Even if you fall flat on your face, you're still moving forward

-Victor Kiam

Skye Gallery and curator Max Kauffman are proud to present “Falling Flat”, a group show featuring Bunnie Reiss, Andrew Hoffman, Doug Spencer, Michael Strescino, and Max Kauffman. Falling Flat examines flat applications of paint. Far off landscapes, dissonant fields, and ghosts of vintage signage are reduced down to their core elements. Mountains become flat purple triangles. A sunrise is reduced to lines of light coming down from the heavens. Travels are distilled into magical visitas, complex and yet wide open. Folk art influences shine through in these applications, connecting each artist in the show back to mark-makers of the past.

This show celebrates risk. Each artist veers towards experimental and thrives in unexpected situations. Joy is apparent in all of the work. Failures and victories are celebrated as equals and as a way to move forward, to explore new ground. Versatility is this group of artist's way of life. Life experience across different mediums echoes through their work. For instance, Spencer's previous creative career as a stunt guitarsman comes through in the hard contrasting pink and gold forms of his series. Hoffman, who's day job is graphic design, breaks old advertising down to minimal shapes. Each maker in this show walks a fine line of loss and gain, the surrender to which often evokes a feeling akin to euphoria. In some circles, “flat” is another word for the drug Ectasy. So Falling Flat could be a stumble, but it could be a hell of a ride.

Just popped a flat, I'm beamin' right now

-Chief Keef