Jessica Marie Mercy Expendable/Disposable Femme

Performance piece and digital works

https://www.jessicamariemercy.com/

Megan: It is refreshing to see a performance piece during the art walk!  I loved the idea of using the glass and interior space that is typically not utilized as much.  Her makeup is really beautiful and I like how pretty and feminine she is in her own way with her own style.  Using makeup for mark-making is playful and a nice visual layer on top of the photographs hanging behind her.    

AXIS Pioneer Square

http://axispioneersquare.com/art-gallery/

Paintings by: Nick Riesland

https://www.nickriesland.com/

last painting by: Nathan Brutzman

https://nthnart.com/

Megan: What an amazing use of color with the vibrant red background with a bright orange source of light from the side and electric blue lighting overhead.  It has a great balance of abstraction and clarity so the body still feels like flesh and bones but an energy is conveyed through the strategic distortions.  Really well done and an effective portrait!

Megan: "Girl in Scarf" I really like everything about this piece except I am distracted by the blue and green section at the bottom under her elbows, maybe her skirt?  It looks unfinished somehow because the colors don't seem incorporated into the rest of the piece or was painted as an afterthought.  I love the lighting and texture of the fabric and mark-making of the landscape behind her.  I can feel that a lot of love and attention went into the scarf or hijab around the little girl's head. 

Megan: "Under the Patrick" (last painting) What a dynamic composition for a portrait.  I am visually engaged by the line-work in the architecture of the building and the patchwork design of the collared shirt.  Part of what is so fascinating is trying to make sense of what the young man is actually doing and what is the context of the scene.  Is he dancing?  Is he in an altered state from substance use or mental health circumstances?  Is he simply a peculiar person?  I wish the darks were a little deeper and richer to help make the contrast of the lighting on the face, and the mood of the whole piece, even more striking. 

Bonfire Gallery

sweet, rotten, sweet

A video installation, plus live performance by Peggy Piacenza

Performance: March 16–30, 2019: Performances, 3/16 5pm; 3/17, 3/23, 3/24 4pm & 6pm; 3/29 8pm; 3/30 6pm & 8pm Tickets: www.peggypiacenza.com

http://www.thisisbonfire.com/gallery

Megan: The first thing I notice is how small the space is and it is hard to move through the space.  I like the effect of the low overhead lighting and pop of color from the pink lighting along the floor.  The variety of size in the screens (one large one, a long triptych, a smaller screen on the floor facing the ceiling, and a tiny one in a low corner on the wall) helps move my eye around the room.  I appreciate the attention to detail of having all of the bells lined up in a uniform way, the frame around the large screen was a nice way to add some visual 'substance' to an otherwise flat screen.  I would liked to have seen more of the pink incorporated into the actual dancing footage.  I really was drawn into the dance components with the clown and the repetition of the paired dancers.