Images above: Matt Coors, Here Be Dragons? 2005. Mark Harris, Mao Songs, 2006. An-My Le, Small Wars 1999-2002.Uncoordinated: Mapping Cartography in Contemporary Art, American Idyll: Contemporary Art and Karaoke, An-My Le: Small Wars
Contemporary Arts Center
Friday, May 23. 7-11 pm (shows run through August 17, 24, and 10 respectively)
$10 guests, free for members
This Friday the CAC is opening 3 amazing shows. Since it lasts until 11 pm, you could easily hit up Miller Gallery and then stop by CAC. Uncoordinated: Mapping Cartography in Contemporary Art is highly conceptual in nature but also consists of a body of aesthetically pleasing artwork. It addresses the way in which we rely on maps as subjective and complete sources of information when, in actuality, there can be intentional or unintentional omissions. Thus, the cartography (map maker) has a great deal over power and influence over a society which relies upon maps.
American Idyll: Contemporary Art and Karaoke looks at the way in which this pop culture fascination has affected our society. This show examines the way in which artists have been inspired by karaoke. It also looks at the concept of karaoke itself (i.e. does it unite people or is it a "mass produced catharsis for alienated cultural spectators?") At the very least, the show references American Idol and The Real World and promises to be very entertaining.
An-My Le: Small Wars is a more serious show but is nonetheless terribly important and poignant. It consists of 50 gelatin silver prints from the two series, both of which address and examine military and war. For her series An-My Le went to a Marine base in the Mojave Desert where she photographed soldiers in various stages of training. This included situations in which soldiers roll-played and dressed up as their enemies. For her second series, Small Wars, An-My Le joins a Vietnam re-enactor group. She examines the way in which we recreate and glorify warfare after the fact.
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