It's Not What It Is.

New works by Joe Tuggle Lacina

Runtime: September 7th - October 7th, 2023

Opening Reception: Thursday, September 7th, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Artist talk at 6:00 PM

Grinnell Arts Center, 926 Broad Street, Grinnell, Iowa 50112 

Exploring Profound Dimensions: "It's Not What It Is" Exhibition Showcases Captivating Works by Joe Tuggle Lacina. A thought-provoking fusion of artistic ingenuity and philosophical depth is set to captivate art enthusiasts at the upcoming exhibition titled "It's Not What It Is”featuring the latest creations by the artist Joe Tuggle Lacina. The exhibition is hosted at the Grinnell Arts Center from September 7th to October 7th.

Inspired by a myriad of influences ranging from art history to philosophical notions to comic-books and video-games, the exhibited artworks exemplify an intricate interplay between cosmic introspection and tangible vulnerability. The artist masterfully intertwines elements of pop culture, spiritualism, and contemporary mythologies, inviting viewers to engage with multi-layered narratives.

Tuggle Lacina's creations subtly beckon audiences to unravel the enigma of Heraclitus' ever-flowing river, mirroring the philosopher's doctrine of perpetual change. The utilization of ambiguous text, a veiled doer, or ghost of action invites introspection, urging observers to delve into the very core of existence and question the seemingly intrinsic nature of language and reality itself. With a nod to the Antropic Principle, Tuggle Lacina's artworks resonate with the universe's harmonious design, where the delicate balance of elements allows the emergence of life and consciousness.

"It's Not What It Is" promises an exhibition of artistic merit that delves deep into the essence of existence, traversing the cosmic view while examining the modern human condition. The artworks on display challenge conventional paradigms, igniting conversations that touch upon vulnerability, societal critiques, and the inherent fragility of the human experience.

In recent cosmic blips, I've become ensnared in the mesmerizing tangle of Lucio Fontana's mind-mazes—a rabbit hole of sorts, where he gleefully pokes at the mental moat with a stick of audacity, like Wolverine's claws dipped in nacho cheese. Think portals to pocket dimensions, infinity's never-ending cosmic buffet, and the eternal head-scratcher: mortality—a riddle wrapped in blue bricks. But here's where the spice hits the cerebral fan. To crank things up to eleven on the quirk-o-meter, I've concocted an artistic lasagna, layer upon layer of creative chaos that skydives past the stratosphere of convention. It's like trying to read a novel written on a Möbius strip while riding a unicycle in zero gravity. Throw in a generous seasoning of humor that winks more than an owl in a disco and nods to today's mythos, and you've got yourself an enigma-burger with a side of "What’s happening?" - JTL Operator

In an equally intriguing facet, my work delves into the paradoxes that have germinated in the wake of epochal technologies such as AI, NFTs, and Social Media. They’ve turned hierarchies into a game of musical chairs where everyone's eyes are blindfolded. It is in this rich milieu that my forthcoming exhibition, bearing the apt and paradoxical moniker "It’s Not What It Is," assumes its significance—a thematic odyssey that navigates the treacherous waters of aforementioned ruminations. The exposition unfurls a nascent and perpetually evolving compendium of paintings and sculptures, with each artistic instantiation assuming the role of a vessel, deftly navigating the labyrinthine depths of these profound notions. Keep your reality suspenders snug; things are about to get gloriously perplexing.

PRESS:

Allison Moore, “Grinnell artist Joe Tuggle Lacina breaks convention with new exhibit “It’s Not What It Is,” S & B, September 18, 2023, https://thesandb.com/43644/arts/grinnell-artist-joe-tuggle-lacina-breaks-convention-with-new-exhibit-its-not-what-it-is/

Peggy Elliott, “Show of works by Tuggle Lacina opening in Stewart Gallery,” Grinnell Herald Register, August 28, 2023, https://www.joetugglelacina.com/ghr_its_not23

It's Not What It Is compiles works that fit into my broader artistic practice as described below: 

My work investigates the intersections between identity, ecological entanglements, and the emergent roles of new technologies. Using a variety of materials, I create paintings and sculptures that question our relationship to our environment, new technologies (such as AI, social media, and industrial automation), and how these relationships shape our conceptions of self and society. I explore possible worlds where climate change, ecological degradation, and artificial intelligence take center stage and then filter these topics through an internal landscape or lens of awe, personal narratives, and dreams. My work is embedded with an inherent questioning of humanity, discord, and balance in society. I use symbols and abstractions as a device to open a dialogue between the artist and viewer and the artist and the outside world.

Foundational to my work is an expression of self, the studio practice, and the dialogue between my worldview and significant artists of the past. My central method of making focuses on thinking with material and is process-driven and open to improvisation. I typically work on several pieces at once to develop an art-ecosystem. I deconstruct and fragment works to incorporate them into others with the goal of generating new and unexpected juxtapositions. Each work tells a story within the layers of material culminating in narrative or existing in the realms of abstraction.

Siblings of the Cosmic Divide. Mixed Media, foam, wood, found object, paint. 84" x 60" x 36". 2023

Description: Siblings of the Cosmic Divide

Siblings of the Cosmic Divide is a sculpture composed of foam, wood, toy figures of Darth Vader, and paint. Since 2013, I have been adding materials that are no longer useful: armatures used to bend wood, leftover bits of cans of spray foam, and cleaning off my brushes on it. The piece is a symbol of my grief and ongoing processing of the loss of my brother, Jon, who passed away in an accident while attending Iowa State University in 2010. My faith is complicated and odd, but I have the feeling his consciousness exists somewhere. In this work I try to address the feelings of sadness, anger (at myself), and guilt that are  common in those that have lost a loved one too soon.