First I'd like to say it was difficult to pick just three artists to review. So many of the artists showing at The Grind Gallery are making beautiful, interesting, provocative work. From the show "Under the Radar No More", I felt compelled to write about Rebecca Hahn, Macsorro and Sean Ford.

Rebecca Hahn showed a collection of assemblage pieces, gorgeous in their flawlessness. They draw the viewer into the picture plane with a seemingly limitless parade of impeccable craftsmanship and details. Each piece unfolds in a kind of gradual, comforting way. She stitches embroidery through maps and graph paper to create an emotional topography. An example: a woman's hair becomes the sea, complete with boats, fish and drowning men. Her female figures are strong and thoughtful. Her women often loom large above implied landscapes, mixing with smaller details in very telling ways. You really have to see this collection in person to appreciate the clockwork of it. I was captivated by her unique way of expressing a strong feminine style in such a comforting yet thought provoking way.

Macsorro showed interesting, adorable, small, affordable (Is it ok to say that? Well they are affordable and I thought that was smart.), paintings depicting toy like characters involved in human type behavior and emotions. They are done in a pop surrealist style with masterful skill and composition. They light heartedly take on serious issues. In a way they feel like toys. When we played with toys as children (and some of us still do, you vinyl toy fetish types are so cool) they were helping us work through issues. From our privileged vantage point as viewers, we get to watch the toys in the paintings, as they appear to be working through issues of their own. When monkey robots in business suits are abandoning their monkey company robot ship with a one eyed fury thing as their V.P., then I think it safe to say the toy shit may be hitting the toy fan. I wish I had bought this painting. Macsorro's work is so that certain something small, soothing ness, comic relief, and inspiration. Keep up the good work Macsorro!

Sean Ford's paintings make use of sugary sky blue, pink and golden hues to ascribe a cheerful exterior to what upon second glance becomes a bit more serious. Sugary, orphaned children explore sparse, metaphoric landscapes. A wolf mother and pups cohabitate with them in various roles offering protection and comfort. Also looming in subtle details are ideas of vulnerability, mortality and love. There is a definite psychedelic narrative running through this collection of sensitive work that I find delightful, otherworldly and intriguing.

by Andrea Branca
To have your art exhibit covered
andrea_ruth@sbcglobal.net

Websites of Artists featured in Under The Radar :

MAC SORRO - www.macsorro.com
REBECCA HAHN - www.rebeccahahn.com
SEAN FORD - www.seanford.us