Objects tells stories. Whether through the evidence of their use or, in some cases, disuse, everyday objects communicate revealing insights into the lives and personalities of their owners. This concept is the fulcrum on which John Rudel’s illustrative efforts turn as he explores the illuminating potential of the everyday matter of his own life in Odds and Ends. From flowers to firearms, Rudel’s works of contemporary realism present a diverse array of material possessions in ways that challenge viewers to think beyond the surface to the more complex relationships between objects and ideas.