Talon Cress’s interest in art began early, inspired by the time he spent drawing with his father. Today, his passion has grown into a major milestone, his first solo exhibition ‘Unbound’ now on display at the Sibley Nature Center.
A graduate of The University of Texas Permian Basin, Talon earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and a Bachelor of Science in Organismal Biology. His exhibition currently on display showcases the intersection of those disciplines through works of charcoal, ink, acrylic, and conté crayon. Each piece stands on its own, while contributing to the overall idea of how moments in time and effects of life shape us.
“My work has been centered around two themes: constraint versus freedom,” Talon explained. “Different aspects of life and the way our identity is shaped, versus the freedom of nature and how there is boundless opportunity and is always unpredictable.”
One of the pieces in the exhibition that highlights this theme intensely comes from Talon’s time as a student. A portrait of one of the trees near the duck pond on the UTPB campus, before and after it was reduced to a stump. As a frequent visitor, the dramatic change to the landscape of the area altered Talon’s perspective and connection to the space. Inspired by a visiting artist’s technique, he took an innovative approach to capture the transformation.
“I went to that tree [in the duck pond], to the stump that is still there, and I picked up some of the twigs and debris. I made charcoal from it to be able to illustrate it. To transform [the tree], the way that it was transformed, to make something new.”
See this piece and more of the exhibition ‘Unbound’ at the Sibley Nature Center through June 30th. An artist reception will be held on Tuesday, May 12th at 6pm, offering attendees the opportunity to hear directly from Talon about his work and creative process.
