J. Tar
Welcome to this unique presentation of art by Laszlo Tar with commentary notes by Julius (J.) Tar, the artist's youngest son.
Laszlo Tar was my father. He was a formally trained Hungarian-American fine artist - a creator of paintings, drawings, woodcuts, and other kinds of art. He saw things in his world, reflected upon them, and interpreted what he saw and felt through his creations.
Dad arrived in America in 1956 with our family and lived most of his life in the USA. He did his work mainly outside on the streets, parks, benches, bridges, and buildings of the New York City metropolitan area and other parts of the world.
When he passed away in 2019, Dad was 97 years old. He started creating his art at the early age of 5. That's 92 years - a very long time to do anything, but that is what Dad was all about - unceasing creative passion and determination.
Dad arrived in America in 1956 with our family and lived most of his life in the USA. He did his work mainly outside on the streets, parks, benches, bridges, and buildings of the New York City metropolitan area and other parts of the world.
When he passed away in 2019, Dad was 97 years old. He started creating his art at the early age of 5. That's 92 years - a very long time to do anything, but that is what Dad was all about - unceasing creative passion and determination.
“Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art.” - Leonardo Da Vinci
My father enjoyed life and had high regard for nature and all living things. He tried to take full advantage of every creative moment. Even when he wasn't actively painting or drawing, I would catch him quietly speaking to himself about what he was looking at, as if recreating it in his mind. Sometimes he would even talk to what he was looking at, pointing out details with hand gestures, complimenting its beauty, and assuring it that he would soon create a worthy work of art in its image, as he saw it. At first, I thought that was a little weird, but later, when I studied Native American cultures and Eastern religions, I understood what was happening, that it was not new, and that indeed it was beautiful. Essentially, Dad was so in tune with his world and nature that together, they were at times One, speaking to each other like old friends - The great Creator and the Artist.
"A work of art is good if it has arisen out of necessity." - Rainer Maria Rilke
Dad always said that he had something inside of him that needed to Get Out. It took me some time to understand what he meant, but I later realized that his art was all about exactly that - Getting his message Out. Through his art, he was trying to get what he saw and felt inside himself - Out. Indeed, Dad believed that ALL of us have something inside that needs to come out - something special given to us by The Creator. I hope that idea is inspiring and hopeful to you because it puts us all on a mission to deliver our own message to the world. Whether you are an artist, writer, builder, parent, or whatever you do, Dad would say - "We all have something given to us by God. It is our unique purpose, and that needs to show because it is Who and Why we are".
My father was very fortunate to know that he was an artist at age five. He found his purpose and kept at it throughout his life. He was not wealthy in terms of money or possessions; our family was actually relatively poor and likely would have been homeless were it not for my mother - but Dad was rich with "intent." He saw and felt things, knew what he needed to do with them, and he did it at every moment he could - and he also felt that same "force" is within all of us.
I think Dad was a pretty wise man, and along the way, he was also a father to three children and a devoted husband to our Mom.
My father was very fortunate to know that he was an artist at age five. He found his purpose and kept at it throughout his life. He was not wealthy in terms of money or possessions; our family was actually relatively poor and likely would have been homeless were it not for my mother - but Dad was rich with "intent." He saw and felt things, knew what he needed to do with them, and he did it at every moment he could - and he also felt that same "force" is within all of us.
I think Dad was a pretty wise man, and along the way, he was also a father to three children and a devoted husband to our Mom.
"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else." - Booker T. Washington
For approximately 37 years, I worked closely with my father and his art. Our work together mostly involved me in helping his creative process. It was an incredible and accidental learning journey for us both. Whether by simply putting together flower arrangements for him, traveling together to artistic locations, creating reproduction prints of his work, or just walking together in the park - We spent many hours, days, months, and years in each other's company, and today those memories, and his vision, are stored in my heart, and they need to come Out.
The pages of this site include short personal stories assigned to Dad's work. I speak about the art, his life, our time together, and the wisdom I learned from him over the years.
In creating this gallery, I aim to add a bit of unique value to Dad's creations so that you, the viewer, can understand When, How, and Why he created the things he did, and to give a "behind the scene" perspective - What was happening at the same time, in the background? - offering a 3-dimensional view of the setting, which I hope enriches the art experience.
The pages of this site include short personal stories assigned to Dad's work. I speak about the art, his life, our time together, and the wisdom I learned from him over the years.
In creating this gallery, I aim to add a bit of unique value to Dad's creations so that you, the viewer, can understand When, How, and Why he created the things he did, and to give a "behind the scene" perspective - What was happening at the same time, in the background? - offering a 3-dimensional view of the setting, which I hope enriches the art experience.
In summary, I would like you to see this art - Through My Father's Eyes.
Acknowledgments
I would be remiss not to mention a few special people who made this effort possible. ❤️
First, my mother. She built and held our family together like "Crazy Glue." She made us excel in all forms, from basically nothing. There is no heart big enough, nor enough hearts, to describe her positive and lasting impact upon our lives.
To my brother, Dr. Leslie Tar, who is an important part and driver of this work and who has always been an incredible force of support and inspiration to our entire family and me.
And to my "saintly" wife Antoinette, who stood by me while I cared for Dad in our home during his final years. She waited for me during those seemingly endless lonely hours, days, and months that I worked with Dad, just because I felt I needed to. She is my forever-loving Angel.
And finally, to my beautiful granddaughter Gianna who, at age 12, took it upon herself to play her flute so unforgettably at my father's funeral. I know Dad heard your song. Thank you
I would be remiss not to mention a few special people who made this effort possible. ❤️
First, my mother. She built and held our family together like "Crazy Glue." She made us excel in all forms, from basically nothing. There is no heart big enough, nor enough hearts, to describe her positive and lasting impact upon our lives.
To my brother, Dr. Leslie Tar, who is an important part and driver of this work and who has always been an incredible force of support and inspiration to our entire family and me.
And to my "saintly" wife Antoinette, who stood by me while I cared for Dad in our home during his final years. She waited for me during those seemingly endless lonely hours, days, and months that I worked with Dad, just because I felt I needed to. She is my forever-loving Angel.
And finally, to my beautiful granddaughter Gianna who, at age 12, took it upon herself to play her flute so unforgettably at my father's funeral. I know Dad heard your song. Thank you
As was Dad's life, this site is a work in progress.
Thank you for visiting and for allowing me to share this art...
Through My Father's Eyes
J. Tar
Thank you for visiting and for allowing me to share this art...
Through My Father's Eyes
J. Tar