C33 Gallery- “If Artists Ran the Media”

This mixed media exhibit left me leaving with mixed feelings. The C33 Gallery of Columbia College Chicago is now running a collective show of artists’ responses to the American media and our bombarded society; which is always under attack of biased or slanted information presented to us by media outlets. Were constantly under the influence of advertisements, corporate, and politically altered views of our lives. So, the C33 Gallery asks, why not give artists a chance to proclaim their own perspectives?

The small gallery contained in 33 E. Congress displays a wide variety of artwork and medias. I found the inconsistency of the artworks’ mediums to be almost refreshing, yet I think the diversity of the pieces limited the intensity of the message trying to be conveyed. Some works seemed to have very direct messages, for instance the works of Spencer Ockwell. His pen and ink illustration entitled, “Just Do It,” conveyed a green communist monster barking orders at robots chaotically making Nike shoes and apparel for American consumers persuaded by slanted ads. I also found Nicole Huser’s recycled media diorama to be especially intriguing. Titled, “T.V.” it depicts an American family engulfed in consumerism around the table and is contained in the remnants of an old television set. Gluttony ensues as they stuff their cackling mouths with food as bits of advertisements and text peel off the walls and floor around them.

But the gallery was littered with artwork that although aesthetically pleasing, I found to somewhat dropped the ball when it came to the message behind the show. Eric Nowaki’s spray paint and acrylic piece, “Any Day Now,” depicted a forest lit up with various signage and semiotics in the trees. Although it had a peculiar atmospheric depth that I was drawn to, I found the idea of, “Any Day Now… the forest will be filled with neon signs,” to be somewhat lame and shallow. Not thought provoking or point driven, and merely skimming the surface. Same with another piece near the center of the room created by Katy Luxion entitled, “Make Me Pretty Sculpture.” Consisting of a woman’s bust cast out of plaster, it was cut down the sides and sewn up with pink ribbon. Which seemed to have a various open ended messages and was not congruent with the rest of the show.

Through painting, illustration, photography, video, and multimedia installation pieces this exhibit gives the artist and audience an opportunity to create their own perspectives in a world where the truth may be buried and laced with biased media outlets. The show runs till February 20, 2009 and C33 Gallery is open Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm, Friday 9am-5pm.