Short Straw, up through April 30 at the Center on Clifton Avenue, is about the frustrations of the recession for artists.
It is touching to see how much heart, soul and intelligence — and talent — the artists have put into this task. It’s also a reminder how hard the last few years have been on up-and-coming artists. Some have approached it with dark humor, others with cool conceptual analysis. Some manage to combine both: Justin Kemp, who received an MFA from University of Massachusetts, has his actual diploma suspended by wire from the ceiling. it’s folded into a paper airplane.
Read an interview with the curator, Erin Deters, and get show details here.
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2010.