The art exhibit, Cartoon Brain, at the Torggler Fine Arts Center shows the genre isn’t just for kids, it can offer sincere depth and meaning.
On display in the William M. Grace Community Gallery on the campus of Christopher Newport University, the exhibit features three artists who create cartoons to express joy, fear and energy using various mediums. There are seven drawings, three paintings and three sculptures in the exhibit.
Associate Curator and Exhibitions Manager Lucas Matheson said many of the works have a pop culture look similar to Andy Warhol’s work.
Matheson began curating the exhibit by wandering around the artists’ studios to view their work and get ideas.
“I like to visit the artist in their studio. Many times, what they think is not that good is what I chose,” Matheson said.
With the sculpture titled “War and Peace”, artist Christine Pianin used plastic soldiers, fast food toys and other small objects over a three-month period to build up the structure.
Pianin placed army men and military vehicle toys on the bottom of the sculpture. Moving up toward the top, the objects display joy and peace, she said.
“My work includes social issues. Also, internal dialogue we all have with ourselves. Sometimes I see something that triggers a creative thought,” she said.
Objects she uses are purchased at thrift stores, flea markets and are given to her by friends. She found a busted piece of metal on the beach “and fell in love with it.”
At the time, she didn’t know what she would do with it. It found its place on the sculpture, “The Healer”, which she made during the pandemic.
Pianin spent 30 years as a therapist, with her most recent position working in an emergency room. Since she retired six years ago, she’s been a full-time artist.
Michael Scott Younger describes his work as “like a diary or a conversation.”
“And sometimes they are an inside joke,” he added.
The Virginia Beach native is a self-taught artist whose works are full of color and many images making it a like scavenger hunt on canvas. Younger uses color pencils and markers for the vibrant colors.
Younger’s art career nearly came to an end last year he broke his wrist and all his fingers skateboarding.
“I couldn’t draw a majority of that year, and it made me shift direction,” he said. “I had to relearn how to hold a pencil. For several months everything was basic. Since then, I’m trying to make bigger art and avoid skateboarding.”.
In addition to his own works, Younger has also worked on several local murals including the one at Nauticus.
Riel Gustave’s work stands out because of color and characters. Her five-foot by seven-foot flat sculpture, “Dream Eater” came from “a bunch of crazy dreams,” she said.
Other work is from her everyday observations.
“Some people do journaling or photography to capture moments. I do drawings in a different way,” she said.
Gustave doesn’t remember when she started drawing, although she has memories of watching Bugs Bunny cartoons with her uncle and drawing together.
Her work is also inspired by Lisa Frank, who brought sparkles, rainbows, unicorns and vivid bright colors to young girls beginning in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“My work is vivid in color and pop art. It’s cute, but can be a little off-putting,” Gustave said.
Cartoon Brain is on display at the Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center on Christopher Newport University’s campus until Oct. 6. Admission free. Hours and more information can be found online.
