Makeout Creek

Now through the end of March, Chop Suey will be hosting the “Forty Years of Makeout Creek” art show, featuring the works of Makeout Creek’s four cover artists: Andrew Miller, Adam Juresko, Oura Sananikone, and Ryan Mclennan.

March 21, 2011; 12:00 PM • by Stephanie Ganz

The small, one-room show devotes one wall to each of the cover artists. The diversity of styles among the artists parallels the diversity of genres that can be found within the bi-annual literary journal Makeout Creek.

There are Adam’s movie poster prints – featuring reworked movie posters for classics like Psycho and recent Academy Award winners like Black Swan – in all, 16 different prints, which are all available to purchase. Juresko, who designed Makeout Creek’s second cover, also has an upcoming show at Ghostprint Gallery featuring his collage work.

Next come Oura’s surreal cartoons as well as several variations on the fourth cover of Makeout Creek. Oura’s work fills the page with detail and movement, making for some very compelling covers.

Andrew Miller’s contribution to the show ranges from informal doodles to more focused sketches, including the heart-with-fangs image seen on Makeout Creek’s first cover.

Rounding out the room and providing the most compelling piece of the entire show is Ryan Mclennan’s Rochambeau, the largest piece – a stark depiction of two moose, in Mclennan’s signature style. Of his Makeout Creek cover, Mclennan says, “The piece used for Makeout Creek was a painting I had previously made, then altered for the magazine. I wanted to do the cover, but was at a loss for ideas. I am not a designer and have a difficult time visioning a project like that. I also did not want to just give Andrew a file of a painting. I met it in the middle (with much help from Will Loyal of Triple Stamp Press) and the cover was done.”

What makes this show truly interesting is what it represents – the coming together of the visual arts and literary scenes in Richmond thanks to some VCU alum and friends that are dedicated to both. Andrew Blossom began Makeout Creek in 2008 and has remained dedicated to providing a space for works in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and both created and found art. Makeout Creek is an important thread in the literary fabric of Richmond, and this show is a great visual representation of that.

Check it out while you still can and support the people who contribute to our local art scene.