MORRISON PIERCE
"OCTOBER SURRISE"
oCT 10 - nOV 7, 2020
Morrison Pierce in his studio
Morrison Pierce doesn’t usually paint from headlines, but this year has proved to be extraordinary. Iconic imagery of rioting, desecrated monuments and burning buildings resulting from civil unrest after the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake has fueled a new series of work titled October Surprise.
“I’m not a social justice warrior,” Pierce says of his recent work, “I do not have an agenda. I love my country and hate politics.”
Instead, this current series seeks to capture an emotion and document a moment in time as to what it means to be in America in 2020.
“Elmo at the Riots” depicts an iconic image from the destruction in Brooklyn in May that juxtaposes the lovable puppet in a scene of mayhem.
Often Pierce’s work blends appalling with silliness, showing a serious subject with an element of comical absurdity.
Painting for the past 25 years, his work is contemporary, relevant and introspective, and has been shown in galleries, museums, and abandoned building throughout the US.
Pierce’s exhibit October Surprise will be on exhibit at Astoria Visual Arts beginning October 10 and runs through November 7. Meet the artist during Art Walk, October 10 from noon to 8pm.
“I’m not a social justice warrior,” Pierce says of his recent work, “I do not have an agenda. I love my country and hate politics.”
Instead, this current series seeks to capture an emotion and document a moment in time as to what it means to be in America in 2020.
“Elmo at the Riots” depicts an iconic image from the destruction in Brooklyn in May that juxtaposes the lovable puppet in a scene of mayhem.
Often Pierce’s work blends appalling with silliness, showing a serious subject with an element of comical absurdity.
Painting for the past 25 years, his work is contemporary, relevant and introspective, and has been shown in galleries, museums, and abandoned building throughout the US.
Pierce’s exhibit October Surprise will be on exhibit at Astoria Visual Arts beginning October 10 and runs through November 7. Meet the artist during Art Walk, October 10 from noon to 8pm.
AVA is now open.
Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 4:00pm.
Second Saturday Art Walk, noon to 8:00pm
Please enjoy the exhibits while
wearing a mask and observing social distancing.
Also open by appointment: astoriavisualarts@gmail.com
Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 4:00pm.
Second Saturday Art Walk, noon to 8:00pm
Please enjoy the exhibits while
wearing a mask and observing social distancing.
Also open by appointment: astoriavisualarts@gmail.com
Previously in the AVA Gallery:
January 2019 : Teresa Robinett
February 2019 : Ceramics Invitational
March 2019 : Anne Greenwood Rioseco
April 2019 : Clatsop County High School Art Show
May 2019 : Print Portfolio Show
June 2019 : Renee Rowe and Audrey Long
July 2019 : Astoria Open Studios Tour artists
August 2019 : Ruth Lantz, Jill Mulholland, Shelby Silver
September 2019: "Fugitive": Jesse Jones, Jessica Schleif, Dawn Stetzel
October 2019 : "Emerging": Current and former resident artists
November 2019: "The Edge : Marie Powell, Betsy Nelson, Kirsten Horning, Kristin Shauck, Penny Treat, Anna Lee Larimore
December 2019: "Two Point Perspective : Denise Monaghan, John Willis
January 2020: "Northwestern Songs of the Americas" : Tim Janchar
February 2020: "Creatures of the Deep: Gyotaku by Duncan Berry;"Ecological Rehabilitation Through Art," by Shelby Silver
March-June 2020: "Ground Level," works by artists who serve as AVA docents
April 2020: "Pandemic," a virtual show of pandemic-inspired art by local and regional artists
May-June 2020: "Clatsop County High School Art Students" juried exhibit
July 2020: "Artists of Astoria"/ Astoria Open Studios Virtual Tour
August 2020: "Goddesses and Assemblages," Jill Mulholland
Sept 2020 : "Ad Nauseum," Garland Kirkpatrick
January 2019 : Teresa Robinett
February 2019 : Ceramics Invitational
March 2019 : Anne Greenwood Rioseco
April 2019 : Clatsop County High School Art Show
May 2019 : Print Portfolio Show
June 2019 : Renee Rowe and Audrey Long
July 2019 : Astoria Open Studios Tour artists
August 2019 : Ruth Lantz, Jill Mulholland, Shelby Silver
September 2019: "Fugitive": Jesse Jones, Jessica Schleif, Dawn Stetzel
October 2019 : "Emerging": Current and former resident artists
November 2019: "The Edge : Marie Powell, Betsy Nelson, Kirsten Horning, Kristin Shauck, Penny Treat, Anna Lee Larimore
December 2019: "Two Point Perspective : Denise Monaghan, John Willis
January 2020: "Northwestern Songs of the Americas" : Tim Janchar
February 2020: "Creatures of the Deep: Gyotaku by Duncan Berry;"Ecological Rehabilitation Through Art," by Shelby Silver
March-June 2020: "Ground Level," works by artists who serve as AVA docents
April 2020: "Pandemic," a virtual show of pandemic-inspired art by local and regional artists
May-June 2020: "Clatsop County High School Art Students" juried exhibit
July 2020: "Artists of Astoria"/ Astoria Open Studios Virtual Tour
August 2020: "Goddesses and Assemblages," Jill Mulholland
Sept 2020 : "Ad Nauseum," Garland Kirkpatrick
