Consuming Consumer Art
The PRC explores advertising in latest exhibition
The theme of AD/AGENCY, an exhibition on display through January 27 at the Photographic Resource Center,is the draw of consumerism, and the show includes nine artists whosework mimics and mocks advertising from catalogues, products, or stores,says exhibition curator Leslie K. Brown. In Brian Ulrich’s Bloomington, MN (Blanket World),a saleswoman stares out of the photograph, stoic, reserved, andsurrounded by hundreds of blankets covered in white tigers, SpongeBobSquarePants, and sports team logos. Kate Bingaman-Burt’s work documentsher love-hate relationship with shopping and marketing; her photos showitems in five-by-seven diptychs, such as a recently purchased brownpolka-dot dress, later stuffed in her closet.
“It’s a showabout artists that look to the ideas of advertising and productphotography and make us think about our role as consumers,” says Brown.“I don’t think we can avoid consumerism — in fact, it’s sometimes funto jump around in it and get all giddy and excited. There’s a reasonthat these bright, happy colors and pretty shapes work.”
ThePhotographic Resource Center, 832 Commonwealth Ave., is open from 10a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8p.m. on Thursday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. ThePRC will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. December 18 to December 21 and will be closed from December 22 to January 1, 2008. Visit the PRC Website for ticket information.
Kimberly Cornuelle can be reached at kcornuel@bu.edu.
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