NEWS photo Jim Jardine The formative powers of text and subiext A Review: Graham Gillmore at the Diane Farris Gallery, 1565 W. %@ the human imagination. = They are an endemic com- ponent of our educational systems and our recreational lives. The pictures and pages of text they carry can convey a world of vital information. Books are the purveyors of im- ages, instructions, metaphors, reports, ideas, messages, values, memoirs, diagrams and a host of other data that determine how we perceive euch other and under- stand the universe. No wonder many contemporary artists take so strong an interest in the formative pewer of books. Grahara Gillmore is a prodigious West Vancouver artist who h deveioped a rich visual vocabulary from the imagery of old instruc- tional and illustrative text books, a vocabulary that reveals deep- seated sexual and sexist under- tones in our cultural makeup. At first glance, the oi! paintings in the current show lock like refurbished remnants of an old maritime museum. They are all careful, even fastidious, finely- crafted variations on the same theme: academic trophy-pictures of three-masted schooners. Taken from a book of 19th cen- tury Norwegian ships with such telling captions 2s ‘Fully Rigg- ed” and “She's not the Girl She Used to Be,”’ these images remind us not only of the regal splendor of vessels of bygone days but of an 7th St. May 23-June 11. Tues.-Sat.: 10-5:30. ‘@ Tis hardly an understatement to say that books shape Archie Graham ART REVIEW historical era and its prejudices: of the mentality of sailors and its sex- ist implications, of the majesty of man’s creation ard the alleged heroic triumph over the sea. The exaltation of these attitudes is even more fittingly highlighted by a metal and wood model of a ship appropriately mounted in a glass showcase. Gillmore injects a neat, ironic twist into all of this by inscribing the names of strippers and exotic dancers onto the sails of these rigs, in ali but one case, where, instead, he adds the names of authors of Harlequin romances. In this way, the artist transforms an antiquated vehicle of manly, sexist pride into a contemporarily ralevant visual metaphor of sexual desire anci the depersonalization effected lirgely by its male, al- though alsu to a lesser degree, by its female species. Gillmore has clearly shifted ground, both geographically and aesthetically. He has just returned fram New York where he spent several years applyin. the imagery gleaned from text books on tax- idermy and internal medicine to the visualization of psychological and existential extrem ities. Gillmore is known more for im- ages of dissected bodily organs and elongated blood-vessels, vig- orously scratched or feverishly gouged into masonite. Using both his right and his less obliging left hand, the artist was mostly con- cerned with the spontaneous, almost automatic expression of raw sensation. Although his return to Van- couver seems to mark the begin- ning of a more dispassionate and controlled approach, one ap- parently governed by the highly trained right hand, Gillmore has not lost his lively sense of ironic impertinerice and thorny satire. eee There were a few errors in this column concerning First Thursday Art Night (Wednesday, May 8). It is not an annual but a monthly event, Viewing time is extended from 5-8 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month throughout the year (not only in the summer) at member galleries of the Van- couver Cultural Alliance. First Thursday Art Night began in Feb- ruary 1990. Apologies to the Van- couver Cultural Alliance. Locals in running for Jessie awards THERE are four North Shore resi- dents among the nominees for Vancouver’s ninth annual jessie Richardson Theatre Awards te be presented on Sunday, June 9. By Barbara Black News Reporter Two of the nominees, Trudi For- rest of West Vancouver and Martin Millerchip of North Vancouver, were nominated for their work on Love for Love, a musically adapted restoration comedy. Forrest, who has staged everything from performance art to opera, was nominated jor out- standing choreography. Her recent credits include WCTC’s Little Shop of. Horrors, Richniond Gateway Theatre's Billy Bishop Goes to War and the Playhouse's Heidi Chronicles. Freelance directo: Martin Millerchip is up for outstanding di- rection of a musical/revue with fellow nominee and Deep Cove resident Larry Lillo. Millerchip’s credits include direction of a number of Shaw plays for Coconut Theatre including the Jessie- nominated Candida, as well as several shows with the Adelphi Screamers. Larry Lillo is nominated for his direction of the vaudeville-tragedy Herringbone at the Vancouver Playhouse where he is artistic director. Lillo’s background in- cludes two years as artistic direc: tor for the Grand Theatre and directing. for Canada’s Shaw Festi- val, Neptune Theatre and the Na- tional Aris Centre. Also nominated for outstanding supporting performance by an ac- tress in a musical/revue is Charlene Brandolini for her role in Maniac Bride. Says Esther Rausenberg, volun- teer organizer, ‘‘voting tor the Jessie awards has shifted this year. Now there are over 1,000 people who are members of the Van- couver Professional Theatre Alli- ance,” the voting body for the awards, And this year organizers are en- couraging the public to participate in the event which wil! be held at the .Commodore Ballroom with vancouver band Bob’s Your Un- cle. Tickets are $15 and can be pur- chased in person at the Arts Club box office, 687-1644 or through Ticketmaster at 280-4444. 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