Although I've known Nate Monk for years now (We used to work at the same place), I wasn't fully aware of Nate's art workings, until last years' Orange festival in downtown Indianapolis. My sweetie (Pandi) is a huge art-lover... and, I kinda like to get out once in a while, and experience a little bit of "culture", myself. Much to my amazement, Nate was there, showing this huge (and, hugely impressive) collection of work.
This is a series of works that Nate probably intended for individual sale. Well, Pands doesn't do anything halfway, so she swooped up the whole set, straightaway. At first sight, I believe. And Nate, the good sport that he is, actually came over to our place, and helped us hang them *exactly* as they were displayed at Orange. They each have their own title, but I'm not keen on taking them off the wall to find out what they are. Frankly put, they're precious additions to our home, and I'd rather not manhandle them, thank you very much...
Nate works in what would be referred to [in the art world] as "mixed media"... but, I think that "multi-media" is probably a far better term for it. Firstly because, you can see that the "mass media" plays a huge, influencing role in his work, and his style. A lot of 1950's-era mass-marketing is on display here, twisted around and embellished a bit to suit Nate's quite "modern", dry and sarcastic humour. And secondly because, there's usually a lot more going on in his work, than is readily apparent at first glance.
"Satellite Signals", large-format painting on wood. Approx. 4' x 5', 2010.
Most of the "media" that Nate uses is re-claimed, re-cycled, and re-applied objects that you might find in any common household attic, storage space, or garage. Things that society at large has largely forgotten (whether passively, or actively... intentionally, or unintentionally), is what Nate uses for his complex and ingenious pieces.
"It doesn't feel like my birthday at all". Magnet (paint on wood). Approx 4" x 4". 2010.
Nate works in all sizes and shapes. Our collection includes pieces from just a few inches square, to several feet high and across. And, every piece has a lot of "depth" to it... even "two-dimensional" pieces usually have the third dimension well-represented. Nate works with a lot of color, but he's also incredibly adept at manipulating textures to make his statements.
This was a gift from Mr. Monk, to myself. It's called "City On The Go" (2010), and it whimsically represents my many, many travels for skateboard-related fun times. The "city" [of Indianapolis] is represented by the Indiana atlas (city-finding key) cutout, and the "skateboarding" is obviously represented by the "canvas"... in this case, a broken Black Label deck. What other brand could be so closely aligned with "the midwest"...? Nate thinks of everything, even if/when we don't (at first glance)...
Nate is also a skater (and, a damn good one, at that), and a hell of an awesome guy. His work is remarkably affordable (he routinely sells it for far, far less than I ever would)... and, he's more than happy to custom-build pieces for special places in your home (as he did for Pandi, with "Satellite Signals"). See for yourself at www.nathanmonkart.com.
Thanks for the piece, Nate. I love it to pieces.
