When I opened my email a few days ago and saw that there was going to be a meats exhibit I got a little too hyped, so I don't know why I am surprised that whenever I use that health machine at the grocery store my results are less than ideal. You know the one I'm talking about, that sings the tempting song of the sirens as you wait in line for your prescriptions. It measures your blood pressure, pulse, and body fat content and despite everything that video games have drilled into my brain over a lifetime, a high score is not cause for celebration. The world should really calm it down on the mixed message front. And of course whenever I'm there I have to use the damn thing cause there's nothing better than spiraling into a depression to let you know you're alive (not for much longer is that machine is to be believed). But alas, this email had nothing to do with the barbecued goodness that has made the free space in my arteries tighter than last year's jeans.
The Meats referred to the grotesque vinyl figure created by
Retroband and will be the subject of a solo show this Saturday in Brooklyn. "I Can't Stop the Monster I Created" is a title that oozes Frankenstein vibes and there certainly are plenty of similarities between the two. Once
Retroband put his creation out there the collector's took over, giving it a life all its own. Unlike Frankenstein though, the murder tally is a tad lower I think.
The show will feature a ton of variations on this very figure, including painted, unpainted, and even a newer interpretation of the monster in a much smaller size. And if that wasn't enough,
CoART Publications is actually releasing a 154 page book filled with high quality images and which for some reason I was not asked to write the introduction for but that doesn't mean I won't make myself available for the next one (subtle hint).
I suppose the next logical thing would be to tell you how you can be a part of all of this, I too agree that would make sense, so here ya go. The show is being held at Bottleneck Gallery at 60 Broadway in Brooklyn, NY this Saturday, September 21. The opening happens from 6-9pm.