FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 02,
2011
Gallery Contact: Christina Ray, Gallery Director . 212.334.0204
Press release online: http://www.christinaray.com/pages/exhibitions-2011-caseyp
Works in the exhibition: http://www.christinaray.com/collections/caseyp-wild-at-heart
ARTIST CASEY P.'S POP PET PORTRAITS REVEAL THE (FURRY) UNDERSIDE OF ANIMAL DOMESTICATION IN HER DEBUT SOLO EXHIBITION.
NEW YORK – February 02, 2011 – CHRISTINA RAY is pleased to present Wild at Heart, the first solo exhibition for American artist Casey P. These black and white animal portraits, painted with a comic book sense of humor over lush, exquisitely rendered graphic patterns, expose the personal lives of domestic creatures as an unsettling blend of dignity, vulnerability and charm. The exhibition opens with a reception on Thursday, February 10th, 7–9pm, and runs through March 13th at CHRISTINA RAY, located at 30 Grand Street, New York.
Referencing traditional portraiture, the artist paints her self-described “aging fleet” of three dogs in various costumes, posed in front of stylized versions of baroque wallpapers simulating a domestic – if highly abstracted – setting. Writer Greg Lindquist, in the catalogue essay, puts it succinctly: “By painting dogs as if human, she has sought a larger cultural understanding of our relationship to domesticated animals and our own socialization and assimilation of indigenous cultures.”
Domesticated pets are depicted as subtle mirrors of our own culturally trained desire for the trappings of style and status. American pop culture is reflected in the costumes and accessories borrowed from TV iconography and transferred to the sitter, who appears posed rather seriously for the painting of a traditional family heirloom. This stiff posturing, however, cannot hide the tender emotions of these small beings who strike us in turn as sly, playful, stoic, confused or even slightly afraid.
In the words of the artist, “The pets we've domesticated are biologically inclined to live as pack dogs, not lap dogs. Humans have bred them to be companions of convenience. The clothing I choose is a very loose nod to the ceremonial dress of tribal leaders who rejected assimilation. They had their portraits taken to preserve their legacy. As an animal's body ages, so does its dignity. The dress dictates how its subject will be remembered.”
This minimalist touch, crisp layering technique and bold color palette reflects inspirations ranging from pop art to graffiti culture. Works in the exhibition represent a new development for the artist in terms of scale – they are significantly larger than earlier works. By literally “sizing up” these animals, the artist expresses her desire that the viewer will better “engage and empathize with the beast.” Casey P.’s personification of pets in the bestowal of 21st century Americana to animals allows the viewer to reflect upon the significance of our own wildness. In these portraits we can see our own essential nature and unavoidable mortality trapped within in a slick, fast-paced image culture. Willing or not, these furry subjects express a striking depth of personality. Beneath the surface of YouTube-worthy cuteness lie tiny wild hearts subject to the whims of human culture.
The gallery is proud to be a long-time supporter of animal-related organizations and will donate a portion of proceeds from the exhibition to animal charities including Animal Haven, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Farm Sanctuary, The Humane Society of the United States and the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals.
Casey P. is a self proclaimed “Small Dog Enthusiast,” painting and obsessing over carry-able canines since her first close encounter with a pink eyed Jack Russell terrier in the mid 1990’s. Her interests include, but are not limited to: the secret lives of animals, chihuahua culture, big eyed figurines, baby deer, saggy nipples, space travel, bananas, and Japan. Casey studied drawing and painting at North Carolina State University School of Design from 1997-2001, graduating with a Bachelors of Art and Design. She currently lives and works in Raleigh, NC.
CHRISTINA RAY is an innovative gallery and creative catalyst in New York whose mission, grounded by the concept of psychogeography, is to discover and present the most important contemporary artwork exploring the relationship between people and places. For more information, visit www.christinaray.com.
