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Art Wed Feb 24 2010
Nathaniel Russell at Home Gallery
Nathaniel Russell has had shows in New York, LA, San Francisco, and now decorating the walls of the home of a family of four- as the most recent exhibition titled NOWS at Home Gallery in Hyde Park, run by Andrew Nord and Laura Schaeffer.
Russell's artist statement provides a unique and encompassing view of the eclecticism of his work. Created in a "mind map" format, a practice used by graphic designers to create a sense of brand or identity on a project, he starts with the word "Oneness" and branches out to such random musings as "Old Men", "Hippies", "Dust", "Library" and "Mystery Lights." Visitors can wander throughout the living room, kitchen, hallways, and master bedroom of Home Gallery and find traces of these many random influences in Russell's work. He works mostly with pen and ink, but also has a sculptural display of made-up books with illustrated covers, and some screen-printed material as well.
Russell's style has a very 1970's feel- inspired by the decade's advertising and popular posters. His frequent combination of images and words reflects a background in graphic design, as well as his repeated focus on books and literature. Chicagoans may find another 70's style link in that some of his work seems tied to the Imagist movement that occurred in Chicago at that time- particularly one ink drawing that involves bizarrely proportioned, spindly cowgirls with blue skin and giant red hats, titled "Agnes Lake Memorial Summer Program for Girls Survival Guide." In an interview he did with Schafer, who runs Home Gallery, Russell discussed his fascination with cowboys and cowgirls as the "American Knights"
NOWS remains on display at Home Gallery until the closing brunch and reception this Sunday, February 28th from 12-3pm. Home Gallery is located at 1407 E. 54th Place, in Hyde Park.
