The featured artist for the ArtWorks Cooperative in July will be Nathen Cantwell. Cantwell, who joined the Coop in 2005, will graduate from Northern State University in December 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising Design and Fine Artwork. In this show he will be featuring a variety of new work.

    Cantwell mainly works in oil paint; however, he will also be showcasing many smaller watercolor sketches, graphite works and pastel paintings in this feature exhibition. These works focus on the same subject matter he enjoys painting when painting with oil, including landscape and wildlife native to the Northeastern region of South Dakota. Landscape and native wildlife are the best form of artistic inspiration according to Cantwell, whether it is a panoramic view of the open prairie or blackbirds scavenging for food.  “I find that nature provides an abundance of subject matter to be inspired by.” says Cantwell.

    For this feature, Cantwell will be displaying both traditional and more contemporary artwork which focuses on the prairie and its native wildlife. There are many traditional works which will be featured such as an oil painting titled “Fox and Field” which depicts a lone fox in an open golden-colored field stopping for just a moment to survey his surroundings. Many other paintings on display will focus on animal interaction and survival, a common theme in Nathen’s newer works.  There will be some very fun contemporary offshoots of his more traditional work; including three large animal interaction graphite drawings featuring blackbirds, unique and unusual fish and a large crow. “In these pieces I try to personify the animals and blur the lines of reality just a bit to create a fun commentary on everyday life.”

    Cantwell will also be displaying watercolor sketches of the South Dakota landscape and wildlife. These pleine aire sketches (painted on site) have been completed over the past three years. They are all done on location and completed in a brief time, which is meant to capture the color of the moment, and they focus on design and color interaction. These paintings were completed at places such as the Bramble Park Zoo, Sica Hollow, and even Cantwell’s own backyard, just to name a few.

    Cantwell has recently won an honorable mention award in the governors 2nd biennial art show: Endless Possibilities. The show tours the state of SD for the rest of the year. In the fall of 2005 his artwork of a lily was printed as a 2005 fall Easter Seal.

    Visit www.cantwellart.com and www.sdartworks.com for a sneak preview of a few works which will be included in the show. Also watch for his senior show at Northern State University in the fall.

    An artist reception will be held at the ArtWorks Cooperative Gallery on July 11th from 5-7 pm for the July feature.  The public is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served. The feature will be on display through July.

    ArtWorks Cooperative Gallery is located at the new Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center at 225 3rd Ave., SE. Summer Hours for the gallery at Monday through Friday from 11am-5pm. Extended Tuesday night hours until 8 pm. The gallery will be closed on July 4th in honor of Independence Day.