One Man's Life in the Arts

A Dallas gallery this week debuted an art exhibit and sale to honor a local artist who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Artist Anthony Schurba was diagnosed in May with a devastating illness. He said he has stage-four prostate cancer that has jumped to his bones and in his spine and chest.

This is the first time the 56-year-old artist has ever been sick, and the prognosis is not good. He wanted what is left of his collection to be exhibited so the public can discover and enjoy his work while he is still alive. Money from the sale will go toward his medical bills.

“I just hope I don’t make anyone mad if I don’t really die soon,” he joked.

Artists Jennifer Culbertson and Rachel Davis put together the retrospective of Schurba's remaining collection at The Gallery at Oldfield Davis in Dallas' Uptown neighborhood.

“From an artist's point of view, I totally understand his last request,” Culbertson said. “It's his life's work."

"It is kind of a mixture of everything from Picasso to Matisse,” Davis said. “He just has a whimsical sense of humor that just comes across in so many layers. "

Schurba said his paintings were never planned.

"I get up there, and I just start painting and things just pop out of the canvas," he said.

"Not many people get to leave things behind,” he said. “I feel pretty lucky that there's going to be lots of things left behind with my name on it."

Schurba's work will be featured at The Gallery at Oldfield Davis, at 2910 N. Hall St. by appointment through July 20.

For more information, visit The Gallery at Oldfield Davis' website.


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