5 Questions for artists Claire Scully and Russ Connell of Carson City's Summer Artist Lecture Series

Tomorrow, Thursday July 11, the first of the summer artist series — free to the public — will feature artists Claire Scully and Russ Connell from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Each artist will be presenting for 45 minutes. The series will be held in the Brick (the Community Development Building) at 108 Proctor Street in Carson City.

London-based illustrator Claire Scully is a multi-disciplinary professional illustrator / author / educator specializing in drawing. Her latest book, Desolation Wilderness, is full of illustrations of wildlife and landscapes inspired by the Tahoe Region. With a focus on pattern and line and how images are constructed through details and the importance of the minutia within visual language. In her own personal research and drawing practice she strives to answer the questions of ‘what lies beyond the horizon’ by looking at the notion of landscape, memory (individual and collective) and projections of the unknown.

Sculptor Russ Connell fabricates large scale artwork for cities, corporations, and private collectors. His work is based in the fundamentals of sculpture with each piece being an opportunity to balance positive and negative space. He is represented by Freeman Gallery in Santa Fe and Art on Henderson in Dallas.

We’ll hear from Claire Scully first on her art residency in Silver City, inspiration, and more!

1) How did you end up in an art residencies in Virginia City and Silver City?

I was invited to the St Mary's artist in residence programme in 2013 as a complementary artist to run alongside my partner Stewart Easton who was the main artist in residence for that summer. We have also been involved in the Silver City Artist in Residence programme in 2016 which was a really inspiring place to stay, the Dome built by Jim McCormick felt really connected to the landscape. 

2) What have you found most inspiring to your work while in our area?

I was born and continue to live in London so I think the contrast in environment is one of the most interesting things about coming to this part of the world. The relationship between space and light and the way colours are both saturated and bleached, living in contradiction with each other, throws everything into a hyper-real version of itself. 

3) Why “Desolation Wilderness”?

There is something in the way some places are named that sparks the imagination to lead you on your own internal adventure before you have even arrived. You can create 'projected memories' about a place based solely on its name — what it could look like, how it would feel, the heat of the ground or smell in the air which leads you to how you might experience this place. They say never judge a book by it's cover but as visual communicators we respond very quickly to the impact of an interesting name or word by creating possible worlds.

4) What is your favorite spot you've discovered while in Nevada?

One of the places I found most curious was the Lagomarsino Petroglyphs, the landscape has a foreboding quality when you make your way through the creek. You get a feel for the scale of time, in a universal sense, it's a landscape filled with awe. But it's hard to pin 'one' down as Nevada seems to throw you so many variations of landscapes, each with its own unique personality and history. 

5) What do you have planned next?

Actually since getting here, I've had some time to contemplate about the 'whats next' and I think there is more ground to cover (excuse the pun) in how we look at landscapes within a narrative space, in the past I have been interested in what lays beyond the edge of the page but I think I would like to allow people to move through my worlds with more ownership over their journeys. So, in short, more drawing. We go back to London in a week so I am trying to fit a few more new discoveries in before we leave.

Scully is currently involved in an artist residency at St. Mary’s Art Center in Virginia City, courtesy of the Resident Artist Program in Silver City Nevada.

Next up is Russ Connell, sculpture artist, who discusses his residency program, creating massive sculptures, and more.

1) How did you end up at Buffalo Creek Art Center?

I've found Instagram has been a great way to connect to the art community locally and nationwide. I'm a fan of several artists who have done residencies here the past couple years and that turned me onto BCAC. I spoke to Steve Hardy about the program and applied for a 2 month stay this summer.

2) How do you describe the sculpture you made for their sculpture park?

This has been a further exploration for me into larger (monumental) sized works. I wanted to do an impactful piece for the park that could also serve to showcase my abilities in fabricating large scale public works. I'm lucky that BCAC has all the equipment and resources needed to make this piece happen.

3) What is something that has inspired you as an artist during your stay in Northern Nevada?

The scenery is absolutely gorgeous — this is my first time in this part of the country and I've had a great time going out to Tahoe and exploring the local hiking and kayaking. We're lucky that the ranch is based right at the bottom of the mountains but also overlooks the valley below so the view is stunning from all around.

4) Do you have a favorite spot here to draw inspiration from?

I would say Lake Tahoe, but the place I oftentimes find myself feeling the most creative from is when I put myself to work in the shop out here. I have my best ideas in the middle of working on current projects — one idea leads to the next. 

5) What are your plans once your residency at BCAC ends?

When I get back home I'll be interviewing for a large public bid for the City of Fort Worth. I'm hoping that goes well! Aside from that it'll be nice to be back in my own studio, making work to showcase in the galleries that represent me.

Connell is currently finishing his artist residency at the Buffalo Creek Art Center through July.

To learn more about the summer series, click here.