Into the Mouth of the Wolf

Lloyd Dobler Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of the spring gallery season with the multi-media group exhibition Into the Mouth of the Wolf. Featuring new and recent works by Matt Carr, Ian Hokin, Brendan Larsen, Dawn Kasper, Helena Kvarnstrom, Matthew Woodson and Xela.

When one thinks of the word horror, most likely a scene from your favorite cult-film classic featuring visions of Freddy, Jason Voorhees or an axe wielding Jack Nicholson will pop into your head; often accompanied by a shudder or grin (depending on your cult follower status). But, not everything relating to the word horror has to do with slasher movies or George Romero? latest spin on the undead with their shuffling walk and foaming mouths. We as an audience are often bombarded by horrific imagery in daily news outlets and television programming from the war in Iraq to the genocide in Darfur; it becomes increasingly important to discover new avenues for dealing with this violent imagery through culturally relevant practices. Into the Mouth of the Wolf is an exhibition that examines the use of frightening imagery in contemporary art ranging from fantasy to realism in painting, drawing, performance, photography and sound works.

The artists in this exhibition portray horror in classic and innovative ways, what frightens one person will make the next person laugh or possibly scoff in repugnance. The show focuses on different ideas of horror in today's art practices and investigates its role in today? society. What do you find frightening? The classic horror movie genre is so familiar that people seem to take it for granted, but its influence on contemporary art is astounding. The seven diverse artists in this exhibition all reference the genre in various ways, whether it be performing their death, experiencing a haunting, or working with the absurd.

Matt Carr lives and works in the Chicago area. He works as a free-lance designer and has designed cover art for such bands as Blood Freak, Frightmare, Fondle Corpse, Ghoul, Razorback Records, Impetigo, Cardiac Arrest, Plerosis, Bowel Stew and Sakatat.

Ian Hokin is a Chicago based painter that received his BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has exhibited at Roots and Culture Contemporary Art Center in Chicago, The General Store in Milwaukee and performed with Scott and Tyson Reeder for Gavin Brown Enterprises.

Dawn Kasper is a Los Angeles based performance and mixed media artist actively investigating existing and created emotional structures. She has performed at the Migros Museum F? Genenwartskunst in Zurich, Switzerland, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Art Positions: Art Basel Miami Beach, shown video at Art in General in New York, sculpture at Raid Projects, installation at Anna Helwing Gallery, and photos at Circus of Books Gallery in Los Angeles. She is represented by Circus Gallery in Loa Angeles.

Helena Kvarnstrom was born in Sweden and currently lives and works in Toronto. She received her MA from the University of East London in 2005. She has exhibited work at Receiver Gallery in San Francisco, Renowned Gallery in Portland, Subliminal Projects in Los Angeles, Pearlfisher Gallery in London; amongst others.

Matthew Woodson lives and works in Chicago, he received his BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has provided illustrations for NewYork Magazine, Ford, Threadless, Penthouse Magazine, The Boston Globe, American Express and others.

Xela (John Twells) lives and works in the UK. Xela is one of the co-founders of Type Records. He was signed by Neo Ouija records to release his debut album 'For Frosty Mornings And Summer Nights', since then he has released a follow-up on the City Centre Offices label, and also a collaboration with Type Records artist Logreybeam, under the Yasume moniker.