Femina Potens Gallery presents
New Work by Teri Claude & Kirstyn Russell
February 3rd - 24th, 2006.

The idea for the show began with a road trip the two artists took together, exploring remote areas of the Southern California desert. Both artists are drawn to the edges of development, and to the traces people leave behind. They are especially drawn to those traces which suggest a story or narrative for a space. Through sculpture and photography, the show will bring these remote places to the gallery.





Kirstyn Russell, Salton Sea. 2005.

Kirstyn Russell returned to San Francisco four years ago after living on the East Coast for 10 years. Searching beyond geographic boundaries into psychological, historic, and identity based understanding of the areas being photographed. “I am interested in looking at queer spaces where the expected signifiers are very subtle.” Her work includes images from her series Outposts; photographs of rural gay and lesbian bars.
more images of her work can be seen at http://www.theblackdahliashow.com/russell/


My work for the show included three pieces from the series "Finding Water in the Desert". All are based on memories of having grown up in the desert on an Air Force Base, living in cinderblock military housing. These memories are brought back to me whenever I visit the Mojave Desert, which is increasingly becoming a suburb of Los Angeles.









Mojave, California. A fragment of cinderblock wall, constructed of wood-panelling and veneer cinderblocks. The blocks are littered with embroidered cloth notebook pages. 2006. Kirstyn Russell's photographs can be seen in the background.





Rosamond, California. A part of a decorative cinderblock wall, through which a makeshift urinal has been constructed using a garden hose and plastic jugs. 2006. Cinderblocks are constructed of wood panelling and veneers. Kirstyn Russell's photographs can be seen in the background.




Quartz Hill, California. Cut plywood, epoxy, tin can and crystallized salt. 2006.