The Lounge at {9} The Gallery Presents Monty Little: "Where Do We Go When We Sleep" for First Friday

PHOENIX - Jan. 25, 2020 - PRLog -- The Lounge at {9} presents "Monty Little: "Where Do We Go When We Sleep?", opening First Friday, February 7th, 2020, 6-10 PM at {9} The Gallery. Little's abstract oil paintings depict invasive plants alongside representations of plastics, raising awareness of the cycle of human dependency on plastic and its consequential destruction of our world.

The foundational arrangements of Little's works are inspired by the organic patterns of nature. Intrusive plants serve as metaphors for colonialism and assimilation, overrunning and eradicating Indigenous vegetation. Forms, referencing imagined and deconstructed plastics, float through the pattern and contaminate the design, representing the pollution that so often destroys organic life.

"I look back upon classical still life paintings and I want to be more provocative by revealing the harsh realities of contemporary lifestyles regarding colonialism and climate change. The colors I choose are "artificial" to organic vegetation because I envision our landscapes to be overrun by plastic plants consumed from commercial stores. I believe plastics are invasive species." - Monty Little

Monty Little enlisted in the Marine Corps as a rifleman in 2004 and was stationed with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines while deployed in Iraq and served as a fireteam leader. In 2008, Little was Honorably Discharged from the Marine Corps and went on to graduate from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico with a focus in Creative Writing and Studio Arts in 2015. That same year, Little was awarded the nationally recognized Tulsa Artist Fellowship for three years. In 2018 he was selected as an artist-in-residence at the Institute of American Indian Arts.

Little's works have been exhibited nationally and internationally, including the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Chicago and the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts in California. He currently lives and works in Tuba City, Arizona with his family.

"Monty Little: "Where Do We Go When We Sleep?" is on exhibit in The Lounge {9} The Gallery throughout the month of February.

{9} The Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in Phoenix's Historic Grand Avenue District. Founded in 2012, the gallery is committed to showing local, national, and international artists of the highest quality. {9} also incorporates music, poetry, and fashion to create an overall creative environment for self-expression in the downtown Phoenix area. The gallery is open Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM and by appointment by calling (480) 454-5929. Discover more at http://www.9thegallery.com