Recap Video
pictured: DURTY40TEXACO, MUDIIGAL (then Lici)
Thetan was an independent art show hosted by artists Thraxican, Juicyviet, Jim Winsrow, and Shogunsryu. It was held at The Fridge located in SE DC, on March 28th, 2016 from 6-11pm.
pictured: Mikado, Lewko, DURTY40TEXACO
First off, I want to say that I've rarely seen the space used inside The Fridge so carefully. It felt like the place could actually hold art and have people blink without completely knocking over a piece. Thetan, an art show I had the pleasure to attend my day off from school, was hosted by students engaged in Suitland High School's arts program. Those specific few mentioned above, are people I can get behind. Their artistic prowess at their current stage in the field is something to behold. Other artists at the event such as Introspective Sky, Fibonazi, and Yaa-Ade also had works with an exasperating depth of substance. As soon as I stepped into the event, I was surrounded by walls full of art. It was overwhelming. Way too much to handle, I couldn't process every piece individually. The few that I could however, left a lasting impression.
pictured: Thraxican, Juicyviet, Losezrs
Thetan was like a show for the upcoming teens. Not anything too serious, but had an atmosphere in which you could learn about the scene and what artists are currently involved in it. Like I've said 10000x before, the DMV has a lot of talented artists. Some go unseen while others get most of the attention. I'm glad that this show shined a little light on the lesser-known but not less qualified artists of the area. What makes me even happier is I don't think any of them could've been over 19. Sculptures, live painting, music, a cypher with Nappy Nappa and Robbie, and a performance by MARTYHEEM were all a part of this show. It was chill yet hype at the same time, I can't quite put my finger on how to describe it. Everyone who was there I remotely knew, so to me it felt like a huge move with friends. Still though, it was a nice day to enjoy some new pieces I had never gotten to see before. There were so many different conceptual pieces that it would take me forever to list them all. Everything from nightmarish animals and macabre portraits, to melted men and 3-D sketches.
What was crazy was that I was mostly moshing to people's performances rather than pre-recorded tracks. That brought something new to the table for me, and I loved it. It started small, but every pit got larger over time. From a few friends jumping in a circle, to full-blown pits being formed and music blasting in our ears.
pictured: two turnt individuals
I went to Thetan not expecting much. Im glad to say that I left hoping that there would be a follow up event. A small show put together by high schoolers, it was actually something I enjoyed more than some of the larger shows I've attended. With highlights to artists upcoming and already known, it showcased the diversity between creatives young and old. It showed how everyone has their own style, how art shows can be networking events, how you CAN have a successful show at with limited resources, and how people can just come together and enjoy art without negativity or un-constructive criticism. No one bit off anyone there, which is probably one of the things I liked most. No one was in a bad mood, everyone was respectful.
I chose Thetan to be the last editorial for April because it was the next show I could connect to most. Not only did I have the opportunity to meet the hosts before-hand, but I could see everyone involved as a constructive peer. Not someone who would knock me down, but tell me what I need to hear and support me in the long run. These editorials were something Kel and I always had ideas of producing, and these short articles gave me a chance to try my hand in writing.
Thank you everyone. Thank you for reading. Thank you for listening. Thank you for clicking on these links. JON-ATON.COM forever.