Opening reception: Saturday, June 26th, 6pm

Doll sculptures by Amber Groome
Paintings by Jim Bloom




And at 9:00 a special performance by ANNA AND THE ANNADROIDS, the Annadroids relate to Amber's dolls in such a wonderfully bizarre way it seemed like the perfect match!

AMBER GROOME {Columbus, OH}
in her own words….
“Each doll that I make is one of a kind as well as handcrafted. They are symbolic in their afflictions. For me, My dolls are a testimony to the trauma and sorrow of being female and living with mental illness. When I create the dolls, I become absorbed and preoccupied with internal conflict as well the private depths of my childhood and psyche. The dolls are adored and loathed by me at the same time. I prefer to have them viewed in large quantities so they appear to be even more obsessive and detailed in nature.”


JIM BLOOM

Jim Bloom was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1968. He moved to Philadelphia in the mid 1980s, where he currently lives. Bloom attended Temple University in 1988 intending to study film, but left after his introductory year. From childhood on, Bloom has been making visual art that is directly related to his own experiences, particularly of human interaction, relationhsips, and society, as well as his interests in film, story-telling, and the visual languages of his culture. Influences include artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, and Red Grooms, who Bloom says impacted him early on with a sense freedom and boldness of expression which he extends to his own vision and work. Bloom’s recent large scale expressive, colorful, textured paintings have evolved from signature drawing and collage styles which the artist has developed and honed since childhood. Whichever medium he chooses, Bloom’s work captivates and draws the viewer into a created world that is a mirror of contemporary reality from his perspective. Portraits or scenes often evoke film stills loaded with information about the subjects depicted and the artist himself, telling stories with biting wit and irony, often incorporating text. Bloom says he wants to make artistic images that function like television; to capture the eye and quickly convey a message or feeling that will leave a lasting impact on the viewer.