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ART REVIEW
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In 1.1/1/11 /1 (kl-R SAI 1/
, 'Now is Dream Time' at Robert Lowery
Gallery, Watkinsville, through May 31
This carnivalesque exhibit combines
fresh work by a trio of feisty, folky flat-frai
ment fabricators with a surprising cache
of coconut-heads. These goofy noggins
dangle overhead, happily trivializing
the shrunken-head traditions
indigenous to the tropical travel
destinations where they origi
nated The ones mounted
above the entranceway are
especially astonishing, each
sporting a pair of piercing
pale-blue eyes set into
their fuzzy (aces. Carved
by some Michelangelo of
coconutry, these 1940s finds
— nabbed from Chill Will’s
estate sale — are head and...
uh. no-shoulders, above stan
dard tourist fare Also on hand are
wonderful loosey-goosey-crazy-polka-
dot-painted wooden constructions by the
well-known Peter Loose, including an even
larger spread-winged Rooster-Dulcimer.
Absorbing the repetitive dotting patterns In
Loose’s animal images is energetically medi
tative. a state that Loose experiences when
painting them He seems to have taken inspi
ration from ancient spiritual artists, such as
the medieval monks, who
considered the production of
illuminated manuscripts a
species of prayer, or the
Islamic decorative artists,
whose undulating paisley pat
terning was meant to induce
elevated trance states My wee
beef-ette with Loose’s work is
with his palette, relying as it does
on out-of-the-tube-primaries that
don’t quite meet the challenge his
elaborate compositions pose.
Cindy Jerrell. whose signature
xerox-faced, crude cut-out figures
have graced a couple of flagpole covers, has
showered the entire right walls with an
impressively copious new- body of work
Kxciting new twists in her jazzy, folk-artv.
east-village-ish wooden box rej>ertoire have
LOCO
appeared, such as the addition of fabrics,
which lend dimensionally to her characters'
customary flatlander environs. Most innova
tive of all. many of her usually waist-up only
figures have flown out of their boxes and
acquired full bodies They ride the
walls on wacky winged horses, or
dangle — sultry, long-legged,
cast members biding time
backstage. I can’t wait to
see where they go next If
Jerrell could consider aban
doning her Queen Victoria
doll-house-quaint drawing-
room palette of burgundy,
gold and cobalt-blue, the
innately po-mo sensibility of
these figures could emerge
(how they would wow in lime
green or hot pink!) Some of the
figures' affectless demeanors impart
a world-weariness that seems ill-suited
to their otherwise spirited treatment, a
problem more animated expressions would
easily cure But rest assured that Jerrell’s un
self conscious touch always charms the
viewer, luring you into her fairy-tale world
Also a flatlander in his sculptural
approach. Albertc Salazarte creates metal
tree-like stabiles ol sweetly sloppy torch-cut
suns, blow-iish aim such, all of which will
spin giddily for you if given a prod The artist
also encourages viewers to hit the pieces
with drumstick.*!, creating a lovely
cacophony. Too
fun! Neatly
straddling the
art-craft bor
der, his large
sunflowers
double as hall
stands, their hori
zontally mounted leaves
amenable to bearing your outgoing mail and
sunglasses Again, color is the weak point.
Salazarte leaves his playful forms raw black
metal when they demand a bold palette to
complement their whirling spectacle
A host of little wooden animals carved by
local old-timer Chris Hughes round out this
show, a crowd pleaser that, incidentally, is
also a great one for the kids C
• Artwork donated to the 20th
Aueeal Athens Human Rights
Festival Art Anctfon is currently on
display at The Hard DrWe Cafe. The
auction takes place on Sunday. May
17. at 3 p m during the festival on
College Square
• The closing reception lor V lo dis
place a dimension.’ the BFA Photo
Exit Show will be held on Thursday.
May 21 from 7-9 p m at IKWs Lamar
Dodd School ot Art. Photographers
lealured include Gavin Averlll,
Danielle Mericte. Alecia Ordoyne.
Nikki Schiwal, Asfeiey Bergeron,
Jennifer Middleton, Laura
Reynolds, and Todd Stockham
• Photos by Pamela Pecehio and
Jason Thrasher are now up at Blue
Sky Coffee
• The 24th Annual Lyndon House
Arts Center Jnrtod Exhibition is
now up in the lobby ol The Morton
Thontro featuring over 80 works
selected by acclaimed California artist
William T. Wiley
• SOUTHWORKS 98 Juried Art
Exhibition at the Oconnn Cultural
Arts Foundation Center in down
town Waminsviiie features some fabu
lous pieces trom many locals as well
as artists trom as tar of! as the West
Coast Particularly outstanding is the
selection ot craft pieces Look tor a
review soon' SOUTHWORKS 98 Arts
Fosttval is May 23-24
• The Masters of Flno Arts
Dogroe Candidate* Exhibition
hangs at the Gnorgia Museum of
Art through June 14 Other GMOA
events include sculpture by New York
artist Larry Mohr th'ough June 7.
The Pilgrims. Pocahontas, and
Rival Myths of American Origin."
a lecture by Emory pro! Ann Uhry
Abrams on Thursday. May 14 at 5.30
p m , and a lecture on the quilting
movement by internationally renowned
fiber artist Elian Anon Eddy on
Friday. May 15 at 530 pm Eddy will
also be presenting two Quilting
Workshops on Friday. May 15 and
Saturday. May 16 These are all day
affairs and the $50 price tag includes
lunch Call 542-GMOA to sign up
• The Crayola Dream-Makers a
display ol children* art trom throughout
the Southeast, hangs m UGA's Lamar
Dodd School of AH through May 22
• Art Wanted Athen s newest place
to grab grub. Roty Poly is looking tor
artwork to put up on their stuay while
walls Stop by and see whats up The
Loaf Gallery relocated lo expansive
second- floor digs just an elevator ride
above Compadres on Clayton St. has
space available lor guest artists Call
Susan at 208-0985
ATHENS, GA
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MAY 13, 1998 FLAGPOLE IS