I’m partial to songs that tell a story. Local musician Russell Brutsche takes that one step farther. He’s a painter, whose work tells a story, often with a very political and/or witty bent. For example, Jesus overturning the moneychanger’s tables on contemporary Wall Street, or a family of native Americans re-purposing a former fast food chain’s golden arches into a clotheslines in a post-consumer America.
Russell’s work is also very much tied into our local landscape. Santa Cruz and Big Sur are favorite subjects. His most recent paintings are a clever commentary on modern technology. For the month of February, however, you can get a look at his earlier work in “No Place Like Home”, a showcase of Russell and other local artists at the Santa Cruz Library.
Paintings by Russell Brutsche
This show includes the works “Beneath the Trestle” (middle photo in the samples above), which was used as part of the art layout for Russell’s last CD, “The Westbound”. “No Place Like Home” is a free exhibit at the library – you’ll find it on the second floor – and runs until March 30th
Ditto, Russell’s work in the visual art of storytelling, as well as his songwriting is something to see!!! His way of expressing archetypes in the local vernacular are delightful as well as insightful and brilliant.
He has the ability to capture the zeitgeist of the community in such a clear, playful way that it speaks to the greater global community of which we are a part. HIs work manages to do this as it highlights some of the deeper issues, like spiritual alienation, corporate gluttony and sustainability, that we face as a people.
Thanks, Michael for calling our attention to this show!