Bruce Burris – Lexington Media Sweep!

Bruce Burris’ show was “reviewed” – or rather – written about in 3 different Lexington-based publications in addition to White Hot Magazine and various blogs. The articles appeared in the Lexington Herald Leader, Ace Weekly and North of Center. Click on the publication names below to read the full articles. Excerpts from each article are provided below the corresponding links. Watch out for that “swindly” text!

Lexington Herald-Leader: The Artist Behind the Artists by Tom Eblen

North of Center: Someday is Today: Burris Exhibit Engages Politics and Social Justice by Amber Scott

“Burris has a knack for pointing out the obvious. His work generates power in part through its ability to highlight things we all live among yet at the same time are ignorant of. Through his swindly text and drawings, he crafts a picture of contemporary life, some of it so based in fiction that it is penetratingly real.

Take for instance the Lonely Mountain Community Center, a bulletin board covered in fliers announcing Stoner Creek Boys performances, the start of a meth support group, memorial services for legend-in-his-day (this day being over 30 years ago) local basketball star Summer “Time” McNeese. One particularly poignant notice says, “Feeling unsafe? Call 911.” The 911 is scratched through and underneath it someone has pointed out what being forgotten feels like:We don’t have 911 jerk.”

Ace Weekly: Kate Sprengnether previews Bruce Burris’ Institute 193 Show by Kate Sprengnether

“Phillip Jones says of Bruce that he “is, to my knowledge, the only contemporary artist dealing with mountaintop removal, rural- Southern community dynamics and the tremendous importance of activism in function of these movements. These issues have traditionally been treated as geographicallyspecific concerns but are increasingly viewed as essential aspects of the larger ‘green movement.’ Burris is working with this material as an interested observer, employing an established aesthetic to further these broadening conversations visually and intellectually.” Bruce and Phillip have worked together on “several different projects over the past few years. Bruce was an early contributor to the JONES SHOP, an experimental shop/installation based in Lexington that traveled to the Edlin Gallery in NYC and will continue to function as a pop-up installation in other cities.”

Leave a Reply