So, it turns out Somerville Open Studios isn't just a great way to barge into strangers' homes unannounced, case the joint,
and see if anything's worth stealing. You can actually see some cool art and meet some cool artists, too. Go figure.
That's how I met up with Dug McCormack in his swanky
2nd floor apartment-turned-art-exhibit. Not much worth stealing—no plasma screen or collection of Fabergé eggs. There
were, however, canvases big and small blanketing the apartment. They're
on the walls, propped against the furniture, all over the place.
His style is a blend of Ren & Stimpy
cartoonography and the bizarre Picasso-esque caricatures of Ralph
Steadman—you know, the guy that illustrated Hunter S. Thompson's Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas. Grotesquely humorous, his artwork makes you feel like your tripping on acid while watching Saturday morning cartoons.He shows me around. There's a lot to be seen--paintings, prints, drawings, t-shirts, even a new work-in-progress. Dug himself kind of looks like one of his own caricature creations in the flesh. He's tall as hell wearing paint-spattered overalls. He has long slicked-back hair and these ginormous triangular sideburns that'd make '50s greasers green with envy. He could almost pass for scary if he wasn't so goddamn friendly.
His
wife, Kelly Ann Clark McCormack, has her artwork on display as
well. Her work is very textural with vividly-colored and thickly-layered
shapes. One piece uses wallpaper, another is a three-dimensional
landscape painted on an unhinged door. You can't help but wanna touch
it. And you can, Dug assures me. Her work is very sculptural. It has depth to it and practically drags the viewer into its vibrant wake.
Cool art, cool artists. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.
Don't believe me? See for yourself:
PS: Dug plays in a band. They're called HookerClops and they rock. If you wanna know what his off-the-wall artwork might sound like, check 'em out here:
http://www.hookerclops.com
—Will Barry
SWEET TITS!!!!
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