Last night, I had the pleasure of attending a show opening at the Cornbred Gallery in Atlanta. James Hance, self proclaimed Relentlessly Cheerful Art and I must say, it’s all true!
I have been a fan of James Hance for quite some time, once my friend CM introduced me to his work and I was hooked. He has such a vivid and charming imagination with things that I love, Winnie the Pooh, Star Wars, The Muppets and The Beatles, just to name a few and for anyone who knows me really well, knows that I am huge into ALL those things! Combining Winnie the Pooh with Star Wars… Wookie the Chew, how incredibly clever.
His work takes so many subjects and changes them ever so slightly and combines them with something equally as wonderful to create something clever and unexpected. Fraggle Rock characters or the boys from The Lost Boys as The Beatles: Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Taking Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” and modifying it slightly, with Jim Henson as g-d and all the Muppets surrounding him with Kermit as Adam, Boba Fet as the Fonze “Boba Fonzerelli”, the list goes on and on, just incredibly smart, innovative, clever and fun.
I had the opportunity to meet the artist, it was great fun that evening. JL, CM, TS, JB were with me that evening, all excited to view the exhibit and meet the artist and we did. He was very laid back and an enjoyable chap, seemingly like his art, relentlessly cheerful. There was Beatles music playing all evening, a great start, wouldn’t you say? Ok, stop, they all said I was gushing, maybe I was, it was cool! He had Beatles lyrics tattooed on his arms and had a great way about him, easily approachable and very personable, didn’t hurt that he’s cute, can’t help it, no matter what, I’m still a girl! We talked about movies, music and his work, very charming.
The first thing I saw when I walked into the gallery I was in love with and it was sold… It was a canvas, painted yellow, with Kermit the Frog looking down at his banjo, something I would love to have commissioned, who knows… then I turned around and wham! Wookie the Chew walking hand in hand with R2D2 down a snow laden path, I wanted it and while I was debating buy art/pay mortgage/buy art/pay mortgage… someone purchased it, who knows what the future holds! I did get to purchase a piece that I am excited to pick up, on a piece of tree, from Wookie the Chew, Elevensies [check out the link for the image] it’s terrific!
I purchased a few prints and his book, Wookie the Chew, he’s working on two more books based on the other movies. Looking forward to them coming out! We had a great time, will be going back later in the month, to pick up my purchase and possibly see some new pieces on the walls.
If you have the opportunity and live in Atlanta, I would recommend going to the Cornbred Gallery and seeing the work of James Hance, a delight.
Peaches Prattlings 