2 new exhibits to open at the Old Jail
By Kathy Thomson
Two new exhibitions are set to open at the Old Jail Art Center, running Sept. 14 through Feb. 1, 2020.
The Old Jail’s board of trustees is hosting a members’ opening reception at the museum this Saturday, Sept. 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. featuring an artists’ reception with viewing, drinks, dinner, and a dessert bar.
Nobody’s Fool:
Works by Kirk Hayes
and Michael Bane
Nobody’s Fool highlights the work of contemporary artists Kirk Hayes and Michael Bane, both of whom employ the technique of trompe l’oeil in their art.
Trompe l’oeil is the art term for paintings that deceive the eye and give the illusion that they are real objects, according to OJAC executive director Pat Kelly.
“Artists have been creating paintings that produce the illusion of real objects for centuries, and contemporary artists often create an additional level of content by adding visual references relevant to contemporary events, situations, and observations,” said Kelly. “Beyond the fact that both Hayes and Bane seek to ‘fool’ the viewer, their works are quite dissimilar.”
Hayes’ illusionary depth is shallow with visual elements contained within the parameter of the traditional painting rectangle, according to Kelly.
“Hayes’ humorous, autobiographical, and sometimes dark tableaus emerge from what appears as appropriated collaged elements adhered to found substrates of faux plywood or cardboard,” said Kelly. “Bane’s works often appear as unspectacular objects. Yet under close scrutiny, one discovers they are meticulously fabricated ruses, making us believe we are looking at the back of vintage painting canvases, collaged surfaces, or stacks of everyday items.”
Nobody’s Fool is supported in part by Frank and Lynda Andrews, The Moody Foundation, Suzanne and James H. Waller, and an anonymous donor.
Kris Pierce:
A Ghost in the Attic
The latest in the Cell Series of exhibitions, Kris Pierce: A Ghost in the Attic explores the ways in which people project themselves out of the confines of their physical reality into virtual space in an attempt to find the freedoms they lack in their “real” lives.
“In the 21st century, identity finds itself divided between physical and digital space,” said Pierce. “The possibilities of social media, digital avatars, and anonymous chat boards offer a platform where people can say what they want and be what they want, in search of an ‘upgraded’ way of existing.”
Pierce uses a variety of media, including video, real-time 3D, CG modeling, and photography in his exhibit.
“It is both fitting and ironic that Pierce’s works deal with people’s desire to escape the confines of their physical bodies, given they will exist within the confines and context of former prisoner cells of the OJAC’s 1877 structure,” said Kelly. “More than 140 years later we are still attempting to escape current realities by whatever means available.”
The Dallas artist has exhibited internationally in museums, galleries, and other public spaces, including recent solo and group exhibitions at the Hiroshima Art Center, Japan; CICA Museum, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea; Gallerie Se Konst, Falun, Sweden; Réunion, Zurich, Switzerland; The Mac, Dallas; Blue Star Contemporary, San Antonio; the Dallas Museum of Art; and RL Window, Ryan/Lee, New York City.
The Cell Series is supported by McGinnis Family Fund of Communities of Texas in loving memory of Juli Weida McGinnis, 1941-2018, Kathy Webster in memory of Charles H. Webster, the Moody Foundation, Barbra and Jay Clack, Susie and Joe Clack, Jenny and Rob Dupree, and Patrick and Amy Kelly.
The general public can view the exhibits for free during museum hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
