Andrew Hadle’s Slime Wave at Squeeze Gallery

Andrew Hadle art

Squeeze Gallery (formerly SOYAL) has gone from meltdown to slime wave with the kickoff of local Phoenix artist Andrew Hadle’s new show. Hadle’s website’s fineprint reads: “High brow + low brow = unibrow.” This is a succinct spin on his artist statement, which says:

“From the reels of classic cartoons and pages of popular comics, colorful mash-ups emerge from the ooze. This collection of work meddles with the archetypes and wildernesses in contemporary and vintage animation. The show features new sculpture, painting, and hand made merchandise from valley artist Andrew Hadle. The artist glues together narratives to reveal similarities and punctuate symbols of heroism, magic, and mirth. Slime Wave pours a heady dose of mutated icons and sticky situations.”

Andrew Hadle art

While you may recognize some of the icons underneath the slime, each piece is a one-of-a-kind made by hand.  The sculptures were created out of foam, then covered in fiberglass, resin and paint. Sensing that Slime Wave is a show to experience first hand rather than virtually, I asked gallery co-owner Emmett Potter for his take:

“It is a statement made about all of the archetypes that we grow up with and how they all start to blend together in a battle of whom we identify with or achieve to be like. At that point pop culture icons become infused together and mutate into each other. On close inspection you begin to see certain statements, about society and oneself, being made through the work.”

Very cool to see a new gallery supporting local artists doing unusual 3D work! Slime Wave is up now through November 10th. Check out all the sculptures online here.

Andrew Hadle art