MARK NELSON, "Reverse Engineering: Works from the Painted Desert"
Opening Thursday, November 10 · 6:00pm - 11:00pm
CARLOS & DOMINGUEZ Fine Arts Gallery
1538 W. Cullerton Street, (2000 South, East of Ashland Ave.)
Chicago, IL
MARK
NELSON, an artist and teacher, has been a resident of Chicago since
1984, when he arrived from the Republic of Panama. His work was shaped
from his roots as a "gringo" living from adolescence into adulthood in a
unique Latin American country where the "land divided and the world
united".
His work can be found in private collections as well
as a commissioned mural painting for the new U.S. Embassy-Consulate in
the Republ ic of Panama in 2007. His
"Gringolandia" Studio and home is located in Chicago's own Pilsen
community, where he is an active and highly regarded artist. He has
received numerous grants and awards as a teacher and a professional
artist, including twice taking the Illinois Arts Council esteemed
Fellowship.
"Reverse Engineering: works from the Painted
Desert" is the latest series of works to come from two summer
residencies in 2010 and 2011, during which Mark researched the landscape
and indigenous history of Northern Arizona as a teacher-ranger and
videographer for the U.S. National Park Service. MARK NELSON began his
paintings outside of his park residence above the Painted Desert.
The Painted Desert, a carved basin of land once a river larger than the
Amazon, is at the center of the Petrified Forest National Park. The
park, abundant with Pueblo ruins, petroglyphs, petrified trees, and
Triassic fossils, provided rich sources of inspiration to Mark, and he
ventured out to other sites under the jurisdiction of the Hope, Navajo,
Apache, Zuni, and 18 other indigenous nations.
Nelson
attributes his greatest influence during these summers to attending the
noon dance rite of Niman, by invitation of Hopi artists. Niman is a
Hopi celebration of the Summer Solstice that reunites family and
friends. The paintings, which MARK NELSON presents here at the CARLOS
& DOMINGUEZ Fine Arts Gallery, are filled with the symbolism,
landscaope, colors, and bountifulness of this region.
Not to
be missed, these works of artistic vision are a cultivation of
enlightenment. MARK NELSON has had a number of unique experiences which
have contributed to artistic expressions like none other.
After Opening night, viewing is by appointment:
Contact: Len Dominguez at: feriadelaluna @yahoo.com
