Joe Bradley
25 Oct - 30 Nov 2008
JOE BRADLEY
"Schmagoo Paintings"
October 25- Nov 30, 2008
Opening Reception: Saturday October 25, 2008 6 - 9 PM
"The working title for the exhibition is 'Schmagoo Paintings'. I came across the word 'Schmagoo' in a book about New York City drug culture in the 1960's, it was (is?) used as a slang for Heroin. This struck me as kind of funny, that a narcotic as deep and dark as Smack could end up with such a goofy nic name. Sounds like a Jewish super hero or something. The word stuck with me, and I began to think of 'Schmagoo' as short hand for some sort of Cosmic Substance... Primordial Muck. The stuff that gave birth to everything. Base matter. The Bardo. In approaching this body of work, I have been thinking of Painting as a metaphor for the original creative act. The Word made Flesh. The transmutation of Schmagoo into Alchemical Gold. Heavy shit, and I realize I am in over my head and bound for failure, which hopefully will provide for a few laughs." - Joe Bradley
"Schmagoo Paintings"
October 25- Nov 30, 2008
Opening Reception: Saturday October 25, 2008 6 - 9 PM
"The working title for the exhibition is 'Schmagoo Paintings'. I came across the word 'Schmagoo' in a book about New York City drug culture in the 1960's, it was (is?) used as a slang for Heroin. This struck me as kind of funny, that a narcotic as deep and dark as Smack could end up with such a goofy nic name. Sounds like a Jewish super hero or something. The word stuck with me, and I began to think of 'Schmagoo' as short hand for some sort of Cosmic Substance... Primordial Muck. The stuff that gave birth to everything. Base matter. The Bardo. In approaching this body of work, I have been thinking of Painting as a metaphor for the original creative act. The Word made Flesh. The transmutation of Schmagoo into Alchemical Gold. Heavy shit, and I realize I am in over my head and bound for failure, which hopefully will provide for a few laughs." - Joe Bradley