Zeitgeist
2261 Michigan Ave.

Detroit, MI 48216
313-965-9192

Thurs 2-7pm, Fri 12-4pm, Sat 12-5pm, open during theater performances.
Oct 26 through Dec 7.

www.zeitgeistdetroit.org


Zeitgeist’s collective holiday show brings new meaning to the word “group show.” Works fill the walls, cover the floors and inhabit every inch of space available. This could be cause for distraction and confusion. It is to the credit of the curator Jim Puntigam that it is not. In fact given the nature of the work and the gallery, it is perhaps perfect that the pieces are crammed and jostled together like travelers on a subway, mingling and creating new dialogues. Puntigam even incorporates a face peering out from Zeitgeist’s brick walls in conjunction with a large grouping of portraits.





Faces


For the most part, individual’s pieces are distributed throughout the gallery, not kept all together. This gives viewers the chance to continually rediscover a person’s work in various contexts, which helps build a relationship between that viewer and the artist’s unique sensibilities.


If the theme of this show could be reduced to a single word, it would be passion – the passion for expressing ideas through art, with whatever means possible. This is pure expression, compulsion – the need to get ideas out into the world and let them speak. Materials are not privileged here – anything goes to make art. The work of Sean Hogan truly exemplifies “anything goes.” On wood panel, he creates imaginatively colorful, expressive pieces with marker, crayon and of all things – nail polish. According to Hogan, nail polish is cheap and provides an amazing array of colors. He incorporates elements of the wood grain in formulating his imagery, making pieces that are both expressive and decorative.





Sean Hogan “Sun in Thought.”


Long time Detroiter artist Erik Mesko’s “The Walleye That Sank The Edmund Fitzgerald” confronts visitors entering the gallery. From old wood, scrap metal and other found objects, Mesko brings to life this denizen of the deep, demonstrating art’s potential to breathe life into the decrepit. (An entire collection of Mesko’s powerful and political works can be seen currently at his solo show at the Meadow Brook Art Gallery (www.oakland.edu/mbag/))





Erik Mesko “The Walleye That Sank The Edmund Fitzgerald”


Bob Hansen’s “Dream Catcher” and Jayadeva Has’ “Por” are other examples of constructions that make new from old, while mixing sculpture and two-dimensional imagery. The expressive portraits and figure drawings of Roger Hayes are everywhere in the gallery. Portraiture has a strong presence in this showing. Sherry Hendrick presents two utterly simple, yet powerful portraits entitled “Skin”. Jeff Evarts brings the portrait off the walls, with sculptural line drawings reminiscent of Gahan Wilson cartoons. The raw, torturous portraiture of Dennis Jones continues to make its presence felt all over the Detroit art scene. DMC presents a striking piece, simply entitled “head.” Regardless of whether the piece, composed of many eyes and wings, refers to the all-seeing cherubim of the Old Testament, an unkindness of ravens, a drive of dragons, or the multiple aspects that make up ourselves, it is a compelling and worthy of many looks.





DMC “Head”


The entire lineup, whom all deserve a writeup of their own, (Too much art… not enough space) includes: Diana Alva, Walt Badgerow, Tim Burke, Jayadeva Das, DMC, Patrick Dodd, Jeff Evarts, Jerome Ferretti, George Graveldinger, Bob Hansen, Roger Hayes, Sherry Hendrick, Mary Herbeck, Sean Hogan, Robert Hyde, Jacques, Dennis Jones, Shaqe Kalaj,Maugre’, Math, Erik Mesko, Pete Palazzola, Ron Payne, Leif Ritchey, Karl Schneider, Cathy Saman-Schneider, Robert Sestok, Chris Turner, Vito Valdez.





Sherry Hendrick “Skin”





Jeff Evarts “Metalhead”


Raw ideas and passion pour forth from all the artists represented at Zeitgeist. They create an energy that is really worth getting connected to. -nick