WBLartist III aka Walter Bert Linebarger III
The menu for the various sections of this website is found (on cell phones) at the top of each page by 3 bars and the left (on laptops/desktops).
“The Golden Day in New Mexico” oils on canvas, Two panels 30″ x 30″ each. In the Collection of Kris Maples, Allen, Texas.
“Snow Trees Series #1″ oils on canvas, 24″x40” In the Collection of Chris J. Hayes, Keller, Texas.
“I Know the Tree Is Hiding, Too” oils on canvas, 48″x36″ In the collection of Sharon Bowie, McKinney, Texas.
“James’ Chairs & Mower, My Chevy Monza, Climax, Texas, 1985″ oils on canvas, 30″x24” In the collection of James Dorrell, Frisco, Texas.
“Chair without Brent, Anyway” oils on canvas, 48″x50″
“New Life Sunrise” oils on canvas, 40″x60″ In the collection of Karen & Dhenmark Padecio, Dallas, Texas.
“Texas Hay Bales, McKinney, 1987″ oils on canvas, 48″x48” In the collection of Maggie Winslett, Boca Raton, Florida.
“Creatively Inspired” Photos of Wally by GeorgeAnn Shafer
Specialties: Paintings in Oils, Acrylics, Latex, Watercolors and Mixed-Media, Murals, Wall Surfaces and Art Restoration
Contact me at wblartist@gmail.com or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wally.linebarger)
I am an artist, a writer and a retired educator living in a rather familiar yet “foreign” environment – my hometown! I moved to Dallas in 1970 as a teenager to attend Southern Methodist. My goal was to be a painter living the rest of my days in a large warehouse or loft in New York City, New Mexico or Spain. I had made a vow never to return to Missouri where even my best friends told me that I didn’t fit in.
In 1972 I attended SMU-in-Spain for a semester. We spent our first week in Paris absorbing the art, culture, food and to get to know each other. There were 45 students in the program plus several professors. We travelled by train to Barcelona for a two week orientation program which consisted in all mornings in the classroom and all afternoons on the beach as well as visiting local landmarks. One day we travelled to Montserrat – The Serrated Mountains – located north of Barcelona. It was there that I encountered the overwhelming Spirit of God. I attribute one of my most significant spiritual experiences after attending a mass typically performed in Gregorian style.
After our two weeks in Barcelona I attended the Instituto de Cultura Hispanica on the University of Madrid campus. I studied art history at the Prado Museum. I was on fire inside and out. It was an amazing time of my life. I learned to love myself through the eyes and ears of my new Spanish friends. They thought I was cool. It was quite a sensational time for my self esteem.
Student body with professors of SMU-in-Spain, University of Madrid Campus
After returning to Dallas I encountered the phenomenal Ann McGee-Cooper, Head of the Art Education Department at SMU. She was the one who encouraged me to be a teacher. I never wanted to be a teacher even though I had enjoyed being a camp counselor at the YMCA Day Camp for two years. While receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting I asked myself, “What next?” An artist can make either zero dollars or millions of dollars a year based on talent, contacts, timing, luck and maybe fate. Somehow talent, contacts, timing, luck and maybe fate led me to get a Master of Fine Arts in Art Education and be an art teacher.
Photos of Wally with The Experimental Arts Program, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas and Evergreen, Colorado
I lived in Dallas, Texas, for over thirty years, Madrid, Spain, for one year and Stony Brook, New York, for one year teaching art in a variety of venues. I’ve done workshops in Colorado, Pennsylvania, New York and all over Texas. My experiences range from Inner City to upper-class wealthy, from preschool to university environments, from public to private, from very conservative Evangelical Christian to the first LGBTQ high school in the world. My first full-time teaching position named Walden Preparatory School which was totally accurate for this amazing, free spirited pre-college preparatory academy led by its creator, Marie Loar.
I was very fortunate to be inspired by some of the most outstanding teachers from West School Elementary in Jefferson City, Missouri to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas & Madrid, Spain. I was blessed having such great administrators like Marie, J. Michael Beidel, Rod Morris, Rob Gustafson, Karl E. Soderstrom, Lisa Ehrich, Becky Thompson and Pamala Ezell. (See the section “My Résumé”)
I moved back home to Jefferson City, Missouri, several years ago, intending to stay but a few months to get my life back together after being in a state of free fall from the previous five years, in spite of my vow “never to return.”
Surprisingly, I fell in love with the fertile land of the Ozarks – the forever green trees and moistness in the earth. Jefferson City was also named “The Most Beautiful Small Town in America” by Rand-McNally. So I stayed!
I managed a gallery of my artwork at the local mall during the holiday season. Because of selling most of those paintings I was able to actually support myself for a year. I had finally achieved my goal which I had wanted when I was first in college – to be able to financially support myself from selling my art. I now work out of a studio located in my home in Jefferson City.
Wally in his MINDscapes Gallery, Capital Mall, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Please contact the artist for special requests and commissions at wblartist@gmail.com I hope you enjoy this website which I call “Working Out the Kinks.” I would love your feedback.
The next two pieces are made from Resurrected Objects dug out of Turtle Creek, Dallas, Texas.
Once upon a time not so many years ago I was homeless and living under the trees and shrubs along a beautiful creek which runs through the center of one of the most exclusive areas of Dallas. I was not alone, as there were many others who had found themselves in the shadow and humiliation of homelessness.
During that time the city planners decided to drain the creek in order to clean out all the rubbish which people had lost or thrown into the water over the past 60 years, as well as rebuild all the docks, pathways and patios along the water’s banks. Once the water was drained one could see bed frames, typewriters and even cars which were partially covered with sludge and vines. It became an adventure for all of us living in the shadows to look for treasure which might be recovered such as diamond rings thrown into the water when an engagement or marriage had ended.
