Richie Haynes in his studio with one his assemblages featured in “Infinite Transmissions” at The Art Studio in May 2006. ISSUE file photo by Trish Coughlan
Beaumont artist Richie Haynes died Nov. 3. Haynes won the 2005 The Art Studio, Inc. Member Jurored Art Exhibition. As a result, he had a solo show in May 2006. The following is excerpted from the ISSUE story on the show:
Haynes says his involvement in the art of music led to his exploration of other art forms. For years he played music with a band, Train in Vain, and is still making music today. “Though now I’ve picked up other artistic habits,” he said. “Where is it going to end?”
Several years ago, Haynes began to look at old throw-away items at garage sales, flea markets and antique stores.
“I began to look at old junk that people accumulate throughout their lives as some sort of weird artistic statement of their lives, kind of beautiful, if you think about it,” he said.
Accumulating experience in music, painting, sculpting and mixed media has shown Haynes that with all of the forms of art out there, there’s still plenty to dabble in.
“I’m definitely not ruling anything out.”
During the day you can find Haynes teaching sophomore Pre-AP English at Ozen High School, a career that he calls a “happy accident.”
“I never planned on teaching as a career,” he said, “but after college and a few years of bumming around, doing odd jobs and playing music, I got the opportunity to teach at a school that had an emergency need for an English teacher and the rest is history.”
“It would be great if the show makes people think about art and its place in their lives. Maybe someone will look at it and be inspired to use their own talents to do something artistic.”
Richie Haynes was 54 years old. He is survived by his wife, Stacey. We at ISSUE magazine will miss him.