(de)constructing men 
Cory W. Peeke, Grego Rachko, Arun Sharma
October 4 - October 31
 
Wine and Cheese Artist Reception and On Stage Event: Thursday, October 8, 6-9pm 

During the run of Measure for Pleasure, ArtsWest Gallery features two exhibitions exploring contemporary takes on identity and gender.  Throughout October, Cory W. Peeke, Grego Rachko and Arun Sharma create work about contemporary manhood in (de)constructing men.  Their artist reception on October 8 from 6-9pm is also a special OnStage event in the theater as these artists discuss controversial issues surrounding constructions of the identity of men at 7:30pm.  

Important: Some images in this exhibition contain graphic nudity. 

Cory Peeke is an artist, educator and gallery director at Eastern Oregon University.  His subtle and elegant mixed media collage pieces bring together images of men appropriated from art history books and amateur internet porn websites, alongside images of flora and fruit cut from contemporary and vintage wallpaper samples.  His process of coating the work with wax becomes a tangible shell and the creamy colored pools on the works’ surface is reminiscent of a more visceral male experience.  The thought provoking giggles are the genius effect of his representations on themes such as voyeurism and idealized beauty.  From concept to presentation, his work embodies the question of “acceptable” male representation in art history, religion and contemporary culture. The pieces investigate how we perceive and react to the dualities embodied in representations of the male form: the ideal and the familiar, the historical and the contemporary, the religious and the erotic, the decorative and the repulsive, the animal and the human, the serious and the amusing, and the naked and the nude.  

Arun Sharma’s sculpture, video and photographs in this exhibit are an autobiographical extension of his life.  In an hour long video, unfired clay molds of his own head and shoulders were increasingly exposed to water creating a haunting image of a disintegrating man.  He explores his intrinsic desires, fears, and anxieties on sexuality, mortality and the complexities of an identity that blends Hindu and American religion and culture.  His work has been exhibited nationally and is the current Artist-in-Residence at Pratt Fine Art Center.  A feature article on his work will be out at the end of September in the national magazine, Direct Art.  He holds an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Washington. 

Grego Rachko paints portraits which explore culture, sensuality and community.  His bold colors and impressionistic strokes of oil on canvas are insightful portraits of individuals from his life.  Interlaced with his human forms are decorative patterns, a metaphor for the patterns in our own lives and challenge the perceived illusion of separation.  Confident gazes from his subjects are paired with entangled legs of lovers and up close studies of same sex kissing couples.  Rachko holds a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts with his art studio in Pioneer Square’s 619 Western building.

Pictured: Expulsion by Cory W. Peeke