FRIDAY: BY THESE SIGNS WE SHALL CONQUER

In Hoc Signo Vinces (By These Signs We Shall Conquer) recent work by Lance de Los Reyes, Eric Elms, Gary Fogelson, Matthew Hollister, Soner Ön, Simon Oré and Ginna Triplett Curated by Andreis Costa White Box in Chelsea 525 W. 26th Street, between 10th and 11th avenues 212-714-2347 info@whiteboxny.org May 5 - 27, 2006 Opening Reception: Friday, May 5th 6:30 - 8:30 pm White Box is pleased to present In Hoc Signo Vinces (By These Signs We Shall Conquer), a group exhibition of works by a diverse group of New York based artists curated by Andreis Mikael Costa. For this exhibition, multi-media works have been brought together to both challenge and embrace prescribed social stereotypes, wealth, the effects of technology, notions of sexuality, and the roles they play. Exhibited from this platform the works form an anomalous relationship. The familiar becomes distorted; ideas and objects, which at some point in time may have brought forth comfort, are now reconnected within this odd, unfamiliar realm that uses elements of nostalgia, and harks back to the familiar to tout the individual's challenge or embrace of societal niches. Lance de Los Reyes acts as a visual griot comparing our current political climate to a lust and excess similar to that of ancient Rome. Eric Elms' patterns of paisley and silhouettes of rosary beads combined with portraits of California gang icons contrast pigeons and New York cityscapes edifying a self-portrait of the artist's bi-coastal identity. Gary Fogelson's small collage vignettes of photographs, patterns and shapes, are used as a device to hide and accentuate parts of the formal composition. Matthew Hollister's large scale drawing installation of Christian heraldic imagery, Pennsylvania Dutch decorum opposed by urban specific objects delivers a sense of exploration and discovery of the everyday while containing a deeper story of travel and history as a reaction to recent uproot. Ginna Triplett's salacious paintings of vintage cartoon favorites intertwined with domestic objects and renderings of women derived from lingerie models are scattered in skillfully painted layers on canvas. The highly reflective, sleek paintings by Soner On question the frivolous exchange of money through a language derived from childhood comics such as Duck Tales and Richie Rich. Simon Ore, a screenwriter and conceptual artist uses popular toys as characters in his video installation. This exhibition delves into how these contexts bind and separate us. For additional information please contact White Box in Chelsea, 525 W. 26th Street, between 10th and 11th avenues. 212-714-2347 info@whiteboxny.org