Patrick Renner's "Specter" is another found piece used to craft something original. Renner has painted over a found piece of wood but this new coat makes the piece look as if it came from an earlier time rather than its 2014 creation date. It is a faded relic from yesteryear.
Of course there are many "traditional" pieces that also stand out. I was caught by Leslie Roades' "Pinkscape," an oil painting of a pink sunset inhabited by a flock of distant birds. The painting made me want to find wherever this location might possibly be and immerse myself in it.
Carrie Green Markello's acrylic piece "Super Cell," a painting of a young boy in Superman pajamas playing with an iPhone, also grabbed me. While it may not be a "selfie" per say, children and smart phones are of increasing relevance in our culture. It made me slightly sad to see this young boy so engrossed in a piece of technology (she said as she snapped a photo of the painting with her own phone).
As an entire collection, The Big Show does not disappoint. It is a lot of art, which tends to be overwhelming, but nonetheless, worth spending the time to take it all in.
The Big Show runs through August 9 and is free.
