555 Fabric of Fear

A powerful political show title can be a difficult show to sell.  Fabric of Fear: Art after 9/11 may make some a little uncomfortable but rest assure that curator Brenda Oelbaum is not a wimp when it comes to curating strong textural elements with political, war, and  terrorism themes.  The show highlights NY artist Conant who turns 555's gallery space into a personal bedroom installation of fear!  Why not let the US government lull you to bed with it's soothing terror level reports!  And if that is not enough you can even look down at your own custom designed necklace which reminds you of the current terror level status!  Sounds like a good buy to me!  Along with Conant's work is other American pride related spoofs, like Oelbaum's handmade latch-hook rugs of character like Bush/Cheney, Saddam, and Osama!  Oelbaum revealed that Bush/Cheney took a year to complete and was painful imagery for her to view everyday! hahah!  Along with Oelbaum's rugs is a tent which was installed in the Ann Arbor art fair with documentary footage.  Imagine an art installation in the middle of an art fair...that in itself is quite interesting.  Keeping with the textural content were actual Afghani made rugs with pictures of bombs, planes and other war images.  Ganahl used video as his medium depicting himself speaking in 11 different languages that he learned over the past year for a CNN style spoof.  Parker used a broad range of mediums from ripped up t-shirts to more traditional watercolor drawings. 

The underlying story is another interesting story in itself though.  Most of artists lived in Detroit/Ann Arbor left and have now come back.  Just when you think everyone is leaving Detroit, some are making their way back! 

Ganahl

Parker



army GIJoe!...blind to story..hhahaha





Parker

Oelbaum

Oelbaum



Oelbaum (hand made rug)

Afghan war rugs

Conant

Conant