Tyler Bernard Anthony , Melting Lake Michigan, 30" x 30"
The above seems to depict the artist himself as some kind of puppet being placed upon the stage that is our city - in this case, the shore of Lake Michigan. Kinda upbeat - kinda wacky - kinda juvenile. But also luminous and eyecatching. It’s his own, personal avatar - a kind of cartoon super-hero whose super power is survival.
Nothing about art schools or college degrees are mentioned on the gallery website, so I’m guessing the artist is self taught - which usually means that issues of form and concept are preceded by a concern for immediate impact - as in cartoons or advertising art - especially as they are combined on cereal boxes.
I’d say this work has got that. I’m sold on the idea that he is embarking on the great adventure of life - even if these pieces, like even the best commercial art, do not have the formal intensity and sensitivity to draw me back for repeated viewing.
Judging from the many pieces sold in this show, it may be a good business decision for Tyler Anthony to build his self-puppet into a recognizable brand- as Hebu Brantley did with Flyboy and Joseph Perez (Sentrock) has done with his Bird City Saint. But I hope not. I’d like to see Anthony address his life as it matures. It’s way past time for Chicago’s Imagist tradition of adolescence to grow up.
No comments:
Post a Comment