Paul Russell

Art has been around since the beginning of mankind. Whether or not there is an “economy”, it will always remain. It has the power to change cultures. It can effect people’s moods. Ultimately, it can shape the world we live in. To me, this is comforting. My background in art starts with music. I began playing violin at the age of 5 and picked up a multitude of other string instruments, playing in garage bands throughout grade school. I was actually in college for music composition when my first son was born. I dropped out and started working at my family’s shop, Lawndale Forge. This is where I learned to work with metal over the last 14 years. In the past 6 years I’ve been focusing on creative endeavors with this medium. I’m interested in community engagement artwork. I’ll be making a public version of the piece I’m submitting for the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit. This version will not have mirrors, but instead there will be openings for people to step inside for an interactive experience.