Chris Rush, Chris Mars, Vincent Valdez Play At Mesa Contemporary Arts

Mesa Contemporary Arts launched its much anticipated spring and summer exhibitions on Friday, Feb. 12, with a collection of works that explore the complexity ofhuman life, focusing on individuals who are often marginalized by society because they do not fit into theaccepted norm.

For the first time, Chris Rush, Chris Mars, and Vincent Valdez will be showcased togetherat one venue. Even though their styles and techniques are different, they all have chosen a similar theme: the outcasts, the outsiders, and the unconventional. Mesa Contemporary Arts will hold a free publicreception for the four new spring/summer exhibitions on Friday, April 9.

Known for his realistic portraits of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities, Tucson artist Chris Rush captures both the physical and inner essence of his sitters. Rush's classically contrived compositions and dramatic lighting are reminiscent of art history's most celebrated portraits. In contrast to traditional portraiture, which generally depicts an idealized likeness of the sitter, Rush chooses to depict a true rendering of his subjects who are considered different by society's standards.

Profoundly affected by his brother's diagnosis and treatment for schizophrenia growing up, Chris Marsexplores themes of prejudice, xenophobia, exploitation and redemption in his provocative oil paintings. Some of his figures are derived from reality, while others are invented and serve as distorted charactersthat comment on social issues, like corporate excess, vanity, rescue, relief and hope. Originally thedrummer for the 1980's alternative rock band The Replacements, today, Mars is generally associatedwith the "Low-Brow" art movement. He considers himself to be an "outcast" in the mainstream art scene and empathizes with others who are also considered "outsiders."In his full-scale charcoal drawings, Chicano artist Vincent Valdez illustrates the final fight of a boxer, basing each scene on Christ's final journey in the Stations of the Cross.

Valdez depicts the dark side ofboxing, choosing the inglorious scenes of the match. Even though boxing is considered a mainstreamsport in today's society, it is still seen as a rough, bloody profession and has a lingering stigma oftenassociated with a "lower-class" of people. In addition, Mesa Contemporary Arts is pleased to present Justin Stewart's sculptural installment of 2AM-2PM in the Project Room. The Sunday Morning Twin Cities Metro Transit System is transferred into a 3Dvisual object. The dynamic sculptures are an intricate attempt to complicate a comprehensive everydaymapping system. 2AM-2PM invites viewers to make sense of the obscure sculptures made of copper, wood, thread, and steal. 

This summer, audiences can look forward to seeing the Arizona Designer Craftsman 50 th AnniversaryJuried Exhibition. Since the Arizona Designer Craftsmen organization was founded in 1959, they have actively expanded the art of contemporary crafts in Arizona. The exhibition invites the public to discover the growing assortment of ideas and artists involved in contemporary craft throughout the state.

The free public reception for this exhibition will take place on Friday, June 11.Members receive the first chance to view the exhibitions, meet the artists, and have many other exclusive benefits. To become a member of Mesa Contemporary Arts, call the Membership Office at 480-644-6615.

Mesa Contemporary Arts Spring/Summer 2010 Exhibition Details Stare Chris RushFeb. 12 - May 16, 2010Artist Talk: Friday, April 9 (7:30pm)This exhibition presents a survey of Chris Rush's work from the last ten years. It features some of his most celebrated portraits: drawings of unusualchildren and adults, often with physical and mental disabilities. In these portraits, we begin to comprehend these essential individuals-to draw close to their strangeness and see something of ourselves waiting there.Only Tenants Reside Chris Mars March 19 - Aug. 1, 2010

Known for his dark, intense imagery, Minneapolis-based artist Chris Mars has established himself asone of the leading artists in the "Low-Brow"movement. A self-taught artist, Mars often considershimself an "outsider" and empathizes with individuals who are viewed as "the other" or labeled "the outcast." He tackles challenging topics like prejudice, xenophobia, exploitation, and redemption,depicting his characters in macabre, play-like settings. Featuring 20 oil paintings, Only TenantsReside showcases Mars' most recent work.2AM-2PMJustin StewartApril 2 - Aug. 8, 20102AM-2PM is part of Justin Stewart's current sculpturalseries, which represents a three-dimensional model ofthe Sunday Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Transit System. Through a series of suspended wood balls, copper rods, weights, and blue threads, Stewart tries to make visualsense of a complex, and often times, confusing world.

Stations Vincent Valdez April 9 - Aug. 8, 2010 Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Vincent Valdez is considered one of the rising stars in Chicano art. Stations is Valdez's latest body of work that is basedon the Catholic account of the Stations of the Cross, which traditionallyrepresents the final hours or "Passion" of Christ. In his large-scale charcoaldrawings, Valdez depicts the last day and fight of a boxer's life. Arizona Designer Craftsman 50th Anniversary Juried Exhibition June 11 - August 8, 2010Founded in 1959, the Arizona Designer Craftsmen organization has remained a constantly evolving collection of artists and ideas with the declared mission to foster and advance contemporary crafts relatedactivities in Arizona. This juried exhibition is dedicated to enhancing the public's awareness ofcontemporary craft and quality workmanship while providing a venue for established and emerging artiststo share their creative endeavors

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