Photo by Timothy J. Moersh.
Model Meredith Battite of ExploreTalent embodied the spirit of International Superstar Leon Rainbow‘s genius black light art show in the dark back room of Smile Gallery. The intense blue light is projected across the room with two big projectors and a Dan Flavin-like florescent mounted on the wall – the paintings vibrate with day glo color and bikini girl Meredith time tripping right out of Laugh In like a Goldie Hawn for the modern age. The similarities between then & now are nostalgic yet with a grok of how the futuristic 60’s was like while we fought the American War in Viet Nam compared to the exit this morning from Iraq – it’s a party @ ground zero, baby.
Jim Hancocks, Untitled, mixed media & black light in the back room @ Smile Gallery. Artists in the show include Leon Rainbow, Mike Ciccotello, Joe Iurato, Josi Luv 1, Aja Washington, Jim Hancocks, Papermonster, Dave Orantes, Demer, Kortez, Jon Connor & Will Kasso. Super-Kawaii!!
Bangkok & Black Light @ Smile not only stirred memories of the 60’s, in the trippy vibrant glow, dreams of absinthe drinkers and green fairies emerged from the purple haze.
is using light in a completely different way, reflecting the ambient light off metal, embelleshed, hammered, painted and polished into ethereal worlds all unto themselves, each one gives a different feedback experience as you move about the gallery. The collision of hard edge metal reflections and the zany black light art creates a dynamic inversion of perception & reality like a Star Trek holo-lab.
Vichoke Mujdamanee, Philadelphia, mixed media @ Smile Gallery on 22nd Street near Chestnut.
Photos by DoNBrewerPhotography.