Living in Danger Resting on Sand:
New works by Nathaniel Parsons
(May 21st-July 10th, 2022)
The Compound Gallery is pleased to announce a solo show featuring the works of Bay Area artist Nathaniel Parsons titled Living in Danger Resting on Sand. Parsons’ work invariably invites the viewer to see themselves as a participant. Growing up in a pre-digital world he played with neighbors and shared his toys, and these momentary entertaining interactions led Parsons to continue to create from a place of spontaneity and improvisation. Parsons was given an early gift of sophistication as he was graced with parents who were both accomplished artists and an older brother who was a quick witted painter with exceptional musical acumen. Parsons has followed in the multi-faceted family tradition of originality and expression and has chosen not to focus on one medium or outcome, but rather follow the Danny Kaye model of becoming a “triple threat.”Living in Danger Resting on Sand reflects on Parsons’ diverse interests and showcases his observational oil paintings (still life and landscape), sculptures of various scales and materials, and an interactive social practice project that engages participants and viewers in the creation of “plain-air” landscapes. This collection of artworks aims to be seen as a total vision of his art practice, and some might even view the entirety as an immersive installation.
Nathaniel has always loved oil paint, especially its visceral characteristics like smell and viscosity. He is compelled to explore and scrutinize the historic role of paintings and attempt to open its practice into a more democratic and inclusive space. While painting landscapes for this show, visitors helped Nathaniel see from their perspective and at times redirected the outcome. This show also features Parson’s gouache paintings on paper in frames made by the artist. These gouache paintings are a portable process that allows for the immediate capture of his explorative observations and many of these works have become a source for his oil paintings. The viewer might notice themes of snakes in Parson’s sculptures, particularly the poisonous coral snake. Even though the artist has purposefully created these snakes using incorrect scale and patterning, the reference of danger still persists, forcing the viewer to contend with the notion that their fear doesn’t always come from a place of knowing. Parson’s has repurposed “waste” from a previous project to create “Fear Catchers”- red and white mouth-like sculptures designed to catch, displace, and ultimately release our feelings of fear.
Living in Danger Resting on Sand also includes shadow boxes made from victorian era house drawers. Parsons makes a specific arrangement of objects within these drawers, creating a dialogue with their shared meanings and destiny. It is the artist’s intent that the new owner of these works could add more objects to the boxes, thus making it a conversation between them and the artist. Parsons will also hold some Painting in Parks sessions in the Doyle Hollis park across the street from the gallery. Having grown up in the small town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio where his back yard blended into the confines of the local park, Parsons has always been attracted to how city parks function. In this project he has created a large easel and cart, producing a mobile oil painting studio that can be taken into city parks. While in the park, Parsons will create landscape paintings that tell the visual story of a place. This practice will be open to people that sign up for time or if room is available, to the casual visitor. The goal is to demystify the process of making an oil painting while also attempting to share the history of it as an art form. No competition allowed.
Answer: Always Better With Others
Reason: Safe On An Ice Flow – Only With Brother
