POP at FloridaRama Gallery
St. Petersburg, Fla. (August 29, 2024) — FloridaRAMA Gallery presented POP, a
captivating group show curated by Ashley Goodwyn featuring the work of six talented Florida-based artists: Rook Bishop, Ashley Cantero, Jon Green, Gwak, Selina Roman and Craig Wood. The exhibition was on view starting Saturday, September 7 and ran through October 5, 2024. The opening celebration took place on Saturday, September 14 from 4-9 PM and included a panel discussion with curator Ashley Goodwyn and the participating artists at 5 PM.
Following the success of Paul Leroy Gehres’ exhibition Florida Famous, which delved into the relationship between pop culture and art, POP continues this exploration, focusing on American consumerism and the commercialization of nostalgia. The show highlights how pop culture has deeply influenced marketing, creating a continuous cycle of remakes, stories and fashion that harken back to earlier times as Americans seek refuge in idealized memories of its past. Each artist in this exhibition brought a unique perspective, using the vibrant color palette of the Pop Art movement to reflect on different eras of American consumerism and the powerful pull of nostalgia.
Rook Bishop’s work explores the commodification of nostalgia through pop culture icons. His
painting No Future, featuring a zoned-out Jetsons family, serves as a biting commentary on
American consumer culture and the hollow pursuit of the American Dream. Bishop’s paintings on postage boxes further emphasize the rapid pace of consumerism, encapsulating how quickly Amazon can deliver our nostalgic desires.
Ashley Cantero’s wall mural graces the entrance of the gallery. Cantero’s art plays with 1950s nostalgia, using humor to explore the contrast between advertisements and reality. Her three large prints in this show cleverly critique consumer culture, enticing viewers with bright colors and smiling figures while presenting products we would rather avoid.
Jon Green’s work draws on his Mexican-American heritage, infusing his ceramic creations with vibrant patterns and childhood memories. His works offers a unique perspective on nostalgia, one that expands the narrative beyond traditional American cultural references to include a more diverse and inclusive view of the past.
Known for his humorous and bold explorations of 1980s nostalgia, Gwak's work captures the
essence of his American upbringing. His large-scale works, replicas of toys, food and beverages from the '80s, transport viewers back to that era.
Selina Roman’s vibrant work is immediately accessible, using familiar materials and evoking modern 1950s fashion. Her works invite viewers to reminisce about a time many have only experienced through media, creating a connection through the shared cultural materials that permeate her art.
Craig Wood’s ceramic works are rooted in the iconography of past advertisements, particularly neon signs from the 1950s and 1960s. His work reflects the public’s ongoing fascination with these signs, as seen in today’s niche markets for neon and LED neon replicas. However, Wood’s muted color palette gives a gritty, realistic edge to the nostalgia, challenging the idealized memories of that era.
Each artist brings a unique connection to nostalgia and American consumerism, inviting viewers to reflect on the emotional manipulation of marketing and the diverse ways nostalgia influences our culture.
About Ashley Goodwyn, Curator
Ashley Goodwyn grew up in Alabama surrounded by art. She went to Alfred University to get her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Glass and Ceramics. After graduating, she moved around the East Coast, working at various studios. Ashley spent three years at UrbanGlass in Brooklyn, NY as a teacher, technician, and freelance artist. Between 2019-2022 Ashley attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison for her Master's in Fine Arts.
About Rook Bishop
Art had been a big part of Rook Bishop’s life at an early age following his mother’s work as a graphic designer. He used any materials he could find from her office. When he was a teenager he used pens to sketch original images with sharp lines giving perspective. Rook took a long break from art in his 20s and early 30s. The time alone during the pandemic is where he found his love for art again but in a new medium. After watching videos of artists using acrylic paint Rook decided to try it out. Rook has been painting for about 5 years and is still learning the process. Rook’s current work is a mixture of contemporary realism and pop art using bright opaque colors.
