Gallery Watch

Jason Robert Bell @ Thomas Robertello Gallery

Last month we talked to artist Jason Robert Bell (interview here) about his new inventive series of paintings, and now they will be unveiled at the Thomas Robertello Gallery. The Unreasoning Mask: New Revelations in Figurative Metaphysics opens on January 9th and runs through Feb. 21st. The title for the exhibit comes from Melville's Moby Dick, describing the nature of reality: "All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. But in each event - in the living act, the undoubted deed - there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask. If man will strike, strike through the mask!...How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall?" - Ahab to Starbuck

Jason's work freely explores the boundaries of reality and a world that only exists inside his mind. He is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and we are glad to have him back in Chicago. Opening reception Friday January 9, 5:00 - 8:00 pm at 939 W Randolph.