Although my work may not be seen as traditional material, I do have a strong belief that it has a permanent place in the art world. I have curated this show to break the boundaries of tradition. To bring together a variety of works that express my personal artistic vision, including some outsider art which addresses Detroit's own close-minded, conformists views. - Cristin Richard
As one of Detroit's brightest young artists, Cristin Richard has bucked conformity at every turn and explored taboos, irony, sexual empowerment and repression with her polarizing fashion and installation art made primarily out of pig intestines. Dealing with repressed urges and manifesting them as fashion statements, Richard has stated that her Catholic upbringing and it's attendant conformity has fueled her art.
On Saturday, March 7th, CPop Gallery presents "Conformity Exhibition: Live Conformists/Dead Troublemakers", a select group show, curated by Cristin Richard and featuring; Josh Band, James Brutus, Julio Dominguez, Michael Kearns, Cristin Richard, Nate Savino, Nate Young & Alvia Zivich. Richard has woven together a narrative of parochial repression viewed through the rear view mirror of life, these eight artists express that in uncompromising and personal terms. Rules, morals and ethics are explored along with their end products, neurosis and conformity. Live Conformists will comprise of 2008 Kresge Eminent Artist nominee, Richard's newest small scale pig intestine crucifixes ("Body of Crist") along with a flowing wedding gown made of her patented pig gut, which alternately draws you in and knocks you back, are also captured in an otherworldly glow by photographer, Josh Band.
Nate Young and Alivia Zivich provide a dada element with their mixed-media (food-based) creations, Julio Dominguez pushes buttons with his look into private America via vintage photos. Nate Savino, audiophile and cultural rabble-rouser explores androgyny from both points of view and James Brutus' paintings are as exquisitely rendered as they are provocative. Live Conformists/Dead Troublemakers is not an erotic show.
Yet the imagery might provoke or titillate you. It's not a statement about pornography, but some of the work might be perceived as as offensive. It all will depend on the viewers ability to deal with imagery that might not conform to their particular point of view.
Judge for yourself on Saturday,
March 7th at 7PM until 11 PM.
The exhibit runs through March. Free admission (natch) with adult beverages served to responsible adults only (neo-conformists!)
CPop Gallery
4160 Woodward
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 833-9901
The ArtistsThe Live Conformists/Dead Troublemakers :
Nate Young and Alivia Zivich work as a duo.
Not only are they substantial music pioneers, (founders of AA records, Wolfeyes, Demons), they also create experimental visual work. For the Conformity Exhibition, Young and Zivich have created a large pile of cassette tapes made from molded chocolate. Inspired by German artist Dieter Roth, the chocolate is manipulated to create interesting rust- like textures. Alivia also creates provocative oil paintings and prints that speak to societal stigmas.
Nate Savino is known for his audio and performance creations, such as White Devil and Bad Party. His most recent sound work will be exhibited as part of the Winter Exhibition Series at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. This work is a collaboration with internationally renowned artist, Tris Vonna-Michell, who is currently exhibiting work at the Tate Modern. Nathan has offered a visual work for Live Conformists Dead Trouble Makers. This work blurs the lines between men and women. It is deliberately meant to be offensive in order to provoke discussion. James Brutus earned his B.F.A. Degree at the College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI.
There, he majored in Illustration, a minor in Fine Art and graduated in 2004. Brutus has created illustration for local and national magazines such as, Michigan View, Sources, and UR Chicago. His paintings of women, convey sexual power, but with a gamine vulnerability that leaves the viewer feeling both attraction and guilt. Powerful stuff. Julio Dominguez works in a variety of mediums: leather, photography, video and print. His work is naturally provocative. For the show he will exhibit a series of original vintage photos, along with Op-Art prints. Additionally there will be one of his leather garments, laced with grommets. Post-Pop at it’s most voyeuristic, Dominquez peeks into the private lives of the fringes, or designs Post Industrial fetish wear for the Apocalypse set. Work that would make Warhol blush.
Since 1993, Michael Kearns has been active as a Detroit based multimedia artist, on numerous and varied of projects; audio, visual and performance based. In the early 90's, he began working with a group of artists on various multi-discipline, multimedia performances. He has produced, performed, created and participated in noise music groups, dance music groups, stage productions, dance performances and art exhibitions. he became involved in the musical project Tamion 12 Inch, an electronic punk band/performance art project. They recorded for the respected, Detroit based Ersatz Audio label, run by Adult.
Their music garnered worldwide airplay and was featured in SPIN, XLR8R, and the Wire. Joshua Band quit his job as an Engineer to follow his god given talent and become a professional photographer. He was responsible for the infamous Kwame Kilpatrick and Family Christmas Card, commissioned by Mr. Kilpatrick himself. He's also a master at Photoshop manipulation as well as an innovative scenarist who collaborated with Cristin Richard in Live Conformists.
Images:
1) Gown by Cristin Richard/ Photo by Josh Band
2) “Do Not” - James Brutus
3) “Chocolate Cassette”- Nate Young and Alivia Zivich
As you may have heard - CPOP threw their last opening on Saturday night before closing its doors for good at the end of the month. MCB arrived late and was met with a crowd at the door and not nearly enough elbow room (which is just the way it should be at a CPOP show)
After a few minutes we ran into Tom Thewes who gave us the low-down on the near future of the famed dietroit gallery - We quicly made the rounds to document the walls and Amy Palomar has a great photo set that will be posted tonight to really fill you in but here are a few shots for now that the trusty camera phone did just fine on....
There aren't many places like CPOP that I have ever experienced....cool people working to bring an element and overall tangibility to us that we might not have in our sitesas we are bombarded with artistic images and ideas in this overblown plastic world that travels past you at blinding speed taking your individualistic ideas with it as it tears your eyelids away.
CARNIVORA
