Tom Birkner "Jersey Girls"
DFN Gallery
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DFN Gallery presents Jersey Girls, new paintings by Tom Birkner. Birkner’s latest work celebrates the women of his home state and makes a convincing case for taking a closer look at the social landscapes that surround us.
Well known for his gritty scenes of down-trodden New Jersey, Birkner’s newest paintings offer a more specific focus. Hidden in plain sight, his Jersey Girls emerge from the banal realities of traffic, sprawl, strip malls and money to offer what Birkner calls a new ideal. Street-smart and loyal, fierce, vulnerable and sexy, these young women are figures by which the ordinary becomes sublime.
In Cheer Leading, Rutgers cheerleaders rally fans in support of the recently resurgent Scarlet Knights. Lofted into the air, back arched and fist clenched, a blonde cheerleader becomes a monument to victory. Andrea, a portrait of a young brunette lounging on the hood of a car, epitomizes the Jersey Girl archetype - blue jeans and attitude. If there were any doubt of Andrea’s iconic status, a circled star on the brick wall behind her provides a halo to remind us.
Media
Schedule
from April 10, 2008 to May 10, 2008
Opening Reception: April 10th, 6-8pm.