From 2002 until 2007 I made drawings, paintings, multiples, performances and audio
works based on the failed 1984 movie Supergirl. I saw the movie once.
I have now organized my studio practice around the play Timon of Athens, written by
William Shakespeare between 1605 and 1608. It is considered to be Shakespeare’s most
difficult and obscure work, and is the only one of his plays not performed in his lifetime.
I am proceeding through the cast of characters listed in the dramatis personae beginning
with the minor characters. For each character I am producing a distinct series of
paintings, drawings, or objects based on contemporary associations suggested by the
characters. The final result will a body of related works comprised of separately
considered parts.

The Chorus is a work with text and readymades that expands over time. Each time the
work from this series is exhibited, the time zone of the venue’s location is added to the
work. The time zones begin with “Stratford-Upon-Avon,” the home of William
Shakespeare, and continue through the current Atlanta exhibition.

The Mistress paintings are made from jpeg images that I receive anonymously via email
from amateur models. In most cases I do not know the contributor, nor have I even seen
their face. These amateur source photos cannot be made by the model alone—they imply
a spirit of collaboration as strong as Joseph Beuys’ Spade With Two Handles.

The Flattering Lords are painted from ink jet printouts of daisies from coastal Georgia.
They are compact, radial, and although visual, imply a distinctive scent.

The Apemantus pieces are dedicated to the “churlish philosopher” who is memorable for
the formidable wit he demonstrates in public. The words from these works are
appropriated from printed t-shirts, one vehicle with which contemporary citizens may be
clever in public.

The Timon works are variations of the capital letter “T” transcribed into the tradition of
painting. The letter “T” stands for, among other words, “Timon” from the play’s title.

Craig Drennen is an artist living in Savannah, GA. He has a BA in Interdisciplinary
Studies and MFA’s in Painting and Art History and was a 2006 participant at the
Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture. He is represented by Samson Projects in
Boston, MA. He was a featured artist at the 2008 NEXT art fair in Chicago, and has
shown in other art fairs including ScopeNY in New York City, NADA in Miami, ARCO in
Madrid, the Affair at the Jupiter Hotel in Portland, and is a feature artist at the 2009
MACO in Mexico City, April 22nd – 26th. His most recent exhibition was a two-person
show at Zero Degree Space in Beijing, China in December 2008.