William Powhida, Market Crash (2007). Courtesy of the artist and Schroeder Romero, New YorkFunny Games takes as its starting point humor and play as critical devices. The ten artists featured use equal parts cynicism and visual comedy to question the role of the artist and artistic practice in and outside of an institutional context. The approaches used are varied—the use of unconventional, sometimes “cheap” materials; intentionally naïve or reductive techniques; contrived theatricality and grandiose gestures; visual gags and inside jokes; mining the art historical canon for content—resulting in work that continues the perilous conversation begun some 90 years ago about authenticity and art. Curated by Jamillah James.
Artists participating in Funny Games include Leidy Churchman (New York), Sara Clendening (Los Angeles), Petra Cortright (Berlin), Peter Harkawik (New Haven, Connecticut), Dina Kelberman (Baltimore), Maria Pithara (Richmond, Virginia), William Powhida (New York), Scott Reeder (Chicago), Jordan Rhoat (MICA alumni—Chicago), and Nick Van Woert (Brooklyn).
Funny Games will be on view at Load of Fun Studios, located at 120 W. North Avenue, Station North Arts District, Baltimore, Maryland from October 10-November 6, with a preview on October 10 at 8pm, coinciding with Second Saturdays in Station North. The opening reception for Funny Games is Friday, October 16, 2009 from 7-10pm. Gallery hours are Friday through Sunday 12-6pm, and by appointment with Frontier Projects at frontier.projects@gmail.com or Load of Fun at info@loadoffun.net.
