Meghan Mitchells Drawings at Fulcrum
The Weekly Volcano, Oct. 3, 2013
Meghan
Mitchell’s drawings in the show “Hello” at Fulcrum Gallery are delightful. I
could easily dismiss them as cute little drawings not really important as art,
but I could just as easily dismiss the art of great graphic artists like Saul
Steinberg and Jules Feiffer in the same way. I can see similarities between
Mitchell’s drawings and some by Steinberg and Feiffer. I also see similarities
in style to popular Tacoma artist Sean Alexander.
In
this show there are only a handful of drawings in ink, graphite and pigment on
paper. They are humorous, quirky, inventive and skillfully drawn. Mitchell’s
drawing style is precise and highly controlled.
A
wall statement describes the work as being “inspired by zines, comics, and
certain trappings of childhood” and as “an exploration of one woman's quest to
share her rich inner monologue and myriad selves.”
“Flight
From Midgard” illustrates an ancient Norse legend and, simultaneously, makes
fun of a contemporary myth held dear by certain religious groups: the rapture.
Or does it celebrate the rapture? Perhaps that is up to the viewer to decide.
According to Norse mythology, the bravest warriors are taken by Valkyries from
Midgard (the land of men) to live in Asgard (land of the gods) in Valhalla.
Mitchell’s drawing depicts a colorful tent. Scattered inside the tent are a man
and a woman’s underwear, two booze bottles and a book. The couple has been
whisked away, and left behind is a spiral of stardust rising to heaven. More to
the point, “Raptured” depicts the same scene minus the tent. It is just a clump
of clothes and the stardust. Both are lovely drawings.
Flanked
on either side of “Raptured” are “Space Cadet” and “Green Thumb.” Both of these
are silhouetted figures of women with patterns on their bodies which can be
seen either as very tightly fit clothing or as patterns painted directly on
their skin. Both have big eyes and glasses. “Space Cadet’s” skin is a field of
stars in a dark blue sky; in
“Green
Thumb” (subtitled “Creature from the Black Lagoon”) the woman’s skin is a field
of grass. Both are strong graphic images that show otherworldly figures in a
comic book fashion.
Other
drawings in the show include a couple of anthropomorphized monkeys with big,
black-rimmed glasses, and yet another drawing includes a tent similar to the
one in “Flight From Midgard,” but in this instance the tent becomes a fantasy
house.
And
speaking of tents, there is an actual tent in the middle of the gallery that
you can crawl into and play Nintendo games.
March
12th - April 19th
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