Press Release Archive
THE HUMOR SHOW
PRESS RELEASE
Gallery Project
215 South Fourth Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
www.thegalleryproject.com
734-997-7012
THE HUMOR SHOW
Gallery Project presents The Humor Show, a multi-media exhibit featuring 25 local, regional and national artists. The exhibit runs from Wednesday, August 2 through Sunday, September 10. The opening reception is Friday, August 4, 6-9.
We are a culture that spends a lot of time laughing at itself. Why is humor important to us? Is it an escape or diversion from the pain and tedium of everyday life, a coping mechanism or stress reliever, a simple means to express joy or happiness, or a powerful disarming vehicle to express social and political complaint or outrage.
Humor activates our emotions. It can pull at our heart strings, jolt us out of complacency, or bring us close to heaving our lunch. Humor can make a point so effectively, subversively, and ambiguously that we don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Art uses comedic devices including irony, sarcasm, understatement and overstatement, mixed metaphor, word play, transformations, exaggeration, odd juxtapositions, things out of character, out of place, out of time, slightly off or off key, the implausible, the unexpected, the absurd, extreme behavior, slapstick, and buffoonery.
To maintain its strength humor must not seem overly cartoonish, trite, stereotypical, or hackneyed…unless that is the shameless and unabashed intent.
All media are available to humor. No minute foible is too private, no sacred monument too grand for humor’s irresistible invasion.
The current exhibit brings together artists who share with us their unique visions of humor. Participating artists include:
- Susanna Bergtold, New York City
- Coco Bruner, Royal Oak
- Alison Byrnes, Ann Arbor
- Chris Crowder, Detroit
- Kees de Waal, New York City
- Luke Engel, Ann Arbor
- Brent Fogt, Ann Arbor
- Vincent Frappier, Ann Arbor
- Ann Gordon, Detroit
- Cynthia Greig, Ann Arbor
- Kat Hartman, Ann Arbor
- Warren Hecht, Ann Arbor
- Judith Jacobs, Ann Arbor
- Jack Johnson, Detroit
- Vijay Kumar, New York City
- Mike Myers, Ann Arbor
- Uncle Art (Mark Nielsen), Ann Arbor
- Tom Nuzum, Flint
- Brenda Oelbaum, Ann Arbor
- Joey Ostrander, Ann Arbor
- Frank Pahl, Ann Arbor
- Catherine Peet, Detroit
- Julie Renfro, Ann Arbor
- Mike Richison, Detroit
- SAINTRYAN® (Sally T. Ryan), Ypsilanti
- Mike Sivak, Ann Arbor
- Clint Snider, Detroit
- Jack Summers, Detroit
- Andrew Thompson, Detroit
- Nick Tobier, Ann Arbor
- Bill Tucker, New York City
- Kevin Tudball, Ann Arbor
Gallery Project is a fine art collaborative. Its mission is to provide a venue for contemporary art that is culturally aware, individualistic, courageous, and thought provoking. Artists representing a diverse range of visual arts curate and participate in its nine annual themed exhibits.
Gallery Project is located at 215 South Fourth Avenue in Ann Arbor. Gallery hours are: Tuesday thru Saturday, noon to 9; and Sunday, noon to 4. The gallery is closed on Mondays. For more information, call 734-997-7012 or visit the website at thegalleryproject.com.