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Organized Religion
By Stephanie Nikolopoulos on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007
The Williamsburg art gallery Like the Spice (224 Roebling St.) fearlessly tackles the sensitive topic of Organized Religion. Originally scheduled to close this week, the exhibit is so popular it has been extended till June 8.
Organized Religion. The phrase alone conjures up strong feelings. For some, they may be positive. For others, negative.
In today’s hot political climate, people are searching for hope. Although many believe there’s something bigger out there than themselves, they do not trust organized religion. After all, the media would have us believe that we’ve got the Islamic Fundamentalists to blame for 9-11, the Right-wing Protestants to blame for the War on Terrorism, the Mormons to blame for immigration issues, the Catholics to blame for child molestation, so on and so forth.
No religion is left unturned as the (lucky number) thirteen artists tackle issues of holiness, the apocalypse, possession, and divine healing. The exhibit is wide ranging not just in the different religions addressed, but in its media. There are paintings, photographs, collages, plaster sculptures, and even a digital video.
Historically, religion and art have gone hand in hand. Art has been both a way to encourage faith and a way to challenge existing belief systems. Since imagery stands on its own for the viewer to interpret, visual art is a non-confrontational form of communicating one’s beliefs. The art included in Organized Religion is as hit or miss as church coffee. A lot of it is watered down and lukewarm, but there are some meditative pieces. Yoshio Itagaki’s work stands out the most for its design and message. In “Cloning Jesus,” he depicts a woman wearing a white lab coat stitched with the words “The Second Coming Project.” She is holding a baby with a halo around it. In Santa Cross he depicts a Japanese display window that shows Santa Clause nailed to a cross. (Dana Carvey’s Church Lady SNL character rearranging the letters of “Santa” to spell out “Satan” springs to mind.) On a Mac in the back of Like the Spice is Heather Boaz’s “True Miracle,” a digital video that tells the story of possession and faith. It’s very This American Life. It’s scary, incredible, and funny—and autobiographical. At one point Boaz recalls a family member putting holy oil on trolls in a toy store.Robert Guillie and Tatiana Kronberg each have a series of thought-provoking prints worth scrutiny. Tom Billings’ “Missionary Position” sculpture points out the use of a religious term in the act of sex.It’s not that the other artwork on display is without merit—some of in fact have better craftsmanship and style, and are actually quite beautiful—but the other works aren’t as memorable within the context of the exhibit. With such a dynamic topic as religion, Like the Spice could have selected images that really pushed boundaries and made one think.
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 by Stephanie Nikolopoulos and is filed under Art.
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May 4th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Wow Stephanie- sounds a little creepy. I’ll try to catch it before it closes.
May 4th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
I totally understand what you mean about the show, definitely worth a look but also could push the envelope further or could have had a more cohesive feel. Ask questions about the artists/show. they’re helpful and have some pieces that arent on display… I think its a good start and would hope to see some more of a cohesive show with different media, some more color/oil/blockprints, etc. Very international show, via williamsburg.
May 4th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
was this anything like the chocolate religious art? i miss the church lady!!!! where is dana carvey anyway?
May 4th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
The Organized Religion exhibit really didn’t push the boundaries far enough to make it too creepy in my opinion. Most of the subject matter has all been covered before so perhaps I feel a bit desensitized. I think, too, that that artists do a decent job at being objective, and it’s up to the viewer how to interpret things. For example, I’ve known Christians that really do hate Santa because they believe it takes away from the birth of Jesus, but I’ve also known Christians who have no problem with it and take their kids to sit on Santa’s lap. So, depending on which side of the fence you’re on, you’ll probably interpret “Santa Cross” as creepy, propaganda, or thought-provoking.
The chocolate Jesus — “My Sweet Lord” — never actually made it to the public, as far as I know, because of the controversy surrounding it. I haven’t heard any controversy about the Organized Religion exhibit, though I’m sure there are conservatives in various religious groups that would protest it, simply because it is not traditional. Again, that it’s up to the viewer how they react to it, and whether they are offended or encouraged in their pre-established beliefs.
The last thing I heard of Dana Carvey was in 2002 when he put out “The Master of Disguise.”
And yes, the people at Like the Spice are really nice! They’re very helpful in providing information, answering questions, etc.
May 8th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Oh I hope the exhibit comes to Chicago. I went to a photo exhibit that took on some of those same
issues and I loved it. Its true we often forget that art and religion have come hand in hand for ages.
May 8th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Chocolate Jesus !!! I want some