Black Canyon man lights up Anthem gallery

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR~ 2/15/2012

The name of the display that will be featured at the Anthem Gallery beginning March 3 is called Illuminating Experiences.
During an opening reception from 7 – 9 p.m. on March 10 visitors to the museum will get to meet Black Canyon City resident Hank Keneally.
Whether it’s viewing his art or having a conversation with the 68-year-old artist predicting an illuminating experience seems a safe bet.
The former counselor spends 40 hours a week at his craft as a mixed media artist using both photography and painting.
“I always knew I was meant to be an artist,” he said. “When I’m at my best I’m able to keep intellect and ego out of it and the painting just happens freely. Sometimes I’ll close my eyes. My greatest fulfillment is when the art just flows through me.”
Keeping his intellect out of the process would seemingly be a challenge for Keneally who quotes a variety of authors, artists and other figures in discussing his views on life and art.
The widower, who was married for 40 years before his wife’s death in 2009 and has lived in Black Canyon City since 1976, said he often has people come up cautiously and ask him if they mind sharing what they see in his abstract pieces.
“It’s often said that all works are self portraits of the artist in a sense or to a degree, but I also think it works the same way for the viewer,” he said. “How they perceive my work says a lot about them.”
After art fans tell Keneally what they see he said he tells them what he intended to create.
“I intentionally keep the titles to my works very vague, because I don’t want to restrict viewers’ perception of the piece,” he said. “I think it’s very much like when you’re sitting in the grass looking at the clouds. There aren’t any wrong answers, just different viewers perceptions.”
Keeping an open mind to new ideas and new methods is something Keneally said he strives to achieve.
The view is reflected in the message on his neon green doormat, which features the picture of an alien and the message, “All species welcome.”
He also makes a habit of going to art shows with multiple artists are on display and picking out what he considers the two most talented artists and striking up conversations with them to get tips and ideas.
“I think just like our lives, art is an evolving transformative process,” he said.
Keneally, a Black Canyon City resident since 1976, where he lived with his wife of 40 years up until her death in 2009, published his first book last year and said that he plans to produce one annually for the rest of his life. He explains that with a regular workout regimen and healthy, organic diet he expects to live to the age of 110.
“I think people tend to be drawn to me because I’m an odd duck,” he said. “I’ve got some different views that people find refreshing.”
Along with submitting 19 pieces for inclusion in his exhibit at the Anthem Gallery Keneally said he’d like to talk to the audience that turns out.
“The show is called Illuminating Experiences so I thought I would like to talk briefly about some major moments from my life.”
Keneally’s work will be on display through April 26.
The Anthem Gallery is located at 39905 North Gavilan Parkway in Anthem. For information
go to thecaepeschool.org or call623-551-7808.