Meet Bruce Turk | Performing and Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bruce Turk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bruce, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my successes has been love—love of process and learning; love of interesting challenges and the spiritual growth that comes out of them; love and wonder at what I have been capable of. Love has led me through difficult times in my artistic career—the lonely times, the “failures”, the times when I didn’t get the thing that I thought I wanted. It is love that keeps me engaged, leading me to self-realization and connection through my art. I find the arts infinitely fascinating. On the technical level there is so much to learn. The work intersects with so many disciplines: history, religion, sociology, psychology, architecture, design, written and spoken communication, manufacture, etc. I am constantly brought into contact with wildly creative people. I love that. There is an ever widening web of connection that spins out from any given project and each thread provides me with something or someone new to focus on. Ultimately, I feel that my soul is yearning for development and connection. My love of the tangibles in front of me at any given moment keeps me going.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m always most excited about the project I’m working on at any given moment. Currently, I’ve been exploring the interface between development and the southern California coastline. I spend a lot of time at the waters’ edge absorbing the environment and getting a feeling of the place. By “interface” I mean how development and infrastructure intersect and abut the ocean. Progress vs. Nature. It seems so peaceful along the shore, but there is actually physical conflict below the surface of the water. There is tension there and I’m exploring that visually.

The biggest challenge I have faced on this project is trusting myself—trusting that my intuition will bear fruit. I used to start a project with an idea of what it was going be and I planned the steps that I would take to get there. But as I’ve gotten more comfortable with a variety of techniques, I don’t worry about that so much anymore. I set my sails in a general direction and let the wind take me. For instance, I know the world of color that I want to work in and I will come up with some basic design compositions that tend to be very formal. Once those two things are set up I leave it to the moment. I leave it to chance and feeling. Sometimes what I think is a mistake will actually spark a conversation between me and the painting. I’m trying to listen to what the painting has to offer and not force my ideas upon it. With the first gesture, it takes on a life of its own. The next piece may be an extension or response to that initial piece. I often work on a group of several pieces at the same time and then out of those explorations larger pieces evolve. Before I know it, an entire visual discussion is laid out before me. This is fascinating if you are interested in creativity, because one can see clearly how the germ of an idea spawns, develops, and deepens over time.

This is why I find myself describing my work in terms of family relationships. The pieces in a series are siblings. They share a palette and design qualities, but each has their own personality. They are all the children of a particular piece and they, in turn, beget children of their own. So all the works of the past year are part of a large series—one great family tree of many generations all sharing the theme, “Coastal Approach.” How do we engage with the coastline? When we approach it are we only considering our own experience? Our own pleasure? How do we approach the ocean with respect and awe and love? How can we sustain it, not only for ourselves, but for generations?

The exhibit,”Coastal Approach”, will have a reception on September 5th at 7pm at the First Lutheran Church at 1420 3rd Ave, San Diego. It will be on view through October 5, 2025.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Would it surprise you if I said the beach? There is such incredible variety available to a visiter to the San Diego beaches. Every one of these stretches of coastline possess unique physical qualities. There really is something for every one. I mean, what kind of sand are you looking for? From the broad, seemingly endless span of Coronado (and the bridge to get there) to the rocky coves of La Jolla (and the seals sunning there), to the majestic red cliffs of Torrey Pines, to the hidden gems of tidal pools in Cardiff and beyond. They are all distinct and wonderful. I would also want to highlight three art museums in our area: The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in La Jolla, the Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA), and finally the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) North in Encinitas. Each of these boast stunning architecture as well as compelling exhibitions.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Well, I’ve been working in the performing and visual arts fields for over 40 years, so there are many, many people to be thankful for. Let’s bookend this, though, and acknowledge both the earliest and most recent assists. First of all, I cannot imagine where I would be without my high school theatre teacher and coach, Ron Dodson. When I was 14 “Mr. D” handed me a Shakespeare monologue and said, “Work on this.” That was it. He never weighed in on how I should work on it. No hints; no “should do’s”. The lesson I got from that, as well as the many subsequent artistic assignments he gave me thereafter, was that he had complete faith in me and what I could do. He also showed infinite interest in seeing how my work unfolded; but again, without criticism or judgement. He just asked questions. Dodson instilled absolute faith that I could engage creatively with anything. Most recently, Bill Engel, a successful abstract artist in his own right, has engaged me to mount a solo exhibit of my paintings in downtown San Diego. I have incredible respect for the art he produces, so his belief in my work instills confidence in me.

Website: https://www.bruceturk.com

Instagram: @bruce.turk