When Super Wonder Gallery‘s Christian Aldo invited me to put work into his mammoth group show, The Amazing Candyland Show, I got a sugar rush. We didn’t eat a lot of sugar in my household growing up, so candy is still kind of a forbidden fruit for me. I also associate candy with post-psychedelic 1970s packaging, sketchy corner stores, and bursting Hallowe’en pillowcases.
I sketched a lot of berzerk stuff over the next week, more good ideas than I can possibly paint. After a 50 hour week in the studio, here are the eight small paintings I’ve completed.
The Amazing Candyland Show opening party is next Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., at Super Wonder Gallery (99 Sudbury Street, Toronto). $6 cover. For show updates, go to the Facebook page.