Magicians and Cartoons

I saw the show at the ICA a while ago, but haven't gotten around to writing anything about it. I think Anthony Campuzano is one of the best artists working in Philly right now, so I think it's great that the ICA gave him a solo show. Dude really deserves it. I'm not really sure that I "get" the work, but he does some amazing things with text. His work really seems magical, which sounds corny, but I really think it's true. He transforms the text just enough so that it hovers right between that line of text-as-image and text-as-word, and there's something really amazing about seeing that. Every time I see his work I want to run home and make things just like his, which I suppose is the highest compliment I can give.



Josh Mosley's video was really nice as well. I'm kicking myself for not taking more advantage of having him on the faculty at Penn while I was there. Stupid, stupid, stupid! His video has a boyish whimsy about it and rides the line between cartoon and art really well. I kind of feel a guilty pleasure when I see his work -- it's like I get to watch an amazing animated cartoon and it's "serious" art! Lisa said it best: "That was a video piece that I actually wanted to continue watching after a minute."

ZOMG animated GIFs!!!!

Jack Sloss, Upside Ground

First off, I love Fleisher-Ollman Gallery for using an animated GIF successfully on their website. I have a hunch that this is the work of Claire Iltis, the Assistant Director, but I'm not sure. Awesome.

Fleisher-Ollman puts on some bangin' group shows -- they seem to have a lot of fun with them and use their excellent collection and connections really well. Rich Text is no exception. Rich Text, which focuses on contemporary work that uses text (duh), is a really varied and satisfying show. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures at the opening, so I can't post any images. Highlights for me include Alex DaCorte's birthday-banner pieces, Anthony Campuzano's Diebenkorn-text hybrids, and Bob and Roberta Smith's giant wooden walls of text. Everyone go see it!