November 5 (2024) Print

Alan Vietze has been creating art for over 50 years. He started as an undergraduate at Harpur College in Binghamton, New York (now Binghamton University) under the tutelage of Fred DeVito, a student of Josef Albers of the Bauhaus, and Ed Wilsona well know sculptor. He found that doing art brought him peace of mind. During his studies he learned how to carve wood, weld, draw, do etchings, screen printing, painting and 3-D design. While most of his earlier works were sculptures, his true thoughts pertained to the interaction of color, shapes, movement and depth as can be seen in today’s works. For many years while he was travelling the earth, he did assemblages and pencil portrait drawings. His art has provided him with an opportunity to find inner peace and to practice mindfulness and to share his vision with others. During the 1970’s-80’s Alan spent a good deal of time exploring the world from Australia, to South America, Polynesia, Europe and the Middle East as well as most of the USA. He participated in the 1960’s life on the road, in communes and running homeless shelters. Upon settling down, Alan began painting, first in Israel where he also provided art therapy to people coming out of psychiatric hospitals. Upon returning to the United States, he continued his work in art therapy in community mental health and began to paint much of the time. His style then was abstract expressionism coupled with images of life changes and the emersion from a spiritual phase of life. Initially his colors were subdued, but upon moving to California they opened up and each painting has led to the next. He currently maintains a studio and lives in Vallejo and has been showing locally and in some national exhibits. Alan has always said that his art is an existential experience and reflects the moments in his life at which the works are made. His most recent works are considered “Hard Edge Abstract Expressionism”. Aside from being a painter, Alan works as a therapist, and has spent over 25 years in reforming the way mental health services are delivered to children. He has always felt that his artistic expression has gone hand in hand with his public work. Alan continues to paint avidly and is responsive to developing paintings for people on request. Five years ago, he and his wife Sheelagh, found their way to a lovely neighborhood in Vallejo where he immensely enjoys the view of the Bay from his studio.