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Sac State student expresses dreams through art at local coffee shop

By: E. Tendisai Chigwedere
State Hornet

Posted: 4/29/02

Have you ever woken up from a dream that you could not shake? Scott Randall, a student pursuing his masters in biology at Sacramento State, knows this feeling well. Rather than trying to shake the dreams, Randall decided to capture his surprisingly vivid dreams in paintings, which are currently displayed at the Capitol Garage Coffee Co. downtown on the corner of L and 15th Streets.

The 24-year old spends his days working as an air pollution specialist, while his free hours are spent re-creating the images of his reveries. The last day of the exhibit is tomorrow.

Surrealist elements enhance the dreamlike feel of Randall’s work.

"When I first started painting I was basically trying to create something with the same feel and substance as my dreams as a way to better understand them", explains Randall.

Stephanie, an employee at the Capitol Garage, says "not many comments have been made by the customers to her."

Those who observe the paintings are not likely to walk away without some feeling about Randall’s work.

"People tend to respond very strongly to my work, either very positively or very negatively", says Randall.

The subjects of some of his more provocative work; which includes Osama Bin Laden, Hitler, Sadam Hussein and Jesus; embody controversy and they stir up strong responses without much outside assistance.

Randall’s work is still developing as he taught himself everything he knows about art, save for a beginning drawing class he took at Sac State, but which he gives no credit for his development. Randall credits his minimal artistic training background for empowering his art to "evolve independently from the mainstream", making it "original and distinct.

The canvas works are not limited to paint, as Randall explains how he uses "whatever materials are at hand." The molecular looking paintings based on his knowledge of biology seem to fall into the "work that is meticulously planned and carefully exercised", of which Randall speaks on his website.

Randall admits to finding his dreams "puzzling." True to the methodical mind of a scientist, he chooses to mull over his dreams and unravel his dreams rather than rolling back over and drooling.


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