Mark Nelson

Nelson, a resident of Chicago, defines his art by his childhood experiences overseas, raised as a Colonial American. “Growing up overseas culminated in a twenty year residence in the Republic of Panama. In Panama, where U.S. residents, officially guests, frequently treated their host Panamanian citizens as lesser than. My mentors were life educating as well as vocational in the visual and performing arts. After finishing his formal education, Nelson took up permanent residence in the city of Chicago, where he lives and works in his west side Pilsen studio he named “GringoLandia.” GringoLandia, is a nickname commonly used in Spanish American culture to refer to the United States as the big white amusement park to the North.

2006
Made in Pilsen Prospectus Gallery, Chicago
Chicago Art Open Zhou B. Art Center, Chicago
Bare Walls SAIC 847 W. Jackson Bldg., Chicago
Beyond Teaching I South Shore Cultural Center, Chicago
Beyond Teaching II Cafe Mestizo, Chicago
Beyond Teaching III Casa Michoacan, Chicago
Greed Pilsen Cultural Celebration, Harrison Pk, Chicago
Opt-in Chicago Music Garage, 345 N. Loomis, Chicago
Navigating the Landscape Prospectus Gallery, 1210 W.18thSt.,Chicago-1person Show
The Art of Teaching Gallery 37-CenterSpace, Chicago
2005
Classic Cymbals Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Traveling exhibit
18th St. Open Studios GringoLandia Studio, Chicago
Hometown Video Festival Alliance for Community Media, Monterey, CA.
Eminent Domain Pilsen Cultural Celebration, Harrison Pk, Chicago
POLVO Benefit POLVO, 18th Street, Chicago
Chicago Homeland Expo McCormick Center, Lakeshore Drive, Chicago
Art of Teaching Gallery 37 Center Space, 66 Randolph, Chicago
Cardboard 2 Birdhouse Museum, on S. Morgan St., Chicago
2004
Chicago Art Open 2004 Vietnam Veterans Art Museum,Chicago
Art Terrorists 2 POLVO, 18th St , Chicago
Art and War: artists voice Aldo Castillo Gallery, 233 W. Huron, Chicago
War and Peace Gallery 415, 415 N. LaSalle, Chicago
Portraits of Imagination CCT Gallery, 112 N. Noble, Chicago
Barewalls 2004 SAIC - 847 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
18th St. Open Studios GringoLandia Studio, Chicago
Tu Casa es Mi Casa POLVO, 18th St., Chicago
2003
Alas de Papel 2000-2004 Montreal, Mexico City, Cordova, Managua
Chicago Solution Show Gallery on Lake - 942 W. Lake Street,Chicago
Globalization Show Hothouse Gallery - 31 E. Balbo, Chicago
Chicago Art Open CAC 6th Annual – 847 W. Jackson, Chicago
Art & Industry Union Street Gallery - Chicago Heights, IL
Bare Walls 2003 SAIC - 847 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
Urban edge BAAC- 207 Park Ave., Barrington IL
Visual Candy Butchershop-1319 W. Lake, Chicago
Artist as Terrorist Polvo Studio -1257 W.18th St., Chicago
The El Hothouse Gallery - 31 E. Balbo, Chicago
Artists against the War Chicago Athenaeum-Museum, Schaumburg,IL.
18thSt. Open Studios Gringolandia Studio, Chicago
The Art of Teaching 2003 Gallery 37 Ctr. Space -66 E. Randolph,Chicago
2002
Udderly Suite Chicago Historical Society -Museum
Casa Michoacan-Auction Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Chicago
SPECTRUM Chicago Athenaeum-Museum, Schaumburg, IL
Sept. 11 Show Chicago Athenaeum-Museum, Schaumburg, IL
911 Show & Erotic Show JettSett Gallery, Chicago,
Bare Walls 2002 SAIC- 847 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
Chicago Art Open CAC 5thAnnual- 847 W. Jackson Blvd.,Chicago
The Art of Teaching 2002 Marwen - 833 N. Orleans, Chicago
2001
Hemingway Show Hemingway Museum, Oak Park, IL.
Art for Sara’s Sake: Swedish American Museum, Chicago
Operation Icarus: Gringolandia Studio, Open air installation
24th Annual Exhibition: Beverly Art Center, Chicago
2000
PingPong 2000: Pump Station Gallery, Chicago
Absolut Visions-art 2000 : Gwendajay A. Gallery, Chicago Art Dealers
The Midway Show: Las Manos Gallery, Chicago
Tales from GringoLandia, Harry S.Truman College, Chicago
1999
Sightings: Gwendajay A. Gallery, 704 N. Wells, Chicago
Cows on Parade: Hancock Tower on Michigan Ave., Chicago
Original Recipe: Builders Bank at 1660 N. LaSalle, Chicago
1998
Chicago Art Open: 847 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
Against the Nightstick: Casa Guatemala, Chicago
Bok Guai : A.T.Coyote Festival, Chicago
GringoLandia HeirLines: Chicago Public Library, Chicago
Collective Exhibitions Las Manos Gallery, 1742 W. Balmoral Chicago
1997
West Town Realty Scandals: A.T. Coyote Festival, Chicago
Lost and Found: Gallery 7000, Chicago
1996
Americana Show: Imperfect Fluids Gallery, Chicago
GringoLandia 22: A.T. Coyote Festival, Chicago
1994
Erotica Show: Naked “i” Gallery, Saint Charles, IL.
Full Box/Empty Culture: Process Bldg., 935 N. Damen, Chicago
1993
Mr. Whitey's Wild Ride: Crux Gallery, 11 E. Hubbard, Chicago
Disco Gazebo: APO Bldg. on 18th St., Chicago
Red Line: Feral Dog Gallery, Chicago
New Art Examiner Auction: World Tattoo Gallery, Chicago
Collective Show: LayAway Gallery, Chicago
1992
ReCycle America: Reicher Gallery-Barat College-Lake Forest, IL North Pier, Illinois St.- Chicago
Collective Show: Beret International Gallery, Chicago
Artist-in-Residence Show: Oak Park Civic Arts Council, Oak Pk,IL
1991
GringoLandia II: North Lakeside Cultural Center, Chicago
Collective Show: Erie Street Gallery, Chicago
1990
GringoLandia: ARC Gallery RAW SPACE, Chicago
Your Message Here: Randolph Street Galley, Chicago
Terratenientes: Galeria Uniques, Panama City, R.P.
1989
13th Annual Competition Beverly Art Center, Chicago
Prints by Illinois Artists State University of New York, StonyBrook, NY
Artists Define Furniture ARC Gallery, Chicago
Landscape/Mindscape ARC Gallery, Chicago
Black and White Show ARC Gallery, Chicago
1988
Modern Love ARC Gallery, Chicago
Re-Membered Name Gallery 203, Lake St., Chicago
Art Fun/Life Serious Prairie Avenue Gallery, Chicago
The Historical Moment Gallery 400, UIC, Chicago
15 Years 15 Walls ARC Gallery, Chicago
The Incredible Museum A.M. Ward Gallery, Chicago
1987
Hung Jury NAB Gallery, Chicago
Chicago Transit Prairie Avenue Gallery, Chicago
11th Annual Exhibition Beverly Art Center, Chicago
Dia de los Muertos Objects Gallery, Chicago
1986
Two by Two International Art Expo - Navy Pier, Chicago
1985
American Artists in Panama' U.S. Embassy Residence, Panama'
Subasta Pro Museo Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Panama'
1984
Mark Nelson '84 Teatro Anayansi, ATLAPA Center, Panama'
1983
ArteGulf Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Panama'

