Gawker Artists 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kenneth E. Parris III @ Gawker NEW YORK (July 1, 2008)- Gawker Artists is proud to feature the work of New York based artist Kenneth E. Parris III in its inaugural Art@Gawker exhibition.
Both highly nostalgic and overtly political, Parris' thoughtfully crafted works seem spliced from a greater narrative, both celebrating and satirizing American culture. Best described as hyper-real, his works often feature archetypal imagery, exaggerated proportions, and found objects. The deliberate juxtaposition of materials and meaning, such as a giant box cutter expertly sculpted from High Density Foam, highlight his critical, yet playful view of modern culture. However poignant, Parris' criticisms are not those of an outsider, but those of shared experience and great devotion.
Similar to Gawker Artists' own process, Parris' Direct Action Art is, for its viewers, an unexpected creative encounter in spaces usually reserved for advertising. Parris installs these collage works gorilla-style over advertisements in subway cars, leaving them for passengers to discover and interact with on their own terms. In Parris' own words, this is "work that disrupts its audience forcing a shift in thought and perspective, causing a new series of events to unfold. A kind of removable graphitti, the viewer will find the works placement unexpected and even slightly invasive. Ultimately commuters are the ‘judges' of the work, as they can remove them to destroy them, keep them for themselves, or allow other's to enjoy them. Direct Action Art is a catalyst for thought and action."
About Kenneth E Parris III
Currently residing in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Parris grew up in Austin, Texas. Primarily a painter, Parris also executes all of the woodwork in his pieces and combines other techniques including collage, silkscreen and sculpture. He is driven by the need to tell a story and his work uses visual tension to create intrigue. Parris' work is in top private collections across the country including Lester Marks and Richard Massey. Parris received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Rochester Institute of Technology.
About Gawker Artists
Gawker Artists promotes the works of artists of all mediums. Participating artists receive free profile pages and a select group have their images published in the ad space on Gawker Media titles. When readers spot these images, they can click on them to read about the artist or to browse the Gawker Artists collection. In addition, Gawker Artists offers readers the opportunity to exhibit galleries of artists' images on their own websites by becoming Exhibitors. Gawker Artists is curated by Liz Dimmitt.
For more information visit www.gawker.com/artists or www.parris3.com
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