The history of modern art is also the history of the progressive loss of art's audience. Art has increasingly become the concern of the artist and the bafflement of the public. Paul Gauguin

Up Town Story by Paul Gossel, is what I would consider an 80’s back flash. As I walked into the exhibit I was greeted with a large empty room. White walls and a yellow floor with an abundance of light; placed all the walls were oil painted canvases that reflected a story that only the viewer could create.

I found Gossel’s art to be very creative and yet constructed. He reminded me not only of the 80’s because of the neon colors and comic apparel but also as a mimic of Andy Warhol.

Parallel to the entrance of the exhibit Gossel had a very large painting that was created from individual canvases that were laid out to create one very large painting. The smaller canvases had paintings of two famous individuals that created history. The two individuals that were painted and repeated through the room were of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.
As I sat there viewing the other paintings that where laid out around the room in an orderly fashion I noticed many different characteristics. All of his paintings had something in common. Each painting had a little bit of another painting within the picture.

Yet this may seem very difficult for one to understand without viewing I will try to explain a little more in depth. Paul Gossel had approximately eight paintings that were viewed as a comic. A comic you may find in Bazooka bubble gum wrapper!

Each picture told a story, however; the story was not completed. He placed large bubbles above the male and female head’s with words in them, although; not the entire picture allowed you to be able to read what was wrote in the bubble.

Each picture was significant to one another as well as holding another painting within it. For example in one painting there is a woman (who is in every painting) who looks terrified with a man standing behind her. Above the man there is a bubble that has words however the viewer is not capable of reading what is wrote within the bubble.

I became of aware that Gossel also put small clips of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston’s body parts in the picture. So you may have seen Whitney’s nose in one painting and or Michael’s nose in another. This continued throughout all eight paintings.

I found the longer you sat there the more of the story you could create. It seems as if the artist wanted to draw your attention in for a long period of time. The layout on the wall and the placements of each object in the photo worked together to keep a viewer intrigued.

I feel that Gossel changed many of the pictures with small details that only one who exams the picture for a period of time may have noticed. What I mean by this is in each picture he would change the color of something. For example in comparison to two of his works of art, the female he was painting looked the exact same but had different color lips. I found this to be something he did throughout each painting. I give Gossel props on being able to move a viewer’s eyes around the room without losing their attention or depleting it for that matter.

As I viewed the room I found one picture in particular I enjoyed looking at the most and more frequently than the others this picture was “Dial Tone,” marked media on canvas 2009.
Dial Tone drew me in because of the large word printed behind the female and of the eyes of the female who was in the painting. The painting was of a female who was calling someone. She looked very distressed and anxious. The word DRUG was printed very large behind her as she continued to dial someone’s phone number trying to reach them.

I found myself looking at her facial expression wondering who she would be calling and continuously wondering if it had relation to an overdose or an addiction to drugs.
Once again I was reminded by Andy Warhol’s paintings and his story while viewing “Dial Tone.” I believe this was why I so intrigued with this one work of art.

I strongly recommend each person to view Gossels work “Up Town Story.” I cannot see anyone being dissatisfied and for anyone to be able to get a full description of his work of arts you must view yourself and create your own story!

The next exhibit was “I Have A Map,” by Amy Rice.

Rice’s work of art was very entertaining. I did not find her art to be as creative or as unique as Gossel’s nor did I like her art any more than his. With that said I would like to mention her art mind boggled me and got me wondering how one could have the patients to create the tides’ works of art that she had.

Rice’s works of art were painted onto small pieces of wood somewhat appearing like balsa wood. The paintings were placed in a small room about the size of an average bathroom. Each picture had some sort of symbol representing nature within the painting.

What I found more interesting about her work is that it was created by spray paint, color pencils and acrylics. She used pale soft tones to create her pictures and gave a feeling of peace and prosperity.

As I looked at her works of art I found my favorite to be “Future Café,” spray painted, acrylic and colored pencil 2009.

This picture resembled a 70’s looking camper with a goose on top and a sign that read “The Future Café.” Looking outside for business was a young girl who seemed to be Native American.
This picture intrigued me because of the quote that was printed onto the piece. “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower,” Camus.

I felt the quote accented the picture very well and could make the viewer wonder as well as getting their attention.

Next door to the exhibit was another very fascinating exhibit that I strong recommend everyone to view. This exhibit was a pop culture exhibit. The murals on the side of the building were extravagant and eye catching!

The outdoor viewing of the building gave the public a culture related atmosphere. I felt the vibe of the artistic culture as well as the passion of each individual painter.

I strong feel that a good painter and creative artists are only reflected on how much they love what they do. If one can express themselves in many artistic forms they I believe he or she was made to express themselves and their feelings through art. I strongly encourage anyone and everyone to visit the SOOVAC! I do not feel that anyone would have regrets after words and would only be intrigued with the spray painted art!

The murals on the building were very creative, lively, artistic, unique and colorful. Each one was painted by a different individual and the majority had come from other locations! I noticed that the paints were of women and independence.

I felt a vibe of each woman in her painting and I felt that the paintings resembled women and their rights as well as how strong women can be! In one painting I noticed a quote that said “Well behaved woman seldom make history.” I feel that this quote is very true.

All women who have made history and have fought for our rights have been known for things they were not encouraged to do or were outlawed. Without the fight of those tough women who knows where women would be today!

We have come a long way and we need to continue to move forward so we can become more!
In comparison of these murals and the exhibit I found the environment to be more fun and relaxing as well as more natural. I enjoyed viewing “Mama said knocks you out” and hope more people will visit and enjoy art as much as I do!