Gallery Stroll – September 2005
Art
Gallery Stroll
By Mariah Mann Mellus
Mariah@slugmag.com
A guide for the culturally deprived and socially impaired Salt Lake urbanite
Not that I thought that you’d forget, but after a few cocktails, anyone I know would ask me for the billionth time, “When is Gallery Stroll?” I remind them again, as is my civic duty, that Gallery Stroll is the third Friday of the month; you know, around the time your cable bill is due. Take a moment to scribble down the date in your calendar or carry around your SLUG (as you should) to remind yourself of every cool event that is taking place here in Salt Lake City.
Max Grundy is the hottest name on the street these days; from prints to t-shirts. His work is popping up everywhere. If you have yet to see his stuff, you’ve been in a hole and deserve to stay there. O.K., I’ll give you a break, maybe you have seen his work. Maybe you were a bit confused. Grundy’s art is reminiscent of World-War-II-era Russian propaganda; his style embodies an era of fear and distrust.
Grundy studied art at Weber State University for his B.F.A. and received his Master’s at Brigham Young University. Max’s study of propaganda throughout art history and its effects on human behavior drew him to his latest project. Grundy states: “News, as well as advertising, seems to exploit human being’s desire for shock value. When an image is found to create a sense of alarm, the media powers begin to exploit it. They magnify and exaggerate an image or idea so it multiplies again and again until it has become an uncontrollable, almost demonic entity.” The release of Grundy’s recent work was sparked by the fear experienced living in a post-9/11 society. Grundy hopes that by “creating sensationalized, dramatized, and exaggerated scenarios of the reality that the media creates,” he can help “release the anxiety that has been placed on the average person and de-construct the media instilled myths.”
The show is provocative and timely; the work, original. Yet the fears are sadly familiar. Who would have thought a gas mask would still invoke the same fear experienced nearly 50 years ago? Max Grundy’s recent collection will be on display at Unknown Gallery located at 353 West 200 South from September 16th to October 15th. For more information on Max Grundy and other Unknown Gallery artists visit www.UNKgallery.com For more Gallery Picks visit www.slugmag.com
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