Webner finds inspiration across varied disciplines

Most artists start their careers displaying their art in galleries that double as refrigerator doors. Exhibition spaces get a bit more selective after the third grade, but those who continue to refine their ninja turtle drawings get the opportunity to display their work to a wider audience. One such artist, Russell Webner '11, is preparing to showcase his work along with three other artists at the Palmer Gallery.

The show is entitled This the Range and Recent and features work by Webner, Rhys Bambrick '11, Joseph Redwood-Martinez '11 and Charlie Warren '10. "It's a collaborative effort," says Webner. "It deals with the role of media in our lives. It's a modern take on the way we make our art."

And for Webner, making art is about the process. "I find it to be a lot more fruitful if the process defines the piece in some way. I think of each painting as a kind of journey."
As a freshman, Webner arrived at Vassar planning on majoring in art history. Having taken an art history course in high school, he thought he had found his calling. But after having enrolled in both Introduction to Art History and Introduction to Drawing in his first year, he came to the realization that he would rather practice art than study it. "I found out quickly that I wanted to make my own art," states Russell. He was taken by the process of art in a college setting, the critiques and the close relationships with professors. "I thought it was great," said Russell.

It is not only the art classes that have kick-started his creativity. Webner has spent the last several semesters taking history and creative writing classes that he says deeply inform his art and vision. Focusing on Cold War America in his history classes, Webner is fascinated by the cultural resonance of the period. "It was such an interesting time, so filled with mystery. Finding out what those times are about is the key to a lot of the problems we are facing today."

As for the composition classes, Webner enjoys the challenge of rendering his impressions in words: "Writing really extends my creativity in painting, and painting really extends my creativity in writing. It is a mutually beneficial relationship." He identifies the ability to see shrewdly as the secret to succeeding in art.

Webner not only explores the world outside of his major, but he also experiments within it by taking on a variety of media. "I'm primarily a painter, but I've studied drawing, printmaking and sculpture." Having taken a particular shine to printmaking, Webner will display both prints and paintings in the upcoming Palmer Gallery show. One can also expect to find prints from Rhys Bambrick, sculptures from Charlie Warren and contemporary pieces by Joseph Redwood-Martinez.

Several of Webner's contributions to the show relate to technology, specifically video games. "They are figural, which is nice. Drawing the figure is the foundation for all art, so I like to incorporate that into my work as much as possible," said Russell.

Another foundation of Russell's art is music. "It's a must in the studio," he says. "I get a great sense of color when I listen to music. It's almost like I'm painting my visualizations of the music."

Russell's work will be displayed in This the Range and Recent, opening on Feb. 24 and continuing until March 4 in the Palmer Gallery. The opening reception will take place on Feb. 25.