Nathan Perry - uninhabited

uninhabited nathan ellis perry

Director’s Foreword

Nathan Perry - Uninhabited, represents a chance to view his wonderful work. Painting in all forms is one of the Art Department’s fundamental areas of educating artists. Whether a painting is an abstract or a formal still life, having exceptional exhibitions of painting in our galleries helps to generate meaningful discussions and life long learning about painting.

The University Art Gallery’s programing helps to support our faculty’s teaching. It is through faculty recommendations that many exhibitions come to our galleries. This exhibition was recommended by my colleague Susan Stephenson, who wrote the following about Nathan’s work:

“Nathan Perry is a painter’s painter. Whether his work reveals imaginary landscapes or depicts scenes he observes on location, his work distinguishes itself by the sheer vivacity of his explorations of paint. His imagined universes feel eerily familiar, and I believe their integrity is due in part to Nathan’s years of perceptual painting. Deeply rooted in abstraction, their whimsical nature is encouraged by Nathan’s sensibility and finesse. Whether toying with non-objectivity or hinting at perception, every painting revels in the materiality of the paint and in the spark of color interactions. I glimpse Nathan’s curiosity and wit in the playfulness and verve of his work, as well as in the audacity of his stretching the limits of paint and its capacities. And I know that such strengths are the product of a combination of talent with the confidence earned through experience and a formidable work ethic.”

I am very excited to be able to exhibit Nathan’s work for others to enjoy.

I would like to thank the many colleagues that have been instrumental in presenting this exhibition. Nathan Perry for the chance of exhibiting his brilliant work, Susan Stephenson for recommending Nathan’s exhibition, the College of the Arts, California State University, Stanislaus for the catalog design and Parks Printing for printing this catalog.

Much gratitude is extended to the Instructionally Related Activates Program of California State University, Stanislaus, as well as anonymous donors for the funding of the exhibition and catalog. Their support is greatly appreciated.

Dean De Cocker

Director, University Art Gallery California State University, Stanislaus

Nathan Ellis Perry

Artist Statement

I generate alien landscapes that exist outside of time. My paintings have become a record of the creation and destruction of an unknown land. I scour initial abstractions for space and atmosphere. Naming these features is the first step to creating this other world.

The paintings are populated with images from my past. Growing up in Salt Lake Valley—the dried out basin of a prehistoric lake—established my preference for seemingly harsh and desolate terrain. My color choices allude to popular culture from my childhood - oversaturated cartoons and technicolor fantasy films. Adjusting color and value, and specifying forms through reference, develop my vision of a faraway planet.

Special Thanks

Special thanks: Christina, Ellis, and all of my family, friends, and colleagues for their continued support. Western Carolina University School of Art and Design, and Susan Stephenson along with everyone at California State University, Stanislaus who made this exhibition possible.

Nathan Ellis Perry

nathanellisperry.com

EDUCATION

2014 MFA, Painting, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

2011 BFA, Painting, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, Old Lyme, CT

2007 AS, Fine Art, Snow College, Ephraim, UT

EMPLOYMENT

Pres.-18 Workshop Assistant, Cullowhee Arts, Sylva, NC

Pres.-17 Adjunct Instructor, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC

Pres.-16 Freelance Illustrator, Self-Employed, Clyde, NC

2017 Adjunct Instructor, Columbia State Community College, Columbia, TN

2016-15 Adjunct Instructor, Martin Methodist College, Pulaski, TN

Gallery Director, Martin Methodist College, Pulaski, TN

2015 Adjunct Instructor, Calhoun Community College, Decatur, AL

Private Instructor, Manifest Drawing Center, Cincinnati, OH

Drawing Instructor, Manifest Drawing Center, Cincinnati, OH

Visiting Instructor, PA 201 Painting: Methods and Concepts, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

2014 Adjunct Instructor, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

2014-13 Associate Instructor, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

EXHIBITIONS

2019 Uninhabited, Solo Exhibition, Stan State Art Space, Turlock, CA

School of Art and Design Faculty Biennial, Group Exhibition, The WCU Fine Art Museum, Cullowhee, NC

