“On Sale”, by A, San Francisco, Colored pencils on gray paper

What a shop of horrors! Leave it to the artists of San Francisco to lay the rest of us bare with such finely-polished mirrors just as A does with this open-handed slap to America’s consumer (counter) culture. Looking every bit the tart with double Barbie ponytails, pink halter top, micro skirt and stilettos, our heroine is framed – in a flat, one dimensional style evoking Mayan wall paintings – in front of her temple which rises divinely to the sky. Only there is no sacrifice to be had here; Barbie’s bought everything as evidenced by the multitude of bags surrounding her – too many for the poor thing to carry. A sad, but true and effective commentary. One curious choice is the artist’s decision to place the lead singer of Dexy’s Midnight Runners in the GAP window.