Time-BasedArts Festival Review: ÒIllegal ArtÓ
By Lee Williams
The Oregonian, September 12, 2006
Though it's not a large exhibit, the broad range of
copyright and fair use issues explored by the Illegal Art show,
currently installed at Pacific Northwest College of Art's Feldman Gallery,
would likely fill a legal pad or two.
The traveling show, which features works from artists
ranging from Talking Heads' David Byrne to Portland-based
Todd Haynes, is presented by PICA, PNCA and The Feldman
Gallery and is currently running as part of the
Institute for Contemporary Art's TBA Festival. But even
after TBA, Illegal Art will remain in the space through Oct. 21.
It's a fascinating survey of the struggles, past and
on-going, of filmmaker, bands, photographers and illustrators who
have dared to interpret and re-present images, logos, and cartoon
characters offered to the public by corporations and
even other artists.
Disney's Mickey Mouse, Mattel's Barbie, seem to have proven
particularly tough popular icons for artists to adapt. But,
and what proves a testament the depth of this exhibit, even small
battles, like that between the makers of Garbage Pail
Kids cards (loved by kids, but a cringe-inducing
collectibles for parents, back in the '80s) and the folks behind the
goody-two shoe'd Cabbage Patch dolls are noted
here.
But copyright fights have not just been between edgy artists
and corporate suits. Joy Garnett's "Molotov," a painting
based on a photojournalist's previously published image, raises the hot
issue of fair-use and visual sampling. While a
framed cover of Negativland's notorious 1991
single "U2" denotes the
U2'slabel, Island Records, and foreshadows the industry's
sampling disputes, right up to current "mashups,"
used by
daring DJ's like Danger Mouse.
There are no easy answers here. But many provocative
questions -- what is fair use? What is in the public domain? Ð
are raised. Often the questions are presented in humorous terms, such
as Byrne's mirage-like photos of corporate signs
at a
candy dispensers based on deceased rap artists).
Though the show contains material for mature eyes, on a
recent weekend afternoon a half dozen teens were taking in
the show with an adult. And the hum of parent-kid discussions could
be heard.
With new cultural icons popping up every day, this is a
crucial, if brief, examination of a chapter of art history still
being written. It's worth taking in, and worth talking about.
IllegalArt: Freedom of Expression in the Corporate Age can be seen from 9
a.m.- 9 p.m.daily at the
FeldmanGallery,