In a Plain Brown Wrapper uncovered at Johalla Projects

All that is behind In a Plain Brown Wrapper was "uncovered" at the exhibits opening. In addition to mixed media pieces including videos, a scantly covered gyrating performance artist, Emerson Granillo, circulated throughout the Johalla Projects second floor space at 1561 N. Milwaukee Ave.

In collaboration with Barbara DeGenevieve, Johalla Projects presented this exhibition that explores themes of sex. As DeGenevieve explained, "It is difficult to find venues that will exhibit this type of work and I appreciate that Anna (Cerniglia) was willing to do this type of edgy show."

As Cerniglia, Johalla Projects owner, said, "It is the end of the first decade of the twenty first century and yet the discomfort of the majority of people in regard to naked bodies or talk about sex still fuels the debate about what is appropriate for public display, and whether it is pornographic, or worse, obscene."

According to someone who attended the show, "I am uncomfortable seeing these pieces. But I think that it is through that discomfort that makes us grow."

As stated in the shows' press release, "The artists in this exhibition are aware of pornography's grip on America's cultural consciousness but are not interested in commenting on hypocrisy.  Instead they make work that is related to porn and its numerous tropes, and in doing so, make defiant statements about sex, sexuality, gender, power and the role of fantasy in all our lives."

Barbara DeGenevieve is professor and Chair of the Department of Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The artists are: Steven Frost, Elisa Garza, Elise Goldstein, Emerson Granillo, Jesse Hites, Jacob King, Ivan Lozano, Joelle McTigue, Karina Natis, Clare O'Sadnick, Edward Rossa, Joshua Sampson, Talaya Schmid, Kristen Stokes, Jaroslaw Studencki, Bu Tu, Wayama Woo and Meredith Zielke.

This is a show for people over 18. Gallery hours during this short stay is noon to 5 p.m. thru July 2 and by appointment at other times including July 3. Click to email Johalla Projects.