Every once in a while I walk into an art show and find myself happily disoriented. It's a rare feeling of being instantly affected by the work, without initially knowing why. And to clarify, what I'm talking about is a feeling beyond the intellectual recognition that something is well executed, interesting, or smart. It only happens about once a year and I think it has less to do with the art itself and more to do with a certain chemistry of the situation. It also depends on factors such as how much art i've seen in the same day, my current emotional state and what's going on in my life at the moment. When I walked from the gritty world of 6th and Market Street up the steps of the Luggage Store gallery I was beginning a night of visiting galleries -- excited to be out and with friends on friday night -- and I was immediately drawn in to the world of 'Feral.' It was early and not too crowded. I had space to move from one tableau to the next, relishing in the dense details of collaged wall pieces, the elegant iconic forms of cut paper murals and the layers of tattered lace and fabric sewn together and strung like spider webs in hidden spaces. I wondered at the vast amount of work resulting from the collaboration between Swoon and Monica Canilao, and how the whole thing felt so specifically crafted for the space. I learned later that the artists spent 2 weeks living in the gallery with a crew of around 10 helpers working under their direction to transform the space, incorporating pre-made elements transported from the artists studios in Oakland and New York.

As I conveyed my excitement about the show to others I found myself using the metaphor of music. I was initially concerned that my enthusiasm for the work may turn out to be a shallow pleasure lacking substance, like a catchy pop-song -- seductive at first but turning to bubblegum after a couple of listens. I went back a week later to see the show a second time. I found there were layers to explore, details I had missed and stories still unfolding. Unpacking the music metaphor; the show is like an album with tracks featuring guest artists. There are distinct chords and rhythms provided by Swoon and Monica throughout that tie it all together, with additional voices and instrumentation adding layers-- creating a rich orchestration.