If you plan on asking Mike Moses any questions, be warned: he WILL have a thorough answer readily available. And the words brutal, sarcastic or sardonic will apply. Thankfully for the faint of heart, Mike communicates in other ways—his paintings are elaborate, detailed depictions of various states of humanity, replete with tremendous feeling and power… so all you really need to ask is, “Do you take checks?”
Coming up on the May 1 First Friday at 116 W. Marshall Street (a few doors down from Gallery 5), you’ll be able to purchase the following: added protection for your home and family, peaceful sleep, the ability to tell (or detect?) little white lies, a cloud of confusion with which to elude your enemies, and so on. (No, Mike Moses does not sell insurance.) The debut of “MOTE: An Exercise in Will” will feature works with a purpose—with a will of their own, one could say. There are seven acrylic-on-wood pieces, created to draw protective, healthy energy into the home; they’re called “totems.” And there are six “scorns,” done only in Mike’s own handmade pokeberry dye. Can you guess what the scorns are for, ladies and gentlemen? It’s telling, and brilliant, that these dark little spells were formed with a poisonous liquid, mixed with a bit of whiskey for good measure.
To me, the most interesting facet of Mike’s work is its mix of simple truth with romantic otherworldliness. He’s not concocting symbols that will raise the dead or bind you to your object of desire. There’s a realism to it that makes it that much more artful, and thought-provoking: one of the totems, “O Death,” offers a humbling lesson. A bleeding knight in armor lies on his back, surrounded by ivy, a symbol of life. On his chest is a crescent moon, a thing in half-phase… there’s a sustenance happening, a forward force that carries us into the future, but the power to grow and develop must be summoned by ourselves. Another, “Divination,” is a favorite amongst Mike’s fans, showing an open-mouthed woman underwater, eyes covered by two blind cavefish. Her seeming powerlessness reminds the viewer that “you needn’t have eyes to see.”
Mike’s details and figures hearken from every source imaginable—religion, philosophy, history, mundanity—and in the frames for each piece, there’s room for you to add your own secrets, trinkets and candles. They are shrines. If you think you won’t be able to decide on one, get to the show early and grab a limited-edition copy of the handbook, which features every piece in its colorful pages. Or choose a more permanent shrine: your naked flesh. He is, after all, a tattoo artist, and you can find him at Salvation Gallery on Cary Street (http://www.salvationgallery.com). Want to sneak a peek? Work is up at http://www.sleepdangerously.com.