A Terrible Realization, by Max Cemeno placed in the center of the main gallery commands the viewer's gaze. The subject matter is strongly political and referential to the P-40 Warhawk fighter planes. The P-40s were a deadly warcraft during the American attack of the Japanese during Pearl Harbor.
Cemeno is possibly commenting on the powerful affect of American power and war by putting the nostalgic American aviator logo on the sculpture of a shark. His choice to put the man made logo on a shark, and not a plane is particularly interesting, and possibly suggests our need to establish our power not just overseas but in the seas, essentially everywhere. His work is reminiscent of Jeff Koons iconic sculptures and Damien Hirst's shark and animal sculptures (below).
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Jim Brittingham’s luminescent Untitled installation is an urban explosion of candy wrappers. The lighting is extremely important here, due to the transparent nature of his film, and it is very successful here. The vibrant color palette is reminiscent to the bright, almost neon, colors and graffiti elements are similar to pop artists such as Basquiat. I like how he uses everyday materials to take art from the streets and make it look like high art.
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In his three painting series entitled, The Best of Both Worlds, I, Hugh, Seven of Nine, Chris Camperchioli has a great use of high contrast color, and form to construct a space, particularly in his choice of where to form hard and soft edges. I think it is interesting how includes familiar textures, like wood, seen on the far left, because it creates a context for the viewer. The familiar texture, and use of edges, are referential of collage and seem like inspirations pieced together. His work is reminiscent of abstract expression painters such as Robert Motherwell, and Clyfford Still.
