Gordon Chandler
BIOGRAPHY
Gordon Chandler has been living and working in Carrollton, Georgia for over thirty years. Originally from Massachusetts, Chandler moved south after receiving his BFA in Sculpture from Syracuse University. He started W&P Builders in 1976, a construction company that manufactured welded steel woodstoves, and began equipping the studio that he still occupies today.
While Chandler was originally recognized for his functional pieces, he has since expanded his repertoire to include more sculptural work, such as kimonos fashioned from steel drums, and even some larger than life figurative works. Much of his work is inspired by traditional Southern collectibles; trophy deer heads, quilts and toys.
The astounding diversity of his pieces, largely constructed from welded steel, demonstrates Chandler’s expansive knowledge of his materials and the possibilities they present.
He is currently represented by Ann Nathan Gallery in Chicago, IL; Leslie Ferrin Gallery in Lenox, MA; Rymer Gallery in Nashville, TN; the Gallery of Functional Art in Santa Monica, CA; and Twist Gallery in both Portland, OR and Seattle, WA.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Materials and ideas are all around us. My biggest challenge in making art is sorting and editing this multitude of possibilities. While engaging in this process I am constantly moving between two extremes: chaos and order. Where there is too much of one I introduce the other. The path between the two is what makes the process interesting to me.
Initially realized in the form of furniture; my benches and chairs were both functional and sculptural. However, over the years I have expanded my repertoire to include other subjects such as whitetail deer, clothing, quilts, game boards, toys, and variations on the human figure. Like my furniture, these familiar objects are constructed with unexpected materials and often with irony.
Within these common themes I reference our cultural landscape by using materials that others have overlooked. We live in an increasingly disposable world, with an increasing rate of consumption. Broken things are not fixed but rather thrown away. I resurrect these discarded elements and alloy them into sculptural forms. The individual pieces that make up the whole are not immediately recognizable but have an inherent history of other utility. My purpose is to bring new value to these overlooked materials, to create a new form that is greater than just the sum of its parts. I aim to make positive connections between my art and my audience.
"Gordon Chandler’s sculptures are witty and wise . . .oddly beautiful."
Catherine Fox, Visual Arts Critic for the Atlanta Journal Constitution
“His benches welcome interaction and exploration while providing unique points for contemplation.”
Stephen Wicks, Curator of Knoxville Museum of Art
“Chandler’s furniture radiates a raw elegance and curious charm, reflecting his insightful vision for the reincarnation of industrial waste.”
Martha Stamm Connell, Guest Curator at the Contemporary Southeastern Furniture Exhibit, Mobile Museum of Art
RESUME
Born: 1953 Springfield, MA
EDUCATION:
1997 MFA Sculpture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
1975 BFA Sculpture, Syracuse University, NY
1974 Skowhegan School of Painting& Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME
EXHIBITIONS:
"Southern Metal", Group exhibtion, The Rymer Gallery, Nashville, TN August 2009
"Game Show" Solo exhibition, Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica, CA September 2008
2008 "Bringing it Home" Solo exhibition, Ferrin Gallery, Pittsfield, MA
"Art in Sandy Springs: Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition" Sandy Springs, GA
"Art and Design: Furniure" Ferrin Gallery, Pittsfield, MA
2007 "Palm Beach_," Ann Nathan Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
"Bridge Art Fair" Catalina Hotel and Beach Club, Miami, FL
"Innovations" Terminus Gallery, Atlanta GA
"Found Objects Transfigured" Hartsfield Airport, Atlanta, GA