Art making has a long history of interpreting events and culture. Like the stories of pre-historical times told around the evening fire, the arts have examined our conditions, conflicts, and changes. Tragedy, comedy, love, greed, hate, action, conscious, and public spectacles are just some of the elements that artists have wrestled with to process the seemingly unchangeable moments of living. As I work in my studio listening to the radio, I contemplate the day’s cataclysmic events, politics, and intimate stories brought to the listener through the work of investigative journalism. What stands out that day frequently becomes the subject of an artwork. The works represented in this show are the realization of specific global events that I experienced through radio. My process is complex, like the issues, interwoven layers of paint with frames that are structurally and stylistically grafted to the canvas. Thematically, my concerns are simply this; how are we as a nation and culture responding to these events? And what is our role?

AWARDS
2006 1st Place-Art of Teaching, Gallery 37
2005 Honorable Mention-Hometown Video Festival 2005
2nd Place-Art of Teaching, Gallery 37
Illinois Arts Council Fellowship – 1991 & 2003 1st Place Award, Barrington Area Arts Council 2003 6-02 ArtScope.net
Academic Achievement through the Arts-CPS-2003
Chicago Foundation for Education-1999, 2002, 03, 04,06
Chicago Cultural Affairs CAAP-1997, 96, 2001, 04, 06
IAC Special Assistance Grant-1997
Chicago Cultural Affairs NAP-1993, 94, 2001,02
Oppenheimer Foundation Grant-1997, 99, 02, 03, 04,06,07
CPS Art Enhancement Grant- 2001, 2002

REVIEWS
9-99 Sun Times
4-99- Hyde Park Herald
5-99 Lerner News
4-93- Chicago Tribune
4-93- ChicagoSunTimes
4-93- NewArt Examiner
6-91- Chicago Reader

PUBLISHED and SCREENED
2000 Urban Art Chicago: Olivia Gude and Jeff Huebner, Ivan R. Dee: Publisher
1999 Cows on Parade in Chicago: Neptun Art Press
2005 Vecinos: Hometown Video Festival, Olympia-Washington & Monterey, California
2004 Comcast Cable Stations (11 Chicago Suburbs, Chicago CAN TV-Ch.21,
Meztli Cinema/Gallery; 556 W. 18th St., Chicago, POLVO; 18th ST., Chicago

