Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave , Unit T5, Santa Monica , CA 90404
Ph: 310/829-2156
E-Mail: www.copronason.com
What: Winston Smith's "In God We Trust Inc." - Chet Zar's "Lilith"- Rachel Bess "Infinity in a Second"- Dark Vomit's "Killer Clown Revue"
Opening Reception, Saturday October 3 - 8:00 - 11:30 p.m.
Dates: Exhibit runs - October 3 - October 24, 2009
Contact: Gary Pressman, Gallery Director Copro Gallery
Winston Smith "In God We Trust Inc." in gallery 1
(Relics from the Archives and New Blasphemies from the Vaults )
A retrospective of Winston's career, this show leads with the ephemera circa 1977, which helped define the punk art scene in San Francisco (including several Dead Kennedys pieces whose only other "gallery" appearance have in the way of wheatpaste), and leads through his editorial shock pieces, which create a true "gloves off" visual history of politics and American culture.
Also on display will be cover art for Green Day, and magazines such as the New Yorker and Playboy, and other epic masterpieces old and new, which have to be seen up close and in the flesh to truly show Smith's unique and unqualified mastery in the art of montage. Layer upon layer of skillfully "carved" elements, some of which are from antique magazines, are puzzled together to form absurd and sometimes hilarious images, whose compositions are so seamless, they look as if they were born that way.
Please click on this link for a very detailed PDF of Winstons press release (It takes a minute to load but well worth it!)
Chet Zar's "Lilith" In gallery 2
This exhibition of 7 new paintings centers around the the myth of Lilith, which was a banned book from the bible. She was the female Mesopotamian storm demon associated with night birds, desolate desert landscapes, and wind and was thought to be a bearer of disease, illness, and death. She is also considered to be the archetypal feminist, being the first wife of Adam who was banished from the Garden of Eden for speaking the name of God and refusing Adam's sexual dominance. Rather than succumb, she was cursed with angels killing 100 of her children per day that she had with with Samael (the Jewish Angel of Death said to have impregnated Eve with Cain) and stillbirth. The legend goes on that In revenge against God she kills 100 of Adam and Eve's children per day.
Chet states, "Of course this sounded like a great subject for me to take on so I decided to try and blend some of those ideas with my own. It was really just a good excuse to paint females, something that I rarely do. I have a much easier time painting ugly things that are either androgynous or slightly masculine. I don't know why. So I looked on it as a challenge and really got into it. It's a fun series of paintings."
Rachel Bess "Infinity in a Second" in gallery 2
For the first time at CoproGallery Rachel Bess presents a mini-show of 3 detailed oil paintings. "My paintings portray a scene as though you are looking though a peephole and you may be looking at some type of sacred event that contains a touch of the surreal. Instead of the usual images in sacred paintings I use elements from the natural world, often elevating them to the focal point of the scene and either altering or entirely replacing traditional iconography. The paintings contain this scientific element because of my deep love for biology, botany and natural history. These bits of the sciences carry a thread throughout my work about people's desire to understand and manipulate the world around them. I believe this desire can be explained by the thought that if people can control other aspects of nature, then maybe they have a shot at controlling the heavy hand of natural fate and overcoming what nature eventually has in store for all of us.
Click for Rachel Bess Bio
Dark Vomit "Killer Clown Revue" in gallery 3
Dark Vomit presents the "Killer Clown Revue". More than just an art show it will be an event featuring our favourite loveable clown J.W.G. For one night only J.W.G. will be in attendance handing out autographs, balloons and Sno-Cones!! Dark Vomit's POP Art doesn't dissapoint! Featuring some of his masterpieces such as the clown's "Last Supper" and "Smokeout" this will be an incredible show!!
