LARRY SCHULTE
Larry Schulte
My life has not followed a straight line leading to art. I grew up on a farm in Nebraska, the fifth of ten children. I attended a small rural high school that did not offer any art classes, though I was involved in music. Not wanting to farm, I attended college where I majored in mathematics with a minor in physical education. I then taught math and coached in a small Nebraska town for four years.
“Diagonal Sunset”, 24” x 36”, woven painted paper
The art teacher in Sterling, Nebraska convinced me one spring to take an art class in the neighboring town of Syracuse titled Everything You Need to Know About Art. I was hooked!
“Beneath”, 54” x54”, woven painted paper
'‘Bridge”, 36” x54”, woven painted paper, Collection--Pepsico
I returned to the University of Nebraska-Kearney where I earned an undergraduate degree in art and a master’s degree in painting. I had taken a beginning fiber class as an undergraduate and while working on that graduate degree, I took as many weaving courses as I did painting courses.
“Flag 24”, 34”x 34”, woven painted paper
“After the Quilts - 2”, 34'“ x 34”, woven painted paper
I then completed a PhD at the University of Kansas in Lawrence where I continued to take graduate weaving classes, before moving to NYC. One of my first jobs in NYC was at Parsons School of Design. I was an Assistant Dean to the Director of the school, but also taught some fiber classes in the continuing education department at night.
“Orange Flag”, 54” x 60”, woven painted paper
At some point 40+ years ago the two loves of painting and weaving merged into woven painted paper pieces. I have created in other media (printmaking, collage, woven photos) but always seem to return to woven painted paper. Nature and mathematics also merged in these pieces. I have repeatedly used the Fibonacci Sequence (a mathematical structure of nature) as a basis of the weavings. This structure represents for me the repetitions of nature I experienced on the farm (the seasons, planting, cultivating, harvesting).
“Colors of the Southwest”, 36” x 36”, woven painted paper
All of it – weaving, painting, mathematics, nature – seemed to coalesce in my mature work. I retired to Albuquerque in 2015 after 30+ years in NYC. I have a studio in downtown Albuquerque and continue to create woven painted paper pieces.
“Rick Rack Moon”, 36” x 36”, woven painted paper