DEMYSTIFYING MYTHS

Despite Its Flaunting of the Tired Gesture of Juxtaposition, UICA Show Worth A Look

Not quite the lisping beauty pageant, "Myth America" is the most recent exhibition at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. It contains the work of 68 American visual artists whose work focuses in some way on American mythologies.

The exhibition space is packed with artworks, and the breadth of the work is initially stimulating, ranging from traditional paintings on canvas and framed photography to many non-traditional works, such as videos, larger installation pieces and "candied" mixed media.

In her curatorial statement, Carol Jacobsen reflects on the end of the millennium and how "American artists are redefining their roles in this country and visual culture," and are affecting and being affected by various forces of change ranging from social movements to digital imaging.

Isabel Samaras' piece, "The Assumption of Elvis," connects a humorous religious fervor to the legend of Elvis. Elvis is painted naked, large and green and surrounded by frolicking cherubs on what appears to be some sort of vintage metal TV tray, the edge poppied with painted pills.
As viewers, we are compelled initially to laugh at the image, but then, on a deeper level, to laugh at ourselves and our strange obsessions with pop culture.

Conrad Bakker
The Paper
Seattle, Washington
October 9, 1998