Rosie McCall's 'em like she McSees 'em.
Rosie had her art opening at New World Stages the other day, and I happened to see Charles Busch in Die Mommy Die! there last night (more on this soon) so I got a chance to check out her art. You know...it's not bad! I love Rosie and largely support her, even through some questionable missteps (Murder On The Ching-Chong Express, claiming Baba Wawa fiwed hew months aftew the fact, etc.), but one area of her creative output I have never gotten into is her craft obsession. I've seen some of her art on her truly unique and compulsively readable blog, and either it was not her best stuff or the tiny size minimized its impact, but I always assumed her art would look like a messy craft experiment—the kind of thing talent-challenged interior designers throw together on those "do your room for a dollar" shows on HGTV.
The art of being Rosie.
Walking around her exhibit—entitled Solace—I was pleasantly surprised. Rosie's work didn't blow my mind, but it engaged me with its bombastic, balls-to-the-wall (or on the wall) intensity. There are elements of graffiti art and a Basquiat vibe (I wonder if her pal, ex-Basquiat squeeze Madonna thought that when she toured the show privately after the opening?), and the colors are impossible to ignore.
Which is why I support ENDA as is.
Like Rosie herself, her art is LOUD. It's so eager to speak to you that it incorporates words. I used to do this a lot when I was an artist (I still am...I'm just a preoccupied artist) and I perceived it as a weakness in myself, an inability to leave well enough alone and let the visuals speak for themselves with no script. But in her work, the words have great import—the one that really caught my eye was a piece called "Scream" with the phrase "LYING CAUSES CANCER" on it, which is a reference to a cringe-worthy nasty comment Rosie once made to a co-worker she felt was disloyal for testifying against her during her McCall's lawsuit. Also deeply personal is a piece called "Queer," which has "KILL THE QUEEN QUEER" on it. Snicker at the obviousness, or let go of your jaded defense mechanisms and experience the panicky (am I a target?) and mournful (this is something people still hear before they're attacked) impact this phrase causes.
Which is why I understand why some don't support ENDA as is.
Perhaps unexpectedly, a great big penis is prominent in one piece, albeit attached to a figure also sporting breasts. Rosie may be asexual to body-snobbish gay men and straight women who consider ripped-and-ready-to-fuck the ideal body type for men and women both, but for anyone with a broader experience of, well, broader broads, it's not hard to see Rosie as an earthy, carnal creature. The sticky quality of her art—running paint, glistening surfaces—adds to this perception, whether or not Donald "Die Daddy Die" Trump sees her sexual appeal.
Shiny, unhappy people.
This work is not pretty, but pretty runs out eventually. Rosie's work is bold and primal and raw and real and, well, Rosie.
I was impressed with Rosie's work. It's not my style, but it's not meant to be. Seeing that she's been so productive put me in a good mood for appreciating the play for which I was there, and it kept me from moving too far past Rosie now that she seems dead-set on rehashing past tussles.
According to her blog, Rosie might sell the pieces to raise money for charity. Until then, or if you can't afford the real thing, the next best thing is available from New World Stages—posters and postcards can be purchased by calling (646) 871-1744.
A few more Rosies after the jump.
love rosie, disturbed by the show. hope she gets some help.
comment meant in the most positive and supportive way possible.
Posted by: k | October 12, 2007 at 04:52 PM
lol, disturbing is good! At least I hope it is...all my own art when I was active was full of gender confusion and sex and violence. :)
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | October 12, 2007 at 05:03 PM
Good thing all the starving artists are getting their due!
Posted by: fast_hugs | October 12, 2007 at 05:42 PM
HER WORK IS AMAZING!!!!! the next basquiat?
Posted by: jovan | October 13, 2007 at 07:27 PM