Not Cute and Creepy!

By Marlene Gray

Cute and Creepy is an art exhibition that was shown at the Dedo Maranville Gallery at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga. The show consisted of seven artists that feature grotesque-inspired artworks from the Pop Surreal or New Contemporary art scenes. The show’s artists are: Carrie Ann Baade of Tallahassee, Florida, Kelly Boehmer of Pooler, Ga, Lori Field of Montclair, New Jersey, Laurie Hogin of Illinois, Jessica Joslin of Chicago, Illinois, Chris Mars of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Chet Zar of Monrovia, California.

Nancy Hightower, the author of the original “Cute and Creepy” catalog essay, describes the mindset of the artist’s creative process and the overall objective of why these works of art exist: “We need monsters in our lives…We like to fear them, to run hiding under the covers or clenching a lover’s arm until the monster is destroyed or banished to far off lands. They are wonderful like that, refusing to ever completely disappear from our lives, affording us the opportunity for self-introspection we take a moment to recognize that monsters don’t die because they are essentially us.”

We need monsters in our lives…no, we do not need evil in our lives.  Tell that to the abused child, the rape victim, or people who are actually dealing with demons in their lives. I’m pretty sure they don’t like to fear the predator that is attacking them. Yes, we live in darkness but the solution to that darkness is light, the ability to overcome the monsters that plague our daily lives. We don’t have to accept evil, monsters, or wickedness in our lives. We can conquer our demons, if we truly aspire to.

Now, let’s talk about light as it relates to these works of art in the gallery space and not the demonic world. As I observed the space and pieces, I was grasping at how to interpret these works.  The work looked dark and ominous yet the lights were extremely bright. For an exhibition, the work, the lights and the space need to work together to interpret cohesiveness. If the work is dark, then the space should be a manifestation of that as well.

It was hard for me to enjoy these works because I did not agree with their content and message of embracing the monsters that dwell within us. I understand everyone has freedom of expression and the ability to communicate their feelings and emotions through this art form and I respect that; however, I choose not to relate to evil. These works were a misrepresentation of an inhumane metaphor that missed the mark on the story that was attempting to be told.

Carrie Ann Baade, one of the artists whose work was being exhibited and curator of the show, was dressed in an all-black costume that represented the work well. She looked “Cute and Creepy.” She read all of the artist’s statements and spoke in high regard of them and their work.  I did understand the works a bit more after she spoke but I did not want to have to hear or read an artist statement to understand the work. I would have never come to the interpretation that the artist statements gave on my own.

 

Speaking of meaning and interpretation, Kelly Boehmer’s Arnolfini Lapdog was a prime example of why this exhibition did not work. Why would you want to have a representation of a coyote with blood and guts coming from its mouth hanging around as a lapdog? The red and green stripes that are above the wicked K9 didn’t have a purpose. The meaning and representation of this piece is too far-fetched. I do not want to have to work that hard to interpret a work of art that is not visually pleasing and that is what most of the work in this show demonstrated: work that was too hard to interpret and was visually displeasing to the senses.

I felt Carrie Ann Baade’s work Unspeakable was one of the more interesting works and a bit easier to understand. It consists of a figure of a woman in what appears to be a place of grandeur like a castle or palace. It seems as if she is in mid-stride and she is dressed in feminine dark attire which drapes and accentuates her figure. She is also wearing a dark headdress that compliments her attire. The interesting part of this piece is that she has a fire-breathing reptile located below her waist, like it’s her foundation. Coming from the woman is a bright orange and yellow color spewing from the mouth of the dragon-like figure which I believe represents fire and her power or the power that she wants to display. She looks tough and upset, as if she is holding in a lot of resentment and bitterness. She is commanding respect.

Other artists in the show that held my attention for a short time were Chris Mars, because of his intricate detail, and Lori Field, because of her color palette which was soft and brightly colored. However, this exhibition was demonic and dark. I did understand that the artists were trying to convey that we are the monsters that dwell within and in society, but I did not agree with their interpretation of dealing with our daily demons. Embracing our monsters and living with evilness within ourselves and in the world is something that no human being should ever become comfortable with.

Marlene Gray is majoring in Art at Valdosta State University, and is originally from Albany, Ga. Marlene is focusing on painting and graphic design and plans to be a freelance artist upon graduation in May of 2018.