"Medium Mutiny" at Art Center Sarasota

"Bad Hair Day" by Betty Gerich

When you're in need of an art fix, don't overlook your local art center. There are talented artists in every community. Case in point: The "Medium Mutiny" exhibit now on at Art Center Sarasota. Artists were invited to create "work that defies expectation and reinvents traditions...through unexpected techniques, hybrid materials or subversive approaches." The theme makes for an engaging show. 

I laughed out loud when I came upon Betty Gerich's "Bad Hair Day." The work -- a self(?)-portrait comprised of a watercolor painting, a glasses frame and organic material -- hits the theme of this exhibit on the nose. Unexpected? Yes. Hybrid materials? Check. A subversive approach? Certainly if you're the type of person who thinks that "art" should always have a capital "A." 

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to reach the artist to find out the intention behind her creation. Perhaps it was to highlight how silly all the work we put into our appearances can be. Alternatively, it might have been intended to encourage you to look in the mirror and see if things have gotten a bit out of control. If so, some nose hair would have been a nice addition. I suspect the most likely goal, however, was, to make people smile. Mission accomplished. 

"I finally made it. I'm in the New York Times" by Willem van Osnabrugge

I was also taken with Willem van Osnabrugge's aptly named, "I finally made it. I'm in the New York Times." I like the matter-of-fact way the artist looks out at the viewer after achieving his goal. 

Of course the pages that serve as van Osnabrugge's canvas weren't selected randomly. The left side of the work was painted on an article exhorting teens to "Follow your curiosity and learn with The Times this summer." Information is included for a program that allows students to take classes offered by NYT journalists and "other thought leaders" to learn about journalism through storytelling, research and other fundamental skills. How cool, and certainly on point for an artist in the making.

The right side of the painting was done over a tender offer for the shares of Playa Hotels and Resorts, N.V. It seemed somewhat random until I realized that "N.V." stands for a Dutch limited liability company and that van Osnabrugge is Dutch. The juxtaposition of creativity versus business on the pages made me think of the differences between the function of the right and left sides of the brain. I suspect that was intentional. 

In addition to being clever, van Osnabrugge has a sense of humor. When I went to his website, I was surprised to see an Ozzy Osbourne-ish photo of the artist. I'd love the know the story there. Click here to see this persona (and more about his work). 

"Hollow (Oven)" by Patricia L. Cooke

First prize in the show went to Patricia L. Cooke for "Hollow (Oven)." While I can't say I wanted to take the work home, it's definitely unique. More importantly, it's hard to imagine anyone walking by this work without stopping to check it out. While most artists would say they make their art for themselves, drawing other people into the conversation has to make it more rewarding. 

Not surprisingly, there's meaning behind Cook's "Hollow" series, which includes other pieces of furniture. (Note that while you can't miss the oven, this work also includes kitchen utensils that hang in close proximity to the oven.) Cooke has said the works "contemplate the concept of home and how gendered stereotypes come into play." I can definitely see that given the use of pink and the choice of household objects. 

You might wonder how Cooke creates these untraditional sculptures. The first step is designing them with the help of Adobe Illustrator. Once she's happy with the "pattern," she lasers cut the fabric and sews it together. The result is a work that's both unexpected and cutting edge, especially for a local art center. (No insult intended.) For more on Cooke and her work, click here and here. 

This is just a small sampling of the works in "Medium Mutiny." It's a fun exhibit well worth checking out. Also on display are "Ana Palombo: Composed," "Architects Who Art: Designing the Cultural Coast" and "Cat Tesla: Living by the Water." The exhibits run through August 1, so there's plenty of time to stop in. For more info, click here. Happy viewing!