Local Artist Spotlight: Nathan Cordero

"Are You Destined to Become Your Mother?" a phrase which can simultaneously invoke ire or pride in women everywhere, is the title of Sacramento artist Nathan Cordero's solo exhibition at the Richard L Nelson Gallery and Fine Art Collection at UC Davis (on view through August 20, 2011, so catch it now!). The provocative phrase is one of many Cordero manipulates, distorts, etches, paints, and scrawls on various materials preferably salvaged wood, and very often times recycled doors. Cordero's work has evolved out of a street sensibility, lending a looseness to his style which melds a sly intellectualism with a playful approach to art making. The work is thoughtful, subtle, clever, and sometimes sweet. Cordero took time out from installing his show back in July to share some thoughts with CBSlocal about his work and the exhibition.

CBSSacramento.com: What motivates you?

Nathan Cordero: Well really just hoarding. I'm always looking for wood and collecting wood and whenever I find something I have to do something with it immediately, especially if the wood has a lot of character and is easy to work with. When I find a new piece I have to build something with it right away.

CBSSacramento.com: Where did the title of the show come from?

NC: It was on the cover of a Real Simple magazine I picked up from 2010. After I first saw the headline I found these other headlines for magazines from past issues of Vogue and started playing with the text and I saw tons of images. After a while I saw the same headline again ("Are You Destined to Become Your Mother?") and thought that was intriguing. I also took it kind of personally because of my mom's {recent} death so it really fit.

CBSSacramento.com: How did this body of work develop?

NC: The very first piece of plywood I found was in Curtis Park and I really take note of where I find things and how I bring them back and there's always an interesting story. So the first piece I found was in Curtis Park and I wanted to do some inlay as a negative space for some imagery and basically the wood cut really easily and was a certain color and it was the very first piece I made for this show. From there I was just collecting wood from all over the city and even from Verge. People would throw away stuff and I would retrieve it from the trash and use it.

CBSSacramento.com: Your art possesses such a distinct style. What would you say has influenced or
inspired what you do?

NC: That's hard to pin point. I really enjoy Chris Johanson, he's definitely a favorite artist. The reason for that is his ability to work without a plan. He puts things down rapidly, what he's doing is at that moment and to me that's genius. I don't think anything should be really planned out unless technique is involved. Yea, Chris Johanson is awesome. Basquiat too, he had a message that was personal but didn't have a format which is typical to how I work.

CBSSacramento.com: What is you working style? Are you in the studio everyday?

NC: It seems like when the weather is down I work more intensely. If I find wood I immediately want to do something with it but the idea doesn't pour out until the wood is prepared and ready. It really depends on material and how it falls in my lap.

CBSSacramento.com: So now that the show is up what's next?

NC: I'm gonna move into more large scale things. Now that the weather's nicer I'm gonna work on larger scale stuff outside. There's construction going on around town and there's dumpsters to be rummaged through all over.....

"Are You Destined to Become Your Mother?"
Richard L. Nelson Gallery and Fine Art Collection
University of California, Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616 Phone: 530-752-8500
Gallery hours: 11am - 5pm Saturday through Thursday, Friday by appointment, Sunday CLOSED
Admission is Free
nelsongallery.ucdavis.edu