Chad Robertson - Rise

May 27 - June 24, 2006
Reception: Saturday, May 27 from 6-9pm

This May at sixspace, Chad Robertson presents Rise; an exhibition of new oil-on-canvas paintings inspired by the films of George A. Romero and the zombie genre. For decades these films, in particular the Romero films, have explored current social or political issues and events that are channeled through this idea of a mindless, yet human, animal - a zombie. Throughout his work, Robertson has always held an interest in defining and capturing a "a truer representation of our intentions, motivations and desires become apparent" as well as how subtle nuances can become main events. An extension of these thoughts, Rise provides a provocative, menacing, yet beautiful look at these pertinent ideas brought about by these horror films where your neighbor can be the enemy and when it only takes one event to forever alter life as we know it. This exhibition marks Robertson's second solo show at sixspace and the debut of his works-on-paper series in the project room.

Chad Robertson’s paintings are definitions of moments in-between moments. The process of developing Chad Robertson's paintings involve both a video camera and a computer. By video-taping an interview session he conducts with his subjects and then by selecting subtle, nuanced moments from this interaction (brush of a hand, blinking of an eye), he creates the final version in oil-on-canvas via hand. Through his paintings, Robertson constructs an altered-state of reality whereby these specific moments manifested in one person are depicted in everyday environments such as a grocery store or a line. And, just as the paintings strive to show a truer self in their subjects, the process itself, from physical to digital to physical once more, play its part in finding a deeper sense of significance.

Chad Robertson (b. 1965 Los Angeles, lives Los Angeles) received his BFA from Otis Parsons Art Institute in 1991. In addition to participating in international art fairs, Robertson has held solo exhibitions in Stockholm, Sweden as well as Niva Gallery, Creative Artists Agency, and sixspace in Los Angeles. In 2005, commissioned paintings by Robertson featuring WE activists traveled throughout Europe in cities such as Paris, Coppenhagen, Barcelona and Toyko as part of WE's fashion tour. Most recently Robertson has been featured in Anthem Magazine (limited edition cover and interview), Staf Magazine (Spain), The Arts District Citizen, and Modart, while previous aicles on his work have been featured in publications such as Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, Flaunt Magazine, Wired, LA Confidential, Ingenue, and Brentwood Magazine.