(This article was published by the Tucson Citizen on Oct. 30, 2008.)
Image courtesy Marc Leviton.
When it comes to art, aesthetics are subjective.
While some prefer benign decorative pieces they can hang over the living room couch, others are drawn to edgier works that elicit an emotional and intellectual response.
“The Body and The Sexual Political Machine” exhibit at Holy Joe Studio falls into the latter category.
The show’s theme explores the cultural and societal stipulations placed on how an individual’s body “should be” shaped, as well as how said entities also create requirements of “appropriate” gender roles and “acceptable” human sexuality.
Sculptor Marc Leviton, curator of the show, explains that when we are born, we’re like tofu, malleable and unshaped by ideologies.
“You don’t have religious ideas or political ideas,” he says. “That gets put on you by societies and cultures and that’s when the lines of divide become stronger in people; what people can accept and what their boundaries are, and so that becomes a sexual political machine.
“Society wants to tell you about your sex, and religion wants to control your sex as well,” he continues. “If they can control the most basic elements of necessity in the human being, which is your sexual reproduction, gay or not, it’s still the act of that process.
“If they can control that, they control you.”
The intention of the show is to present provocative works. The exhibit does just that by culling eclectic pieces from more than 20 artists. Various mediums are represented – including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, collages and kinetic works.
“Every piece I’m picking for this show I figure is a trigger. It’s a trigger for an emotional response and rumination,” Leviton says.
Beyond triggering the synapses of the attendees, Leviton says that part of doing the show was to let people know there are venturesome local galleries.
“Steve and Maxine Murray (Holy Joe Studio’s owners) are willing to put on a show that deals with these subjects and has socio-political work in it,” he says. “A lot of galleries won’t take risks. They don’t want to offend their clients. They want to play it safe and safe is boring.
“Safe is decoration. Safe doesn’t accomplish anything; you have to bear a risk, especially to educate yourself and be inspired and to inspire.
“I think the show is going to be pretty heavy.”
_______
IF YOU GO
What: “The Body and The Sexual Political Machine” art exhibit
When: Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays. The exhibit opens Saturday with a free artist reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Curator Marc Leviton will lead a discussion at the opening with a question-and-answer session to follow. The show continues through Jan. 2.
Where: Holy Joe Studio, 1124 N. Stone Ave.
Price: Admission is free
Info: 624-7099
Leave a Reply