All That Glitters is Gold

Last night I attended an artist talk at the Chambers' Burnet Gallery. The current exhibit Holiday in the Sun, showcases the work of artist Andrea Stanislav and runs through February 2nd. The conversation was led by curator and critic Chris Atkins. The two held a similiar discussion in 2008 regarding Stanislav's solo exhibit at the MAEP, which happened to top my list for exhibits in 2008.

The exhibit consists of several of Andrea's peices each displaying text often taken from lyrics, or head shots of famous (and infamous) men of pop culture. Each piece is a layer upon layer of glitter creating depth of light and mirror imagery. The sparkles are magnificent!



Andrea Stanislav

With this work, as with Andrea's 2008 exhibit at the MIA, I love it. I love pop culture, I love fashion, I love all that glitters...I love it...and then I feel guilty. It is the guilt that leads me to think that there is so much there. Here is my take.

To me the work is strong beyond the initial warm feeling of "I like it" not because of the familiarity we have with the lyrics or the images. Not because of how it can be related to pop-culture, but rather when you add a heapiing spoonful of sugar to something the general public will devour it. I see the work as commentary on how pop-art/pop culture is so consumable regardless of the message attached. In addition, by the time the message has gotten to the masses such as "Clockwork Orange" or the "Sex Pistols"-- it is so disassocatiated with it's original affiliation that it no longer holds it original meaning. It is a sliver of the whole, a mirror of itself with nothing substantial behind it. An image, a reference and as it was referred to in the artist talk, a sampling.

If you get the chance, see the exhibit with someone and discuss it.

as always,

emma