"A Sense of Place" Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art
Augusta, GA
"Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood 2007" Stockbridge, MA
"The Art of Such- n -Such" Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Manchester, TN
"Sculpture Conference 2007" Long Term Exhibition Award, Chattanooga State Outdoor Museum of Art, Chattanooga, TN
"Sculpture Conference 2007" Mid-South Sculpture Alliance, Chattanooga, TN
2006 "Art Chicago," Merchandise Mart, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
"SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exhibition," Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Gordon Chandler: New Work" Lois Lambert Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
"The Color of Paint" Solo Exhibition, Ferrin Gallery, Lenox, MA
"The Art of Such- n -Such" Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Manchester, TN
"Art on the Trail" Ocmulgee River, Macon, GA
"20th Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition" Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Boone, NC
"Gordon Chandler: The Kimono", Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Trashformations", COPIA American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts, Napa, CA
"Palm Beach3," Ann Nathan Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
2005 "Art Chicago," Butler Field, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
"SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exhibition," Navy Pier, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
"SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exhibition," Ann Nathan Gallery, New York, NY
"Palm Beach3," Ann Nathan Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
"Gordon Chandler" Fay Gold Gallery, Atlanta, GA
"Designed for Living" Spruill Gallery, Atlanta, GA
"Trashformations" Fuller Museum of Art, Brockton, MA
2004 "The Hunt: Ritual & Narrative" Sunvalley Center for the Arts, SunValley, ID
" Gordon Chandler" solo exhibition, Lois Lambert Gallery, Santa Monica,CA
"Hunters & Gatherers" Ferrin Gallery, Lenox, MA
"Iron: A New Vocabulary" Penland School, Penland, NC
"Kimono's" at Ferrin Gallery, Lenox, MA
"SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exhibition," Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL (October) and New York, NY (June)
"SOFA, Museum of Arts & Design," New York, NY
"VISION 9," Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Art Chicago," Navy Pier, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Underground Railroad Exhibition," Northern Kentucky Universtity,
Highland Heights, Kentucky
"The Perfect Collection, " at Fuller Museum of Art, Brockton, MA
"Garden Show, " at Bennett Galleries, Knoxville, TN
2003 "SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exhibition," Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
"17th Annual National Exhibiion," curated by Jerry Cullum, Douglasville, GA
"Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition," curated by John Henry, Northwest Georgia's Center for the Arts, Dalton, GA
"Craft Houston 2003: National", Houston, TX
"Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood 2003", Stockbridge, MA
"Instructors' Show," Penland Gallery, Penland, NC
"The Emory Chairs Project", Emory University, Atlanta, GA
"Bob's Satellite" Skokie Sculpture Park, Skokie, IL
"The Group 2003", Lois Lambert Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
"Group Show," Fay Gold Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2002 "SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exhibition," New York, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Art Chicago 2002," Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Miniature Show", Swan Coach House, Atlanta, GA
"Return Engagement", Art from Food Packaging, Copia Museum, Napa, CA.
"On The Move", Art about transportation, curated by Marianne Lambert, Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA
"Navy Pier Walk Sculpture Exhibition", curated by Dave Hickey, Chicago
"From Inspiration to Production", Cal Poly Pamona, CA.
