Random Negotiations Toward An Unreasonable Happiness

There's so much going on now I've become very particular about which shows I'm willing to pry myself out of my blankie for. That last two shows at Hatch have been worth the effort. Mike McGillis had a pretty small space to work with for one of his installations. It was brilliant. I don't spend too much time overthinking a show. Even the high-brow ones at museums. I like the simplicity of a visceral experience. Or not, if it doesn't create one. Shape, line, color. That's about it. Then, if interested, I might consider what explanation a maker has provided. Mike said, "I'm interested in what we think we see when the lights are dim, or in that moment we squint at familiar things and they briefly shift to something else". One of art's jobs is to get us to see something we would otherwise dismiss. Stop. Breathe. Look. I definitely notice a change at dusk, or when lights are dim. Familiar objects shape-shift. As a kid, they are monsters under the bed. Am I sure they aren't still there?

Michael McGillis

Ryan Standfest opened this past Saturday. It was seriously frigid that evening. Someone's car needed a jump directly in front of the gallery forcing everyone to distant parking spots. This better be good. So good, my comment to Ryan was it was too creepy and smart for me. My frozen brain didn't have the capacity to decode his cryptography. He assured me it was only frat boy humor anyway. Just enjoy the shapes and colors. I did. 

Ryan Standfest

Truthfully I've seen most of these people's work before. I already know I like it when I go. The best part of an opening is hanging out with other creatives. Making art is mostly a solitary activity until an exhibition. Sitting in my studio alone with my materials, my brain can get the better of me. Mixing it up on a Saturday night with my colleagues validates my weird existence. It is one of my not-so-random negotiations toward unreasonable happiness. Not entirely sure what defines unreasonable happiness. I'm pretty content with regular happiness. Which generally means the bills are paid, the car runs, a couple good friends and some art. 

Check out statements, pics, etc at Hatch Art