The Last Temptation of Christ: Mike Ellyson
2013 JULYThe Last Temptation of ChristMike EllysonJuly 5 - July 27, 2013[portfolio_slideshow id=835 height=500]
Practice invites you to witness Christ eating a hotdog (maybe)
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
-Martin Luther King (text provided by Mike Ellyson)
About the Artist: As a young child, sculptor Michael Ellyson was diagnosed with both Tourette Syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Rather than defining him, Ellyson embraces his maladies in a quest to better understand both himself and the world around him. From kitschy collections of the common artifacts of childhood to weightier examinations of religion, the artist is forever wielding a mirror - first to himself, then to the outer world. Ellyson studied in Lima and Cusco, Peru before earning sculpture degrees at Virginia Commonwealth University (BFA - 2005) and at the Cranbrook Academy of Ari in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (MFA - 2008).
The Last Temptation of ChristOpens on First Friday, July 5th from 6-10The exhibition will be on view through Saturday, July 27th.
PRACTICEOur gallery practice seeks to support artist practices that focus on performance, participation and experimentation.PRACTICE is open to the public on First Fridays and on Saturdays from 2-6pm. If you would like to drop by some other time please e-mail info@practicegallery.org for an appointment/with questions. Visit PRACTICE online at practicegallery.org.