Russell Brausch

Scraps of pine and fresh soot perforate into my studio space. This scent brings me back to the forest, a victim of recent vicious wildfire. Tree remnants glisten in the sunlight, the charcoaled surfaces reflecting on the desolate soil. What seems like a post apocalyptic landscape is contrasted with the immediate growth of wildflowers, hinting to the natural process of forest restoration. Suppressing the necessity for prescribed fire over the past century has lead to this moment in the American west. My work challenges the notion that nature exists separate from man, while focusing on the need for human intervention. I paint, burn, and sand layers containing symbolic imagery of forest fire history with my own experiences of wildfire. Often combining irony and humor with intense scenes of this reality, I intend to point out where forest management has made mistakes and present an optimistic future. 

Biography

I am currently based in Bozeman, MT and working towards my Master of Fine Arts at Montana State University. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Creighton University in May of 2022.

Growing up in unique environments like Scarborough, Maine and Fort Collins, Colorado influenced who I am and what kind of art I am drawn to make. My approach to art is interdisciplinary, so I am frequently bouncing between ceramics, painting, and printmaking methods.

In 2021, I received a summer undergraduate research fellowship from the Creighton University Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship for my project, Wildfire: Conservation through art and observation. This project fueled my fascination with land management approaches, specifically to forest fires. Since then, I have been researching the history of fire suppression and been focusing the majority of my art practice on creating a response to this problem. My goal is to combine my passion for nature with the arts to change perspectives about conservation issues.