Opening Friday August 12, 2005 from 6pm - 10pm
Aug. 12 - Sept 3

The summer sizzles at polvo this month with the work of 3 interesting artists who use new media in their work. Manuel Sanchez, originally from California, will show his series "Glam Pov" in the main space. Glam Pov consists of images from the labels of government food cans that have been altered and recontextualized to mimic Popular Cultural modes of representation. These images are printed on plain white t-shirts and undergarments to convey the media's Hip Hop glamorization of poverty through fashion and advertising. According to Manuel, "I have created my own form of 'urban advertising' that is centered on the sensationalization of 'ghetto chic'. This series of work takes a satirical stand on fashion and media's influence on the production of 'urban' trends."

In our mini-exhibit space, Scott Blake uses digital media to create barcode prints that seem like a blend of Pop and Op art. His art has been featured in numerous publications such as New York Times, FHM, and Adbusters magazine. Scott received a B.F.A from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He currently lives in Omaha, Nebraska. He was born 1976 in Tampa, FL. For more information visit the artist’s website: http://www.barcodeart.com.

Also this month's 12" x 12" installation artist is Julio Flores. Julio Flores manages marketing and public relations design for the Center for Community Arts Partnerships at Columbia College Chicago. He is recognized in Chicago for partnering with community-based arts organizations to teach kite-making. Continuing a family tradition that has passed through three generations, Flores collects discarded materials from which he assembles his curious work. He¹s interested in taking socially divisive messages from American popular culture, primarily graphics, and reworking those messages into concepts that visually communicate bonds enjoyed among social groups.