"Maquettes for Navy Pier Walk Exhibit", Field Museum, Chicago IL
"Southeastern Craft Innovations", Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville, TN 2001 "Creative Visions: Southeastern Art Furniture", Connell Gallery,
Atlanta, GA
''Fay Gold Gallery Artists Showcase", Atlanta, GA
"Endless Regeneration: Found Objects in Art & Design", NikeCampus
Portland, OR
"Stools," Tercera Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
"On and Off the Wall," WilliamJ. Thompson Street Gallery, University
of Georgia, Athens, GA
"SOFA:Sculpture, Objects, Function Art," New York, NY
2000 "SOFA:Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art," Chicago, IL
"On and Off the Wall," FayGold, Atlanta, GA (solo)
"SOFA: Sculpture, Objects,Functional Art," New York, NY
"PierWalk, 2000," Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
"Mere Metals," The Leo BurnettCompany, Chicago, IL
"And Now For the Next ThousandYears," Lois Lambert Gallery,
Santa Monica, CA
1999 Installation, Sculpture Garden at Illinois Institute of Technology, 35th
and State Street, Chicago, IL
"SOFA:Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exposition," NavyPier,
Chicago, IL
"SOFA:Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exposition," 67thStreet
Armory, New York, NY
"FacultyShow," University of West Georgia
"Pier Walk Maquette Exhibition," Vedanta Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Pier Walk 1999," Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
"Alumni Invitational Exhibition," University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
1998 "CelebratingThe Creative Spirit: Contemporary Southeastern
Furniture," On tour through 2001, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL
"Works on Paper X," National Juried Exhibition, ValdostaState
University, Valdosta, GA
"SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional ArtExposition," Navy Pier,
Chicago, IL
"Aero-Kimono-Piano," Solo Exhibition, Ute Stebich Gallery,Lenox, MA
"Pier Walk 1998," Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
"Please Be Seated," Joanne Rapp Gallery, Scottsdale. Courtesy of
Ann Nathan Gallery
1997 "Use Me--Functional Art From the Salvaged," Angels Gate Cultural
Center, L.A., CA
"Feast of Function," Lois Lambert Gallery, Santa Monica,CA
"From the Ground Up," Socrates Sculpture Park, New York, NY
"The Quilt Show," Non traditional quilts curated by GordonChandler,
Student Union Gallery, UMASS Amherst
"What's the NEWS?" Outdoor Sculpture and Performance, UMASS
Campus, Amherst, MA
"Trashformations," 1997 thru 2000, exhibition to travel to twelve
museums in Africa
"SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional ArtExposition," Navy Pier,
Chicago, IL
"Furniture; Form, Function, or Metaphor," Paint Creek Center for the
Arts, Rochester, MI
"Hello Again; A New Wave of Recycled Art & Design," Oakland
Museum of Art, Oakland, CA
1996 "Beyond Function," Contemporary Southeastern Crafts, Columbus
Museum of Art,Columbus, GA
"Arts Downtown," Puyallup Outdoor Gallery, Puyallup, WA
"SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, and FunctionalArt Exposition," Navy Pier,
Chicago, IL
"Red, Yellow, Blue: A Primary Experience," The St. Paul Companies,
Minneapolis, MN
1995 "Recycle, Reuse, Recreate,"February 1995 thru April 1997,
Traveling African museum tour exhibition.
"Chair as Art #7," Lois Lambert Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
"A Sampler: 12 Georgia Artists," Georgia Museum of Art, University
of Georgia, Athens, GA
"SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, and FunctionalArt Exposition #7," River
Exhibition Hall,Chicago, IL
1994 "SOFA: Sculpture, Objects,and Functional Art Exposition,"River
Exhibition Hall, Chicago, IL
"Benchwork," Knoxville World's Fair Grounds,Knoxville, TN
1993 "New Art Forms Exposition," Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
"Limited Seating," IO Gallery, New Orleans, LA
"Benches," Solo Exhibit, FayGold Gallery, Atlanta, GA
"Found Objects Transformed," Twist, Portland, OR
1992 "A Beastly Exhibition," South Bend Art Center, South Bend, IN
"Bench Marks," Katonah Museum of Art, Ketonah, NY
"Metal Wood," Atlanta, GA
Gasparrilla Arts Festival,Tampa, FL
1991 "Mental Metal II," National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, TN
1990 "Gordon Chandler" Solo Exhibition, Objects Gallery,Chicago, IL
"A Day at the Beach," Lois Lambert Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1989 "Chicago International NewArt Forms Exposition," Navy Pier,
Chicago, IL (courtesy ObjectsGallery)
"Form and Function," Helander Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
