Nick Gentry Puts Obsolete Technology, Floppies, To Good - And Artistic - Use.

above: Next Generation by Nick Gentry (detail), floppy disks, acrylic paint, mixed media mounted on wood.

Nick Gentry is a British artist from London whose majority of his artistic output has been generated with the use of contributed artifacts and materials.


above: Contemporary artist Nicholas James Gentry (image courtesy of Miami New Times)

He states that through this process "contributor, artist and viewer come closer together." His art is influenced by the development of consumerism, technology and cyber culture in society, with a distinctive focus on obsolete media.



above: Constructed MemoryScape (full and detail), 2011, Mixed paint and used computer disks on wood, 84cm x 90cm

Best known for his floppy disk paintings, which combine the now obsolete tech storage with acrylic paints, metallic leaf and mixed media mounted on wood, Nick places an emphasis on recycling and the reuse of personal objects as a central theme.

Life Story:

below: Life Story (detail)

Index:

Elements of Existence:

Profile Number2:

Switchblade:

Profile #1:

Alterra:

Archived:

Voyager:

Next Generation:


The following 2011 works by Nick Gentry are available at the Robert Fontaine Gallery:











Nick's recent solo show at the Robert Fontaine Gallery in Miami (which ran from August 25th through September 2, 2011) included the first pieces of the Invicta Watches Artist Series which featured Nick's "The Secret Key":


Nicholas James Gentry is a graduate of Central St. Martins in London. Notable exhibition venues include Art Paris, Verge Art Fair (Miami) and appearances at Bonham's and Dreweatt's Urban Art Auctions in London. International press for Gentry has included the Mirror, the Huffington Post, La Repubblica, Juxtapoz Magazine, Wired Magazine and the Wooster Collective. Gentry's work was a part of the inaugural Artist Series from the Invicta Watch Group, presented by Ocean Drive Magazine in Miami. Gentry lives and works in London.

Nick has tons more of his work available to view on his Flickr photostream.

images and info from Nick Gentry's site, flickr account and Robert Fontaine Gallery

A Prescription For Art. 'Meds' by Psychotherapist and Sculptor Jon Harvey.

above: Big Pharma Meds, 2010 by Jon Harvey

Making a commentary on politics, government, crime, society, the internet, business and cultural stereotypes, artist Jon Harvey has encapsulated -- literally -- icons and elements in oversized clear pill capsules for multiple series of sculptures.

His "Meds" are constructed with clay, hard vinyl, wood, leather, steel, liquid, found objects, acrylic paint, turf and other materials and placed inside 8 x 3 x 6 inch (20.3 x 7.6 x 15.2 cm) acrylic capsules mounted on stands.

Soccer Mom Meds, 2008:

F*ck Like Bunnies Meds, 2011:

Cholesterol Meds, 2010:

Nostalgic Airline Coach Class Meds, 2011:

Mall Meds 2010:

Bernie's Victims Meds, 2009:

Genocide Meds, 2010:

Gridlock Meds 2011:

Shipwreck Meds 2011:

Celebrity Meds, 2011:

Gay Meds, 2011:

Retirement Meds, 2011:

Casey Anthony Meds:

Human Nature Meds, 2011:

Lemming Meds 2011:

It's a Jungle Out There Meds, 2011:

Middle Class Meds, 2011:

Working Class Meds, 2011:

Couch potato Meds 2011:

Stock, Bond, Hedge Fund Trader's Meds 2011:

Bill, John, Elliot, Tiger, Jesse and Arnold Meds, 2010-2011:

US Senator Meds, 2010:

Police Academy Meds, 2011:

Clown Meds, 2011:

Tooth Fairy Meds, 2010:

Facebook Meds 2010:

Google Meds 2010:


In the artists's own words:
A psychotherapist by profession, I have recently decided to focus exclusively on my real passion, which is making sculptures commenting on the world and the people in it.

I make pieces that say something about the way I think the world really operates. They address the gross injustices, the lack of power of most people, including those who presumably have been given some power, and the misapplication of money and goods that cause so many people to go hungry and die from lack of food and water. I also try to express in my work some of the absurdities and foibles of humanity with, I hope, some humor.

The Meds Series came directly from my work with children. As a school psychologist working primarily with teenage boys, I treated kids with many challenges, such as Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Occasionally a kid would come into my office so heavily medicated that he slept through the entire session. Other times, if the meds were properly adjusted, we could make some real progress through one-on-one talk therapy.

I believe that, as a society, we are all too eager to treat any and all ailments with drugs, rather than taking the time and effort to really work through to the root causes of our problems. The Meds Series is my commentary on this tendency.

I have been making sculptures most of my life but it only became clear to me to move full speed ahead with my art several years ago. Inspired by the works of Joseph Cornell and Edward Kienholz, I began by building small three-dimensional sculptures for friends and family. Although Cornell created tiny worlds in small boxes and Kienholz worked on a much larger scale, both artists remain a strong and fascinating influence for me.

See all of Jon Harvey's work here.