Lost in Emotions

September 9 - October 30, 2022

5 Points Art Gallery + Studios presents for a second time, a solo exhibition for New Jersey-based mixed-media artist, Gannon Crutcher (East Orange, NJ). Opening Friday, September 9, 2022, 6-9 p.m. (CST), Lost in Emotion, a micro-scale exhibition of exuberantly and playfully colored illustrations on the back of utility bill envelopes, is a therapeutic response and concept born at the onset on the pandemic, while Crutcher’s first solo show at 5 Points Art Gallery + Studios, Kings, Queens + Regal Beings (March 6 – June 7, 2020) was concurrently mandated to close to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions.

From Crutcher’s self-imposed ritual to maintain sanity during the “new normal” of 2020 and escape the negativity and fear that we were experiencing globally, birthed Lost in Emotion. “I chose to consume and stream from new and familiar sources that were more optimistic for me. Having hope and finding joy within a dark existence that led me to draw on what was near and abundantly available to me, that being correspondent envelopes (a.k.a. junk mail), which became a metaphor for a ‘love letter'’ or a ‘dear john letter’”, says Crutcher.

Often presented figuratively, Crutcher’s artwork literally draws upon his memories, love of music, fashion and an exorbitant visual lexicon. Lost in Emotion envelope drawings, nestled visually in the mid to late 80’s with their predominantly playful fluorescent color palette, are a musical journey focusing on love lost and love gained. Utilizing accessible and practical materials, ones Crutcher considers “comforting” and “grounding”, including crayons, markers, pens, watercolor and acrylic paint, are essential to the youthful vibe and nod to the ingenious creativity of the 80s-inspired portrait sketches and drawings on the envelopes.

Also significant to his practice, Gannon creates music playlists to vibe to and/or be inspired by, acting as an accompaniment or an anchor to the created artwork. Parallel to hip-hop, the artist acknowledges that “my creative process is rooted in the musical act of sampling, mixing and/or remixing the subjects and materials,” which is also the process that influenced the exhibition title, appropriated from the song by Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam. Lost in Emotion contains an interactive component, allowing the viewer to share in communal therapeutic exchange and have their own connection and reference through memory and song.

Missed the opening reception artist talk? View here.