I love it when someone doubly-convinces me to do something I was already going to do. Jerry Vile really has been -- well, more than a fixture, an integral working part of Detroit arts and culture since before I've been cognizant of the fact that Detroit has arts and culture. One of my prized display pieces is a small Jerry Vile I bought the night someone tried to carjack me. Ahh, memories...
Jerry Vile's "The Secret Of Life...Revealed" Art Spectacular
One Night Only
One Night Only
Saturday, May 19th 7pm-10pm
$5.00 Art Viewing fee (No Freeloaders)
I am writing this not only because I am a friend of Jerry Vile's, but also more importantly I needed to write this - because Jerry Vile (or whatever name he is using) is usually his OWN WORST ENEMY.
Yes he is doing an art show- and from what I've seen of the work, it puts him in an entire new light. That and the flyer is pretty clever too.
-Rick Manore
A List of why Jerry Vile will NEVER make it or it could be WHY HE SHOULD MAKE IT.
- He refused to let me find him a gallery (being sort of influential in that way) No, he insisted on a one night show - at the Bankle no less.
- Charging an "art viewing fee" of $5 is not unheard of, but probably because of the cost of the so-called "complimentary" shrimp and that STUPID shrimp cocktail dress code thing too.
- Crediting his assistants on the work. (Warhol is spinning 120 RPMs)
- His making fun of art and artists and the art world in general - pretentious unveilings, using the term, artiste when referring to himself.
- His policy of refusing to sign some pieces unless the buyer cooks him dinner.
- What is he going to do this time? It's been true of his bands (notably the Boners), his publications (Orbit, Fun, White Noise) and his events (primarily the Dirty Show) The element of surprise has always been Vile's métier- whether stupefying audiences as The Flying Nun (complete with wires and flying) with his 1980s Punk theatrical band, The Boners- or his decade long running Pop-Cult Infotainment rag, his monthly Orbit, which not only surprised- but incurred some colorful lawsuits as well.
- Vile likes to get a rise out of people. Shocks them. Makes them laugh, tricks them, and most of all, he surprises them. Count on "The Secret Of Life Revealed" to probably unlock a secret or two about life - though it may not be what you were expecting- or hoping to see. Either way, you won't forget it.
So, is it delusional behavior, or prescient genius?
You make the call.
Love him or hate him, Jerry Vile is undeniably one of the cleverest people to come out of this city, and his lengthy resume is a testament to his cultural importance. And given his history, if he were a resident of either coast, he would likely be a star by this time. More than once I have credited him with being "The most important figure in Detroit sub culture of the last 25 plus years" and I still stand by it.
Hell, even Wayne State University Publishing is commemorating Jerry's Orbit years with a coffee table tome, venerating the magazine that was Jerry's Pop Art canvas for 10 years. Mixing humor with the truth and a whole lot of exaggeration, Orbit was legendary in making the whole scene in the 1990's- look important.
He is doing just what he has always done- however this time it is on the walls - floors and probably the ceilings of a gallery.
THIS IS LIKE NOTHING ANY ARTIST IN DETROIT HAS ATTEMPTED.
And if he pulls off a fraction of some of his ideas here... God help us.
Vile has done art shows before; usually painting, computer art and photographs. The difference this time is his focus is on art (and he is NEVER focused). His other shows have been part time- this one he's taking very seriously (whatever that entails in Jerry's world).
In the past he has built miniature versions of the Bohemian Hall and CPop Gallery and then filled them with vermin (live rats in this case). Accompanying his paintings were writings about each one that were as the painting themselves, weird, and usually hilarious, it was like walking around the inside an Orbit magazine. Will the Bankle be his next Skinner's Box Of Contemporary Art spaces?
At the last Dirty Show he did three pieces (one uncredited) and were considered the best of show by the majority of patrons, although they were almost evenly divided on which piece they liked more.
It was upon seeing this that I realized that Vile might be something more than an artist whose work I liked; I was viewing an artist who was doing work... that dare I say, was important. Now that he credited himself, I understood what makes the Dirty Show so unique rather than just a bunch of erotic pictures on the wall is it is simply an extension of Vile himself.
You can say a lot of bad things about him but you can't call him - BORING.
His paintings are fun, but it is this new contemporary work that is what sets him apart from his past. He's working with video, sculpture, dioramas, and of course performance art (or stand-up comedy that hangs on a wall). Because EVERYTHING Vile does and has done is performance art, even if he doesn't know it.
While he may not be the best painter in Detroit, he just may be its best artist. His humor can be stupid- but it can also be profound. He may shock in his incisive social commentary. Remember that only a minimum amount of what he does is erotic when it comes to his own work.
So don't laugh, we just may have the next Dean Koons, Damian Hirst, or Banksy right in our midst.
Why? Because it's not just an exhibit- it's an art spectacular.