Kevin Peterson - "Boundaries"

TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN A DEFILED LANDSCAPE IS HUMAN NATURE Exhibition Explores the Tensions of Early 21st Century Urban Life and Our Place Within the Dichotomy of Fear and Security. The place we inhabit is the result of survival in a world that is often broken. Using this theme throughout Boundaries, a series of new paintings on view at Naü-haus, artist Kevin Peterson allows viewers into deeply psychological moments that contrast the untainted, young and innocent against a backdrop of a worn, ragged and defiled world. In Peterson’s painting, The Divide, a young boy and girl, reminiscent of Camelot-era John and Carolyn Kennedy, are looking down at the ground and taking in the sight of a man lying there. The viewer can only see the man’s dark arm just short of the elbow and with his palm up between the children who on their own are sad and pensive, their body language communicating a guarded acceptance of the scene. Another of Peterson’s paintings, Alone, is a portrait of a young girl. In it she is visually almost engulfed by a hyper-aggressive urban landscape of tall buildings, concrete and graffiti. Yet on closer inspection, she is looking directly at the viewer and smiling, her hair tussled by a downtown breeze. The viewer can surmise that no matter what, she is going to be OK. Using a painterly and precise technique, Peterson’s paintings speak the same language as early to mid 20th century work that glorified the American experience, yet with a 21st century edge. The palette is lush and used to underscore the sometimes dark subject matter. “My work deals with isolation, loneliness and longing teamed with a level of optimistic hope,” says Peterson. He continues, “This work deals with the idea of rigid boundaries, the hopeful breakdown of such restrictions, as well as questions about the forces that orchestrate our behavior.” Born in 1979 in Elko Nevada, Peterson was a finalist for this years Hunting Art Prize, and has made Texas his home since 1996. He has degrees in Fine Art and Psychology from Austin College, and was this year's Bayou City Arts Festival first place award winner. Currently working out of Winter Street Studios, his latest efforts, and first solo performance will be on view at Na?-haus from January 10 through February 1, 2009. The opening reception for the artist is Saturday January 10, from 6 to 9 PM. Owned and operated by Dan Mitchell Allison since January 2008, Naü-haus & TCA Studios serve as art exploration, collaboration and exhibition spaces showcasing the work of young and emerging artists. ############ If you would like more information about this topic or would like to schedule an interview with Kevin Peterson, please contact Dan Allison at 713-482-8357 or email dan@nau-haus.com. Please follow this link to access 300 dpi. press images and head shots for the Kevin Peterson exhibition "Boundaries" http://www.texascollaborative.com/KevinPetersonMediaPage.html.