Event Listing - Galleries

Fri Feb 29 - Sat Mar 22

Bittersweet

Kathie Olivas Solo Exhibition

Location	Date and Time
Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight (1988) 1173 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA 94109 cross street: Polk district: Polk Gulch/Van Ness	Fri Feb 29 (7pm - 10pm) Sat Mar 22 (exhibition closes)

Description

Sugary treats, dichotomous dreamlands, the cute and the corrupted, all find their way into the brief calm before the rebellion that feature Kathie Olivas's series of characters known as the misery children.

The cast is inspired by early American portraiture that often depicted children as small adults in an idealized new land. The series focuses on imperfect characters that parallel this vision within their own sense of post-apocalyptic conformity, uniquely documenting their own stories in a mysterious brave new world. As children, they evoke a sense of temporality; childhood serves as a starting ground, a place where things begin. At the same time, children personify "cuteness" as more of a representation of projected innocence. The comfort in this ideology comes into question when these sweet creatures have other ideas. Confronted with how to protect themselves, just how would they be able to adapt if they chose to be independent? Once isolated in to a war torn environment, they are forced to develop their own defense mechanisms.

The series focuses on the ambiguity and fleeting moments surrounding the uprising. The unapologetic anti-heroes guide us through the mysterious lands questionably untouched by human destruction. A minimalist haze fogs what could be the illusion of this dreamland or what could possibly be the reality of destruction and decay, and the now silent moments after complete and utter annihilation.

Through these ever evolving portraits, our gentle guides take time out to document their evolving status and sophistication. The characters are meant to evoke a nostalgic reaction that reflects isolation, fear, and an uncertainty; yet, at the same time they serve as empowered alter egos. Their mutated limbs, empowered sidekicks, or improvised armor present a satirical look at how fear affects our sense of reality.

Kathie Olivas is a multi-media artist who resides in Tampa, FL and Albuquerque, NM. At 31, she has been featured in numerous galleries across the globe and is represented in the permanent collection at the Tampa Museum of Art. She received her bachelor's degree in visual arts from the University of South Florida and has been exhibiting her work since 1996. She is currently working on a book of her artwork with Murphy Design and limited edition vinyl toys with MINDstyle and Wheaty Wheat Studios.