The Artist
BIOGRAPHY
Banning began painting in Venice Beach, California, in the 1970s. Through the years his styles evolved while studying painting at Mission: Renaissance, and later inspired by his work in the social sciences producing documentaries. The work involved traveling the country and meeting with some of America's top psychologists, educators, physicians, lawyers and entrepreneurs. Catharcism emerged in the mid-1980s in Austin, Texas, as an outlet for mental and emotional tension. He found the intellectual and physical demands of sitting for long periods of time while researching, writing or editing video produced an imbalance that curtailed his abilities to function at optimal levels. While meditation and physical exercise helped to alleviate this psychic distress, there remained a residual annoyance requiring expurgation before homeostasis would be restored.
Banning adopted the methods of the Action Painters of the Abstract Expressionist movement. Instead of planning a painting in advance, the blank canvas would be approached with no preconceived notions. Thinking would be abandoned except as required for obtaining materials. The thrust of applying paint to canvas would come spontaneously from the emotions, the intuition and would connect with psychic energy sources deep within.
Banning called this method Catharcism, a verbal construction stemming from the Greek kathairein ‘cleanse,’ from katharos ‘pure.’ The notion of “release” through art derives from Aristotle's Poetics. Adding the suffix "ism" creates an state of action, thus Catharcism means "a cleansing or release derived through creativity." His limited visual sight has resulted in an enhanced appreciation for color, evident in many of his paintings.
Banning Lary’s paintings are prized by collectors from Palm Beach to Beverly Hills - Oscar winners, physicians, lawyers, businessmen, and others such as the actor Richard Burton.
He was one of the first to incorporate digital imagery into mixed media works and has created over 100 educational documentaries on science, law, medicine, psychology and the social sciences and won numerous awards.
Banning’s style of Catharcism expresses the unconscious mind through large colorful abstractions, drawing on his studies in psychology and the social sciences. Banning holds a Bachelors in communication from UT Austin, and a Masters and PhD in psychology from Walden University in Minneapolis.
VISUAL ARTS
“Beginnings and Endings” Juried show, 3 pieces accepted, 2021.
“Kentucky Capitol Show” Juried show, 1 piece accepted, 2021.
“Rock, Paper, Scissors” Juried show, 1 piece accepted, 2021.
“Gimme Shelter,” juried group virtual show, 3 paintings accepted 2021.
“Barriers,” juried group virtual show, 3 paintings accepted 2020.
Lexington Art League Annual, juried, 3 paintings accepted, 2020.
Lexington Art League Annual, juried, 3 paintings accepted, 2019.
Paint the Town, Plein Air, Lexington, 2015,2016,2017,2019,2020.
Round Rock Arts Council juried show 2011
aether (magazine covers), 2007, 2008
MOFAA Christmas Show 2004
AVAA Show Display, winter 2004
Snap n’splat, 2004.
Museum of Fine Art Austin, featured artist, Winter 2003.
AVAA Show, Fall 2002.
“Can You Compute?” Feature story, U.S. ART, May 2000.
Live painting demonstration, Leo Burnett, March 2000.
AVAANTI 10 Retrospective, juried, June 1999.
Exhibit J, juried, Spring 1999.
“Electronic Impressionism,” article: Digital Fine Art, Winter 1999.
Electronic Impressionism , Fairchild Gardens, Florida – 1998.
25th Anniversary Show -- AVAA, Summer, 1997.
Cathartic Aestheticism, avaanti, Winter 1997.
AVAANTI 10 -- selected as one of ten featured artists. 1996.
Cathartic Aestheticism, Chow Ciao! (solo), August 1996.
Cathartic Aestheticism, Hyde Park (solo), July 1996.
Exhibit I, Austin Visual Arts Assn. (invitational), 1996.
Ponderosa Stampede, mural 8' X 84', River Place CC, 1995.
Reunion, mural 14' X 56', Common Market Cafe, 1995.
Full Range of Motion, 3rd Place for KOBE, 1995.
Post-Apocalyptic Pagan Deconstructivism, (juried), 1995.
Exhibit H, Austin Visual Arts Assn. (Invitational), 1995.
Copy Art 1995, juried finalist.
ART @ Large exhibit, St. Edwards University, 1995.
War Stories, eight assemblages on canvas, Dobie Theatre, February-March 1991.
Recent Retrospective, West End Cafe, December 1989.
Slash Paintings, Katz's, November 1989.
Emotional Expressionism, Dobie Theatre, September 1989.
Eclectic Five, Capital City Playhouse, August 1989.
Seven Canvases, one-man show, Dobie Theatre, February 1988.
Copy Art 1988, juried finalist.
Wall murals - Cricket Club, various Miami residences 1975-78.
