85th Annual Spring Show

Main Floor Gallery
April 26, 2008 through June 22, 2008

Some relatively unusual media are on display­—this year’s show includes innovative work in, for example, silicone, embossed paper, concrete, and aluminum ductwork. There are both everyday objects used as the materials of art, as in the paper towels colorfully embroidered by Arjan Zazueta, and everyday objects taken as the subject of fine art, as in the woodshop trashcan sculpted entirely in wood by Mark Franchino.

As usual, the exhibit is a riot of color and motion, counterbalanced by examples of cool elegance. Abstraction predominates in the larger works, but realism and photography are well represented. Many of the works have in common a certain humorous touch. Even works that are not outright funny share that unusual, unexpected point of view that is at the root of all comedy.

This year’s juror, Dave Hickey, has been a curator, a gallery owner, and an influential critic, and his judgments had the assuredness that comes from a lifetime of looking. Even so, in a few cases he wasn’t afraid to completely reverse his first impression, if a second look proved it wrong. Hickey’s occasionally brusque style led to pronouncements of explicit dislikes—little houses, nature, anything resembling an altar, the color green, guys who take pictures of their girlfriends, and a variety of other important art critical categories. But his good humor soon overwhelmed these categorical dismissals, causing him to accept works that challenge his own dicta. Ultimately, the juror selected a mélange of art sure to please, challenge, baffle, and inspire.

JUROR AWARDS

Dawn Bennett Black Dress	Mark Franchino Garbage Can Series: Workshop	Randall Tiedman Wide Night
John Mayer Monsignor Cronin B.	Cara Jung Orange Spot Check	Scott Rispin Roll and Tumble

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