Last Chance

Catch it or Regret It

by Holly Otterbein

Yis Goodwin is inspired by two very — and hilariously — dissonant styles. The first is graffiti, which is evidenced by his nom de plume (Nose G), as well as his paintings' lush, cartoonish colors and rogue aesthetics. The second, which is significantly less hip, is Sesame Street — an influence that's apparent in his work's recurring bug-eyed, bodiless, goofy monsters that could be stunt doubles for the Yip Yips. Though comical, there is a sadness in these creatures. In "Striped Shirt for Life" (pictured), the monster's face is blue and quite long, with his chubby hands bunched nervously.

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A prisoner, whether back in the free world or locked out of it, is always a prisoner. Underneath the paintings, drawings and sculptures by men in the Mural Arts Program is a stark reminder of this: their inmate numbers. PA Inmate #BY-8058 (Nicolas DeMatteo) lets paint drip and splatter like Jackson Pollock; PA Inmate #FM-5482 (Garrett Yordy) paints gorgeous landscapes and women he can't possibly encounter in his daily life. The most fascinating work is by Billy Gene McLimore, a Kentucky prisoner who secretly makes sculptures out of found objects in his cell — graham crackers, matches, soap bars and Popsicle sticks. Prisoner or not, that's crafty.

That brothers Steven and Billy Blaise Dufala named their installation Trophy makes me feel vaguely guilty and uncomfortable. It's a bit like calling a piece on the Vietnam War Success. That's because the Dufalas (both of whom have been in the band Man Man at some point) are highlighting American waste in their work, by slightly tweaking our everyday living situations. For example, underneath a green sofa and wooden side table sit milk jugs, plastics and paper. It forcefully shows that the trash we sweep under the rug and into landfills hasn't disappeared at all — in fact, it's right under our feet.