Del Ray Artisans once again proves itself to be the little gallery that can and does. After 33 years celebrating the art of making, one would expect that DRA is out of exhibit themes if not surprises. Guess again! This past Friday night DRA held its first ever Open Mic Comedy Night to a packed gallery.
The debut exhibit theme for January, 2025 is Visual Humor, and it’s full of vividly visual puns, tongue in cheek chuckles, and bawdy belly laugh out louds. Curator and former Director of Programs Dr. Erica Hughes examines the full spectrum of wit – from the political to the profane. Be sure to visit the timely tribute to politically incorrect posturing in the erstwhile ladies loo – lots of good reading material provided inside.
Speaking of celebrating the art of making, parody is a platform throughout this exhibit. Scott MacConomy’s Making Whoopie is literally an inflated whoopie cushion employing purple painter’s tape to affix it to the exhibit wall. The mixed-up media piece has a price tag of $6 million dollars. Del Ray Artisans’ president Dawn Wyse Hurto reports that the gallery Square system only permits sales up to $5,999,999.99. Still a steal for any crypto billionaire compared to a $6.2 million dollar banana, as the joy of making whoopie knows no bounds.
AND talking about going bananas…… Ken Reed’s mixed media polymer clay and digital images Time Flies Like an Arrow. Fruit Flies Like a Banana. demonstrates that Dada is not dead. Paraphrasing Freud, sometimes a banana is just a banana – but sometimes not! Or as Magritte preferred to tell it, “Ceci n’est pas une pipe!” (This is not a pipe.)
Take Amanda Flethersmith’s visual mixed media metaphor Inepotism. PLEASE! This work depicts six silver spoons strapped down by leather shackles within an ornate silver carved framework. The visual punnery is perfection. We are reminded to ponder the question…..What’s in a name? Would a banana painted into a still life still be silly? Smart ? Smile out loud amusing?
Schecky out for yourself the fantaschtick art of Visual Humor on exhibit at the Del Ray Artisans Gallery now through February 1, 2025. Go to the DRA website to explore exhibit-related events, upcoming workshops, and the 2025 exhibit calendar. Stay tuned for a reprise of Open Mic LOL Night coming to the gallery encore someday sooner or later!
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