Russell Cook

1002 Ave A

Rome Ga, 30165

404-580-1057

rcook@highlands.edu

russellcookart@gmail.com

 

Education

2014-16    MA Art History studies, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

2007          MFA, Drawing, Painting and Printmaking, Georgia State University

2002          Graduate Studies, California College of Arts and Crafts,  San Francisco, CA              

2000          BFA, Drawing and Painting, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 

1996          Undergraduate studies, Art Institute of Atlanta

1995          UGA at Oxford Program, Keeble College, Oxford, England

 

Teaching Experience

2023           Full Professor of Art with Tenure, Georgia Highlands College

2018           Associate Professor of Art with Tenure, Georgia Highlands College

2017           Assistant Professor of Art with Tenure, Georgia Highlands College

2014-17      Assistant Professor of Art, Georgia Highlands College

2009-14      Full-time Lecturer in Art, Georgia Highlands College

2008-09      Full-time Instructor of Art, Georgia Highlands College

2007           Part-time Instructor of Art, Georgia Highlands College

2005-07      Graduate Teaching Assistant, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

                    (Instructor of Record: Drawing 1, Drawing 2, 2D Design)  

2005            Lab Assistant in Photography,  Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

2004-05      Drawing Instructor, Coosa Valley Technical College, Rome, GA 

 

Professional Experience

2021-23        Gallery Assistant/Art Handler/Resident Artist, Kingfisher Art Co., 

2021            Co-Curator, with Cameron Cook and Victoria Mary Clarke, The Art of Shane MacGowan, Kingfisher Art Co.  

2018-24        Writer, Principal Performer, Russell Cook & the Sweet Teeth

2015             Co-owner, Blue Star Gallery, Jasper, GA

2002-24        Writer, Principal Performer, Little Country Giants 

2012              Ensemble Understudy, Original Cast, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, Alliance Theater                     

2011            Ten-Day Workshop for Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, led by Susan V. Booth, Stephen King, John Mellencamp, T-Bone Burnette, and Norman Lear, Alliance Theater, Atlanta, GA     

2007              Staff Writer, Burnaway.org, art reviews and criticism, Atlanta, GA

2004-06         Art Editor, Writer, Rome Unscene Alternative Weekly, Rome, GA

2005              Foundryman, Mark Hopkins Sculpture Studio, Rome, GA  

2001-02         Assistant Artist, Deljou Art Group, Atlanta, GA

 

Selected Exhibitions  

2023           All Flesh Is Grass, (solo show) Lowe Mill Galleries, Huntsville, AL 

2023           Russell Cook, (solo show) Kingfisher Art Co., Rome, GA

2022           51st Annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts, Northport, AL

2022           Gathered V: Georgia Artists Selecting Georgia Artists, MoCA GA Biennial, Atlanta, GA

2021           Open Studio, Kingfisher Art Co, Rome, GA

2020           Embodiment II, Moon Gallery, Berry College, Rome, GA

2019           Inspiring Artists, Harbin Clinic Gallery, Rome, GA

2019           Russell Cook, (solo show) Harris Arts Center, Calhoun, GA

2019           Works on Paper, (solo show) Lowe Mill Galleries, Huntsville, AL

2018           Finster Fest, Paradise Garden, Summerville, GA

2018           Magic City Arts Connection, Birmingham, AL

2017           Smooth Down the Noise, (solo show), Georgia Highlands College

2017          Disarrangement of Form, (solo show), Creative Arts Guild,  Dalton, GA

2017          Magic City Arts Connection, Birmingham, AL

2016          Moss Rock Festival, Hoover AL

2016          Finster Fest, Paradise Garden, Summerville, GA

2015          Regional Art Show, Harris Arts Center, Calhoun GA

2015          Opening Exhibition, Blue Star Gallery, Jasper GA

2014          Collage @ (SCENE), (SCENE) metrospace, East Lansing, MI

2014          85 Years, 85 Artists, Menlo College, Atherton, CA

2013          First Place Losers, Solo Exhibition, Georgia Highlands College                  

2011          Pin-Up, Georgia Museum of Contemporary Art

2010          Russell Cook, Solo Exhibition, Eyedrum, Atlanta, GA

2007          Fists of Foam and Fury, MFA Thesis Exhibition, GSU

2006          Configuration, 11 Lindbergh Street, Rome, GA  

2005          Spring Show, Whitespace, Atlanta, GA 

2005          Russell Cook and Myrtice West, Rome Area Council for the Arts 

2004          Eternal Spring, Rome Area Council for the Arts, Rome, GA 

2003          Viv and a Movie Art & Film Show, San Francisco, CA 

2003          Arts on Parade, Benicia, CA 

2002         Eclectic Electric, Lyndon House Arts Center, Athens, GA

 

Collaborative Works (Music, Film, and Theater)

