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"Good Fences" by Seonna Hong

"Because" by Jon Langford

For November, Roq la Rue presents a two-person show featuring the talents of Seonna Hong and Jon Langford. Although Jon Langford is best known as a seminal musician (as a member of the legendary Mekons, The Waco Brothers, Pine Valley Cosmonauts, etc.), his visual art is quickly garnering him an international reputation. His outsider-ish paintings of faded icons of Americana (such as musical heroes Bob Wills, Johnny Cash, and Patsy Cline) are tributes to both the subject of the paintings, as well as autobiographical explorations.

"Patsy" by Jon Langford

Despite being born a Welshman, Langford captures perfectly a sense of a forgotten American West, strewn with bones, rusty tin, and faded bandanas. His rough portraits are scratched and sanded to further enhance a feeling of "old timey-ness". Langford's work is the visual equivalent of hearing an old Hank Williams record, slightly scratched and popping on an old record player in an empty bar room in the middle of Nowheresville, USA.

Seonna Hong is a Los Angeles artist who is quietly rising through the contemporary pop ranks with her perfectly rendered paintings of little girls, princesses, and animals. Very much in the tradition of 50s children's book illustrations, Hong's painting are definitely sweet, but not cloying. They portray a pure innocence and joy found in imagination without resorting to the use of irony or a sly wink to the audience in order to be deemed 'hip.' Nonetheless, her straightforward approach appeals to a demanding audience as her colorful, funny, gentle paintings sell out as soon as she paints them.

"Rose Colored Glasses" by Seonna Hong

OPENING RECEPTION
Snax, Liquids, Music.

Friday, November 7th, 2003, 6-10pm
Roq la Rue, 2316 2nd Ave Seattle, WA 98121

Both artists will be in attendance at the opening. Afterwards, Jon Langford will be performing a solo set at the Sunset Tavern at midnight (with Jesse Sykes and The Sweet Hereafter).

For more info please contact Kirsten Anderson (206) 374-8977
or at kirsten@roqlarue.com