A day at the Salon

All art shows have visual elements, but on Jan. 21 at the Baton Rouge Gallery, the Surreal Salon IV art show and exhibition will take them to another level.

Surreal Salon IV is a juried exhibition of artwork from the pop surrealist movement submitted by artists from around the country. Past Surreal Salon events have encouraged patrons to dress in costume and featured new surreal spins on traditional “salon” games. The event is designed to make visitors part and parcel of the pop surrealist art experience, says gallery executive director Jason Andreasen.

“The audience becomes part of the show for one night,” Andreasen says. “It’s a chance for them to show their own creativity.”

Surreal Salon serves as a celebration of pop surrealism, a movement that’s popular in metropolitan areas on the East and West coasts but less well-known elsewhere in the country. Andreasen hopes this show and exhibition will bring this highly visual populist celebration of punk music, street culture and underground comic art to South Louisiana. Surreal Salon is also an excellent opportunity for local artists interested in pop surrealism to have their work featured with that of others from around the country, since the show is open to artists from anywhere in the United States.

Guest juror and Los Angeles-based artist Casey Weldon, a rising star in pop surrealist art, will judge the show, which will feature 30 to 45 pieces. Weldon’s work has been featured in Cirque de Soleil, Vanity Fair and major pop surrealist exhibitions across the country. Weldon says anyone can find pop surrealism appealing because of its use of recognizable references.

“[Pop surrealism] lends itself to people that don’t have an art history background,” Weldon says. “Because it’s narrative and figurative, a lot of weight is put on technique. It appeals to a larger audience.”

Weldon will judge the winner of the show, which will feature everything from sculpture to prints and paintings.

“I’m judging on creativity—something I haven’t seen before,” Weldon says. “A lot of the art focuses on technique these days, but when you add a clever perspective too, it can take a painting much farther. I’m looking for something people can connect to.”

Surreal Salon IV encourages creative costumes and attire and will feature Austin-based band Mobley, local dance pop outfit Prom Date, a photo booth, limited edition t-shirts and games.

Tickets are $20, or $15 for those wearing a costume. batonrougegallery.org