2023          Sweetness, Russell Cook & the Sweet Teeth, writer/performer/co-producer

2019          Tate’s Hell, film score, co-writer and performer

2019         To Kingdom Come, soundtrack,   (writer/performer- I Will Always Be Around)

2019          Live in the Library, Russell Cook & the Sweet Teeth, writer/performer

2019          Lonely Fool in the Dark, Russell Cook & the Sweet Teeth, video production, editing                       

2016          Dead Reckoning, Little Country Giants, writer/performer

2013          Blind Tiger: The Legend of Belltree Smith, film soundtrack and performance        

2012          Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, Ensemble Understudy, Alliance Theater, Atlanta, GA,

                     (premier production by Stephen King, John Mellencamp, and T-Bone Burnett)                     

2012           60 Grit, Little Country Giants, Cowboy Angel Records, writer/performer                     

2012           Child’s Play, Anthony-Masterson short film, performer

2011           Ghost Brothers of Darkland County pre-production workshop,  Alliance Theater, Atlanta, GA                   

2011           Grow!, Anthony-Masterson documentary, 9 song film score

2011           Esposito, Vanguard Cinema, soundtrack

2010           Pushin’ Up Daisies, film score, (writer/performer-Buckaby Crenshaw)

2009           Fists of Foam and Fury, Little Country Giants, writer/performer

2007           Freelance, film score, (writer/performer-More Than Everything)       

2007           Sing Pretty For The People, Little Country Giants, writer/performer, 

2005           Breaking Hearts And Living Free, Little Country Giants, writer/performer

2002          Just For This Song’s Time, Little Country Giants, writer/performer

 

Professional Service

2022-23        Chair, Art Faculty Search Committee, Georgia Highlands College

2021-22        Chair, Pre-Tenure Review Committee, Georgia Highlands College

2020-21        Chair, Art Faculty Search Committee, Georgia Highlands College

2017-18        Pre-Tenure Review Committee, Georgia Highlands College

2016-17        Statute and Faculty Affairs Committee, Georgia Highlands College

2013-15        Assessment Coordinator, Humanities Team, Georgia Highlands College                 

2013             Spring Papermaking Workshop for GreenHighlands Student Organization                

 

Community Service

2018-24      Board of Directors, Paradise Garden Foundation, Summerville, GA

2023            Finster Fest Music Committee 2023, Paradise Garden, Summerville, Ga

2022            Finster Fest Music Committee 2022, Paradise Garden, Summerville, Ga

2020            Juror, Smithsonian’s Crossroads: Change in Rural America, Summerville, Ga                    

2018            Juror, Floyd County Governor’s Honors Program in Art

2015-17      Steering Committee, Georgia String Band Festival, Calhoun, GA

2015            Summer Concert Series Committee, Harris Arts Center, Calhoun, GA

2014            Entertainment Coordinator, Fairmount Folk Art Fest, Fairmount, GA

 

Awards/Honors

2022           Selected for Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MoCA GA) Biennial, Gathered V: Georgia Artists Selecting Georgia Artists                  

2017           Kinetic Communications Signature Award, Magic City Arts Connection,    Birmingham, AL                 

2011            Judge’s Choice, Pin-Up, Georgia Museum of Contemporary Art   

2007            Nominated for Joan Mitchell Foundation MFA Grant, Georgia State University                  

2006            Reader’s Choice: Best Local Traditional Folk Act: Little Country Giants, Creative Loafing Atlanta                    

2006            Emerging Artist of the Year: Little Country Giants, Rome Area Council  for the Arts, Rome, Ga                  

2005            Reader’s Choice: Best Local Traditional Folk Act: Little Country Giants, Creative Loafing Atlanta                    

2002            Gold Prize, Decatur Fine Arts Festival, Decatur, Ga   

2000            Presidential Scholar, University of Georgia

2000            Deans List, University of Georgia 

2000            Lamar Dodd School of Art Award, Yancey Robertson Memorial Competition, University of Georgia                 

Artist Talks and Guest Lectures               

2022           Guest Lecturer, Chris Hall's One Health and Health and Public Policy classes, Berry College, Rome, GA

2022           Artist’s Talk, Rome Art Coterie, Rome, GA 

2019          “Pennville’s Paradise”(on Howard Finster), Harbin Clinic Gallery,  Makervillage, Rome, GA 

2019          Artist’s Talk, Lowe Mill Galleries, Huntsville, AL

2006          Artist’s Talk, Graduate Symposium on the Human Condition, Georgia State University

 

Selected Performances

Alliance Theater, Atlanta, GA

Americana Folk Festival, Dickson, TN

Americana Music Conference, Nashville, TN

Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Atlanta, GA

Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA

Arts on Main Street Summer Concert Series, Scottsville, KY

Athens Americana Festival, Athens, GA

AthFest, Athens, GA

Barking Legs Theater, Chattanooga, TN

Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival, Bristol, TN

Cafe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY

Celebration South Festival, Statesboro, GA

Chiaha Arts Festival, Rome, GA

Clementine, Harrisonburg, VA

Club Passim, Camden, MA

Eddie’s Attic, Decatur, GA

Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta, GA

First Friday Folk Series, Savannah, GA

Folk Alliance, Memphis, TN

Gem Theater, Calhoun, GA

Georgia Public Broadcasting, Mountain Music and Medicine Show

Georgia State University Art Gallery, Atlanta, GA

Guilford College, Greensboro, NC

Harris Arts Center, Calhoun, GA

High Museum of Art, Atlanta Ga

International String Band Festival, Calhoun, GA

Kentuck Festival of the Arts, Northpoint, AL

Legacy Fine Arts Festival, Cartersville, GA

Nightfall Concert Series, Chattanooga, TN

North Georgia Folk Festival, Athens, GA

Pete’s Candy Store, Brooklyn, NY

Pickathon, Portland, OR

Red Clay Theater, Duluth, GA

Rockwood Music Hall, New York, NY

Rome Area History Museum, Rome, GA

Rome City Auditorium, Rome, GA

The 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA

                

