Installations
NewPop Essay by Marie Heilich
Opening two solo shows within days sets the tone for Stan Chisolm's highly ambitious, intentionally rattling, most recent brainchild of his visual work, New Pop I and New Pop II. Chisholm collages, cuts and assembles his way through The Saint Louis Artists's Guild and Hoffman Lachance Contemporary. The two exhibitions enter pop culture through the back door only to remerge defiant and animated. The alternative, stylized world created reflects a smug response to that which piques public interest; death, destruction, commodity and media. His brigade of characters reappear from work-past in New Pop I at the Saint Louis Artists' Guild. These site-specific drawings invade the gallery and havoc commences agitating social and political tensions while loyal to the rowdy, youthful charm Chisholm so distinctly exudes. New Pop II continues the unresolved narrative from a different angle at Hoffman Lachance Contemporary. Void of characters and on the verge of static, the building blocks of pop culture are exposed in the conspicuous Chisolm-branded style of sliced foam board and sharp black outlines. Short texts rest on shelves like a museum of orphaned advice from an omniscient voice whispering this generation's truisms that have yet to solidify as true. In addition, these "one liners" are presented in paper take-away versions at both venues. New Pop I and New Pop II perpetuate the artist's ongoing understanding of and commentary on the repetition of style as a means to cultural production while sprightly never failing to give the viewer something new.
2010
NewPop I & NewPop II
St. Louis Artist Guild & Hoffman LaChance Contemporary
