Bar and Papa Tobys. He went on to co-found Tinhorn Press/Gallery with master printmaker John Gruenwald. After a long stint on the Barbary Coast, he relocated back to Austin with his family. Austin Artwheels was founded; a mobile art gallery in a custom 87 Chevy Stepvan, (now the Art Rickshaw). He went on to develop and curate Wiggys Windows, a pop-up gallery/tasting room in a turn-of-the-century brick building housing a wine and spirit store. Currently, Mr Chastain has been collaborating on large scale "Hand Thrown - Hand Painted" ceramics with Stephan Hockey. Mr. Hockey is also a graduate of UT Fine Arts department.
Mr. Chastain has taught extensively - Studio Inferno, New Orleans, Pilchuck School of Glass outside of Seattle, Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, Santa Reparata Arts, Florence, and Tinhorn Public Works in San Francisco. He maintains extensive sketchbooks from his journeys to Italy, Paris, Mexico, and Cuba which he relies upon for inspiration. Chastain's painterly monotypes are narratives, a cross between Victorian Steampunk and the Hudson River School. Among his other influences are Thomas Hart Benton, Picasso, Dave Hickey, Captain Jean Lafitte, Willie Nelson and his loyal Toy Terrier, Buddy Montana.
