Artist of the Week: Mark Benson

In Chicago it seems that different neighborhoods foster different kinds of a creative souls. I’ve always found it strange how the city is split into neighborhoods, and how for the most part they continue to retain their culture despite various influxes of people. It’s as once a neighborhood gain a certain reputation those types of people are more drawn to that location. This seems to be the case for Logan Square and its booming artistic community. I first saw the work of Mark Benson at The Whistler in Logan Square, a bar that also sports a window gallery to display the work of local artists. Its just another stage for a neighborhood ripe with artistic talent.

Mark Benson paints the scenes and landscape of a life that may be real or most likely imagined. He brings all the varies angles of life in into his own vivid and slightly surreal world. His work has been shown consistently around the city since 2004 including four shows last year.

Recently, Mark was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): How would you describe your work?
Mark Benson (OA): Currently I am painting and sculpting non-existent landscapes and the dwellings that I see in them. I have for a little while now been focused on our place on planet Earth, either in how we occupy the space or treat our surroundings. As we have just had a near total collapse of the housing market, a sharp downturn in the global economy, and a rejuvenated push to pay attention to the environment, I'm finding my work involving characteristics of each of these elements.

OA: In the fall you had a window exhibit at The Whistler. What are your thoughts about the Whistler's approach participating in the growing Logan Square art community? Did you get any feedback on the exhibit?
MB: Working with the Whistler was a very positive experience. As a brand new spot in the neighborhood, I see Billy and Rob genuinely wanting to be a barometer for what's going on around them. It is a successful bar and it enthusiastically embraces the artistic community it's sitting in. Curator Josh Dumas has a great eye and ear for thought provoking art, and he was very supportive of any approach and ideas I had in using the space.

OA: Do you feel that there are enough opportunities for a young artist in Chicago in general?
MB: Chicago seems to be like any other big city in respect to the arts: there are a good number of avenues artists can seek out on their own to expose their work to the world, but at the same time, galleries are not jumping at the bit to represent people. They appear to make careful, calculated decisions on whom they feel could be important, so at that point it is out of the artists' hands.

OA: Your paintings come across almost like tiny snapshots or brief moments in time, do you paint from a photograph or magazine clipping or is it from a previous sketch? What is your process like?
MB: My process is in a period of flux right now. I am at this moment bringing in much more geometric planes and non representational forms into my view, alongside mountains and people and architecture. I am also painting straight from my head, which this time last year I wouldn't consider. At that point I was taking my photographs and painting them, manipulating the depth of field so that what was out of focus was not blurry, but flat shapes of color rubbing against each other. I was also pretty heavy into painting magic.

OA: You also do design work. How does your process differ in design as opposed to painting?
MB: Design is a great field to be in, but It lacks any of the risk or immediacy painting and sculpture have. Everything can be undone, everything can be duplicated and fixed. However, my painting informs my design in how I choose colors, just as my design informs my painting in how I frame the image on the canvas; how it is laid out.

OA: What's next for Mark Benson?
MB: Who knows? I'm applying to get my MFA, I'm submitting to a couple group shows, and always seeking representation. What's most exciting right now is how my work is changing. Every painting I finish is a continuation of a series of experiments, and they all feel new and different. Also, I just got engaged to this pretty sweet lady, so thumbs up to that!

Bonus Questions:
OA: If you could sit down to coffee with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be?
MB: Probably Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav.

OA: What type of music do you enjoy and who are a few of your favorites?
MB: These last few years have been great for new music. Liars rank pretty high on the list. Black Lips, Jitney, Animal Collective, Atlas Sound, TV on the Radio. I've also been very very into early Tom Petty, R.E.M. and Talking Heads (Remain In Light -- holy moly.).

For more information on Mark Benson please visit his website.