OFF THE WALL: Prankster’s dry humor paints walls at Arts Center
By Werner Trieschmann (Contact)
Chapter 39: The Cartesian Masculinization of Thought Susan Bardo and WWE
2008-06-05 08:07:00
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LITTLE ROCK — We’ll admit upfront that “Tom Richard: Cereal Inquiries” is the kind of exhibit we don’t even have to see to recommend.
Richard, an associate professor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, is a prankster with paint. You might remember Richard’s Grand Award-winning work in the “46th Annual Delta Exhibition.” That painting featured, among many things, a giant Gumby sweating in the sun.
That’s the kind of painter Richard is, and that’s the kind of painter we like.
“Cereal Inquiries,” which continues through July 20 at the Arkansas Arts Center, showcases Richard’s sense of humor - dry, to put it mildly. The titles of Richard’s busy rectangular pieces indicate the teeming mind behind their creation. Chapter 28: The Coming of Post-Industrial Society by Daniel Bell and Mad Money.
Chapter 39: The Cartesian Masculinization of Thought Susan Bardo and WWE. Bardo is the author of Feminist Interpretations of Rene Descartes. WorldWrestling Entertainment (and its predecessor, the World Wrestling Federation) made Rowdy Roddy Piper, among others, famous.
How much of Richard’s humor an innocent viewer is supposed to get is hard to say. There is a lot going on in these pieces. Spider-Man, Superman and Batman action figures are prominent throughout. In one especially funny one, the Pillsbury Doughboy speaks to eggs. Cartoon balloons with snippets of stilted conversation crop up in the background of practically every piece.
Our favorite in the show is the simplest one. Godzilla with Red Flames is just that. Godzilla is kind of smiling. He probably gets all the jokes.
Richard will give a gallery talk at 6:30 p.m. on June 13. Admission is free.
“Tom Richard: Cereal Inquiries,” through July 20, Arkansas Arts Center, Ninth and Commerce streets, Little Rock. Admission: free. Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Call (501) 372-4000.
E-mail a funny joke to Off the Wall, the occasional art column, at: wtrieschmann@arkansasonline.com
This article was published Friday, June 6, 2008.
Weekend, Pages 62 on 06/06/2008
