statement
American Metal
Trophies play a major role in American life. Capitalism is essentially rooted in the idea of winning. Trophies are the carrot leading the horse, a symbol of hope and desire for the ninety-nine percent. These paintings envision our trophy-world – shiny and superficial. The metal, however, is an illusion, spray-plated plastic, no real weight - an apt metaphor for a country that no longer manufactures anything. All of these figures are proudly standing on a marble base - symbolic of our institutional traditions. In reality, these trinkets are no more than six inches high. The paintings enlarge the figures not to human size, but to half human-size as if they are desperately trying to assert their importance. The various figures are used to represent different aspects of our society. The rodeo trophies illustrate our romanticized past – the wild west in all its rugged testosterone-soaked glory. The cheerleaders embody our obsession with sports and its accompanying misogyny. The motorcross statuette typifies our love of speed, daredevils and gasoline. The bodybuilder pokes fun at the prevailing image we have of our country as mighty and heroic as well as demonstrating our preoccupation with physical beauty. Finally, the policeman depicts the country's need for excessive security just to live "freely" today. Another narrative is created in the paintings when the viewer becomes aware of my reflection occurring throughout the trophies. The mini-self portraits acknowledge my own desires for success as well as my participation in the system I purport to critique.
America is ostensibly a meritocracy, and I think we can all agree that hard work, creativity and integrity should be rewarded. American exceptionalism, however, seems to have been largely replaced with greed and a craving for celebrity. American metal (mettle) used to mean something solid.
bio
born: 1968, Charleston, South Carolina
education
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois , MFA 2000
Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, Ohio, BFA 1992
selected awards/honors
Finalist Award, Illinois Arts Council, 2001
Scholarship, Union League Civic and Arts Foundation, 2000
selected publications
New American Paintings #107
The Edge of Realism, American Art Collector, December 2006
A Spotlight on Living Artists, Crow Woods Publishing, 2003
New American Paintings #35
selected solo or two-person exhibits
Enlightened?, Linda Warren Projects Chicago, 2014
SUPER-ficial: A Chris Cosnowski Retrospective, South Shore Arts Association, Munster, Indiana, 2013
Lyonswier Gallery, American Metal, New York City, New York, 2012
Apocalypse, Linda Warren Projects, Chicago, 2010
selected group shows
Contemporary Painting, University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2014
Playing Around, Brattleboro Museum of Art, Brattleboro, Vermont, 2009
Unseriously/Serious, Linda Warren Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, 2007
10 Years – A Retrospective, Dolby-Chadwick Gallery, San Francisc, California, 2006
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