Superimpositions of MEST II, 12' X 60' - Los Angeles, 1974.
Mantra Paintings, Marina Del Rey, 1973.
First Paintings, Manhattan Beach, 1972.
Primitive Paintings, Sunset Galley, Venice Beach, 1972.
Paintings done in oil, acrylic, mixed media of various sizes, hundreds of them, in private collections.
AWARDS & CERTIFICATIONS
Cult Critic Movie Awards (AB-NEGATIVE, EL PERDIDO) 2021.
Black Swan Film Festival, Award Winner (EL PERDIDO) 2021.
Telly Silver Award (SOCIAL CLASS) 2021.
ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Competition – Finalist (THE DONOR) 2021.
Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, Official Selection (SOCIAL CLASS) – Short Documentary 2020.
Tripvill International Film Festival, Winner (SOCIAL CLASS) – Short Documentary 2020.
Accolade International Film Competition, Winner (SOCIAL CLASS) – Short Documentary 2019.
World Film Carnival - Singapore, Award Winner (Social Class) 2019.
Luis Bunuel Memorial Festival, Award Winner (Social Class) 2019.
L’Age d’Or International Arthouse Film Festival, Winner (SOCIAL CLASS) – Short Documentary 2019.
Five Continents International Film Festival, Winner (SOCIAL CLASS) – Short Documentary 2019.
World Documentary Awards, Winner (SOCIAL CLASS) – Short Documentary 2019.
Tagore International Film Festival, Winner (SOCIAL CLASS) – Short Documentary 2019.
World Film Carnival - Singapore, Winner (SOCIAL CLASS) – Short Documentary 2019.
Mahul Woods International Film Festival, Winner (SOCIAL CLASS) – Short Documentary 2019.
International Book Prize, Finalist (PRISON PYRAMID), 2019.
Millennium Writing Awards (short story), Honorable Mention 2019.
U.S. Trademark for Dax Xenos (pen name)
Druk International Film Festival Short Documentaries Winner (SOCIAL CLASS) 2019
Writers of the Future (short story), Honorable Mention 2018.
Official Selection Texas Ultimate Shorts Film and Video Competition 2018
Featured selection (TARANTULA) Oaxaca International Film festival 2015
First Families of Kentucky
Choice Theory / Reality Therapy Certified 2013
William Glasser International - member
Psi Chi Psychology honor society
Golden Key Scholastic Honor Society
American Psychological Association – past member
American Historical Association – past member
Certificate of Gratitude – Reel Women, 2009
Best Editing, El Pachuco, 48 Hour Film Contest, 2005
Telly Award (Cross Cultural Communications) 2004
Award of Excellence, The Communicator 2003.
Outstanding People of the 20th Century – Cambridge, England
Austin Community Access Center Community Service Award - 1999
Bronze Apple - National Educational Media Festival 1999
Crystal Award of Excellence - Communicator 1999
Award of Distinction - Videographer 1999
Bronze Apple - National Educational Media Festival 1999
Pegasus Award (First Place) 1998
Gold Award - Flagstaff International Film Festival 1998
Top 100 Multi-media Producers in America 1998
Award of Excellence - The Communicator Awards 1998
Silver Award - Worldfest 1998
Certificate of Creative Excellence - International Film & Video Festival 1998
Second Prize, Community Affairs - Austin Community Access Center 1998
U.S. Patents #5,599,021 and #4,172,373
Bronze Award -- Worldfest 1995, screenplays
Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America
"Full Range of Motion," Third Place for "KOBE."
Art Category First Place, ACTV Awards 1995
Finalist - ART @ Large Billboard Competition 1995
IABC Best of Austin - Audiovisual: Education / Training 1993
Bronze Award Worldfest Charleston 1993
Best of ACTV Video Programming 1993 - Comedy
Best of ACTV Video Programming 1993 - Community Service
Original Screenplay (Sci Fi) Finalist Award Worldfest 1993
Original Screenplay (Adventure) Finalist Award Worldfest 1992
Award of Excellence ACTV 1992 - Children's Programming
First Place - 1991 USA Hometown Video Festival
Silver Award - 1991 Houston International Film Festival
Prize Stories 1989 - The O. Henry Awards
Silver Award - 1988 Houston International Film Festival
Distinguished Achievement Award - 1987 ASIS Film Competition
Gold Award - 1987 Houston International Film Festival
IABC Best of Austin 1986 - video / films
"Security Film of the Year" – 1986 & 1987
The White Paper Editorial / Art Director Competition - Winner
PEN American Center - fiction co-winner 1984
Hollywood / South Florida Poetry Institute - founding member
Licensed General Contractor - Florida
Licensed Real Estate Salesman - Florida
Bachelor of Journalism - University of Texas
Sigma Chi
Mensa