Publications and Press

Live in the Library, WUTC Radio, Recording and Broadcast, December 2, 2023

Scenic City Roots, WUTC Radio, Interview for FinsterFest, September 12, 2022

Chattanooga Times Free Press, December 10, 2019

Calhoun Times, April 26, 2019

Adult Swim Bloodfeast, Performance, Sept. 19, 2017

Best of the North Georgia Mountains, October issue, 2016

Highlander Magazine, Faculty Spotlight, Spring 2016

Highlander Magazine, Staff Spotlight, Spring 2015

Renee Batti, “Exhibit Opens Doorway to Decades Past,” The Almanac, March 22, 2014

Exhibition Catalog, 85 Years, 85 Artists, Menlo College, Atherton CA, 2014

Old Red Kimono Literary Journal, Visual Art, 2012, 2013, 2014

Flagpole Magazine, Athens GA, Calendar Picks, July 10, 2013

The Pulse, Little Country Giants: Storytellers in the Southern Tradition, Feb 2013

WUTC Radio, Chattanooga, TN, interview and performance, August 17, 2012

WUOG Radio, Athens, GA, interview and performance, August 15, 2012

WDVX Radio, Knoxville, TN, interview and performance, December 1, 2006

WREK Radio, Atlanta, GA, interview and performance, May 3, 2005

WRAS Radio, Atlanta, GA, interview and performance, July 21, 2005

Georgia Trend magazine, Exhibition announcement with photograph. March 2005 

 

Classes Taught

ARTS 1010: Drawing I: Introduction to the techniques, materials and principles of drawing. Designed primarily for potential art majors and others interested in studio artwork. This course emphasizes the development of drawing skills and focuses on basic two-dimensional design problems.

ARTS 1011:Drawing II: Techniques, materials, and principles of drawing. This course is designed for art majors. It expands upon basic skills taught in Drawing I (ARTS 1010) and introduces new materials and avenues of expression with a special emphasis on color and design.

ARTS 1020: Two-Dimensional Design/Color Theory: The fundamentals of two-dimensional design, introduced through projects in a variety of media. Designed for art majors, this course investigates the problems and possibilities of color in relation to two-dimensional design through exercises involving hue, value, saturation, and other properties of color. It also introduces students to the use of acrylic paint.

ARTS 1030: Three-Dimensional Design: An investigation of three-dimensional forms and space using various materials and methods. This basic course in sculpture examines the three-dimensional aspects of art structure as applied in a variety of materials, including plaster, wood, and clay. Students study the technical aspects and design problems of working with three-dimensional forms and spatial relationships.

ARTS 1111: Art History to the Renaissance: This survey of art history covers the major periods of Western art from prehistory to 1400. It focuses on stylistic trends and cultural relationships. Some consideration is given to non-Western art forms.

ARTS 1112: Art History Renaissance to Present: This survey of art history covers the main periods of Western art from 1400 to the present. Some consideration is also given to non-western art.

ARTS 1113: Art Appreciation: This course seeks to develop an understanding of the arts built upon exposure to the painting, sculpture, architecture and other arts of contemporary and earlier times. Illustrated lectures and readings present the sociological and psychological factors that influence the production of art and show the basic problems of design and technique in the development of an artist and his work.

ARTS 1118: History and Appreciation of Folk Art: This survey of folk and outsider art history will cover art and artists’ creative activity that takes place outside of the professional mainstream of art, including the art of the self-taught, folk, visionary, vernacular, naïve, and untrained. Students will see significant overlap and limitations in these categories, and with intersections of the mainstream art world. The class is an exploration of this work that exists on the shifting margins of the art world. Students will look at the early 20th-century movement Art Brut, with its interest in the art of children and those with mental illness, and move thematically through the visionary writings and illustrations of religious mystics, folk arts, craft traditions, street art, and the more recent art world embrace of artists outside the mainstream. Special focus will be given to the folk and visionary art of our region, such as the pottery of Lanier Meaders and family, and Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden in Summerville. 

ARTS 2181: Painting I: This studio art course is limited to students in the art pathway. It is designed for majors who have completed their basic studio requirements and wish to work for a semester in a major discipline of painting. The course concentrates on techniques in traditional and innovative oil painting. The course requires extensive effort, both supervised and independent.

 

Professional Affiliations/Memberships

Paradise Garden Foundation Board, Summerville, GA

College Art Association (CAA), New York, NY

High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA

Harris Arts Center, Calhoun, GA