RENA BRANSTEN - FECAL FACE DOT

(with assistance from RWM)

05.27.10

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Rena Bransten Gallery: John Waters - Rush.

Comment by AB: The show's signature work, a photorealistic sculpture of an oversized bottle of Rush-- generically infamous as "poppers," the gay disco elixer of the late 1970s / early 1980s-- lies on its side with contents spilled... a biting commentary and bittersweet look-back at the era. John Waters is too too good at reconfiguring film stills and pop iconography into incisive commentaries on everything from hair lips to religion. His art makes you laugh, cry, reflect, recoil, reach out, contemplate, gasp, gag, groan and giggle all at the same time. Plus special added bonus-- the closer you look, the more you see. Plenty of celebrities foray into the gallery realm and fancy themselves artists; Waters actually is one. Required viewing.

Comment by RWM: Scandalous work includes hickies, body parts, etc... You can't help but marvel at the boldness of the work, even considering its humor. Though some of what is depicted has become commonplace over time, there's still that element of shock.

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Fecal Face Dot Gallery: Damon Soule - Solo show and collaborations with Mars-1, David Choong Lee, and Oliver Vernon.

Comment by AB: If you've ever wondered what "cosmic" actually looks like, the art of Damon Soule would be a pretty good place to start. In a world where so many artists level off, flame out, get repetitive, disappear, or misplace their mojos, Soule just keeps gettin' better. Definite go see.

Comment by RWM: Fantastic work with illuminating lights. Cosmological and psychedelic compositions on display. One sees here the sacred and magical light despite the surprising and unusual components of creation.

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