The Nerve Gallery sits in the original location of the first gallery to open in the Oak Park Arts District twelve years ago. Ten artists are part of the Nerve Gallery cooperative and “I Draw Pictures” features works from the members and the mixed media of eleven guest artists. The exhibit is extremely diverse, but there are a few standouts. Ann Pasteur, a local teacher and member of the cooperative, shows a collection of large watercolors depicting strong and beautiful imagery on women’s issues, incorporating visions of the womb and fetus. Her pieces have all the power of a Frida Kahlo, but Pasteur uses muted colors and soft lines. Pasteur also sells small, single character paintings for an obtainable $25-$35. Bruce MacMartin uses the inner workings of mechanical devices such as phones and clocks to create unique sculpture pieces. MacMartin creates wall-hung pieces as well as freestanding sculptures in the likeness of humans. Steve Perkins, primarily a comic-book artist, shows a beautiful group of digitally arranged pieces. Sara Jones exhibits a collection of portraits of the victims of Jack the Ripper and Sarah McNeil uses punched paper to layer her pieces and create a distinctive textured look to her drawings. There are dozens of other drawings, paintings and sculptures on display at The Nerve Gallery, the best time to visit is the third Friday of every month when Oak Park hosts The Third Friday Gallery Walk. (Rachel Turney)
Through August 15 at The Nerve Gallery, 43 Harrison St., Oak Park. (708)383-0027.
Lost in Translation: A Review of Crip* at Gallery 400 The strongest works in the exhibition succinctly express the ways the artist relates to their own body while calling out how the artist’s body and body of work has been perceived or coded against norms or ideals.
Repurposing AI: A Review of Stephanie Dinkins at Stamps Gallery While this show is timely for everyone, I consider its setting within a university art gallery and emerging tech hub like the city of Ann Arbor a subversive provocation which Dinkins invites the greater public—including members of the university community—to consider our own positionality to AI and technology.
