Give 'Em Hell

You have to hand it to Brad Ford Smith. The sculptor/artist/artist-sculptor makes no bones about his latest exhibit, the aptly titled So...what the hell is it? A collection of works on paper and sculpted figures that use "organic, abstract forms to focus on how the eye and mind translate information,"...

By Geoff Johnston

January 17, 2008

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You have to hand it to Brad Ford Smith. The sculptor/artist/artist-sculptor makes no bones about his latest exhibit, the aptly titled So...what the hell is it? A collection of works on paper and sculpted figures that use "organic, abstract forms to focus on how the eye and mind translate information," the exhibit features bodies of art that serve as a sort of mildly confrontational, three-dimensional Rorschach test. It's as if Smith has sculpted some spleen-shaped figures, installed them and said, "Does this look like a tinted lacquer ink blot or a giant porcelain booger? You tell me." Of course, that description is a gross over-simplification. While some pieces look like ink blots and boogers, others look like cow udders, vaginas, futuristic colostomy bags or pancreases in the midst of a heavy acid trip. That's just our take on it. You may see something altogether different when you try to figure out just what the hell it is. So...what the hell is it? runs till January 31 at the Janette Kennedy Gallery, South Side on Lamar, 1409 S. Lamar St. Call 214-426-1575 for gallery hours.
Tuesdays-Saturdays. Starts: Jan. 24. Continues through Jan. 31, 2008

Geoff Johnston

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