Dual, (2006),acrylic on rowlux, 11" x 11"
John Laska studied with the SoyerBrothers in New York City before serving in World War II. After the war, he attended the Chicago Art Institute and was active, along with Leon Golub, with the group Momentum. before moving on to teach in Champaign, Illinois, and finally to Terre Haute Indiana where he spent years teaching art at the Laboratory School at Indiana State University. I was fortunate to be one of many students who passed through his classes to go on to have a career in the arts. This exhibition showcased Laska's work as well as work of his students. It was pretty unaminous from this group of students that Professor Laska was the best teacher, of any kind, that they had had in their collective lives. Laska's career started in the 30s and continues to this day. He will also be long remembered for his murals depicting the life of Eugene V. Debs at the Debs Home in Terre Haute.
