MAD

Mutual Assured Destruction

M.A.D.

(Mutual Assured Destruction)

An exhibit of Large Scale Sculptures By H. D. Ivey

Curated by David Acosta

M.A.D. (Mutual Assured Destruction) is a 27 year retrospective of the sculptural work of the Texas born, Philadelphia based artist H. D. Ivey opening at the Crane Arts Building in July of 2015. Produced by Casa de Duende in collaboration with Physicians for Social Responsibility The exhibition gathers for the first time, 14 large scale sculptures and some smaller works (most never publicly seen) that when viewed collectively weave a complex narrative highlighting the artist’s single minded pursuit to critique and illuminate the social, economic, political and environmental costs of our nuclear arsenal. 

Working in a variety of mediums (stone, marble, wood, metal and leather) Ivey’s work is large, (as scale is important to the subject matter being considered). An excellent draftsman, the sculptures contain beautiful details in carefully wrought drawings spanning a wide range of images all of them carefully chosen for their vernacular symbolism specific to American history and culture. The work is a collection of missiles exploding, missiles being born out of eggs, a lion pierced by a missile, a rocking horse, and a seven- foot cowboy, among others. These motifs, (often bright and colorful) are used with ironic humor even when the artist is dealing with the gruesome subject matter of death, destruction and human suffering as in “Requiem”. “Requiem,” pays homage to the 911 attacks on the twin towers. 

In “Zero” a metal ring on which lie the skeletal remains of a family surrounds a target hit by a black and white stripped missile. Mom with new born in arms, dad, child, dog and a tricycle are captured in exquisite detail. The two adult figures convey the agony of the moment; the mother shielding her eyes from the glare of the nuclear blast? (Or perhaps in a vain attempt to protect the baby?) Meanwhile the father holds his head as if in agony or despair. The young child in turn reaches his arms out to the dog who, seems to be running towards him, and behind the child, the tricycle: upended and melting completes the circle. The subjects seem alive: their crawling and simultaneous melting an eternal process. This is the artist showing us what happens to us in a nuclear blast.

M.A.D. (Mutual Assured Destruction) H. D. Ivey, 27 Years, Crane Arts Building, 1400 North American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, Opening reception second Thursday, July 9th 2015 5:30 to 8:30 PM, Exhibit runs through July 31st 2015.