Jon Imber's Late Work Flourished Despite ALS, Documented in Film Premiering at Boston Festival
Jon Imber passed away from ALS on April 17, 2014, at the age of 63, yet he produced extraordinary work during his illness. His last pieces, created under challenging circumstances, showcased a freedom he had always desired. Drawing inspiration from Willem de Kooning, Imber persisted in painting, expressing that he was no longer concerned about his art being "surprising, risky and full of potential doom." This sentiment was highlighted in a discussion recorded for "Jon Imber's Left Hand," a film by Richard Kane that debuted at the Independent Boston Film Festival on April 26, 2014. His later portraits, characterized by speed, intuition, and vibrancy, astonished the Boston art scene.
Key facts
- Jon Imber died on April 17, 2014 at age 63 from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).
- His late work achieved looseness and pungency despite physical limitations from ALS.
- Imber was influenced by Willem de Kooning and painted through ALS as de Kooning did through dementia.
- He wanted his work to be "surprising, risky and full of potential doom" but said illness gave him "a shitload of doom."
- A film about him, "Jon Imber's Left Hand" directed by Richard Kane, premiered at the Independent Boston Film Festival on April 26, 2014.
- The film is part of the Maine Masters series and focuses on his family life with wife Jill Hoy and son Gabriel.
- Imber was Phillip Guston's favorite student and inherited Guston's paints, brushes, and studio presence.
- His late portraits are fast, intuitive, and lyrical, compared to Emil Nolde's "snapshot" portraits.
Entities
Artists
- Jon Imber
- Willem de Kooning
- Jill Hoy
- Phillip Guston
- Emil Nolde
- Richard Kane
Institutions
- Independent Boston Film Festival
- Maine Masters
Locations
- Boston
- United States
- Maine