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Inspired by the Artists’ book (Livre d’art)
movement Swartzentruber decided to create a grotesque traveling exhibit. In
2004 he switched from oil on canvas to ink on paper. His source for the art
was masks and taxidermy at the Chicago Field Museum. The sketches and artwork
was created in a scrapbook-like portfolio that could
be opened so that each page could be pinned to a museum or gallery wall
during exhibition.
 See the
Exhibit
Art Critic's Review of the "Surreal No-Brow Pop Show"
at The Spurious Fugitive LLC, South Bend Indiana
"...Then there's Swartzentruber, whose multiple pieces are filled with
eccentric characters in a strange, singular world with a distinctively
postmodern flair. Three of the 25 pages from Swartzentruber's 'Artist's Book:
Facing the Sublime and the Grotesque" are displayed here.
The first, "Chapter 1: Out of the Basement, Page 5. Deaf and Dumb,"
features eight sketched figures on paper. The most interesting and
disturbing: a gagged man, whose severed dangling limbs are connected to his
torso by chains.
"Chapter 2: Facing the Sublime and the Grotesque, Page 7: Facial
Expressions" show 11 human faces, in whole or in part, displaying joy
and laughter, hatred and indifference.
"Chapter 4: Monsters and Myths, Page 19: Monster Mythical Creature
(Tricksters)," is perhaps the most captivating because it allows a
glimpse into both the creative process and Swartzentruber's imagination.
These character studies delve deep into a fantastic world where skin tones
are blue, green and red, and facial features are distorted into myriad
forms."
- Jeremy D. Bonfiglio, "In a word:
Weird", South Bend Tribune, South Bend, Indiana,
Sunday, August 13, 2006, D4
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