2018 ANIMALIS, Group Exhibition, Manifest Creative Research Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

PLEIN AIR, Group Exhibition, Manifest Creative Research Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

Uninhabited, Solo Exhibition, Martin Hall Art Gallery, University of Mobile, Mobile, AL

From Home, Solo Exhibition, Rodwell Gallery, Haywood Arts Regional Theatre, Waynesville, NC

Uninhabited, Solo Exhibition, The Space at Sway Downtown, Mobile, AL

Drawn to Doodle, Group Exhibition, Harrison Center for the Arts, Indianapolis, IN. Juror: Nathan Foxton

WCU Student and Faculty Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Carolina Gallery of Fine Art, Highlands, NC

Drawing from Perception VIII, Group Exhibition, Stein Galleries, Wright State University, Dayton, OH. Juror: Catherine Kehoe

2017 Art in the Space, Group Exhibition, The Space at Sway Downtown, Mobile, AL

SKETCH, Group Exhibition, Manifest Creative Research Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

2016 Metamorphosis, Group Exhibition, Chauncey Stillman Gallery, Lyme Academy, Old Lyme, CT

Jurors: Susanna Coffey, Todd Jokl and Patricia Miranda

Natural Response, Group Exhibition, Eichold Gallery, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL

University of South Alabama Visual Arts Gallery, Mobile, AL

Portraits, Group Exhibition, Harrison Center for the Arts, Indianapolis, IN., Curator: Nathan Foxton

2015 Alumni Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Chauncey Stillman Gallery, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, Old Lyme, CT

Jurors: Barbara Marks, David Shevlino, and Robert Taplin

Strange Paradise: National Juried Exhibition, Group Exhibition, First Street Gallery, New York, NY

Juror: Steven Harvey

Regional Showcase: Paintings from IN and OH, Group Exhibition, Manifest Creative Research Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

2014 Inside and Out, Group Exhibition, The Painting Center, New York, NY

Syncopated: Off-Beat and En-Pointe. Group Exhibition, Blueline Gallery, Bloomington, IN

PUBLICATIONS

2018 7th International Painting Annual. Manifest Press. Cincinnati, OH.

2016 Create! Magazine, Nathan Perry, Create Magazine Blog, Nov 21 http://www.create-magazine.com/2016/11/nathan-perry/

AWARDS AND HONORS

2018 Visting Artist Lecturer, University of Mobile, Mobile, AL

2015-16 Juror for Manifest Seasons 11, 12, & 13 Exhibitions and Projects, Manifest Creative Research Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

2012-13 McIntyre Fellowship, Hope School of Fine Arts, Indiana University

Acknowledgements

California State University, Stanislaus

Dr. Ellen Junn, President

Dr. Kimberly Greer, Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dr. James A. Tuedio, Dean, College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Art

Dr. Carmen Robbin, Chair, Professor

Dean De Cocker, Professor

Martin Azevedo, Assistant Professor

Tricia Cooper, Lecturer

James Deitz, Lecturer

Daniel Edwards, Associate Professor

Jessica Gomula-Kruzic, Professor

Daniel Heskamp, Lecturer

Chad Hunter, Lecturer

David Olivant, Professor

Patrica Eshagh, Lecturer

Ellen Roehne, Lecturer

Dr. Staci Scheiwiller, Associate Professor

Susan Stephenson, Assistant Professor

Jake Weigel, Assistant Professor

Meg Broderick, Administrative Support Assistant II

Andrew Cain, Instructional Technician I

Jon Kithcart, Equipment Technician II

Stan State Art Space

Dean De Cocker, Director

Leon Bach, Gallery Assistant

School of the Arts

Brad Peatross, Graphic Specialist II

Nathan Ellis Perry - Uninhabited

August 26–October 12, 2019 | Stan State Art Space, California State University, Stanislaus | 226 N. First St., Turlock, CA 95380

300 copies printed. Copyright © 2019 California State University, Stanislaus • ISBN: 978-1-940753-45-4

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the publisher. This exhibition and catalog have been funded by Associated Students Instructionally Related Activities, California State University, Stanislaus.