CHICAGO —
The landscape of Anderson is now making a mark on the art world of Chicago through a young painter native to Chesterfield. Nathanael Gray was chosen for a month-long solo exhibit at the Elephant Room, Inc. Art Gallery in the south loop neighborhood of the windy city.
Titled “Monuments,” his series of paintings have been mounted on three dimensional boxes. Each box features different angles of an empty factory, namely Delco Remy, Borg Warner, and BPB Celtex of Lagro.
“I liked the buildings because they indicate what was here,” he said via phone from his Wabash home. “It infers what has happened.”
Once he began sketching, he became more keenly aware of just how many overheard conversations in stores and restaurants centered on the abandoned facilities.
“So many people worked there and then lost their jobs just short of retirement,” he added. “It became more than an interesting eerie place — it had affected so many lives by putting food on the tables of families. I wanted to represent these places that created an entire economy for this area.”
Kimberly L. Atwood, the owner and curator of the gallery, commented that his connection to the people affected the outcome of his work.
“Gray has somehow managed to allow these conversations about the people who once worked here to creep into his work and bring in elements of emotion,” she said. “I think his process is very thoughtful. The overall story and research about the factories that closed makes it very, very interesting.”
Until last fall, Gray continued to live in Chesterfield and commute to Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, where he graduated with painting and theatre degrees. Currently he is the art coordinator for The Wabash Hoosier Salon Gallery and paints independently.
Throughout high school, Gray studied with local professional artist David Slonim, who illustrates children’s books as well as exhibits fine art oil paintings in galleries.
“I’ve known (Gray) since he was 2 and watched him develop from when he started painting at 12,” said Slonim. “From the beginning I could see he had talent. He had sensitivity to shape and color and the way he used paint was beautiful. Now he has transcended to impressionistic and pushed toward abstraction and is doing some innovative things in his presentation. It’s exciting to see.”
Through his voice, Slonim conveys pride at the accomplishments of Gray.
“He can take an old building or even a crack in the sidewalk and create a beautiful abstract work,” he continued. “That’s where the real art happens, in my opinion. There’s a difference between painting what you see and making art. Art is interpreting what you are seeing and presenting it to the viewer in a different form.”
Gray is hoping this exhibit will result in greater exposure for his work.
“I hope something can come from it,” he said. “The goal is to get exposure and have my work seen by more people. Chicago is a much broader venue than anything in Indiana, with a broader audience and more exposure to art critics and review.”
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Nathanael Gray stands next to one of his artworks on display in Chicago. Submitted photo
Discussion
Artist details Anderson’s past
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