reviews, features & interviews
Jayson Musson has a little fun with our new president
By roberta
February 1, 2009 · 8 Comments
Jayson Scott Musson, Sisyphus. From his show at Last Drop Coffee House.
Which one makes you laugh? *
- Barack Obama relieves Sisyphus from his job as rock mover
- Barack rescues the Last Unicorn from Abu Ghraib
- Barack uses his ice breath to save the polar ice caps
- Barack Obama uses his magic tears to give men more staying power
- Barack saves a kitty!
Ice Breath (l) and Not on My Watch (r)
These and more hysterically funny paintings by Jayson Scott Musson are on view at the Last Drop Coffee House. It’s no secret that we at artblog love this young artist’s works — few are they who risk putting humorous works, political works, borderline scatological works and downright inflammatory works into the public realm. Jayson does this consistently and hits the mark every time.
Barack saves the last unicorn at Abu Ghraib.
“Barack Obama Battles the Pink Robots” taps into the current hero worship of our new president and it pokes fun at the whole crazy talk of the “Magic Negro.” Here, not only does Barack have super powers but he transcends time (see him battle Hitler and rescue Jesus from the cross!).
Musson — who works digitally most of the time — here put out some childlike and outsider-like paintings whose bright colors go really well with the more or less stick figures and the hand-lettered quips. The whole thing had the Last Drop’s customers giggling when I was there yesterday. Several of the works are sold…and no wonder. It’s cheap art at a very fine level.
By the way, Jayson’s got three word art posters in the wonderful show, Rich Text, at Fleisher-Ollman.
——
* I’m just curious. It would be fun to research peoples responses to these works.
Tags: jayson scott musson, last drop
THESE ARE REALLY GREAT!
Of the ones you show, I like the unicorn best. (Since you ask.)
Hey Austin, they are really great! And bklynharuspex, it’s so hard to choose. I like the unicorn, too.
You beat me to it! I saw these yesterday but I didn’t have my camera. The unicorn is my fave of these. The…err…”male enhancement” one not shown is pretty good too.
Hopefully I’ll have time to take my own shots tomorrow afternoon.
At first this work stirred up controversy from neighbors and one local Democratic Committeman who were not quite sure how to take the stuff. Since then, Jayson put up a photo of himself and a really nice artists statement about the work. People were freaking about the Hitler picture mostly, because it showed white men with guns and a lot of Barak lovers are nervous about that right now. I think Jayson’s outreach was really good, and that this can be a good thing for artists to do for the general public (the less initiated) as opposed to worrying about what people think or even worse, self censorship. Anyone else have thoughts on this?
The work itself was funny and terrific political and social commentary. Very worth a view if you get a chance to go there. Also, get a cup of coffee and support our neighborhood businesses in this ruined economy.
Hi LiquidSpice, thanks for that on-the-scene report. It sounds like Jayson’s outreach was perfect! And I love your comment that what Jayson did is a great model for responding to controversy–I totally agree!
I love the coffee in Philly’s alternative coffee shops. Last Drop is great!
I wasn’t going to respond at first but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Sisyphus. I love it, love it, love it.
Also, wanted to let you know that I used your picture on my blog and hope that that’s okay. Let me know if it’s not!
Love, Leigh
hi Leigh, it’s great that you used the picture! And I think this is the painting that tickles my funny bone most. it’s just a gas.