The Spectacular of Vernacular March 2, 2011

Inspired by artist Mike Kelley's observation that "the mass art of today is the folk art of tomorrow," 'The Spectacular of Vernacular' embraces the rustic, the folkloric, and the humbly homemade as well as the crass clash of street spectacle and commercial culture. It explores the role of vernacular forms in some 40 works by more than two dozen contemporary artists, which run the aesthetic gamut. For example, the hand-crafted work of Aaron Spangler is juxtaposed with Lari Pittman's carnivalesque day-glo paintings; Marc Swanson's glittering trophy heads are contrasted with Rachel Harrison's urban relics. Also on view are photographs from William Eggleston and Shannon Ebner, who both revel in the signage and other elements of roadside culture. Focusing on pieces made since the 1970s, the exhibition shows how the vernacular, in its very ubiquity - its integration into home life, social rituals, and sense of place - is an ongoing fascination for artists