Bunderland:
A solo art exhibition
by Heather Hansma
Five15
515 S Washington
Royal Oak, MI 48067
248-515-2551
www.five15.net
Bunderland
October 10, 2009
Icons and pop culture archetypes are pressed into the form of brightly colored amorphous bunny rabbits. The beady, lifeless eyes of the cuddly creatures follow the viewer around Royal Oak's Five15, silently stealing your attention. These quirky characters are devised by Heather Hansma, a Detroit area illustrator, graphic designer, teacher, and CCS graduate who spends her extra-curricular time absorbing the odds and ends of pop culture. Bunderland will be Ms. Hansma's first solo show after several group exhibitions including a recent collaboration with Detroit lowbrow artist Kill Taupe and the Dirty Show.
"My goal as an artist is to entertain people, plain and simple," says Heather, "I feel my role as an artist is to bring light-heartedness to the world. We are all stressed by so many aspects of our lives. All I want is to bring one small avenue of release to people."
The iconic personalities appropriated range from a stern and politicized Citizen Kane to a candy coated depiction of Iron Man. Some works reference broader ideas, such as one piece that uses a mid-century housewife with a martini to communicate a “Mother's Little Helper”-type narrative. Rosy imagery and an off-beat dark sense of humor pervade Ms. Hansma's new body of work.
The opening reception will be held at Five15 in downtown Royal Oak on Saturday, October 10, 2009, from 8 until 11pm. The party will feature a live performance by Detroit band Macrame Tiger as well as DJ Pone and the Boy. For the duration of the opening there will be wine and snacks available free of charge to guests.
You can find out more about Heather and her work