Featuring Westcoast artists...
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Now, for the first time, these eight painters have banded together to form a
AMERICANADA, a traveling showcase by the crème de la crème of the west coast lowbrow crop, is set to spend the
If we are to go by what T.V. has taught us, (and what else do we ever go by, really),
Canada is as confusing to Americans as Americans are to Canadians.
AMERICANADA
Vancouver lowbrow artists take the show on the road
with many artists if not actually becoming household names,
certainly their aesthetic and imagery has become ubiquitous through sheer bulk of output,
constant media exposure and single minded determination.
united front in their attack on the American art consciousness.
coming year stateside, spreading the Canadian lowbrow gospel to a whole new audience, beginning it 's tour at
The Space in Austin, Texas March 5th after a kick-off at Vancouver 's New Tiny Gallery on February 26th, with dates in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Individually, each of these artists have cut a swath of non-conforming artistic vision through the often stolid Canadian art world.
Though universally ignored by the mainstream gallery system, ( a mutual association) they have all managed to thrive as outsiders,
with fervent fans and supporters, the members of this "Canadian Club " have all impacted the Canadian popular culture
and are poised to do the same for our cousins to the south.
Canada is seen as the misfit little brother of the U.S.: a brother Homer Simpson says has never had a girlfriend.
Is Canada really a hand-me-down nation of well- mannered but misguided bumpkins,
whacked out on high octane beer in stubby bottles and skunk weed....
a frozen land of clear water, cheap medical care, oozing Celine Dion like a festering sore: an annoying pimple that exudes
Jim Carreys and Wayne Gretskys like a snow blower spits out dog piss slush?
The enigma of Canada is its sinister dark side: barrels of bootleg whiskey smuggled across dark frigid waters in fast boats
and along snow strewn backloads in overloaded trucks...
where draft-dodging hippies and runaway slaves can find refuge from the American nightmare.
For every schlock rock band like Loverboy there 's a D.O.A.
Scathing political satire is mirrored by tyrannical gun control laws while lax drug enforcement
allows so-called cannabis cafes to operate openly.
Government funded injection sites pander to heroin users but it 's illegal to sell Budweiser at the 7-11.
With that perspective comes the Canadian Club: a loosely-knit collection of the best-known of the Canada 's west coast lowbrow artists:
Manwoman: the tattoo-covered godfather of the Canadian pop scene since the 60's.
An artist and author, his influence is unmistakable.
I, Braineater: the quintessential lowbrow legend.
With roots in the late 70's Vancouver punk scene,
his painting and music have made an unfading scar on the underground and mainstream alike.
The PopTarts: Nicole Steen and Vicki M. a major force in keeping the lowbrow life alive in Canada,
through their own artistic output and their influential Tart Gallery; a maelstrom of art, music and high-style.
Holly Ruth Anderson: sweet and sour portraits by the queen of the broken heart.
12 Midnite: a hot rod hoodlum and veteran political graffiti artist.
A bourbon-soaked grunge-country heartthrob who somehow neglected to leave a pretty corpse.
David Ostrem: a self effacing American transplant.
Well established as a social critic and snappy dresser,
Ostrem is one of the few who manage to be welcome in both high and low-brow circles.
Andrea Tucker: The somewhat reclusive and mysterious darling of the west coast scene,
her creepy-cute characters are magnificent in their execution and unsettling in their content.
AMERICANADA presents a uniquely Canadian view of American Pop culture:
at best a second-hand experience seen through mass media and fast food chains.
Does a Big Mac taste the same in Texas?...we 'll see.
The Canadian Club: AMERICANADA
February 26: New Tiny: Vancouver Canada
March 5: The Space: Austin, Texas
July 2: La Luz De Jesus: Los Angeles,CA
July 30: Sugar Hill : Fresno,CA
with dates to be added.....
NEXT SHOW!
Opening Sat. July 30 8pm
Runs July 29-31
SUGAR HILL
7735 N. Blackstone Suite 101
Fresno CA 559-435-5995
Opening Saturday July 2 7-10pm
at LA LUZ DE JESUS
4633 Hollywood Blvd.LA,CA
Runs July2-9
ClickHERE for pictures of the openings at NEW TINY and THE SPACE