Opening Reception: Thursday, February 10, 7–9pm
Exhibition Dates: February 10– March 13, 2011
Location: 30 Grand Street, Ground Floor . Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6pm
Directions: A/C/E to Canal Street or 1 to Canal Street; gallery is located between Thompson Street and 6th Avenue
Gallery Contact: Christina Ray, Gallery Director . 212.334.0204
Press release online: http://www.christinaray.com/pages/exhibitions-2011-caseyp
Works in the exhibition: http://www.christinaray.com/collections/caseyp-wild-at-heart
ARTIST CASEY P.'S POP PET PORTRAITS REVEAL THE (FURRY) UNDERSIDE OF ANIMAL DOMESTICATION IN HER DEBUT SOLO EXHIBITION.
NEW YORK – February 02, 2011 – CHRISTINA RAY is pleased to present Wild at Heart, the first solo exhibition for American artist Casey P. These black and white animal portraits, painted with a comic book sense of humor over lush, exquisitely rendered graphic patterns, expose the personal lives of domestic creatures as an unsettling blend of dignity, vulnerability and charm. The exhibition opens with a reception on Thursday, February 10th, 7–9pm, and runs through March 13th at CHRISTINA RAY, located at 30 Grand Street, New York.
Referencing traditional portraiture, the artist paints her self-described “aging fleet” of three dogs in various costumes, posed in front of stylized versions of baroque wallpapers simulating a domestic – if highly abstracted – setting. Writer Greg Lindquist, in the catalogue essay, puts it succinctly: “By painting dogs as if human, she has sought a larger cultural understanding of our relationship to domesticated animals and our own socialization and assimilation of indigenous cultures.”
Domesticated pets are depicted as subtle mirrors of our own culturally trained desire for the trappings of style and status. American pop culture is reflected in the costumes and accessories borrowed from TV iconography and transferred to the sitter, who appears posed rather seriously for the painting of a traditional family heirloom. This stiff posturing, however, cannot hide the tender emotions of these small beings who strike us in turn as sly, playful, stoic, confused or even slightly afraid.
In the words of the artist, “The pets we've domesticated are biologically inclined to live as pack dogs, not lap dogs. Humans have bred them to be companions of convenience. The clothing I choose is a very loose nod to the ceremonial dress of tribal leaders who rejected assimilation. They had their portraits taken to preserve their legacy. As an animal's body ages, so does its dignity. The dress dictates how its subject will be remembered.”
This minimalist touch, crisp layering technique and bold color palette reflects inspirations ranging from pop art to graffiti culture. Works in the exhibition represent a new development for the artist in terms of scale – they are significantly larger than earlier works. By literally “sizing up” these animals, the artist expresses her desire that the viewer will better “engage and empathize with the beast.” Casey P.’s personification of pets in the bestowal of 21st century Americana to animals allows the viewer to reflect upon the significance of our own wildness. In these portraits we can see our own essential nature and unavoidable mortality trapped within in a slick, fast-paced image culture. Willing or not, these furry subjects express a striking depth of personality. Beneath the surface of YouTube-worthy cuteness lie tiny wild hearts subject to the whims of human culture.
The gallery is proud to be a long-time supporter of animal-related organizations and will donate a portion of proceeds from the exhibition to animal charities including Animal Haven, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Farm Sanctuary, The Humane Society of the United States and the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals.
Casey P. is a self proclaimed “Small Dog Enthusiast,” painting and obsessing over carry-able canines since her first close encounter with a pink eyed Jack Russell terrier in the mid 1990’s. Her interests include, but are not limited to: the secret lives of animals, chihuahua culture, big eyed figurines, baby deer, saggy nipples, space travel, bananas, and Japan. Casey studied drawing and painting at North Carolina State University School of Design from 1997-2001, graduating with a Bachelors of Art and Design. She currently lives and works in Raleigh, NC.
CHRISTINA RAY is an innovative gallery and creative catalyst in New York whose mission, grounded by the concept of psychogeography, is to discover and present the most important contemporary artwork exploring the relationship between people and places. For more information, visit www.christinaray.com.
Opening Reception: Thursday, February 10, 7–9pm
Exhibition Dates: February 10– March 13, 2011
Location: 30 Grand Street, Ground Floor . Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6pm
Directions: A/C/E to Canal Street or 1 to Canal Street; gallery is located between Thompson Street and 6th Avenue
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