Russell Thurston
Schematic, 2011, encaustic, oil and collage on wood. 39” x 49” x 2”
GR: Could you describe how you made “Tree
(How the West was Won),” which is a remarkable
sculpture?
RT: I was invited to participate in “Pollination,” a
group show at the new Santa Fe Convention Center
Gallery. The show was part of the celebrations of the
400th anniversary of the founding of Santa Fe and
centered on the theme of how cultures and ideas
cross-pollinate one another. I set out to explore
the concepts of history, Manifest Destiny, and the
conquest of the native peoples of New Mexico. I
wanted to reference old-fashioned anthropology
exhibits, with their staged dioramas that represent
a very one-sided version of history. The sculpture
that resulted combines a dead cedar branch and
an encaustic vessel containing wax “ghosts” that
can be seen through a viewing lens.
Technically, this presented a challenge,
since it was like building a ship in a bottle.
GR: Does encaustic work well for sculpture?
RT: In many ways, it’s a great medium for 3D work,
because it’s very malleable. You can carve it, cast it
or paint it on a 3D form. But it’s also tricky, because
when you try to fuse it with heat, it wants to run off
down the sides.
GR: How do you see your work evolving going
forward?
RT: It’s interesting, because it’s going in two
different directions. I’ve begun some works on
paper that are much simpler than what I’ve done
in the past, just the encaustic and paper. They’re
mostly about mark making with different tools and
trying to control the gesture in a more minimal way.
Basically I’m trying not to think too much and just
get lost in the joy of painting.
Then there are these new sculptures I’m
making that are very complex, using wood, lenses,
LED lights, solar panels and all kinds of found
objects. They’re a return to some ideas I had in art
school but are so labor intensive that I can only do
a few a year.
GR: How do you get ideas for your paintings?
RT: I like what Leonard Cohen said when asked
about his song writing. His response was, “If I knew
where the good songs came from, I’d go there
more often.”
I’m never sure where or when inspiration will
come and that’s O.K., as long as it keeps coming.
For additional information on Russell Thurston
check out: http://www.russellthurston.com
& Represented in Santa Fe by Vivo Contemporary
Art. http://www.vivocontemporary.com
Portfolio
9
Fall
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