I never found valuable treasure, but I did find an array of curious objects – a book which was covered in a crust colorful marbleized mold, a part of a tennis court net entwined with algae and remnant of a shoe, a partially rusted fender of an old Cadillac. I dug these out with a long walking stick and let dry in the sun in the dry grass. Once they were dry I could clean each piece with water or an old shoe shine brush exposing the array of discoloration and texture.
I kept these objects in a black garbage bag which I carried with me from camp to camp and even to the halfway house where I lived for almost a year. THE STREAM OF LIFE and ECLIPSE depict my journey from homelessness to recovery and both pieces use the junk I kept in my black plastic bag. I didn’t get the chance to make this work until after I arrived in Jefferson City. THE STREAM OF LIFE & ECLIPSE are a testament how discarded junk as well as humanity can become a work of art through the process of recovery and reclaiming the beauty of creation.
The first one is this large piece hanging in bedroom directly in front of my bed so I can meditate on this miracle in my life.
“The Stream of Life” 12″ x 50″ Resurrected Objects from Turtle Creek, Dallas, 2007
In the collection of Sarah Linebarger, Dallas, Texas.
This montage of recovered wood, collage and oil paint hangs directly above the head of my bed, so that I will never forget…
“Eclipse” 30″ x 40″ Oils, Resurrected Objects from Turtle Creek, Dallas, Collage on Canvas, 2017
FOR SALE $2000
Recent Commissions
“Looking Out My Window across the Missouri River” 48″ x 24″ oils on canvas 2020
In the collection of Tom Ziglar
“In the Last Breath of Summer, 1987” 40″ x 30″ oils on canvas 2019
In the collection of Holly Jones Walta
“Passion on the Rocks” 38″ x 58″ oils on canvas 2017
In the collection of Mary Wayman Barrett
“Snowscape” 30″x40″ oils on canvas 2010
In the collection of Dale Bruemmer
“The Kill Team/WWII – My Father the War Photographer” is a true story about my father.
“Losing Things: A Self Portrait” is an autobiographical story in progress and will be the first few chapters will be published soon.
“Wally” is an award-winning film by Andy Galloway.
AWARDS
2018 Official Selection, 50th LGBT Toronto Film Festival, Toronto
4/30/2017 Platinum Remi Winner – Human Sexuality, 50th Annual WorldFest Houston International Film Festival, Houston
4/25/2017 Finalist, Industry Boost Competition
12/22/2016 Silver Award, Spotlight Documentary Festival, Atlanta,
11/24/2016 Finalist, Industry Boost Competition
10/29/2016 Official Selection, Directors Circle of Shorts Festival Fort Worth
10/24/2016 Official Selection, QCinema 18th Annual LGBTQ Film Festival, Fort Worth
10/16/2016 Official Selection, Let’s All Be Free Film Festival, London,
10/13/2016 Official Selection – Opening Night, San Antonio Q Fest, San Antonio
10/1/2016 Official Selection, Blow-Up International Arthouse Film Festival, Chicago
7/10/2016 Best Documentary Short Top Indie Film Awards
6/29/2016 LGBT Documentary Short Award of Recognition, Best Shorts Festival
3/6/2016 Official Selection, Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards
2/28/2016 Best International LBGTQ Documentary Short. Texas Ultimate Shorts
7/24/2015 Official selection, 2nd San Antonio QFest (USA)
Andy Galloway just completed his Master of Documentary Production and Studies degree from University of North Texas. He is a former student at Trinity Christian Academy, Addison, Texas (Class of ’88).
“Wally Linebarger: a man caught in the turbulence of truth. Plagued by a past that longs to define him and a future that remains unsure, Wally presses forward. Despite a life of gain and loss, three lights continue to guide him.”
In this twenty-five minute documentary, the viewer is guided from present to past and a setting that spans from Dallas, Texas to Jefferson City Missouri.
Trailer for “Wally”
“Wally” UNT MFA Version
“Wally” the Director’s Cut
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Over the past thirty years I have encountered many challenges. I am a very weird guy who has loved his life and hated his life both to extremes. If not for the encouragement I have had from friends and family, I really don’t think I would be alive. I dedicate my work to them.
Me with my daughters – Karen Padecio, Sarah Linebarger and Catherine Linebarger
The inspirations of my life: My Daughters: Catherine, Karen and Sarah, who are the true stars of the film, “Wally.”
Catherine Linebarger (Los Angeles), Karen Padecio (Dallas) and Sarah Linebarger (New York City)
Photos include: (they will be in a different order according to the format of screen) –My sister, Ann Wilson, me w/ Rob Forsythe, me w/ GeorgeAnn Shafer Winston, , me w/ Andy Galloway, Todd Barnhardt aka Jesse Wade, TCA Alumni Show 2018, John Adcox, Jon & Jenni Millet & Family, Thom Switzer, Christen Crews Christie, my sister Sharon Bowie.
wblArtist III 
They don’t begin to sum up the complexity of you Wally, but your statements give a peek at what your autobiography will include….well done. I love this piece of art too
Thank you Polly for taking time to check this out. Did you happen to read any of the other sections listed on the menu above? I am rather concerned that Chapter Two of Working Out the Kinks might be too much for some people… but actually I toned it down a lot from reality.
Beautiful update Wally. Thank you for your kind and glowing words.
It is true. I don’t think I would be in a very good place emotionally without your effort and encouragement. You may be without a job, but you are certainly not without a heart and a soul!
Grazie Maestro, grazie.