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8/3/2005

ASSumptions

Paul Sharpe Contemporary Art, New York

Robert Appleton, Linda Cummings, Aaron Krach, Aaron Miller, and Juana Valdes are presented in an exhibition of mostly conceptual artworks at Paul Sharpe Contemporary Art (PSCA) opening March 9 through April 9. The five gay and lesbian artists question the assumptions one makes so often in every day life and the intuitive and stereotypical judgments that often are the result.

Seeing often times is a function of what one expects to see rather than what is actually there. Recognizing only what one has recognized in the past keeps one in a perpetual loop of familiarity, assumptions, and conformity. An “assumed” image or situation serves only to guard the future by preserving the past. The artists in this exhibit seek to challenge those rigid and subconscious ways.

Aaron Miller and Linda Cummings investigate professional sports and masculine dominated athletic settings. Miller presents National Baseball League jerseys that have been professionally embroidered with pink triangles and player’s names such as “Flamer” and “Nancy Boy”. Miller decided to do this series of baseball shirts, entitled “Players”, after reading a magazine article written by a man who was dating a closeted Major League Baseball player. In early 2001, there were no "out" players in the Major Leagues and the Broadway play "Take Me Out" had yet to be produced. Insofar as the artist knows, there are still no active players in the Majors who have dared to come out of the closet.

Cummings juxtaposes a woman’s slip that is thrown in the air and photographed falling in such environments as football stadiums and horseracing tracks. In the words of the artist, “Artists realize that things are not often what they seem to be. What passes for “reality” may be “fantasy” and vice-versa. This exhibit is a meditation on truth and deception. Visual deceptions are everywhere, causing a “double-take” to confirm or deny what one actually sees. Automatic responses are met with surprises and startling new information.” Cummings was featured in the “Director’s Cut” section of the Aperture website last fall.

Robert Appleton offers videos of his performances as various characters such as “Midge” and “Trish”. The videos depict down-and-out glamorous women. Stills from the video are framed with appreciative notes from the character as would be seen in diners in New York City: “Best burger ever! XO XO Trish”. Another work features a photo of Kiki and Herb, which was shown to young students, who were asked to write and draw their reactions. Almost all of the youngsters immediately noted that Kiki, who was dressed in drag, was a man and that both were “gay”, “faggots”, or “stupid”. Appleton has appeared with Karen Finley and others in performance art works in New York City and has worked with Tony Oursler in the past. Video in the exhibition has appeared in “Peep Show – No Live Girls” at Lusty Ladies in San Francisco and Seattle.

Aaron Krach presents installations that test the eye and nose. The works explore romance, longing, and sex. The photographs are surprisingly wistful, while the installations involve a series of scented candles that smell of the artist; sort of an Eau d’Aaron. Realizing the importance of memory and how fleeting it is, the artist explores the lengths one goes to to remember people. Through collecting his own scent from sweat, hair, and fingerprints, for example, the artist creates his “essence” and mixes it with paraffin to produce scented candles.

Juana Valdes offers new work that is based on silk screened prints of Neoclassical women. The prints are of full busts and also of anatomical parts, namely breasts. The graphic images are juxtaposed against subtle backgrounds of color, derived from interior household paints with names such as “Sweat Pea” and “Morning Glory”. Valdes was a finalist last year in the prestigious Cintas Fellowship competition.

Together the five artists present work that is thoughtful and provocative in any context, however, their works are even more poignant and timely due to their sexuality. As gay marriage continues as a centerpiece of current political debate and discrimination against sexual orientation is a legislated offense, viewers may forget that the assumptions made by society today are just as painful and misbegotten as days of yore. This exhibit promises to remind the viewer that one must face each situation with an open mind and draw conclusions based on reason rather than bias.

Opening: March 9 2005. TIME: 6 – 9 PM, ADMISSION: Free

Image: Aaron Krach, Aaron NYC, Digital Print, 2004

Paul Sharpe Contemporary Art
86 Walker Street, Floor Six, New York, NY 10013
(Walker is one block below Canal, between Broadway & Lafayette)
The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, Noon to 6 PM, and by appointment.

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