'Naked Truth' exhibit an evocative Main St. showing

By Neshe Sarkozy
Daily Arts Writer

"The Naked Truth," Gallery 212's most recent art exhibit, pushes boundaries both intellectually and artistically. This show unites pieces of an avant-garde style. With the exception of two standout artists, the art appeared skilled yet possessed conceptually borderline aesthetic qualities.

The artists in this particular exhibit are from around Michigan or work in the area. Some of the contributing artists from Ann Arbor include Allison Conner, Alvey Jones and Kirk Roda. Jean Wilson and Kyle M. Stone from Detroit and Renata Palubinskas from Grosse Point Park. Roda and Palubinskas' pieces stood out from the rest.

Roda, in particular, is someone to watch for. Roda's "Minataur" bronze statue stands about 13"x 3" x 3" tall. There is so much detail and texture in his figurative sculptures that somehow it holds a life like quality to it. It is of dancing person making finger gestures on either side of its head, almost as if he were mimicking the horns of an animal.

Another artist, relatively new to the Ann Arbor art scene and who has a few paintings in "The Naked Truth" is Palubinskas. Originally from Lithuania, Palubinskas is trained in art restoration. One of her pieces "Thirst," done oil on canvas, is as intriguing as it is disturbing. The painting's zenith is the little pink frogs, which hop towards the middle of the light green piece.
Speaking about "The Naked Truth," Part owner and artist himself, Kit Eagal said that it's "not so much provocative as it is evocative." Most of the artistic style leans toward expression but there are elements of a desire for meaning embedded in the various art forms.

The wide array of artistic style and variation of design is not unknown to the reputation of avant-garde Gallery 212. Eagal said he wanted "works (in the exhibit) that don't pull any punches."

Gallery 212's guest board of jurors decides on the various pieces that make it into the exhibit. Eagal started Gallery 212 in an effort to go beyond the politics of the art scene here in Ann Arbor. The art that Gallery 212 wants to be known for is expression, rather than commercial acceptance, is displayed.

Similarly, the jurors don't care about art credentials or an artist entire collection of their works. Gallery 212 is "open to artist's regardless of pedigree," said Eagal.

Gallery 212's next project, "The Painted Mile," will consist of elaborate body painting, which will use art to offer different take on the University's Naked Mile. On April 14, artists will come from all over the country, both students and professionals, for "The Painted Mile." When they did this last year, it was the first time body painting was done on Main Street. Eagal expressed that body painting is something that goes beyond a school activity.