Art or Advertisement? show, 52.5 Records, Charleston, SC - Aug-Oct, 2007

photos by chuck keppler

AN INTRUIGING SHOW ASKS: ART OR ADVERTISEMENT?

At the other end of the spectrum there's a poster show at 52.5 Records. judging by the art on show there, the artists would gleefully pour gas on the soothing natural surroundings that inspire gregory and riding, then drop a lit match on the grass. Decades of art history, graphic design, and pop culture help fuel their fire.

The posters are mostly ads for bands, including the Melvins, Spoon, and The Decemberists. references range from 60's commercial art (Standard Design, "Stereolab") and Hernandez-style comics (Casey Burns, "Nomeansno"), to Disney movies. in Tooth's "Birthday Suits", Bambi humps a nude. the exertion seems to have been too much for the poor deer, since his corpse is on the adjacent poster (John Pundt's "Deerhoof").

Kudos to artist Chuck Keppler who put up the bulk of the show, had the art shipped to his home, and obviously put a lot of thought into the juxtaposition of the images. the secondhand references may be clear, but that doesn't make the art any less powerful - in fact, the pop homages give them an extra layer of meaning.

Combined, the posters have a lot to say about human nature, desire, and destructive impulses, wrangling abstract concepts with familiar imagery. the 52.5 show is at 561 King St., and it will be up until the end of the month.

- Charleston City Paper

YINZ GOT POSTERS - AIR Studios, Pittsburgh, PA Sept-Oct 2007

photos above by strawberryluna | more photos of opening reception on flickr

Graphic Noise exhibition - Museum of Design, Atlanta 2005

(photos: Hero Design)

POP*A*WHEELIE (photo: BATHROOM MONKEY)

MIKE DOUGHTY (photo: Hero Design)