Generations

OS Projects presents Generations, opening August 12, 2023 and continuing through October 14, 2023. The exhibition pairs Racine artist and educator Jerrold Belland with Chicago artist Andrew Larson, a former student. A reception for the artists will take place Saturday, August 12, from 1 – 3 pm.

Generations features recent cityscapes by Jerrold Belland and figurative interiors by Andrew Larson. Both painters evoke a sense of place: Belland through direct observation and Larson through invention and synthesis. Although the artists share an interest in historical modes of painting, they prioritize expression and spontaneity over precision and preconceptions.

Belland’s paintings are inspired by the view from his fourth-floor studio window, which overlooks a patchwork of industrial zones and working-class neighborhoods. By looking long and hard, and diving deeply into his subject matter, the artist emulates his overarching approach to art. Larson’s subject matter is humans and their environment, with a focus on atmospheric effects, both as a painterly device and an examination of toxic auras. Myth and vices, and high and low culture, make appearances in his compositions, which combine mystery, melancholy and humor.

While the act of painting encapsulates time in layers of color and medium, time for artists is marked by phases of development and influence, impelled by supporters, peers and mentors. Generations conflates these manifestations of time by bringing together a former teacher and student to compare several decades of notes on the painterly life.

About the Artists

Jerrold Belland was born and raised on a dairy farm near Lake Geneva, WI. He has 60 years of experience as an artist, illustrator and author. He graduated with a BFA from UW Madison and, shortly thereafter, received his master’s degree from UW-Milwaukee. During his long career as an art educator in the Racine Unified School District, Belland exhibited his paintings locally, regionally and nationally, which he continues to do. For the past 18 years, he has maintained a studio practice at 16th Street Studios in Racine. His work is in numerous collections, both private and public, and he was included in the comprehensive survey, A Creative Place: The History of Wisconsin Art. Belland is the recipient of a 2012 RAM Artist Fellowship from the Racine Art Museum.

Andrew Larson was born in Racine, WI and studied painting at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, from which he graduated with a BFA. He is principal at Andrew Larson Design, Inc., which focuses on association publications and pharmaceutical marketing. From 2000-2010, Larson was a singer/songwriter/guitarist for the Gnomes, writing and recording three albums of material (I, II and III) and performing at Chicago venues such as The Hideout, Schubas and Beat Kitchen. Since 2010, he has increased his dedication to painting after years spent dividing his creative energy. Larson currently lives in Chicago and paints from a studio in the West Side Austin neighborhood.