ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery announces a new gallery exhibition (dis)connect: a response to popular culture on display from June 1 through June 26. A collaborated effort from the members of ArtsWest Artist Associates (AWAA), (dis)connect is an artistic response to the Seattle Art Museum’s concurrent exhibitions, “Andy Warhol Media Works: love fear pleasure lust pain glamour death” and “Kurt”. The aforementioned SAM exhibits explore pop culture and the societal fascination with all things ephemeral, from beauty and youth to celebrity status through main stream artists.

In response, ArtsWest’s (dis)connect challenges the façade of beauty, youth, fame, and the idea that identity is a construct that we create as a society. This exhibition will explore the convergence of popular culture and new technology with audio and video installation, photography, sculptures, and painting, including a timely abstract piece by Pam Lund in response to the Tea Party protests. Lund uses several mediums in a collage of tea bags amidst a wash of red and gold paint in her piece titled “Factions and Fictions.” Artist Ben Brackin will present an audio compilation of his private interviews with YouTube celebrities Leslie Hall of “Leslie and the Lys”, Jay (also known as "Tronguy"), Dan "Southpaw" Smith, Robert Hynes (also known as “Tobias Jones”), and several others. Artist Patri O’Connor will use audio-visual technology and animation to bring life to original paintings, and set to the song Black Crow by the iconic musician Joni Mitchell.

The ArtsWest Artist Associates (AWAA) is comprised of regional artists actively involved in the arts. AWAA holds monthly meetings to create, exchange ideas, and provide a stimulating and experience-driven approach to their art and community.

For more information visit: www.artswestartists.org.