By Nicole Fitzgerald
What: Spring Loaded
When: Saturday, April 28, 8 a.m.
Where: Mike’s Garage, Function Junction
Admission: Free
The Jettisons host their second art show, Spring Loaded, this Saturday, April 28 at 8 p.m. at Auto Podium and Mike’s Garage, continuing on with their crusade to overcome art censorship.
“We are an unbiased group in what we are showing,” said Jettisons member Dave “Pepe” Petko from his workplace at Blackcomb Tattoos. “We don’t care about subject matter. It can be offensive. No one else will really want to show it, but we say bring it on. Art is supposed to cause a reaction, whether it be good or bad.”
This defiance is what brings together The Jettisons art collaborative. Alternative views come through in the art, rescuing Whistler’s largely landscape-driven art community from what they call “a marginalized showcase.”
“A lot of artists in the Jettisons had their work censored because of content,” Petko said. “We were all kind of getting fed up with that, and the lack of gallery space where we could show our artwork, so we formed a group to create our own gallery and art shows.”
The “art gallery” — Mike’s Garage — is as unique as the paintings and images that will hang there. There are no sponsors to influence the choice of art or the hosting gallery.
“Showing at the garage, we don’t have to charge anyone,” Petko said. “It’s more of a relaxed social gathering… The last show went really well. We had a good turn out with the last of people leaving at 4 a.m. Pieces sold, which is always a bonus. It was a great night.”
The Jettisons inaugural show last October received rave reviews. More than 200 people made their way down to Function Junction to immerse themselves in artwork running the gamut. From Arnie Gutmann’s powerful, political-punching photos such as a fallen American plane on an army base to Justin Ormiston’s floor-to-ceiling acrylics tackling local issues such as the big-brother Intrawest complex, the show inspired thought and awe. A refreshing breath of fresh air, the showcase unearthed Whistler’s underground art scene, thrusting it into the public spotlight and broadening the art going experience in Whistler to a grittier reality.
Five modern-day Templars of the art world join the Spring Loaded show, including Petko, Ormiston, Gutmann, Robin Dutcher and Randy Smith. Other guest artists will all showcase new works. Art enthusiasts will witness everything from acrylics to mixed media and photography, spurring questions on politics, religion, society and sometimes nothing at all.
“There will be a lot of thought-provoking pieces and interesting works at the show,” Gutmann said.
Mike’s Garage is located at #15-1209 Alpha Lake Road in Function Junction.
To preview The Jettisons’ works from the past show, visit thejettisons.com. Admission is free.
