Today is First Friday and shops and galleries in Downtown Greensboro will stay open for your enjoyment. Last month, at Artmongerz, we fell in love with the satirical-realistic oil paintings by Courtney Cormier. Cormier describes the above series as "marketing scheme rejects" - as toys that illustrate the societal pressures and stresses of adulthood. There is a "grimacing reality behind the bright hues." Cormier, originally from New Hampshire, is a full-time artist in Greensboro and is currently showing out of Artmongerz.
Cormier, a person of many talents, is a 5-time world champion baton twirler who was a twirler at the University of Tennessee, where she earned a degree in psychology. In the above photo of her paintings, you see the iconic little tikes cozy coupe wrecked and abandoned on the side of the road. You see Mr. Potatohead about to shave with a potato peeler which, unbeknownst to him, could cause permanent damage to his skin. Cromier's art gets you to look twice, to think about childhood, and to try to interpret the contemporary meaning.
Every time we attend First Friday, we see something new, fun, and creative. Last month, it was Cormier's work. What will it be tonight? For sure, The January First Friday will be a great way to begin the weekend, the new year. Hope to see you there tonight. Maybe we'll pull up in a cozy coupe! Beep, beep...
Ha ha. Brilliant name of the series.
Posted by: Stefan Jansson | Friday, January 04, 2013 at 01:46 PM
Thanks for the awesome write up!! I had no idea that this would be posted. I just started a few new ones-- come down and give them a look!! Great job and thanks again!
Posted by: Courtney Cormier | Saturday, January 05, 2013 at 06:35 PM