April 21 – May 19, 2012
Merry Karnowsky Gallery to present Cloud Theory, a solo exhibition by artist Greg “Craola” Simkins.
Simkins, who is known for his whimsical imaginings and superior technique, was raised in Los Angeles, and is forever influenced by, and influencing, the animated aesthetic. Always exploding and busting out from within, Simkins’ imagery is symbolic of symbiotic and ever-changing relationships. His gift is creating characters both familiar and odd for us to fall in love with.
“As a child I used to play a game, which involved nothing more than lying on my back, staring at the sky. As the clouds formed and floated by, my imagination inserted characters into the story unfolding before my eyes. These clouds became the catalyst for what would become a lifelong compulsion to daydream and slip into other worlds merely by being outside.
While working out ideas for this exhibit, it became clear that clouds would be the foundation for each piece. By bringing them into the foreground and making them the framework for my ideas, I quickly discovered how “The Outside”—this world that I have created for myself—has consumed my subconscious. After years spent buried in books, learning about animals and oddities, heroes and villains, truth and fiction, “The Outside” has become an assortment of bizarre morphing creatures, winged observers, antique odds and ends, and tentacled heroes who have become my friends over the years. Simultaneously, “The Outside” has illuminated my secret desire of escaping this world with its politics, its trappings, and its stresses. These pieces serve as an intermission from the struggles of our world and bring back the heart of a kid, lying on his back, interpreting what he sees in the clouds, completely and utterly carefree.”
-Greg Simkins
Merry Karnowsky Gallery 170 S. La Brea Avenue (in the ART 170 Building) Los Angeles, CA 90036
