Wednesday, November 06, 2019

Andrew Wodzianski is a Fanboy

Andrew Wodzianski in
Andrew Wodzianski is a Fanboy 
in Open Gallery at Montgomery College 
Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus

In my spectacularly informed opinion, Andrew Wodzianski is one of the most talented and best painters in the DMV. The man can paint, and he can also canvas-deliver his ideas, and interests better than anyone who I know.
The Open Gallery presents Andrew Wodzianski is a Fanboy, featuring the work of Andrew Wodzianski from November 13, 2019 – January 10, 2020.  Andrew Wodzianski’s work depicts self-portraits utilizing a variety of media representing identity roles. An Artist Talk will be held on November 20th from 1:30 – 2:30. A reception will be held on Thursday, December 12 from 6-8 P.M. The events and exhibition are located at the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center of Montgomery College on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. For more information, visit http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/arts-tpss/exhibitions/. Free and open to the public.
Andrew Wodzianski is a Fanboy represents a ten-year retrospective of self-portraiture wherein Wodzianski has intentionally concealed his identity. Instead of introspective depictions of the human condition, Wodzianski reveals little of his true self. Whether a painting, photograph, or performance, each work is another layer of artifice. When viewed as a collection, an inkling of personality begins to materialize. Through an amalgamation of late 20th Century adolescent Americana, identity roles and contradictions and complexities can be gleaned. There is much left unexplained, but two things are certain; Wodzianski is clearly a pop culture fanatic and a self-described man-child. He is a fanboy.
About the Series:
This is the 3rd show of this year’s themed exhibition series, Self, which invites artists to explore contemporary ideas of Self Portraiture by engaging with the self through either representational or conceptual means.
About the Artist:
Andrew Wodzianski is an artist from Venango County, Pennsylvania. He holds an MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art and has exhibited widely as both a painter and performance artist, including the (e)merge art fair Washington, DC, Aqua Art Fair in Miami, and SCOPE NYC in New York. His interest in humor, satire, and popular culture permeates all his media. Says Andrew: “At parties, I tell trapped guests that I’m an interdisciplinary artist working in crocodile tears, puppy dog tails, and magpie chatter. I immediately assure them I’m not being literal. Collecting those materials from the animals would be cruel! Instead, I stress the supplies are silly metaphors for my constant exploration into falsehood, adolescent nostalgia, and appropriation. I shun adulthood, with most of my days spent embracing popular culture references introduced to me prior to 1989. I may create with diverse mediums, but I’m always reflecting on my fantastical youth with generous sprinkles of both reverence and satire.”
About the Open Gallery:
The Open Gallery’s exhibitions complement the academic programs of Montgomery College's Department of Visual and Performing Arts while bringing art to the community. As part of the Silver Spring arts community, exhibitions focus on current pieces by working artists. The gallery is on the ground floor of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center on the west side of the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. The center is located off Georgia Avenue at 930 King Street. Parking is available in the West Campus Garage, located immediately behind the center.
Contact: KatherineKnight, 240-567-1461 katherine.knight@montgomerycollege.edu
Gallery Website:      https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/academics/departments/visual-performing-arts-tpss/index.html
Gallery Address:     The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center - 930 King Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910