Pump up the volume! – review of the exhibition with artists Joe Lewis and Jane Dickson

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the exciting artists’ talk that was held at Sac State with artists Joe Lewis and Jane Dickson as a part of their exhibition “Pump up the Volume!”, and it is time to talk about their exhibition more closely, even though I am a little late to the party!

If you read my post about the artists’ talk you know the background of Jane Dickson and Joe Lewis, but if you haven’t I will briefly go through their background. Both artists were a part of the famous art organization Fashion Moda in the Bronx in the 1970’s and 1980’s. They worked in new materials and collaborated with graffiti artists for example, they were the pioneers of new art at the time.

Me in front of the title by Joe Lewis and Jane Dickson, at Else Gallery, 02-23-2016

At the opening of the exhibition on January 27, 2016. Photo: Frida Berntson, 01-27-2016

In the foreground Joe Lewis' “UNITY…Who you calling a bitch?”, Epson UltraChrome K3 ink on Kodak Endura Paper, unique, 2015. Photo: Frida Berntson 01-27-2016

In the exhibition at Else Gallery Joe Lewis and Jane Dickson showed a variety of different works, and all of them connected in some way with early hip hop culture, which they both experienced in the Bronx. Early hip hop was playing in the gallery and set a perfect atmosphere and mixed well with the art, which was very varied; paintings, installations, prints and collages. One of my favorite works was Joe Lewis’ “UNITY…Who you calling a bitch?” from 2015. In this digital collage print we see the classical Nefertiti bust besides a wall of boom boxes, and then the best part; a “Hello my name is” sticker but with the text “who you calling a bitch”, put directly on the print. I thought the work was very funny but also a bit political with the classical Nefertiti. It made me think of African American culture, how it has changed and what it means. The Nefertiti bust has always been an art historical ideal, but here she has more of a personality and attitude!

Joe Lewis, The Word, 2010 with visitors in the background. Photo: Frida Berntson 01-27-2016

Jane Dickson had a lot of portraiture in her sketchy and full painting style, which I thought suited well with the hip hop theme. Another of my favorite works was Joe Lewis’ “The Word”, an installation piece set up in the middle of the gallery. It consisted of a table with a white linen cloth and a large open book on top of it, on the page was “THE N WORD” typed, and in front of the table a music-stand. This work made me think of a lot of things and I thought it was remarkable. The thing I remember the most was that I thought it had a lot to do with power, who has the right to speak, to learn, to be educated? And I of course thought about the power of that specific word, where is it now and will it sometime be forgotten?

The exhibition had little or no weaknesses in my opinion; it was very well put together and the relaxed atmosphere made the exhibition less formal. The show was dynamic, interesting, exciting, funny and serious; a nearly perfect display.

Left: Joe Lewis, The Message, Epson UltraChrome K3 ink on Hahnemühle paper, Edition of 3, 2015, right: Jane Dickson, B-Boy Head Spin 1-3, oil on rolotex on canvas, 2016. Photo: Frida Berntson 02-23-2016