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Thursday, February 23, 2023

Buck Up, Buddy!


 

I was invited to create a piece for a show that opens next month in the Pioneer Square art gallery called Shift.  Toxic Masculinity and Gender Roles is the theme of the group and solo show.  Craig van den Bosch is having a solo show at the same time.

My piece is 3D but that is more obvious in person.  There are many threads to my piece which include:  coming out of the closet as a gay man; being raised in a society where boys are told that they should not cry; men on the down low;  men struggling with racism; and the acceptance of one’s self.  All the materials used in my 3D collage are recycled materials including a potato bag, tea bag strings with paper; old ephemera; dictionary pages; and old ledger pages,  The show opens on March 2 and runs through April 1.




3 comments:

jacki long said...

This is really great, John, and so meaningful.
I'd love to see it in person, sorry to be so far away.

Robert Stockton said...

I love this piece, John! It says a good deal about a society that chooses to marginalize boys and men for a variety of reasons that don’t fit the narrow definition of what it is to be male. Kudos to you for being selected to be a part of Craig’s solo show!

julia said...

Very thoughtful and powerful, john...including all aspects AND the title! It's a winner.