Monster Mash, an Exhibition of Monstrous Art, Now Open in The Cameron Gallery
By Tamara Galiano
For the latest group exhibition in the Cameron Gallery at The Scrap Exchange in Durham, 23 local artists explore the concept of the “monster” in Monster Mash. The idea of the “monster” has existed in one form or another since we humans began recording our thoughts. Monsters have served as a popular artistic reference due to their deep roots in the human psyche. Monsters are often defined not only by what we fear, but by deviating from what is considered “normal” or “acceptable.” By studying the motivations behind the monsters we create, it can provide us with deeper knowledge of what a culture values and on a broader scale what it means to be human.
The flexibility of the monster trope is well illustrated by the twenty-three artists included in Monster Mash. Their works range from interpretations of historical monsters, creation of new monsters, or using the idea metaphorically.
Leshy by Sarah Pippin
In Leshy, a watercolor by Sarah Pippin, a monster from traditional Slavic folklore serves as inspiration.
Wretched Beyond All Expression by Candice O’Neal
Candice O’Neal crafted this delightful, buggy, interpretation of the horror classic Frankenstein, using a cockroach as Dr. Frankenstein. When asked about her piece, O’Neal reflects on the concept of the monster by revisiting the central message of the classic novel. “Just because we can, does that mean we should?” she asks. “Is technology creating monsters, or making us monsters?”
Such A Pretty Girl by Nico Smith
Nico Smith’s unsettling work, Such A Pretty Girl, explores the concept more abstractly. “I use art as an investigative tool; to poke and prod at uncomfortable feelings, experiences, and memories,” Smith writes. “I'm intrigued by bodies - specifically their grotesque, vulnerable, and rejected parts. I am also drawn to exploring the expectations of gender, femininity, and the inevitable goriness of Life.”
Gas Guzzler by Raney Kulczak
With a more playful take, we have Gas Guzzler by Raney Kulczak. “What if cars and dinosaurs evolved to form a new and terrifying creature?” the artist asks. “A real ‘monster truck,’ you could say. This piece is also homage to my dearly departed rv. It looked exactly like this.”
To experience all the artwork, stop by the next time you come to shop and make our gallery one of your October haunts.
Monster Mash will be on view through Sunday, November 1. Most of the artwork is for sale, and the price is noted on each wall label. The artists are Alyssa Jones, Amy Riggs, Audrey A.P., candace bae, Candice O’Neal, Cheyenne Ritz, Crimson Harvest, Dave Smith, DJ Neon, flytrapminiatures, Garet Bullard, Jennifer Latham-Robinson, JP Trostle, Kara O’Dor, Kera Harow, Laurie Hamon, Michael Mansfield, Nico Smith, Niyanta Patel, Raney Kulczak, Reeve Haggard, Sarah Pippin, Willa Domina, and Wolfe Bordeaux.
