Wanna get weird this weekend? Then head down to Leir House Cultural Centre and check out the brand new exhibit by Vancouver-based "assemblage" artist Michael deMeng.
DeMeng, a California native who moved to Canada after meeting his Vancouverite wife, creates fantastical stuff from bits of junk, hunks of trash, salvage items, and assorted bric-a-brac he searches out in second-hand shops.
He attaches objects together to match his unconventional visions, molds clay in spots where he feels it's needed, and in the end paints what he believes needs to be painted.
The results are incredibly diverse and ridiculously captivating. Cohesive, fully realized three-dimensional pieces comprised of divergent items that were potentially destined for the landfill. And like snowflakes, none are identical.
The exhibit runs to Nov 6, but today only, until 2:30 or so, deMeng will be there in person to yap about his art and his process.
"Bethany (Penticton & District Community Arts Council administrator Bethany Handfield) had taken some online classes from me and we were chatting back and forth," explained deMeng about his Penticton and Leir House appearance.
"I exhibit a lot in the States, but don't exhibit much in Canada. But this opportunity came along and I thought yeah, I really should do this. If I'm going to live here, I need to put myself out there and get my work seen by other Canadians."
The Penticton show is named "Mythologizing the Mundane," which, given deMeng's formula, makes a lot of sense.
"It all starts with something," he said, referring to a startling two-headed wall plaque. "Like here, I happened to have a couple of mannequin heads floating around, and I found this frame at a second-hand store."
DeMeng points to another piece and continues to explain.
"So for this one, I had one of those 'Visible Men' (vintage human anatomy figurines/toys) hanging around. And this thing (on top) was an old (ceiling) light fixture.
"So I take all these things and start tweedling around with them. What happens if I move this here and that there? Then what happens is I use clay and glue and start formulating a story. A lot of what intrigues me are myths and legends and lore."
One of deMeng's works is entitled "Polyphemus Learns to Swim," which supposes that cyclopean Greek mythological character Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon and sea nymph Thoosa, had a happier love life.
"Polyphemus never learned to swim," said deMeng, "but he was in love with a sea nymph. So he couldn't woo her because he couldn't get to her. But this asks what if Polyphemus learned to swim."
DeMeng believes painting is the crucial part in his process. He says it brings everything together. But we think it's all about imagination. Browsing deMeng's world is like simultaneously visiting the past, the future, and some steampunky alternate universe run by inanimate objects.
It's wild, baby.
"I'm thrilled to have Michael here," said Bethany Handfield after our tour. "I find his work hugely inspirational, and it's a type of art that's rarely seen here. So I think people will be pretty wowed."
Mythologizing the Mundane runs at Leir House Cultural Centre at 220 Manor Park Ave. 'til Nov. 6. Hours are 10:30 to 4:30 Thursday to Sunday. Admission is by donation, though, says Hadfield, "no one is turned away."
For more info on Penticton & District Community Arts Council, hit up its website here.
