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hot and cool shows

    If you’ve never been to an art show or opening, then you’re missing out on a unique brand of fun and intrigue. Going to the opening of an art exhibit or one-day show can make you feel cultured and privileged, while at the same time feeling hip and forward.

    There are primarily two kinds of events that celebrate the occurrence of art on display. One is the show, which offers an exclusive, one-day look at the display while providing an opportunity to mingle and party. The other is an opening, which marks the first day of a given time period that the art will be on display.

    Some art exhibitions feature a single artist, so the show or opening is sometimes “designed” by the artist, reflecting the mood of their personality or body of work. They are interesting events to visit, especially if you enjoy the featured artist’s work.

    More often, however, art shows and openings feature a collection of works from a variety of artists. They are usually coordinated by style and/or medium, but sometimes they are arranged by a common subject or theme. I recently visited two shows that required the participating artists to submit work based on a predetermined idea.

    The first show was the Color of Munny, put on by Joey Marchy of Urban Jacksonville Blog fame. Displayed in a downtown building that was decidedly urban, more than thirty artists displayed their renditions of a cutesy, do-it-yourself toy. Each artist was issued a Munny, a small plastic figure with no distinguishing marks. Submissions ranged from clever to inventive to cute, and although the music was loud and the temperature warm, it was a festive time.

    The second show was a celebration of Friday the 13th, put on by Josh Jubinski of Inertia Records. Monsters featured more than twenty artists’ paintings and drawings. Monsters of all types were represented, ranging from classic to grotesque to funny. By the time I reached this show, it was well into the evening. There were people from all walks of life hanging out among paintings of disfigured faces while the silhouette of a Chihuahua barked fiercely from a second story window.

    It’s really fascinating to visit shows like Monsters and the Color of Munny. Obviously, you can see how each artist can stand apart from the others, but you can also see how the limitations of an assignment highlight the commonalities of artists as a whole. When you have access to a large sample group to crosscheck, this kind of show really allows the viewer to delve into the creation process. As an added bonus, it is easy to imagine how you would approach the assignment.

    Keep an eye out for more shows like this, and let me know if you hear about one. I’ll do the same for you. Our city’s art community is really starting to gel, and there seems to be more and more of these fresh ideas coming together. They’re a lighthearted kind of event, and the best thing about these thematic shows is that you don’t have to be an art expert to fit into the crowd.