Photo Caption: The W. Michael Bush exhibit in the Pryor Art Gallery at Columbia State Community College features real-life inspiration and bold colors. The exhibit will display through Aug. 24.

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Aug. 8, 2012) - - - A selection of work by artist W. Michael Bush is on display through Aug. 24 in the Pryor Art Gallery on the campus of Columbia State Community College in Columbia. Pryor Gallery curator Rusty Summerville chose Bush for the first of several planned exhibits featuring Tennessee artists because of his popularity and appeal to wide audiences. Bush's work has been purchased or commissioned by museums, hospitals and corporations and appears in the many private collections. Bush earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Fla. and studied at Instituto Allende in San Miguel, Mexico, and the Art Institute of Chicago. However, some of his best known works were in the scenic art backgrounds in major motion pictures including, Jaws, Hardly Working, Caddy Shack, Porky's, Escape from New York, Fire Starter and Tank.

Visitors to the Pryor Art Gallery will note bold and original interpretations of some of Bush's favorite themes, including horses and an orange-haired girl. The artist's fascination with the orange-haired girl began on a trip to Chattanooga when he noticed a woman with a red umbrella and bright orange hair walking in the rain.

"I am a colorist," Bush said. "Color is instrumental in what I do."

Bush describes himself as a "figurative expressionist" noting that he sometimes gets "caught up in a theme," often producing dozens of pieces depicting variations on a current favorite.

A recent favorite that Bush titled Variations on Musical Themes was created by painting actual musical instruments and their cases and presenting each with an oil-on-canvas painting of the result. A selection of these bold and vibrant paintings is included in the exhibit.

The Pryor Art Gallery is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.