2004
Cardboard #2 Birdhouse Museum, at 3215 S. Morgan, Chicago
Chicago Art Open 2004 Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, 1801 S. Indiana,Chicago
Art Terrorists 2 POLVO, 18th St , Chicago
Art and War: artists voice Aldo Castillo Gallery, 233 W. Huron, Chicago
War and Peace Gallery 415, 415 N. LaSalle, Chicago
Portraits of Imagination CCT Gallery, 112 N. Noble, Chicago
Barewalls 2004 SAIC - 847 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
Tu Casa es Mi Casa POLVO, 18th St., Chicago

2003
Alas de Papel 2000-2004 Montreal, Mexico City, Cordova, Chicago, Managua
Chicago Solution Show Gallery on Lake - 942 W. Lake Street,Chicago
Globalization Show Hothouse Gallery - 31 E. Balbo, Chicago
Chicago Art Open CAC 6th Annual - 847 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
Art & Industry Union Street Gallery - Chicago Heights, IL
Bare Walls 2003 SAIC - 847 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
Urban edge BAAC- 207 Park Ave., Barrington IL
Visual Candy Butchershop-1319 W. Lake, Chicago
Artist as Terrorist Polvo Studio -1257 W.18th St., Chicago
The El Hothouse Gallery - 31 E. Balbo, Chicago
Artists against the War Chicago Athenaeum-Museum, Schaumburg, IL.
The Art of Teaching 2003 Gallery 37 CenterSpace - 66 E. Randolph, Chicago

2002
Udderly Suite Chicago Historical Society -Museum
Casa Michoacan-Auction Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Chicago
SPECTRUM Chicago Athenaeum-Museum, Schaumburg, IL
Sept. 11 Show Chicago Athenaeum-Museum, Schaumburg, IL
911 Show & Erotic Show JettSett Gallery, Chicago,
Bare Walls 2002 SAIC- 847 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
Chicago Art Open CAC 5thAnnual- 847 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
The Art of Teaching 2002 Marwen - 833 N. Orleans, Chicago

2001
Hemingway Show Hemingway Museum, Oak Park, IL.
Art for Sara’s Sake: Swedish American Museum, Chicago
24th Annual Exhibition: Beverly Art Center, Chicago

2000
Chicago PingPong 2000: Pump Station Gallery, Chicago Public Art Program.
Absolut Visions-art 2000 : Gwendajay A. Gallery, Chicago Art Dealers Association
The Midway Show: Las Manos Gallery, Chicago

1999
Sightings: Gwendajay A. Gallery, 704 N. Wells, Chicago
Cows on Parade: Hancock Tower on Michigan Ave., Chicago


1998
Chicago Art Open: 847 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
Against the Nightstick: Casa Guatemala, Chicago
Bok Guai : A.T.Coyote Festival, Chicago
Collective Exhibitions Las Manos Gallery, 1742 W. Balmoral Chicago

1997
Lost and Found: Gallery 7000, Chicago

1996
Americana Show: Imperfect Fluids Gallery, Chicago

1994
Erotica Show: Naked “i” Gallery, Saint Charles, IL.
Full Box/Empty Culture: Process Bldg., 935 N. Damen, Chicago

1993
Disco Gazebo: APO Bldg. on 18th St., Chicago
Red Line: Feral Dog Gallery, Chicago
New Art Examiner Auction: World Tattoo Gallery, Chicago
Collective Show: LayAway Gallery, Chicago

1992
Collective Show: Beret International Gallery, Chicago
Artist-in-Residence Show: Oak Park Civic Arts Council, Oak Park, IL.

1991
GringoLandia II: North Lakeside Cultural Center, Chicago
Collective Show: Erie Street Gallery, Chicago

1990
Your Message Here: Randolph Street Galley, Chicago

2004
Vecinos: Comcast Cable Stations (11 Chicago Suburbs), Chicago CAN TV-Ch.21
Meztli Cinema/Gallery; 556 W. 18th St., Chicago

2003
18thSt. Pilsen Open Studios Gringolandia Studio - 2232 W. 21st St., Chicago

2001
Operation Icarus: Gringolandia Studio, Open air installation launching

2000
Tales from GringoLandia, Harry S.Truman College, Chicago

1998
Original Recipe: Builders Bank at 1660 N. LaSalle, Chicago
GringoLandia HeirLines: Chicago Public Library, Chicago

1997
West Town Realty Scandals: A.T. Coyote Festival, Chicago

1996
GringoLandia 22: A.T. Coyote Festival, Chicago

1993
Mr. Whitey's Wild Ride: Crux Gallery, 11 E. Hubbard, Chicago

1992
ReCycle America: Reicher Gallery-Barat College-Lake Forest, IL North Pier, Illinois St.- Chicago

1990
GringoLandia: ARC Gallery RAW SPACE, Chicago
Terratenientes: Galeria Uniques, Panama City, R.P.