"Four Georgia Art Furniture Makers," Museum of Arts and Sciences,
Macon, GA
1988 "Red Clay Survey," Huntsville Museum of Arts, Huntsville, AL
"Art As Furniture, Furniture As Art," Axis Twenty, Atlanta, GA
"Gotham City Show," CNN Center, Atlanta, GA
TEACHING EXPERIENCES
2008 Fall, Teaching 'Professional Practices', University of West Georgia
2006 Spring, Taught Mixed Media Painting, University of West Georgia
2003 Taught, "Take Your Art Public," Penland School, Penland N.C
2000 Spring, Taught 3-D Composition, University of West Georgia
1999 Fall, Taught 2-D Composition, State University of West Georgia
1997 Hosted University of Massechusetts Sculpture Student, Carrollton, GA
1996 Fall, Taught Wood Carving, 300 Level, University of Massechusetts, Amherst MA
1996 Spring, Taught Introductory Sculpture, 200 Level, University of Massechusetts, Amherst MA
1995 Fall, Co-taught Basic Design, 100 Level foundations program, University of Massechusetts, Amherst MA
1994 Taught "Making Connections," Penland School, Penland N.C.
1993 Hosted Co-op sculpture student from Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OH, in Carrollton, Ga
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1991 Award of Merit: Gasparilla Sidewalk Art Festival, Tampa, FL
1990 Best of Show: Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Miami, FL
1989 Award of Merit: Magic City Art Connection, Birmingham, AL
SELECTED COLLECTIONS:
Contemporary Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI
Ann Cousins, Atlanta, GA
Candace Groot, IL
Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
BensonFord, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, TN
Walter and Ann Nathan, Chicago, IL
Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
Roger Brown, La Conchita, CA
Highsmith Inc., Fort Atkinson, WI
Carol and Howard Hahn, Omaha, NE
William and Sarah Nygren, Chicago, IL
John Rosekrans Collection, San Francisco, CA
Roberta Marks, Key West, FL
Dr. Burton and Judy Onofrio, Rochester, MI
RTC Industries, Corporate Headquarters, Rolling Meadows, IL
Martha Connell, Atlanta, GA
Monique Knowlton, New York, NY
Elton John, Atlanta, GA
Runnymede Sculpture Farm, Woodside, CA
Floor Mouthaan, Utrechtseg, Netherland
Paul Schneider, Portland, OR
Lil Friedlander, Atlanta, GA
Ute Stebich, Plainfield, MA
Thomas Mann, New Orleans, LA
Wexler-Grant, Glencoe, IL
SELECTED COMMISSIONS:
2001 Fulton County Arts Council, Atlanta, GA
1994 Wild Horse Saloon, Nashville, TN
1992 LAHR Agency, Bethesda, MD
1990 Omni Building, Reckson Associate,Uniondale, Nassau County, NY
1989 Bulova Building, Blumenfeld Development,Jackson Heights, NY
1988 Tishman West Co, Atlanta, GA
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
Berkshire Life, September 2007
Sculpture Magazine, July 2007
Angeleno Magazine, October 2006
Art and Antiques, September 2005
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 2003
Berkshire Eagle, July 29, 2003
The Advocate in the Berkshires, July 18, 2003
Southern Accents, Nov-Dec 2000
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 2003
Forbes Magazine, November 1998
RochesterClarion, May 1997
HighsmithSchool and Library Catalogue,
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, 1996,1997-1998
AtlantaJournal-Constitution,
DixieLiving Section, June,1998
ArtsSection, February, 1995
SeattleTimes, March 1997
WhereChicago, September 1991
ChicagoTribune, Home Section, June 1995
Southern Homes, September 1991
ChicagoTribune, October 2, 1994
SouthernHomes, March/Apr 1990
ChicagoGallery News, September/December 1994
Arts& Auction, May 1990
AmericanCraft Magazine, February/March 1992
ConstructionEquipment Magazine, Feb 1990
AtlantaHomes and Lifestyles, March 1994
Chicago Tribune, August 26, 1990
SantaBarbara Magazine, March/April, 1993
Ambiente Magazine, Germany, June1991
Artin America, September 1992
ChicagoSun-Times, November 1999
PierWalk II, catalogue