About Ashley Cantero
Ashley Cantero, a native of Tampa, FL, stands as a vibrant force in the local art scene and beyond, where she actively contributes her unique perspective. Renowned for her distinctive talent in precise line work, Cantero’s art comes alive through emotionally charged female characters, showcasing a bold and captivating style. Drawing inspiration from the eclectic realms of 60’s psychedelia, Atomic Age design, and Sci-Fi aesthetics, her work becomes a dynamic fusion of nostalgia and futurism. Her ever-evolving body of work spans various mediums, showcasing a commitment to creative exploration and innovation that firmly establishes her as a standout figure in both traditional and public art spheres.
About Jon Green
Born in a Mexican-American family, Jon is entertained by the absurd nature of the American-Dream. Jon completed his BFA at the University of Montana with a minor in Art History, and worked as a studio assistant for Julia Galloway, Casey Zablocki, and Anton Alvarez. Jon has attended Red Lodge Clay Center’s ASPN program, an Artist in Residency at Medalta, and completed Long-Term Residency at Red Lodge Clay Center. Jon’s work pays homage to the craftspeople and merging customs of the Americas through aggrandizing objects and ornamentation.
About Gwak
GWAK is a versatile American artist from Sarasota, has spent 15 years perfecting his craft, reflecting his lifelong fascination with unconventional. His journey spans five diverse years, driven by passion for the quirky and iconic. GWAK’s unconventional path into art began in his formative years captivated by pop culture and early 90’s animated movie effects. His creativity blossomed at Booker High School, where he honed his set design skills, laying the foundation for his lifelong art adventure. GWAK’s creations thrive on novelty embracing the unusual and oversized. He focuses on refining his craft for future art shows and creates immersive Airbnb experiences that transport guest to fantastical worlds. For GWAK, art is a therapeutic lifeline, providing an escape for the soul. He stands as a testament to the idea that being a jack of all trades can be more fulfilling than specializing in one.
About Saline Roman
Trained as a print journalist, Florida native Selina Román ferreted out stories of injustice in
marginalized communities such as migrant farm workers and the poor. After working in journalism, Román spent several years at an international security and investigations firm where she became privy to the inner workings of the private-sector intelligence community.
Tampa-based Román received her Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of South Florida in 2013. Her work is in the collection of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota; the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs; Hillsborough Community College, as well as numerous private collections.
Román has exhibited nationally at institutions such as The Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Kenyon College in Ohio, and internationally at Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica, and Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her work was also featured at Brighton Photo Fringe in the United Kingdom during the 2016 Brighton Photo Biennial. In 2017 she received a Hillsborough County Artist Grant, and has been invited to participate in Review Santa Fe and Critical Mass Top 200. She currently teaches visual art and photography courses at the University of Tampa and Hillsborough Community College.
About Craig Wood
Craig Wood is an American artist based in Woodstock, New York and St. Petersburg, Florida. Born in 1961 in Orlando, Florida, Wood developed a love for ceramics in early adulthood.
Wood’s sculptural work employs vivid, bold colors, unexpected shapes, and an unusual combination of ceramic and non-ceramic elements. His two-dimensional work explores the concepts of cultural and personal identity, and often employs the use of visual puns and references to art history. Wood has exhibited his eclectic work in galleries and museums nationwide. Notable among his recent exhibitions is 'Under a Pink Sky: Life on Planet X,' a solo showcase held at the Morean Center for Clay in St. Petersburg, Florida. Wood's work can be seen in '500 Tiles: An Inspiring Collection of International Work' by Lark Books, and he has recently been accepted into the prestigious Artaxis network by a jury of his peers.
About FloridaRAMA
FloridaRAMA, St. Pete, is an arts and entertainment destination with an immersive art experience, rental venue and gallery space located in St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District. The destination is designed for all ages and interests and invites everyone to explore the intersection of creativity, technology and culture. Inside FloridaRAMA, guests can find an immersive art experience created in collaboration with more than 75 mostly local artists, boasting a captivating world of playful exhibits that celebrate original Florida stories. Outside of the experience, guests are invited to partake in a robust calendar of events, enjoy the bar and cafe, explore the art gallery and take in the cultural campus. Located at 2606 Fairfield Ave S., FloridaRAMA is Tampa Bay’s most unique venue offering an expansive menu of options for guests to host their next event. For more information please visit ww.floridarama.art and connect with us on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.