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Under the Guillotine: James Gillray and Contemporary Counterparts听

December 18, 2015 – March 19, 2016

The Center for Visual Art, for the first time in its history, is presenting work that dates back more than two hundred years in鈥�Under the Guillotine: James Gillray and Contemporary Counterparts. Over 60 original hand-colored etchings will be shown from the collection of Arthur Gilbert, professor at the University of Denver. London artist James Gillray (1756 鈥� 1815), hailed as the father of modern caricature, was not reserved in his biting critique of European politics and social norms of his day. In this work we see 骋颈濒濒谤补测鈥檚 dark humor unleashed at the expense of the royal family, the institution of marriage and healthcare, among other current issues.听

Although 骋颈濒濒谤补测鈥檚 etchings date back over 200 years, the themes are familiar to contemporary society, highlighting the cyclical nature of history. In response to the ongoing relevance of 骋颈濒濒谤补测鈥檚 subject matter, a contemporary take on political satire is presented by the work of three living artists, Molly Crabapple, Chris Dacre, and Deb Sokolow. These artists wield wit and irony in their critique of today鈥檚 political and social norms.听

New York artist and writer鈥�Molly Crabapple鈥痠s a contributing editor for VICE magazine. Her illustrations take a line from 骋颈濒濒谤补测鈥檚 brand of satire, pointing out the ridiculous and unjust with irreverence. Illustrations in the exhibition draw from her press tour of Guantanamo Bay prison and other articles in VICE and Vanity Fair, in which she targets Donald Trump and ISIS. Crabapple鈥檚 memoir, Drawing Blood, will be released in December 2015.听

The work of鈥�Chris Dacre鈥痳eflects upon his own experience in the US military. Shining a light on the hypocrisy of war glorification and recruiting techniques targeted at the na茂ve, Dacre鈥檚 toy-sized porcelain tanks and pirouetting soldiers beckon the curious to play at the game of war. His installation also includes lithographs depicting war scenes emblazoned with commands to 鈥淏e A Man!鈥� or 鈥淒o Something for Once in Your Life,鈥� sentiments felt if not heard once the game of war becomes reality.听

Chicago-based artist鈥�Deb Sokolow鈥痗ombines fiction and humor to create work that parallels real life events and characters. For this exhibition, Sokolow is contributing text-based works focused on the conspiracy theories swirling around Denver International Airport and the shady campaign strategy of a fictional politician.

The work of James Gillray was curated by Arthur Gilbert and CVA Managing Director and Curator Cecily Cullen. The contemporary response was curated by Cecily Cullen.