This month we're featuring the work of Canadian still life artist, Christopher Stott. We're displaying twenty new original paintings, some of which can be found below:
Globe, Black - Oil on canvas - 24 X 24
Going Places - Oil on canvas - 20 X 40
Gumball Quintette - Oil on canvas - 24 X 36
Wide Open Windows - Oil on canvas - 24 X 24
Tell Me A True Story - Oil on canvas - 20 X 20
The Story Teller II - Oil on canvas - 24 X 48
Show Catalog - "Christopher Stott: New Paintings, 2013" - $20 each
Given that approximately 1,200 miles separate Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the home of Christopher Stott, and Sacramento, California, distance plays a huge role in the logistics of our relationship. The delivery of Chris’ work doesn’t include a trip across town; it involves careful packing, coordination, and feelings of anxiety as his paintings make their way, one by one, south, across the Canadian border. This gradual development - piece by piece – is unique in that a one-person show is typically delivered to the gallery in its entirety. This unintended benefit of the process affords us an opportunity to connect with the pieces on an individual basis, much like the artist does in the process of creation.
In addition, the progress photos that Chris sends to the gallery not only reinforce our connection to the artist but also grant us the opportunity to glimpse into his studio. These images, purposefully black and white as to not give too much away, feature paintings in their various stages of completion, surrounded by carefully organized tools and a meticulously arranged palette. A collection of vintage books, typewriters, clocks, fans, and other commonplace objects fill the surrounding shelves, bringing back fond memories of earlier paintings while amplifying the anticipation of future masterpieces. Chris’ clean working environment seems to mirror the exactitude with which he paints, revealing an authenticity that might not otherwise be recognized by merely looking at his paintings.
This sense of authenticity also applies to the fact that Chris’ subjects are not imagined or copied from images; they are depicted from everyday objects. While some books, such as the “Manual Of Psychology” have made multiple appearances dating back to 2009, others like “The Story Teller” and “The Perfect Woman” have recently found their way into his compositions. In this way, it seems that Chris’ commonplace subjects are transformed into characters as soon as they make the visual transformation from three-dimensional to two. Much like in a movie or play, these characters might occupy lead roles in one piece and act as the supporting cast in others. Their physical and emotive qualities are dependent on compositional placement, evoking underlying themes both subtle and obvious.
Chris infuses his paintings with a sense of humanity in which we can identify through our personal experience. In his recent painting, Going Places, Chris features a new book with a title that brings to mind adventure, growth, and progress. These themes are mimicked by the painting’s composition as the novel leans in an upward trajectory, bringing to mind ideas of optimism and future possibility. The piece, Going Places II utilizes the same novel, but with a different approach as it takes on a supporting role both literally and figuratively. The inclusion of the antique clock evokes ideas of time and an ability to capture the moment. Finally, in his painting, Gumball Quintette, the iconic gumball machines gather together as if posing for a family portrait. Though they are of varying colors, shapes, and sizes, they stand connected.
Six years have passed since the first Christopher Stott painting made its way from Canada to the walls of our gallery. Since then, hundreds of paintings have filtered through, traveling on to collectors worldwide. Despite the distance, we continue to grow together, and it is no doubt that Chris’ passion, creativity, and artistic talent will continue to propel the success of his career into the future.
Michelle Satterlee
May 2013
