Russell Phillips

b. 1954, USA
Bio Statements

Movie Theater Interiors

Russell Phillips: Lake Theater Auditorium, 1984

Russell Phillips: Chicago Theater Proscenium, 1982

Russell Phillips: United Artist Auditorium Detail, 1985

Russell Phillips: Hinsdale Theater Auditorium, 1985

Russell Phillips: Nortown Theater Auditorium, 1983

Russell Phillips: Pickwick Theater Mens Lounge, 1984

Russell Phillips: Hinsdale Theater Candy Counter, 1985

Russell Phillips: Nortown Theater Candy Counter, 1982

Russell Phillips: Esquire Theater Ladies Lounge, 1984

Russell Phillips: Nortown Theater Upper Lobby, 1984

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Russell Phillips Bio

Solo Exhibitions | Group Exhibitions | Collections | Education

Chronology
1954	Born, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Solo Exhibitions
2004	Sintra, Skokie Public Library, Skokie, Il.

1997	Color Photographs by Russell Phillips, International Photography Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City, Okla.

1997	Theater Interiors: Houses of Fantasy, North Shore Country Day, Winnetka, Il.

1986	Theater Interiors: Houses of Fantasy, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, Il.

1985	Moving Picture Palaces: Russell Phillips and Don DuBroff, Chicago Historical Society, Chicago, Il

1984	Theater Interiors: Houses of Fantasy, Chicago Cultrual Center, Chicago, Il

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Group Exhibitions
2001	Chicago In The Year 2000, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, Il.

1997	Illinois Photographers in the 90's, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, Il.

1996	Three Views: Photographs by John Arzarian, Russell Phillips and Sylvia Wolf, Evanston Arts Center, Evanston, Il.

1989	Changing Chicago: Architecture in the Work Place, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, Il.

1985	Illinois Photographers '85, Illinois State Museum, Springfield, Il.

1983	Chicago The Architectural City, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Il.

1982	Downtown Deco, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, Il

1980	Institute of Design Photographers, Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, Il.

	Chicago In The Year 2000, Various international countries, Traveling exhibit

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Collections

Illinois State Museum, Springfield, Il.

Chicago Historical Society, Chicago, Il

Seagrams Canadian Center for Architecture, New York City, NY

Focus Infinity Fund, Chicago, Il.

City In The Year 2000, Chicago, Il.

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Education
1974 - 1977	Kansas City Art Institute, BFA

1981 - 1984	Illinois Institute of Technology-Institute of Design, MS
	Studied with David Plowden and David Rathbun

Russell Phillips Statement

Artist Statement
The interior views in this series represent movie theaters from the 1920's and 1930's. As an American architectural development its uniqueness can be attributed to the film production it presented and the audience it sought to entertain. In its hey day the masses were escaping into a fantasy of Persian courts, Egyptian temples, seafaring towns with mermaids, or Aztec and Mayan ruins. These houses of fantasy were scattered throughout our cities and could be found in most small towns. They were as abundant as houses of worship and often regarded with equal stature. George L. Rapp, one of Chicago's prominent theater architects, believed the movie house was a "shrine to democracy...where the wealthy rub elbows with the poor..."

As much as I respect the historic value of the vintage movie theater, my initial attraction was not to just document for preservation. As well, I have an interest in how the application of color defines our perceptions of place. My response of fascination and seduction to these interiors is not unlike that of its original audience. There is an uninhibited use of color and ornamentation that reflects an age of optimism. The inclusion of vending machines, candy counters and posters, all of which have their own vintage place and chromogenic ambitions, contribute to this seductive atmosphere.

These nineteen images, taken from a collection of over seventy photographs, are a result of four years of pursuing all theaters that would provide me access. They are all in the Chicago area, many having been razed, abandoned, or split up into smaller spaces. In many cases these photographs are the only color document of these unique interiors.

Process Statement
All images are exposed on 4x5 color transparency film. Film is scanned, managed in Photoshop, and printed on an Epson 7600 printer with Ultrachrome Ink.

Russell Phillips Books
Available from photo-eye