Art Fri Jan 01 2010

Kid Stuff

"Weatherbee's Revenge," a solo show by California-bred New York artist Mark Mulroney is opening at ebersmoore gallery next Friday. The work, though "dirty" in nature, has a clean, pop sensibility that makes it massively appealing. You must admit, Mulroney makes reliving the horrors of adolescence kind of fun.

The press release for the show opens with Mulroney explaining how a book about puberty scarred him as a child. He describes how his youthful imagination completely misconstrued the information given him: "My theory was as follows...If you are ever to shower with another boy this giant sperm would erupt from your stomach, fall to the floor of the shower and lay there wet and smiling all the while whistling a little tune."

The second paragraph begins with quotes from his disapproving parents and and goes on to summarize his delinquent adolescence. It ends, naturally, with his discovery of art in all its glory, specifically the part about posing naked ladies.

Mulroney's work is sexy -- in an awkward, adolescent kind of way -- and playful. It's graphic, but it's cute, so it doesn't offend the average gallery-going movers-and-shakers. Much of the work is hypersexualized and refreshingly sharp, collages of disparate elements to imply/obscure meaning. They look nostalgic, often because they are made of toys, comics, and coloring books from the past few decades -- the things we all grew up with. Through combining elements, Mulroney throws a monkeywrench in our memories, plays with nostalgia, and makes us giggle.

Weatherbee's Revenge will go be up from January 8 to February 6. The opening reception for the show is the night it opens, Friday, January 8 from 6-9pm at ebersmoore gallery (213 N Morgan, #3C). For more information visit ebersmoore's website or call them at 312-772-3021.

— Kelly Reaves / Comments (0)