Rockford artist Johnathan Kuss creates rich, detailed, and alluring still life paintings that, at first glance, seem like classical imagery. However, his unconventional placement of personal items with a banana or an orange tells a story about how we relate to nature in an exhibition titled, “Our Controlling Nature” opening Friday, June 6th in the Kortman Gallery.
“My paintings are a comment on our complex relationship with nature and
the various ways we exert our commanding influence over it,” says Kuss in his artist’s statement. “It is through this exploration of our interactions with the natural world around us that I begin to
understand the human condition.”
“Creating narratives from personal items, the subject of each of Johnathan’s images is presented with a subtle irony,” says Doc Slafkosky, gallerist for the Kortman Gallery. “For instance, a classic image of a pear is stabbed by a a switchblade, or a mango pierced by a railroad spike. His paintings definitely start a conversation.”
The Johnathan Kuss exhibition, “Our Controlling Nature” will be on display through July 31st. The First Friday, June 5th opening reception will be from 5:30 to 9pm featuring music from (DJ) Terrible (D. J. Maclin). The party will continue after the reception at least until midnight. The Kortman Gallery is located upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street. For further information call 815/968-0123 or visit www.jrkortman.com.
What: “Our Controlling Nature,” an exhibition of works by Johnathan Kuss opening reception, First Friday, June 5th, 5:30 to 9:00pm...featuring music from (DJ) Terrible (D. J. Maclin)
When: The exhibition runs through July 31st. Gallery & Store open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 6pm.
Where: Kortman Gallery, upstairs at J. R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 North Main Street, Downtown Rockford
Admission: Free and open to the public