In his artist statement, Denton Crawford says that his latest
multimedia exhibition, “Savage Sanctuary,” “investigates the
relationship between mysticism and the absurd and how personal experience
informs our experience of each.” Through a remix of iconic imagery, Crawford
pokes at the relationship between religious belief, political affiliation, and
individual rights and freedoms.
Several very rad mixed-media paintings and sculptures are
installed in the entirely transformed two rooms of Gallery r. “Revival,” a
massive acrylic on panel work, is a neon allusion to fanaticism, wherein
figures — one of which strongly resembles Donald Trump, and others bowing down
to him — spout acid-colored wormholes that adulterate a tangling, tropical
Eden. Inverted crosses bedazzle various totems and reaper-like saints silently
insinuate doom. Various neon-colored lights installed above cast a brilliant,
otherworldly spell on an already transportive
environment. Text installed on the walls and floors urges the audience to
reconsider preciously held ideas. Keep an eye out for this artist.
“Savage Sanctuary” remains on view through Saturday,
September 24 at Gallery r. Gallery hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
All ages.
I didn’t witness much interaction with the “Guerrilla
Art” installation of magnetic poetry boards in the Spiegelgarden.
The poetry on printer paper that was slipped into plastic sleeves and left on
tables and hung on traffic barriers wasn’t getting much attention either.
A part of the problem is that Friday night was rained out.
But it would also have helped to have someone from the SUNY Geneseo-based
collaborative group present facilitate or discuss the kind of vague
presentation or talk about what the organization does. The “show”
came off more like a tiny bonus bit of interest for people to stumble upon while
waiting for another show.
Next Fringe, I’d like to see more visual artists get
involved. This year’s festival has been great so far, but as with previous
years, I’ve noticed only a handful of exhibits and visual art events included.
There’s another chance to check out “Guerrilla
Art” on Saturday, September 24, 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Spiegelgarden. Free. Appropriate for all ages.
This article appears in Sep 21-27, 2016.
