“A bit claustrophobic at times, but I guess that’s what you get after you’re hit by a Tornado.”

The Wizard of Oz the current exhibition at CCA’s Wattis Institute is definitely a trip into a different world, or at least a very nostalgic one. With works like Andy Warhol’s image of Marilyn Monroe, a black and white film still of a sign reading Kansas by Bruce Conner, and a drawing by Raymond Pettibon of an ejaculating penis pointing towards the lower half of a women in a skirt, all hovering above the head of a super-sexy afro chic, you get a sense of the imagery that was being evoked. But the theme is poignant and its correlations to today are astounding. The original movie starring Judy Garland in the role of Dorothy was released in 1939 at the tail end of the Great Depression and amidst World War II.

With all themed shows it is a fine line between illustrating the themes or just glancing past them, and for this show the latter held mostly true. It is an exhibition full of eye candy as delicious as that in Oz. And yes they have the “Ruby Slippers.” But there are also oil paintings of San Francisco at night by Robert Bechtle. Wonderfully illustrated works by Clare Rojas of aged women and men in fields. A neon sign shaped as bold capital letters reading America by Glen Ligon, buzzing with the hope and electricity needed to fuel it. In addition there is also a strong list of other artists that have contributed.

Jennifer Bornstein
Ulla von Brandenburg
Walker Evans
Simryn Gill
Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster
Felix Gonzalez-Torres
Loris Gréaud
Joseph Grigely
Carsten Höller
Evan Holloway
Steve McQueen
Gareth Moore
Rivane Neuenschwander
Harry Smith
Donald Urquhart
Cerith Wyn Evans

Even though this exhibition is not necessarily a hopeful one it reminds us that, “there is no place like home.” Even amidst all of its hardships.

http://www.wattis.org/exhibitions/oz#