Artist Statement
Christopher Nitsche creates sculptures, drawings and temporary installations that evoke the visual and metaphorical attributes of ships; a pursuit he started in 1995. An early influence is a family history of sailing Lake Michigan; his creative mind latched early on the taper and lines of a double-curved yacht hull. Other inspirations are the found objects he chooses for making art, where the extant history of associated utility remains present. Couple this with his travels, living in points across the country, which leave an enduring impression of place and the course of a journey. The triad of found objects, ship form and injected content makes for a transformative whole.
He considers the visual attributes of his ship works as an aesthetic presence or point of departure. The processes he employs in creating the work are wide-ranging, allowing the form to transform conceptually and expressively, resulting in dynamic shapes and appearance.
Nitsche's resume details exhibitions in galleries, art museums, alternative spaces, and outdoor sites. He has over 70 solo and group shows, throughout America, Montenegro and Japan. The State Art Councils of New Hampshire and Colorado recognized his work with Fellowship Grants for Artistic Merit. Recent solo exhibitions include the 621 Gallery in Tallahassee, Florida and the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum in Savannah, Georgia, the Spartanburg Art Museum, the Indigo Sky Community Gallery, and Waterworks Visual Arts Center Museum. He participated as a Visiting Artist creating installations at the Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art, the University of Wyoming Art Museum, Bridgewater State University, and Texas Woman’s University. He is scheduled for exhibitions at the Alexander Brest Museum and Gallery in Jacksonville Florida, and the Mobile Art Museum in Mobile, Alabama. Nitsche is currently a Professor of Foundation Studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design teaching classes in design and sculpture.
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