The San Antonio artist says societys obsession with rock star and porn star lifestyles inspired the piece. Like what I think about when I hear all my friends are getting their tongues pierced so they can give better blow jobs. I just feel like, cmon you guys, take it easy, dude. Its all right, you dont have to be a super porn star, you dont have to be like the worlds best person in bed, you dont have to have the hardest abs, you dont have to have the coolest clothes. You can just be a dorky person who likes to give hugs.
Pell noticed the same insecurities in herself, though. I had a baby and I was all worried about downtown, you know? Like whats gonna happen down there? Am I like never going to is this ever going to recover? she says. And [my midwife] was like, Well, what if it doesnt? What are you talking about? Who are you? Linda Lovelace? What do you care?
Pell tries to chase those obsessions away with her diorama-style paintings, which feature animals and plants framing empty spaces for the viewer to stand in. If youre looking at the painting, then hopefully youre standing in the position where whoever is behind you can see you being adored by all the things that are coming towards you from the side.
The intention is to give viewers a sense of being happy with who they are. We dont all have to
have a baby and then have a vagina like as tight as a virgin the next week, you know? You really dont have to do anything more than what youre doing now, and lets just take a second and look at everything youve done so far and give you a standing ovation. The show runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays, through February 23. Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main. For information, call 713-528-5858 or visit www.lawndaleartcenter.org. Free.
Read the entire interview with Katie Pell and Asst. Night & Day Editor Dusti Rhodes online at www.houstonpress.com.
Mondays-Saturdays. Starts: Jan. 18. Continues through Feb. 23, 2008