"I Call the Shots" and "Between the Sheets"
Opening Reception Saturday, June 9th, 7-11 PM
Exhibitions run through July 7, 2012
http://guerrerogallery.com/shows/ben-venom-previewfeatured-solo-june
The Project Room in June will feature “Between the Sheets,” an exhibition of new works by Adam Feibelman. In this series of works, the artist explores ideas of utility function and context with intricate hand-sewn stencils. Starting with imagery of objects that used to serve a specific function and have now been put to pasture waiting to find their future utility, these works are a meditation on value, echoed in the artist’s process of deconstructing and reassembling. The works explore the process of searching and imagining new uses, or of the challenges of finding a value in objects in reference to their former context.
Guerrero Gallery is pleased to present "I Call the Shots," an exhibition of new works by Ben Venom. Presenting a reinterpretation of two seemingly opposing forces, the extremes of Heavy Metal culture and the tradition of handmade craft, Venom’s juxtaposition of the two forces results in a collision that is vibrant and intricate. His ability to associate each component of his primary medium, old band t-shirts which he personally connects with in some way or another, with the grand scheme of his pieces, is evidence of the thoughtful and enduring process behind his craft. Venom’s work lends to his ability to masterfully develop relevant concepts, sketch the designs in consideration of the large-scale puzzle piece patterns they will evolve into, and then patiently execute with needle and thread. In Venom’s words, his work “is serious, yet attempts to take on a B movie Horror film style, where even the beasts of Metal need a warm blanket to sleep with.”
The exhibition will feature a number of Venom’s signature hand-made heavy metal quilts, as well as a denim quilt composed of blue jeans, mainly donated by Venom’s friends and a few purchased from Goodwill. Embroidered jean jackets expressing the similarities between motorcycle gangs and the punk rock/metal scene are also included in Venom’s body of work for the show. Fittingly, the opening reception will also include performances by San Francisco bands Hazzard’s Cure and Dalton.