BARC THE DOG & WES SHERMAN
A comparison of, Machines I Wish Existed and Mapping Displacement, Fall 23’ exhibitions at Hudson County Community College’s, Benjamin J. Dineen and Dennis C. Hull Gallery and the Art Concourse, Jersey City and Union City.
WES SHERMAN
Wes Sherman is to BARC the Dog as oil is to water, yet, they have similarities in areas which help bolster their collective bodies of work. Displaying their art across two Hudson County Community College campuses, each artist has a sense of individual style, and both have been able to produce cohesive collections.
On display at the Art Concourse in North Hudson, Wes Sherman’s, Mapping Displacement, is a focused effort toward combining texture and contrast to create works which evoke a sense of curiosity and force the viewer to take a step back. The Art Concourse is beautifully curated, and the space was designed to utilize the elongated hall well. Unsure of the subject matter, one might explore each piece to gather information and take notice of the staggered brush strokes and nervous tension throughout some of the composition. While there were hardly any labels to display the materials used or even denote a title, it was an opportunity to explore the underlying story. I wasn’t completely moved by Sherman’s work, but I can certainly appreciate the effort and usage of bold, vibrant colours, wispy strokes and layering of paint. There was one piece which left me with a sense of mystery while taking in what seemed to be a forest on fire along the water. The blacks and reds with slight yellow accents really lay beautifully on the canvas while the smoke seemed to diffuse into the sky – I enjoyed this.
BARC THE DOG
BARC the Dog really speaks to my sensibilities as an artist. Having met BARC through mutual friends and artists at DeepSpace Gallery in Jersey City, I was really struck by his use of detail, fine lines, and his ability to mine his own imagination. An infectious character, BARC’s skill really shines through his artwork. His exhibition, Machines I Wish Existed, was immaculately hung throughout the Benjamin J. Dineen and Dennis C. Hull Gallery at the Journal Square HCCC campus and the theme was well connected throughout the space. BARC’s propensity for wonder informs his ability to translate his messages of exploration and innovation clearly across a canvas. Stepping into BARC’s lab is a transformative experience, especially if you’re one who cares to traverse into the realm of the unknown – take his Champion Mentality Machine as a prime example.
Video of JunestarBlackman experiencing BARC’s Champion Mentality Machine at DeepSpace Gallery in Jersey City. Video sourced from BARC’s Instagram page @barcthedog
BARC chooses to address the issues we face as a society with a touch of levity as he highlights the matters we ignore, while offering solutions from the vantage of a mad scientist. As a viewer, there’s a reassurance that the artist is someone who cares about spreading positivity and awareness, and that is categorically most welcome in today’s world.
