One of my favorite artists is Gary Baseman. He’s like an evil(er) Walt Disney, rendering cartoon characters doing things that cartoon characters generally don’t do. His happy, brightly-colored images look glossier-than-life, and cry out to be rendered in three dimensions. You may know him for the game “Cranium,” for which he did all of the art, or for his New Yorker covers.
By some amazing alignment of stars, Baseman’s current exhibit is close by. Not D.C. Not Richmond. Charlottesville. Through January, he has a show at Second Street Gallery. I haven’t gone yet, but I fully intend to, of course.
If you’re in the area, don’t miss it. Having a Baseman show is a rare treat for Charlottesvillians. See Peter Humes’ article in yesterday’s Richmond Times Dispatch for more.