MAINSITE Contemporary Art is pleased to announce the upcoming Exhibition of new work by photographer Benjy Russell.
Exhibition Dates: August 29th through October 4th, 2008

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday August 29th, 7-9pm

BENJY RUSSELL- Artist Statement-
“POMP KERSEY AND THE BATTLE OF SHORT MOUNTAIN”

IN THE YEAR 1861, IN A PLACE CALLED SHORT MOUNTAIN TENNESSEE, A 13 YEAR OLD BOY/GIRL JOINED THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. AT THE AGE OF 16, HE/SHE DISBANDED FROM THE ARMY TO FORM A BAND OF LIKEMINDED MARAUDERS WITH THE INTENT OF TERRORIZING UNION SYMPATHIZERS. REFERRED TO AS “RUSTIC BEAUTIES”, THESE HE/SHE VIGILANTES SPENT THEIR EVENINGS SEDUCING THE LOCAL TOWNSMEN IN DIMLY LIT BARN DANCES. IN 1865, AT THE AGE OF 17, POMP KERSEY AND HIS BAND OF HE/SHE BANDITS WERE AMBUSHED; POMP CAPTURED, KILLED, AND HIS BODY DRAGGED INTO TOWN ON HORSEBACK AND DESECRATED..

BENJY RUSSELL’S WORK AND LIFE IS AN EXPLORATION THAT LEADS US INTO A FOLD IN TIME AND PLACE. A GOTHIC GHOST STORY IN THE RE-TELLING OF POMP KERSEY AND HIS PRESENT DAY SPIRIT THAT LIVES ON WITHIN THE CURRENT INHABITANTS OF SHORT MOUNTAIN, WHERE MR. RUSSELL CURRENTLY RESIDES. IN THIS UTOPIAN SETTING OF THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAIN RANGE IN TENNESSEE, LIVES A LONG STANDING COMMUNITY OF HILLBILLY DANDIES, RESIDING ON THE FRINGES OF SOCIETY AND RECLAIMING THEIR IDENTITIES AS MOUNTAIN MEN (OR WOMEN).

IN RUSSELL’S WORK, “POMP KERSEY AND THE BATTLE OF SHORT MOUNTAIN” HE REINCARNATES MORE THEN A MERE HOMAGE TO THE MYTH OF PAST. RATHER, HIS WORK SERVES IN REFLECTING THE TRADITION OF AN ONTOLOGICAL PUNK ETHOS THAT HAS EXISTED BOTH AS AN IDEOLOGICAL PAST AND RURAL PRESENT. GIVING NEW MEANING TO THE VICTORIAN CONCEPT OF “MANIFEST DESTINY”, A REVERSE PIONEERISM HAS TAKEN SHAPE WITH MR. RUSSELL AND HIS FELLOW COMRADES ON THE MOUNTAIN. LIFE AS A QUEER, NEO HOMESTEADER IN AN AGE OF GLOBALISM MIRRORS THE SUBVERSIVE AGENDAS OF POMP AND HIS “DANDY BANDITS”. CONTINUING THE SITE SPECIFIC LEGACY OF EXISTENCE IN A REALM OF SEXUAL FREEDOM AND POLITICAL REVISIONISM.