I’m proud to be contributing to Farm Punk exhibition at Goss Gallery3 located in The Vault Arts Collective for what is to be a opening with a rock star line up. Curator Shani Goss knows how to bring just the right elements and artists together to produce a show with lasting impression. As a punk at heart it wasn’t hard to get the grit out for what I consider to be a punk tribute installation both of conceptual concrete and simply striking a few raucous chords through street art style. Beery Method hopes to achieve both in duality with pieces Punk Van and Leather Rebels Jacket.
While hitting the local thrift shops I will sometimes find that perfect amateur painting done by some unknown person who just might be the type to not even sign the work. Punk Van was born out of just this happen stance phenomenon. Finding a vintage painting done by the hand of who knows who and adding a singular element to make the piece interesting by breathing new life of substance is nothing new but fun and interesting as an artist to reinterpret. I found an old acrylic painting on a piece of barn wood that of what was a landscape scene of just a bridge over a lake in autumn. This bridge is local and can be recognized by people who live in the Central Illinois region which means the painting was done locally with no signature or date. Putting the ‘punk’ in the painting was the concept and making something that is k’iche from its roots was the endeavor. Thus painting a punk rock tour van with a massive Union Jack on the side bursting into flames seemed the perfect touch. Punk can be taking the most mundane solitary setting and throwing molotov cocktails on it for good measure. The punk van was inspired by The Melvins who were known for their beat up muralized tour van.
As an artist who believes in shouting ones beliefs loudly in the wake of a storm sent to crush freedom it is no surprise to just be in love with Pussy Riot. Since the arrest and incarceration as well as the headlines around this years past Winter Olympics in Russia Pussy Riot not only stands as a voice for femmes, the LGBT rights community and youth, opponents of the Russian Orthodox Church, they have become the voice of a nation being torn of it’s human rights. Further than that it has become a personal war between that of Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina against the policies and at this point personality of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The installation piece Leather Rebel Jacket pays homage to punk rock protesters and the voice of artists with identifiable tactics such as Pussy Riot. The beat up leather jacket is imbued with the iconic Pussy Riot ski mask on the back with a graffiti tag Fuck Putin/Stalin on the inside liner.
Farm Punk Exhibit opening from 6-10pm May 3 2014 and runs for the entire month at
The Vault Arts Collective | 100 N. Main, Tuscola, IL
All photos and images ©Nick Beery | Beery Method Studios | All rights reserved.