RUSSELL
CROTTY
ASTRONOMY
WORKS

2020: Russell with his collection of backyard telescopes – and observing buddies

Astronomy has been Russell's passion from a very young age. He has studied the night sky for decades, becoming an accomplished amateur astronomer with observational contributions to astronomy organizations such as NASA and ALPO. Utilizing his own array of telescopes, along with several opportunities to observe at professional observatories, he studies the stars as the 19th century astronomers did – through the viewfinder, not through digital imaging devices. His obsessive documentation of celestial phenomenon has resulted in a body of astronomical work informed by actual scientific theoretical research and infused with his own interpretations.

2004: The 10 inch reflector in Russell's observatory (dubbed "The Solstice Peak Observatory") in the Santa Monica Mountains, which burned down in a 2007 wildfire. (photo: Stuart Gow)

1999: At the eyepiece of the 60 inch telescope at Mt. Wilson Observatory

Galaxies, 1995
15 x 11 inches
ink and pencil on paper

The evolution of the astronomy work began with flat drawings (on sheets and in books) of stars and deep sky objects, often in a grid format, other times within a circular motif, as you would see it through the telescope's viewfinder. It was a natural progression for the drawings to move from circular to spherical and in the late 1990's, Russell began creating his signature globe drawings, introducing three-dimensional sculptural elements into his work.

The globes are fabricated in fiberglass then covered with archival paper by professional paper conservators. Russell draws directly onto the coated globe with a special archival ball-point pen over a wash of watercolor, then a sealant is applied. Globe sizes range from 8 inches to 72 inches in diameter.

Lucia and Gabi coating globes with japanese paper and wheat paste

2005 group show "Messages & Communications" at the Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh, PA

Vancouver Art Museum

2003 exhibition "For the Record" at the Vancouver Art Gallery, British Columbia.

2002 solo show at CRG Gallery, New York, NY

Two 72 inch diameter globe drawings in the 2005 solo exhibition at ShoshanaWayne Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

Russell is also known for his books: small sketchbooks, custom made books with overlays, atlases of the heavens, and a few enormous and elaborate "field guides."

"Field Chart for Telescopic Work on Starlit Evenings" in the 2011 group exhibition "Revealed: Turner Contemporary Opens" at Turner Contemporary, Margate, England

book: 60 x 144 x 3 inches
table: 66 x 144 x 68 inches
tube: 72 x 12 inches
ink and watercolor on paper and vellum in 6 pages bound in rugged canvas on wood and metal table

Detail from "Field Chart for Telescopic Work on Starlit Evenings," 2004

Six Panoramas, 2005
41 x 82 inches open
ink and watercolor on 12 pages in linen bound book

M11 The Milky Way (Northern Hemishere), 1999-2000
36 inch diameter globe

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