An exhibition of art by Richard Cutrona, Jesse M. Kahn, and Johana Skalsky to be held at the Brooklyn Artists Gym Gallery. Showing work developed in the past year, the three each critique power structures using a scintillating blend of biting commentary and humor.

Heidi Yockey, Upturn Richard Cutrona Richard Cutrona’s “War Bonds” series, referencing Norman Rockwell’s “Four Freedoms” war bonds posters, illustrate a long established pattern of peddling images of the “American Dream” during a time of war. With a blend of repetitious linear patterns and traditional Islamic design Cutrona conflates two types of visual communication, aiming to blur the line between the relentless digital data streams of contemporary mass media and the more meditative qualities of Middle Eastern art.

Marietta Fica, Untitled Jesse M. Kahn Playing on the significant connections between the homogeneity and regimentation of war and aspects of Gay male culture, Jesse M. Kahn’s sculptures layer a critique of the War on Terror with sexual imagery. Kahn’s Bollards erase the lines between public and private space, replacing them with a humorous critique of power and desire. By recreating them as soft sculptures, Kahn dismantles their use as imposing sentries, instead making them touchable, desirable.

Kristin D’Agostino, untitled silver triptych Johana Skalsky Johana Skalsky performs as Grid Girl in her new video, “Grid Escape Attempt 3.” The grid set in this piece functions as a gendered, architectural, art historical space for Grid Girl to navigate. Grid Girl’s attempt at escape through masquerade and mark-making is partially coded as liberating, yet simultaneously futile, possibly referencing social existence within our late capitalistic, pseudo-hyper individualistic, post-shock era. Related paintings accompany the video.