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Roq la Rue Gallery Opening reception: Friday October 13th (6-9 pm) Exhibit runs through November 4th |
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Roq La Rue is pleased to present a Halloween themed show (like we usually do) this October. Rather than a group show, this year we decided to focus on two extraordinary artists working in the Lowbrow genre. |
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Michael " Pooch" Pucciarelli (Florida) creates intricately detailed paintings that feature his carnavalesque worlds, usually in which characters are sent on careening rollercoaster rides through worlds populated by movie monsters, skeletons, and underground pop culture icons. Pooch the allows himself the freedom to explore various cultural symbols, but also keeps inspired by digging deeper into those respective subjects. |
"Franken tiki Island 2"
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Pooch's newest works reflect his constant exposure to Florida theme parks, where surreal carnival ride facades reflect the false fronts of modern society. Meaning aside, Pooch s paintings are created to hold the viewer s attention, which is quite a challenge in today s TV and computer age. Pooch s technique is intensive, and he paints the devil in the details. |
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"Isla de los Muertos"
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Jim "Ojimbo" Sheely (Ohio) carves mind boggling detailed wood pop culture totem poles and wall pieces. Carving almost exclusively from kiln dried American basswood, Ojimbo originally was entranced by the carving of cultures in which it was integral to their culture, such as the Pacific Northwest Coast tribes, New Zealand's Maori, and Balinese carvers. |
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Rather than simply emulate it, Ojimbo decided to stay true to his own sensibilities and his interest in the dark comic grotesque qualities of art that has become a hallmark of much contemporary pop art. Ojimbo often sands down his pieces, to give them a timeworn look, like a toy handed down through generations. His attention to technical detail and sublime color sense ratchet each piece up from amusing curio to sophisticated folk art like sculpture. |
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