The Perfect Pair

Some people have a certain obsession with perfection, and as artist Polly Lanning Sparrow likes to examine with her painting installations, perfection is pretty hard to come by when the human is involved. Sparrow may lean a painting on the ground, or put it's nose to the wall--not for being...

By Merritt Martin

July 16, 2009

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Some people have a certain obsession with perfection, and as artist Polly Lanning Sparrow likes to examine with her painting installations, perfection is pretty hard to come by when the human is involved. Sparrow may lean a painting on the ground, or put it's nose to the wall--not for being bad, but to expose "contradictory relationships" as well as the "tension between order and disorder." Can such an exhibition with such notions be perfectly presented? Barry Whistler Gallery invites viewers to decide for themselves while the Austin artist's Sleeper is on display through August 1. Also in the gallery is a geometric illusion straight out of Marfa. Leslie Wilkes found inspiration in a 1970s graphic design manual, so she has replicated that pattern changing only the color. Some of her gouache prints are natural follow-ups to the original pattern while others seem like wickedly random step-children. Wilkes' Sequels hangs in tandem with Sleeper through August 1. Barry Whistler Gallery is located at 2909B Canton St. and is open noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Visit barrywhistlergallery.com.
Wednesdays-Saturdays. Starts: June 27. Continues through Aug. 1, 2009

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Merritt Martin has written for the Dallas Observer for over two decades. She has also contributed to Eater, DMN and USA Today. In addition to arts and culture writing, she spends entirely too much time extolling the virtues of pears, black clothing, and her cat Kenneth.

Contact: Merritt Martin

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