Sleeping Under the Waters

Featuring Mark Nelson and Richard Ross, Artists Opening Reception, Thursday, August 31, 6 to 9PM
In the loss of the traditional Grand Narratives, Nelson and Ross explore new avenues in what it means to be a human in an ever changing world of material and media. Sleeping Under the Waters refers to the perceived hibernation of rational thought and logic based on experience and experimentation. This growing slumber is being replaced with privilege and vanity with a sense of immanence. This being seen in the rise of feelings over facts.

Mark Nelson:

Artist Statement: Mark S. Nelson, a seasoned artist, and Texas native, has carved a niche in the art world with his captivating acrylic paintings. Nelson’s art invites viewers into a realm of vivid colors and mysterious dream worlds. His creations seek to grapple with the timeless questions that have haunted human existence. Mortality, the enigma of life beyond the temporal, and the ethereal nature of being all find their place in his artwork. Nelson beckons us to explore these arcane subjects alongside him, inviting us to ponder the mysteries of existence. His paintings resonate with those who seek meaning beyond the surface, inviting us to join him on a journey through the corridors of the mind and the heart.

Richard L. Ross:

Ross is a self-taught artist from Irving, Texas. Ross holds a degree in History from the University of Dallas. He began forming his artistic voice in the atmosphere of the early harcore punk scene of Dallas. During this time, he found glimpses of beauty in the chaos of specific moments, and the courage to question the grand narratives that had formed his life’s early foundations. Ross developed his own metanarrative which he has called “The Road to the Store”. Based on the Kantian concept that beliefs are formed from the question, “what can I hope”, Ross sees himself as a traveler along a road with this question motivating his destination. In the anticipation of the “what can I hope” question, Ross sees a similarity to one going to the store to shop for what they want and need. In his art, Ross has created a symbolistic cast of characters who play out his narrative in beautiful glimpses of the chaos and uncertainty he has witnessed along his road to the store’s journey.