Find beauty in colorful behinds, cheerful dogs and 'Spare Parts' with Michelle Perez
Admit it. You’ve got that pair of socks you covertly brandish at office meetings. Tucked beneath trousers, the snarky duo delivers secret yet clarion joy as the boss drones on and on.
Or you have a pair of lucky leopard-print panties, and every time you wear them something great happens like finding 20 bucks on the sidewalk. Wacky undies and silly socks have a special power in transforming the mundane into something magical and uplifting.
If feet in brightly patterned socks, tushies emboldened in stripes and fruity motifs, and hands arranged as shadow animals bring a smile to your face, then you are in luck. These are the colorful subjects of Michelle Perez’s “Spare Parts” opening this Friday downtown at Location Gallery.
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Originally from the Dominican Republic, Perez graduated from Philadelphia’s Moore College of Art & Design with a BFA in Illustration. Her undergraduate experience set her up for success when in 2017 she moved to Savannah. Moore College is unique in that it’s the country’s only all-women art school.
“I was in small classes with no more than twelve women, and we were all very supportive,” reflected Perez. “We had real camaraderie, and I learned that my only competition is with myself. It’s funny, when I got to Savannah and started doing pet portraiture, the first question everyone asked was if I went to SCAD. When I said “no,” they’d ask if I felt a lot of competition. Which I thought was weird because that’s not even a consideration. Excellence comes from within. I’m only trying to do better, improve on what I’ve done before.”
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And Perez’s goal of personal and professional excellence is paying off.
For “Spare Parts” she chose to work in oil paints, a medium requiring techniques different from the gouache paints and pencils she regularly works with as an illustrator and technical artist. Oils allow her to explore color and texture in different ways.
“When I first moved here, I’d work in oils as a break from freelance pet portraits and tattoo designs. Those are very rigid and precise,” said Perez. “And actually, 'Bob’s Burgers' inspired me to experiment further. In my studio I’d paint and watch the show, and there’s a character, Tina, who is obsessed with butts. So I painted a set of three very cartoony panties for Tina, and I hung them in the bathroom as a joke. When guests would come over, they’d laugh. That, five years ago was the seed of inspiration for 'Spare Parts.'"
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Bringing all the parts together, Perez asked her Instagram friends and fans if they’d be willing to share their most fabulous funky socks and dynamite derrieres. The response was pleasantly positive and not at all creepy. Her friends took time to photograph themselves in interesting light and in funny patterns and motifs.
“Born to Shine” captures a realistically pert posterior boasting striped bikini briefs and hint of striped tank top. The background varies in tints and shades of blue.
“This painting was fun because the person who took the self portrait is also an artist, and she caught the rainbow lighting of the sun catcher in the room,” said Perez. “The effect created opportunities to use a range of colors in the painting.”
Another standout “Twinkle Toes” depicts a pair of feet clad in blue socks adorned with stars, planets and celestial avocados. It’s fun, lighthearted, and in it the viewer can see clearly how Perez plays with color, light, shadow and saturation to create depth and form.
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Perez has also painted several studies of human hands in which fingers and palms bend to create different animal shapes. “Bird in Hand” depicts exactly that — human hands joined together casting the shadow of a flying bird. What’s especially pleasing about it is the way Perez creates a sense of space between the painted hands, very clear and distinct, and the more diffuse shadow bird in the background. The viewer understands the distance between both objects.
“One thing I really appreciate about working on this show is how supportive everyone has been in putting it together,” emphasized Perez. “I received many pictures from people as references, and they were all in funny, appropriate and non-sexual ways. It’s been great having this kind of support from the very beginning.”
“Spare Parts” opens Friday, February 10, at Location Gallery with an artist meet-and-greet that night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and runs through mid-March. A portion of the total proceeds will be donated to Coastal Pet Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to saving abused cats and dogs in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham Counties.
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Perez, who also has a life-long connection with dogs, is especially thrilled that proceeds will be donated to Coastal Pet Rescue.
“I was a canine cuddler for a pet rescue in Philadelphia for multiple years, and I got all my dogs from shelters,” emphasized Perez. “The cause is close to my heart, and it’s great to know our efforts will help support an important animal welfare organization in our community.”
IF YOU GO
What: “Spare Parts” opening reception
Where: Location Gallery, 251 Bull Street, Savannah
When: Friday 6-8 p.m.
Cost: Free
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah GA art galleries: Spare Parts at Location Gallery
