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Ron English Artist Talk in Beacon on March 12
By Taliesin Thomas
Ron English building a set in his Delusionville universe. Delusionville is one of English’s long-term projects: a kind of imaginary theme park filled with characters that look like Disney mutations: a three-eyed bunny (Ronnnie Rabbbit), a toddler with a body like the Incredible Hulk (Temper Tot), an orange elephant with butterfly wings for ears (Elefanka).
If you are not familiar with American artist Ron English (b. 1959), grab the nearest device and google-image-search his work for a peek at the mind-bending art of this living icon. Combining a wild swath of fantastical imagery in outrageous scenes both painted and sculpted—everything from superhero mythology to the classic totems of art history—English explores brand imagery, street art, and advertising to create a provocative visual world that is both unique and unrivaled in the sphere of global contemporary art. On stage in the KuBe Theater at KuBe in Beacon this Sunday at noon, Ron English—a Beacon resident—will present a slide lecture on his oeuvre and artistic evolution. From the "Secret History of Beacon Bigfoot" to his interpretations of Picasso's Guernica, English will discuss the past, present, and future of his fantastical "POPaganda" during this special event.