Americana is Bad For Me: Twice the Vice at GREY AREA

Better Living Through Chemistry © John Salvest
Better Living Through Chemistry © John Salvest (from AMERICANA)

New York’s GREY AREA could have swapped the titles on its last and current art shows without altering the content or the message. Considering the two exhibitions’ names–“Bad For You” and “Americana,” respectively–that’s a bit disturbing. (Although, increasingly less surprising.)

OTC Pill Study © Ray Geary (from BAD FOR ME)
OTC Pill Study © Ray Geary (from BAD FOR ME)

GREY AREA co-founder Kyle Dewoody described Bad For Me as:

“Following the theme of the vice made nice, all the pieces tackle a different instrument of iniquity making them seductive, amusing or even wearable. Pills, guns, blood, and cigarettes; you name it we have it.”

Americana, which opens later today, on Election Night, is: “A contemporary look at our country’s visual identity”. Judging from Americana‘s online preview, our country’s visual identity is…pills, guns, blood and cigarettes.

Soft Cigarettes © Megan Whitmarsh (from BAD FOR ME)
Soft Cigarettes © Megan Whitmarsh (from BAD FOR ME)

Hey, don’t shoot the messenger; I don’t draw the guns (just the conclusions). Click through for the United States mapped out of silver bullets and hand grenades made out of yarn. Americana opens tonight, November 6th from 6-9PM EST at GREY AREA in NY.

Untitled © Sebastian Errazuriz (from AMERICANA)
Untitled © Sebastian Errazuriz (from AMERICANA)

US in Silver Bullets © Ray Geary (from AMERICANA)
US in Silver Bullets © Ray Geary (from AMERICANA)
Fiber Grenades © Nathan Vincent (from BAD FOR ME)
Fiber Grenades © Nathan Vincent (from BAD FOR ME)