Rod Northcutt

A Natural History of Fabrication
November 15, 2010 - February 5, 2011

 

  • Reception: November 18, 6-8 p.m., gallery lounge
  • live music by the Parkland Guitar Ensemble

 
Rod Northcutt, Diagram for Castor Canadensis, ink on paperRod Northcutt’s conceptual works of sculpture, drawings, audio, and paintings speak indirectly of human relationships by using a few carefully chosen animals as surrogates. Here, nature’s builders--beavers, woodpeckers, and termites--dramatically unfold an alternate history of construction and manufacturing in the United States by proxy. Playing humorously between fact and fiction, the artist presents artifacts in a natural history format: relics and tools from 1950s beaver lodge architecture; Dutch-style shoes created by the combined efforts of woodpeckers and termites; an early prototype of a beaver-inspired adult novelty, and more. Constructing allegorical tales through a litany of delicately crafted items, Northcutt references social history, philosophy, labor movements/industry, metaphysics, and revolution, among other subjects.

Northcutt received his MFA in sculpture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and BFA in painting and drawing/biology from The University of North Texas. He has exhibited nationally and internationally at the Dallas Center for Contemporary Art, Museum of Contemporary Art: Chicago, and others. He designs furniture and structures under the name of onesixtyfourth design and works collaboratively with green/sustainable design collectives.


Image: Rod Northcutt, Diagram for Castor Canadensis, ink on paper