Circle Jerks
January 12–February 9, 2008
Opening Reception 7-10 pm January 12, 2008
From Left to Right:
“Lord of the Dance”
oil and collage on linen
Brett Cody Rogers, Max Lesser, Allison Miller, Bart Exposito, Tomory Dodge, Hadley Holliday
“H.E.L.L.”
acrylic and charcoal on canvas
Bart Exposito, Max Lesser, Hadley Holliday, Katie Lewis
“Golden Showers”
oil and umbrella on canvas
Brett Cody Rogers, Kathryn Andrews, Bart Exposito
“Word Up My Ass”
paper, acrylic and oil on canvas
Jay Lizo, Allison Miller, Tomory Dodge, Max Lesser
“Dio”
acrylic, oil, and paper on canvas
Kathryn Andrews, Max Lesser, Jay Lizo
From Left to Right:
“Beverly Hills Glory Hole”
inkjet print, acrylic and oil on canvas and wood
Kathryn Andrews, Hadley Holliday, Allison Miller, Brett Cody Rogers
“Black President”
oil on canvas, chain, hooks
Tomory Dodge, Brett Cody Rogers, Kathryn Andrews
“You Drink a Lot of Coffee for a Teenager”
oil and acrylic on canvas
Max Lesser, Brett Cody Rogers, Tomory Dodge, Hadley Holliday, Bart Exposito, Kathryn Andrews, Allison Miller
“Super Jacuzzi”
oil on canvas and linen
Tomory Dodge, Brett Cody Rogers, Katie Lewis, Kathryn Andrews, Allison Miller, Max Lesser
From Left to Right:
“Group Sex! Group Sex! Group Sex! Group Sex!”
acrylic and oil on canvas
Allison Miller, Max Lesser, Hadley Holliday, Bart Exposito
“Sensitive Couples”
acrylic on canvas and wood
Katie Lewis, Kathryn Andrews, Allison Miller
Monte Vista is proud to present “Circle Jerks,” an exhibition of a collaborative painting project initiated by Max Lesser and Brett Cody Rogers. Participating artists are Kathryn Andrews, Tomory Dodge, Bart Exposito, Hadley Holliday, Max Lesser, Katie Lewis, Jay Lizo, Allison Miller and Brett Cody Rogers.
Lesser and Rogers came up with the idea for an experimental, “exquisite-corpse”-like painting project as an outlet for making paintings outside the realm of their personal practices and the highly competitive nature driven by “personal style.” Several LA-based artists were asked to participate and “Circle Jerks” was born.
Over the last eight months, the participants each started at least one painting. These paintings were then passed from artist to artist, with each person reacting and contributing to the move made by the previous one. Each painting was circulated until someone declared it “finished,” with the end-result being a collaborative exhibition free of stylistic pretext. This exhibition features an edited selection of these paintings.
“Circle Jerks” focuses on turning the solitary and masturbatory nature of artistic style into group activity, and is inspired by the Los Angeles-based punk band of the same name, whose ‘80’s hit song “Group Sex” invites group sexual exploration in a low-key setting, free from embarrassment.
Photos from the opening:
