Galleryna19 is pleased to present
“City of Nowhere” by Chicago-based artist, Darren Pollard. This new collection
of works marks his 1st solo exhibition at Galleryna19, and will
feature his mixed media paintings and collages from the series: City of
Nowhere. An opening reception will be
held on July 18, 2014 from 6-10pm at 19 W. Harrison St, Oak Park IL 60304. The exhibition will be on view through
August 18, 2013 and is free and open to the public.
A
Detroit native currently residing in Chicago, Pollard uses several acrylic
mediums, found objects, magazine articles and sand to create a kaleidoscope of
intertwining random themes that challenge the idea that social conformity and
patterned behavior must exist for society to thrive.
“If we abandon our fears, controlling values crackle; and we emerge
from a pattern of unnecessary contextualization and manipulation to an open
field of possibilities. City of nowhere
is not about execution, perfection, or skill; it’s an artistic display of
liberation and abandonment.” – Pollard.
Darren Pollard recalls hearing stories
told by his family members about not “jumping on the Motown bandwagon”, and choosing
to chain smoke while listening to avant-garde Jazz musicians, such as Miles
Davis and John Coltrane. Those stories influenced Mr. Pollard to believe he was
“cut from a different cloth.”
At the age of 18, Darren
Pollard moved to Chicago from Detroit to attend DeVry Institute of
Technology. After a classmate sold him a
Pentax camera for fifty dollars, he dropped out and roamed the streets of
Chicago taking photographs of everything he saw. After leaving Chicago to return to school,
Pollard received a BS in Psychology from Illinois State University, and then
moved to Springfield, IL to pursue a Master’s Degree in Community Arts
Management.
After 4 years in Springfield,
Pollard moved to the Wicker Park neighborhood in Chicago. Pollard credits living in Wicker Park in the
mid-to-late-nineties as his first real exposure to artist who made a living
painting.
In 2002 Pollard moved to the
San Francisco Bay Area, where he refined his skills as a photographer. A year and a half later he was hired as a
photography instructor at a community college in the Bay Area, and started
exhibiting his fine art photography. Pollard also started a
photography club for kids the Mission district of San Francisco and served as
photography curator at the Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland, California.
In 2009 Pollard returned to
Chicago to be closer to his two children. Exposing his kids to
photography and painting inspired him to paint. His success as an
abstract painter has been somewhat surprising. In a few short years Pollard has
been included in several group shows throughout Chicago and the East Coast, and
has accumulated a list of notable collectors throughout the United States.
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Event
Information:
City of Nowhere, New Works by Darren Pollard
Opening Reception – Friday, July 18, 6-10 pm
On View Through August 18, 2014
@ Galleryna19
19 Harrison St, Oak Park, I
City of Nowhere, New Works by Darren Pollard
Opening Reception – Friday, July 18, 6-10 pm
On View Through August 18, 2014
@ Galleryna19
19 Harrison St, Oak Park, I
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Galleryna19 is the newest addition to the trendy Oak Park Art District, the stylishly minimalist gallery exhibits emerging, mid-career and established artists creating contemporary works on paper, paintings, and fine art photography. The mission of Galleryna19 is to bridge various artist communities and provide its artists greater exposure to new markets.
Galleryna19 opened its doors in 2014 in the Oak Park Arts
District; one known for its diverse culture and history. The owners, Martha
Wade And Reisha Williams, founded the space to offer a welcoming environment
for viewing the art they love. Galleryna19 recognizes the necessity to provide
lowbrow and outsider artists, as well as street artists a platform. In addition to the exhibition of art, the gallery plans to host annual fundraisers for local nonprofits and
provide opportunities for youth to develop as artists.
Oak Park, IL 60304
