Steve Connor was born January 21, 1954.
At a young age, a sense of separation, made him crave a re-union with the Self, or to unite with a greater beingness, or whatever you might wish to name the unknown.
From the ages 15-18, besides studying the classical guitar, he practiced Zen meditation and Yoga, to that end.
He practiced the guitar for many hours a day, for many days, and years. His classical guitar teacher's name was Alan Alexander of Albany, NY.
Following that period, Steve had an encounter with the Yogi named Rudrananda at his Ashram in upstate New York.
Among the many spiritual and dream experiences he had was, a dream in which he held a very disabled child in his arms, knowing that this cherished being was his responsibility.
After graduation from high school, Steve attended one year at Syracuse University, where he studied with Geoff Dorfman, then transferred to Pratt Institute, where he met his art teacher Lyrical Abstractionist Alan Fenton ... his consciousness and orientation to the abstract became firmly fixed. The work he did at that time earned a Ford Foundation Grant.
After graduating he spent a brief period in the garment district in Manhattan designing for the fashion industry.
In 1976 he drove across country to California to join the spiritual community of Da Free John; he left that movement considerably wiser.
He met his wife Amy during that period of time. Elana was born in 1978; a beautiful being with what is called Autism. Steve worked for as a production artists and an art director for an ad agency for 7 years, and also provided creative services for high-tech business in both print media and interactive multimedia. Hours of each day were devoted to helping Elana learn to walk.
Menlo Park in the 1980's:
Steve and his family moved to Austin, Texas; this is the invitation for a show there. The photo is from the 1970's by college roomate Jonathon Sperling.
In Austin he worked as an Art Director for an online learning company, managing a department of 32 artists and writers.
He studied spirituality with Swami Satyananda Saraswati and Sri Shivarudra BalaYogi.
Currently, he teaches drawing and design at 4 schools in Austin Texas, works with a non-profit for artists with disabilities (Imagine Art) and develops his art. On occasion he exhibits his art (as a member of the art group ConnorArts) with his daughter Elana Connor, also an abstract artist.