The American Family Art Council is not known for putting on adventurous shows, and this year it seems that they have played it too safe. The Annual Invitational has no cutting edge art and the most original piece in my opinion has already been censored out of the show prior to its opening. But what you can find at the show is a collection of works that seem painfully obvious in conception and execution, it feels exactly like what we have come to expect from AFAC and its muted attempts at art exhibitions.
Opening this Thursday at Gallery [context] in the Seattle Design Center is a show that would be better off titled Obvious Things and comprises works across the disciplines, from painting to sculpture and even video. Originally AFAC had invited 10 artists to show, but after several of the more conservative artists selected had announced that they were no longer creating art, but rather painting pictures of birch trees, the list dwindled to 7 total artists with one of the works in serious question as to whether it was appropriate to be viewed. The final line-up does not seem problematic only to me, but to several other critics that have heard about the show through sources unrelated to the Seattle art scene. In fact, the food critic for The Seattle Weekly even declared that she would not bother to see the opening until Ben Beres’ work had been reinstalled, to which an AFAC spokesman off handedly stated that would be the unlikeliest of possibilities. A guest at his recent dinner party noted that the print now hangs in the spokesman’s very own cheese cave, with what has been described as impressive lighting.
The works that you will find at Context do have their merits, and I would like to mention a few of the pieces that I found to be of interest. Gallerist and frequent artist Zalman Berkowitz has long been interested in the sculpture of nature, and has an impressive collection of tree branches that he has gathered up. For this show Zal has submitted one particular tree branch that he has created an elaborate backstory for, a story so riveting that it is sure to have you viewing the ordinary unaltered tree limb in a way that is more than artistic.
Art professor and recent museum exhibitor Francisco Guerrero has been unable to dedicate sufficient time to his studio practice as of late, and has recently decided to just call what he crafts with his young son to be his new studio practice. In a recent interview Guerrero said that artists such as Jarvis Rockwell were merely arranging children’s toys and calling it art, and he is quite confident that he could do this sort of thing better. The real story is Guerrero’s son, who could be quite the artist of the moment, based on some recent Instagram pictures that showed up on Guerrero’s profile.
Glass artist Thomas Mattausch might be presenting one of the most conceptual pieces in the show, asking viewers to drastically alter how they attribute art. Mattausch has noticed that the best glass artists working today are far removed from the work bearing their name, a large studio of master craftsman employed to execute a master’s vision has become the norm in the art glass world. For this show Mattausch takes this to the extreme and will be showing a piece made over 150 years ago and only altered slightly.
AFAC has been truly blessed to be able to show a video piece by the performance artist Queen Shmooquan, a true modern day oracle. The work is titled Super Duh and despite repeated viewings it is very unclear what exactly the piece is intended to mean. Queen Shmooquan’s previous work has been hailed as brilliant, so it is of my opinion that the work will reveal its true meaning over the course of several more viewings, or I might just declare that I understand it and no manner of explanation is needed.
Two works in this show have been credited to artists with absurd names, and I have a hunch that they might be the product of super secret art collector and model train railroader John Kvistad. But this is unconfirmed and for now I can only present the work of Anita Grant and Lance Boil as what it is, work that challenges The Stranger to rethink their latest Genius nominations. Grant has created a work that is so fresh it might be actively drying at the opening, and Boil will be showing a work of true technical marvel.
There is a sun stained patch of wall, and it should be noted that there is no natural light in Gallery Context, where once hung a work by print artist and part genius Ben Beres. It seems that Beres has been unable to show much around town due to blatant and unwarranted censorship and AFAC appears to be no different. Beres’ prints will however be on sale, with the condition that they can not be viewed prior to purchase.
The opening of the AFAC show will take place this Thursday, the work has not been viewed by anybody yet and some of it is still being used as toys at the Guerrero household. The opening will feature VTS guided tours of the artwork, with no further usefull information given. Full disclosure; this critic was asked to write a review of the show based only on some hastily written artist statements and blurry iPhone pictures, and as such I hope the reader finds the information compelling and a trip to Gallery Context necessary.