Louie Chavez: BIG FUN

Louie Chavez
BIG FUN
Freight Gallery & Studios
July 13 – August 10, 2019
Opening Reception: July 13, 7:00-11:00 pm
Curator: Liz Paris

BIG FUN explores the power and dangers of self-esteem and social anxiety in the lives of most adolescents. The title refers to the name of a fictional band featured in the classic 80’s film, Heathers, in which the band’s logo is worn by school outcast Martha Dumptruck. The graphic, commercial nature of the title is a tongue-in-cheek description of the series of large scale, mixed media paintings. Overflowing with strange creatures, some recognizable from popular media, and neon slogans, the series denotes the self-affirmations or “totems” young people employ to overcome anxiety, self-loathing, and other personal issues characteristic of contemporary youth.

Louie Chavez is a multidisciplinary artist who has worked in performance, painting, sculpture, light installations, and hand-crafted toys. In addition to studio work, he has been commissioned for various mural projects by organizations across Texas, including the Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin. Most recently, Chavez was featured in a group exhibition, Daydreams and Other Monsters, at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Image Caption
No Critics, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
Courtesy of the artist