Just Do It

Isaac Bushkin: Cardinal Migrations of Zmey

by Monica Weymouth

Opening reception Sat., Feb. 23, 5-9 p.m., exhibit runs through April 6, Art Star, 1030 N. Second St., 215-238-1557, artstarphilly.com

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It's difficult to not be jealous of the many creatures lucky enough to inhabit Isaac Bushkin's world. It is a world of soft eyes and muted colors, of whimsical noses and calm skies. But the Philadelphia-based artist's latest show, "Cardinal Migrations of Zmey," has just enough edge (and potentially hungry beasts) to keep the envy in check.

A collection of roughly 20 acrylic paintings, Bushkin's new work is inspired by his Latvian and Romanian heritage. Zmey, mythical dragons from Russian folklore, appear throughout his pieces, sometimes carrying banners bearing Russian text in their long pointed beaks. An elegant cross between a swan and a snake, Bushkin's Zmey are at once sweet and grotesque. In one painting, two of the furry gray creatures wrap around each other affectionately, their gaze knowing and playful. They support their serpentlike bodies by gripping a tree branch with thin, ratty tails, one of which has threaded its way through the bottom of a skull and out its nose. Skulls find their way into several pieces, frequently decaying but rarely intimidating. One cracked eye socket shelters a small blue bird, while an antler sprouting from the skull's temple dangles an acorn for another critter.

Ultimately, Bushkin believes that his world of dragons is, indeed, prime real estate. He attributes his uncharacteristic dark color scheme to painting during the winter, and sees nothing morbid about a couple of skeletons. "I think of my work as hopeful," he says. "There's this idea that with death, comes life."