Catching Up with Resident Artist Greg Urban

​My name is Greg and my work and art meld into one. Like many others during this pandemic my work life has been adversely affected.  After over four months off, I am finally back out running a tugboat and doing what I truly love.

Moored in Richmond 29 July 2020

As my photography and art started with my desire to share my office view from the tug and being stuck ashore, out of work, has limited me to working with old images and continuing with experimentation transferring digital imagery into laser wood cut pieces.

Commission Sailboat Laser Wood Cut 10” x 15”

I was super excited to get back out on the water and get some shots through the wheelhouse windows and off the tug.  One night, after a long twelve hour watch, I was talking to one of the guys on the tug about my Office View Series and the series origins in 2010. After showing him some photos, jokingly I asked if I could take his photo. I’ve never done any portrait photography at all- for some reason it has always scared and intimidated me. Anyway- this one photo of Casey inspired me to start a new series. “Faces On The Water”

Casey 1 August 2020

In this new series I’ll be featuring gritty portraits of the people I share my work world with.  The marine industry is filled with wonderful people from all over, with diverse cultures and backgrounds. In my Office View Series that I started on LinkedIn in 2010, I’ve attempted to share my view out of the wheelhouse windows. Now I turn my lenses towards my co-workers and office mates. I hope that this new series is as well received as my last. I feel I’ve grown in my art and my photography and perhaps this will help me overcome a long fear of portrait photography.

Shane 2 August 2020

During these trying times I try to remember my many blessings, one is the blessing and the honor to be part of this amazing 4th Street Fine Art cooperative.  Our gallery, like so many businesses, across not only our country but across the entire world, has experienced closures and setbacks. I strongly believe in building and supporting the arts and the artists around me. Let us all continue to count our blessings and support local business and artisans when and where possible.

Working 31 July 2020