George Russell
russell-designs.comI’m a multimedia artist and designer based out of Bolinas, California. My work is centered around extracting meaning and properties from material where they may have otherwise been understated or ignored. I work with wood, plastics, shells and metals and like to let material determine outcome as much as intention does. While I previously focused on the abstract, my attention has shifted to the very real present of politics, societal decline and calamity. In this decline, my emotions and attention have followed suit as I attempt to capture this tragedy through the re-imagining and re-purposing of cultural symbols. Through my practice I attempt to expose hypocrisy and shine light on core causes as much as general topics, relying on awe and wonder to carry viewers to a deeper connection.
The Modern Crusade
This project takes on the theoretical: reimagining stained glass, a deeply charged religious symbol. While previously used to commemorate the most memorable scenes of scripture, I am reappropriating stained glass to expose the inherent hypocrisy between claims of non-violence and the ultra-violence carried out by evangelicals within our government. My research delves into the connection between evangelicals and Israel, how these ties were fastened, and how they are unwinding. Growing up attending jewish camps, the ultimate payoff was visiting Israel once you were old enough. The “most moral nation” was my intro, and it took years before I came to know the truth, the history and the violence. Now the fruit of this indoctrination, especially through Christian zionism, has taken the reins of this country and is pushing the world towards collapse and calamity.
I delved into the Evangelical preachers who came to shape the views and teaching of modern evangelism. From this framework I examine how the modern Christian Zionist movement has shifted post October 7th and how those in power, specifically Pete Hegseth, are directly contributing to what they perceive as steps towards rapture under dispensation theology. This is, biblically, the idea that once the Jewish population controls Israel, a 7 year countdown clock will commence and that christians will be “raptured” or “float” to meet Jesus Christ. When those holding the reigns believe these sorts of prophecies, a sort of confirmation bias occurs where their actions allow them to put into motion their pre-conceived notions. The means to this end are now being carried out by our military, using weapons and technology that disconnect death and destruction from responsibility and empathy. The technology of drone warfare attempts to mimic God’s almighty power.