Hey art aficionado! Are you tired of the summer art blockbusters? Have blue-chip gallery exhibitions got you down? Feeling a wee bit aggressive these days over the Bush administrations actions, or alternatively, have you got that sarcastic/patriotic feeling about the USA? Well, look no further than the farthest place from center: the Patriot Show II—The Art of War at Cricket Engine gallery in Oakland.

The Patriot Show II is a tight, straightforward and well-curated group show organized by John C. Rogers, also a participating artist in the exhibition. John C. Rogers’ modus was obviously this: get together some talented artists known through personal relations who otherwise might not show together, give them the theme of The Art of War, set an opening date, roast some hot dogs and serve Pabst Blue Ribbon in a can and voila, mighty military magic!

The exhibition showcases roughly twenty artists widely interpreting “patriot” and “art of war,” plus a few items of historical and military significance from the JohnKo Systems Unlimited archive (you’ll have to investigate this one on your own my dear readers, no spoilers from me…). The artists (listed below) have presented works in varied mediums spanning drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography and video. While the artworks themselves are rather small in scale, the sub-context of the show is the grand challenge of being patriotic in this day and age, especially if you are even remotely aware of the current international activities of the USA based on control and manipulation from our current executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.

Maybe the show isn’t entirely about being or not being patriotic. Maybe, there is something about venting anger, being aggressive (or being funny-aggressive), being in actual military service both now and in the past (there are artworks made decades ago by people who were obviously servicemen), and even a few investigations into the entire Military Complex psychological-control-machine that it is. Essentially, the artwork presented here runs the gamut of all-things war-like or based on war, from Sarah Filley’s coat-of-arms emblazoned quilt ( military protection? ) to John C. Rogers’ shotgun-bodied, knife-blade-walking, steel metal battlemech ( this sculpture would surely kick the shit out of my box of Transformers… ) to Steven R. Barich’s small drawing/collage of military-grown al Qaida “flowers” (ah, sowing the tender seeds of the US military and government administration’s mistakes).

The gallery space itself, Cricket Engine, works both for and against this group show. Cricket Engine is located quite off the beaten path (as if Oakland itself doesn’t sometimes seem entirely off the beaten path…but that is another essay…) and that means that few people will make the effort to get out to the gallery on the two weekends that the show is up. As for the layout of the exhibit, it is quite packed: the artworks are so close together, forcing the sum of the parts into an open yet concise statement about this Art of War theme. Not only is it welcomed (in this reviewer’s opinion) to see artists reflecting on current issues on the international stage and making a voice for themselves via their artwork, but also damn necessary! Artworks can exist not only for pleasure, they can also attack, challenge and educate when required…and in this exhibition, a few pieces resonate with underlying challenges to patriotism, pride-in-service and the meaning of military “strength.” Still, since the gallery space itself is only roughly 20 x 20 square feet, the question remains as to whether these individual artworks could “hold their own” if given more breathing room. Some of the artworks are obviously “little thoughts” on the subject of the Art of War…but then again, some things said simply and subtly can hit us the strongest and carry a far-reaching message.

The Patriot Show II—The Art of War
Featuring Visual Art by:
Steven R. Barich, Richard Bassett, Admiral Justin Cooper, Tara Daly, Sarah Filley, Amanda Jayne Kennedy, Daniel King, John Kinstler, Natasha Page, Jessica Resmond, Andrew Phares, Elyse Pignolet, Jen Richter, 1st Lt. Daniel Rogers, John Colle Rogers, Col. John Harold Rogers, Shinkichi Tajiri, Shalene Valenzuela, John Witt, Bijan Yashar, and more...

Gallery Hours Sat And Sun 12-5
Sept 16, 17, 23, 24