MODERN MALE IV
Once again Bowersock Gallery will visit swiftly morphing, cultural perspectives in its "Modern Male IV" show. This exhibit reflects upon the fluctuating changes to the once nanoscopic take on what makes a man, as we collectively expand and transform to encapsulate truths rather than constraints and stereotypes. "He" is what he was, and so much more, "it's this new reality our artists are exploring," Curator Steve Bowersock says.
"Modern Male IV" opens Friday, July 1st, 2022 with an artist reception from 7-9 pm, at Bowersock Gallery 373 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA and runs through Tuesday, July 12th.
"MM IV" is an invitational exhibit, and features new guests along with celebrated artists from Bowersock's stable. The show explores persona, identity, implications, concepts, complications, and dreams, both romantic and real; "they all address something deeper, as we thrash about seeking direction in a less restrictive world."
"We focused on finding images that encapsulate as many different physical, emotional, and culturally diverse views, as our space allows," Bowersock says. "It's impossible to fully represent this moment in time with its newborn expectations, mounting pressures, warp speed changes, and the confusion extreme push and pull creates when juxtaposed against the standard mores, but we certainly have packed in a lot to digest.”
"Fewer and fewer of us are navigating the world in lockstep. Business suits, blue-collar uniforms, and green jumpsuits still exist, but today they're more often a fashion choice rather than a dictate," Bowersock says. "The same goes regarding our lifestyles and careers; more men are the primary parent, few assume a 25-year pension, and more and more feel emboldened to decide and proudly present to the world, who they will love. On the whole, alternative ways of life are on the rise and becoming mainstream."
"Self Portrait Contemplating Infinity" by guest artist Joshua Langstaff sets the perfect tone for the exhibition. The contemporary, realist Droste effect painting depicts a man against a night sky, holding a painting of himself, holding a painting of himself, etcetera into infinity. It's a statement, a poem, a reflection, and an exploration which peels back the layers of being, a common thread in this exhibit. Langstaff is joined by Rob Westerberg, a popular Provincetown painter, along with Alex Jove, and Kelly Birkenruth, to name a few, amongst others.
"It was hard to imagine we could top the excellence of previous years, but we have," Bowersock says. "There's execution of the work, which goes without saying is outstanding, a broad range of mediums employed, and most importantly, extraordinary depth of perception proffered. It's fair to say, as a collection, this is the most evocative ‘Male show’ to date.