About The Artist

Oftentimes, my mirror image reminds me of a clown juggling three to four different hats. The first hat identifies me as a visual artist; the second, as a performing artist (past and present); and the third, as a literary artist, since I’m presently seeking to get my manuscript Dancing in the Shadows published.

While taking my first painting class at the University of Florida as an advertising design major, I realized I had a passion for painting. This passion continued throughout the pro-football off-seasons and into my retirement years to present. I’ve had one-man shows, done numerous Florida Sidewalk Art Festival shows, and exhibited in many group gallery shows receiving my fair share of accolades and monies. My sculpture medium evolved from my salvaging the glass blocks from my grandparent’s beachfront motel located in Ormond Beach, Florida before it became history to the condo wreaking bar. My art websites are: LarryGagner.com and Centerstageglass.com They are linked.

It has been said by one interviewer, “His kinetic style, embracing movement and excitement, suggests a déjà vu to the ’controlled violence’ associated with his former National Football League vocation, and is surprisingly accomplished, for the most part, without athletics acting as subject matter.” I have been interviewed many times by the media over the years. The interviewers always seem to infer what an oddity it is that a professional football player (especially a lineman) would have, not only the interest, but also the capabilities to appreciate, and in fact, become a fine artist. It’s as if the quality of an artist was indirectly proportional to the artist’s size.

Excuse me, art comes from the head. The body just does what the mind tells it to do, and the last time I looked, football players share the same number of body appendages as everyone else, albeit their limbs are frequently Pop-Eyed sized (but certainly not due to the ingestion of spinach, Olive!). So, feel free not to stereotype me, thank you very much. Finally, it is my sincere hope, that after having viewed my art, the observer might come away saying, not that I was a football player that also does art, but an artist first and foremost, that just happened to be a decent football player in the early stages of his artist development. Feel free to contact me personally in Tampa (813) at 237-1624 or email me at Gagmail@verizon.net  I look forward to hearing from you either way.

The past part of the performing arts has to do with the fact that I was a 1965 All-American guard for the Florida Gators and, later, a four year starter at left guard as a second round draft pick for the Steelers in 1966.  Certain quarterbacks I attempted to protect for might have valid reasons to dispute my using the word “performance” as to my blocking ability, but I repeat what Bob Dylan used to say, “You can’t please all the people all the time,” now can you. And the present aspect of the performing artist has to do with a youth activity I developed involving the movement of participants through my creatively designed course guided by my accompanying Christian commentary I coined,” The Righteous Relays.” If you can run, you can participate. No body contact is involved. Available throughout Florida for Christian reinforcement to youth groups.

SignsSublime.com comprises more than three years of work transforming common road signs (but not exclusively) into Christian prompts . The more frequently you view these double images, the easier it becomes for your mind to recall the Christian prompt.  And God (Christian) knows we could use some help in this secular world gone wild. Thanks again Secular (Uncle) Sam for providing the necessary road props to spur our Christian reinforcement imagery!