It’s storming heavily outside as I ring the buzzer for Western Exhibitions. It’s my first gallery experience since the pandemic locked us down months ago and I feel like I’m breaking some sort of rule. Am I supposed to be here? Is my mask on tight? Where’s my sanitizer? I remember the last opening I was at in the building. Bodies were packed so incredibly close, we had to leave early to catch a breath of fresh air. Ah, the before times, I think to myself.
Other pieces incorporating words are Dale Jackson’s loud and expressive works on colored poster board—they cover an entire wall in the gallery. The brightly colored yellow, red, orange, green, and pink paper greets you when you walk into the space. The stream-of-consciousness text, written in Sharpie, makes associations between Oldsmobile, Delta Air Lines, Nike, Michael Jackson, and a Mercury Marquis. Reading the text is fun. Seeing references to memory and noting the recurring themes creates a dizzying effect. I tried to connect the dots—why the continuous references to airlines and cars?—and soon realized that there might not be an answer. “THE END” is written on the bottom of each poster board. A large stack of posters sits on the gallery’s front desk, creating a rainbow of sincere storytelling and poetry.
Through 7/11, by appointment only. Western Exhibitions, 1709 W. Chicago, 312-480-8390, info@westernexhibitions.com, westernexhibitions.com.
