Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To The My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form

Pantsworthy: Here and Now: The Art of Gary Taxali

Posted on August 27, 2015March 6, 2023 By Sammy Younan No Comments on Pantsworthy: Here and Now: The Art of Gary Taxali

(Note: This was written before Gary Taxali visited My Summer Lair)

Two of the best words in the English language: Road Trip!

My friend and I hoped into my laser blue Dart and road tripped to…Cambridge, Ontario. Ours was a cultural mission, our prime directive to enjoy a day trip into the fabulous world of Gary Taxali and later in Stratford a play.

I know…a gallery exhibition and a Stratford play all in one arty day…classy! (Not to worry I kept the class at bay with my Spider-Man seatbelt belt).

Stepping into the Idea Exchange | Design at Riverside gallery is like a fantastical Disney meets Warhol trip into Gary Taxali’s head. Wow. So cool.

Here and Now The Art of Gary Taxali 4 If you don’t know the name you know the art…Gary’s work is all over Toronto. Like how some comic book series read better in trades than monthlys when you consume all of his work like this you can firmly grasp Gary’s absurdist sarcasm, his Warholian pop playfulness and his infectious desire as an Artist to not be bound to just 1 medium rather: the medium is the message.

As much as I’m attracted to Gary’s work and his voice I find it humbling and inspiring to witness somebody traverse mediums like a GPS-less explorer.

There’s no manipulation from a grand marketing plan, no cyclical expectations like in music (album, tour, album tour etc.). Rather he’s clearly making this up as he goes along so his dynamic career unfolds with the evocative suspense of a blockbuster movie. Now What? for true!

This retrospective is a greatest hits collection covering all of his mediums…ready?

  • Magazine covers (Maclean’s, Newsweek and Walrus magazines (plus many more)
  • Concert posters for Pearl Jam, Primus and Toots (plus many more)
  • Album covers for Aimee Mann (do I have to say it again?)
  • A line of limited-edition skateboards (just got a craving for Mountain Dew…)
  • A series of old-timey wooden toys
  • Oh No (not sure what is going with that but I totally dig it)
  • And…a series of Italian silk pocket squares for men’s clothier Harry Rosen (they do not sell Spider-Man seatbelt belts).

How cool is that?!

His work and his mediums it’s all lowbrow and highbrow, classy and trashy, strange and sublime…Gary’s work flourishes in the common and often crippling contradictions within the Art World. And maybe…perhaps his work doesn’t support my glib impressions; if it appears effortless it’s because he is having…fun. Clearly.

Fun in an art gallery? That’s about as unpossible as Ralph Wiggum failing English.

Here is what I saw…I won’t bombard you with all I took in; safe to say GO…see this for yourself:

Here and Now The Art of Gary Taxali
Harry Rosen Pocket Squares (Here and Now The Art of Gary Taxali) photos by Sammy Younan

 

Here and Now The Art of Gary Taxali 2
Oh No! (Here and Now The Art of Gary Taxali ) photos by Sammy Younan

 

Here and Now The Art of Gary Taxali 3
These both crack me up!! (Here and Now The Art of Gary Taxali) photos by Sammy Younan

Here and Now is at Design at Riverside, 7 Melville St. S., Cambridge; closing on September 20. Gary Taxali will deliver a talk at the gallery Monday, September 21 at 7:30pm.

Girth Radio Blog Tags:Andy Warhol, Art, Gary Taxali, Here and Now: The Art of Gary Taxali, Pantsworthy, Toronto Artists

Post navigation

Previous Post: My Summer Lair featuring Jerome Skeete & Philip Leung
Next Post: Shepard Fairey Obey Toronto

More Related Articles

Pantsworthy: CMW – April 20, 2017 Girth Radio Blog
Pantsworthy: CMW – April 23, 2017 Girth Radio Blog
Pantsworthy: Hot Docs – May 2, 2019 Girth Radio Blog
RTZ: I miss rock n roll Girth Radio Blog
Host Haiku In Session With Girth…Veronica Girth Radio Blog
Shepard Fairey Obey Toronto Girth Radio Blog

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #SetTheVCR: September 25-October 1, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    It's my birthday week and the TV recommendations are…well mostly my taste. Some cake and candles to go with this week's #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 18-24, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    For this week's TV recommendations we got a Superpower, Super Models, a Saint and Saving people. That's right it's #SetTheVCR where this weekend we check into The Continental for a 3 night stay.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 11-17, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is Based on a True Story. Lots of TV recommendations that'll guide you through the Wilderness but do look out for a sudden Swarm or even a comedic Wolf.
  • #CouchWorthy: August 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    A terrific TV recap of August 2023. Here some August TV highlights that are #CouchWorthy. Maybe you missed em or didn’t hear about em. Sweet Sammy Suggestions for August 2023…
  • #SetTheVCR: September 4-10, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is a Rogues' Gallery of thieves, creeps, killers and criminals. Oh and lots of Star Trek to balance out all the dark TV recommendations.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 28-September 3, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    RoboCop and a Wanted fugitive. Choose Love because it's time to #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 21-27, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Flash forward and see yourself enjoying these TV recommendations with your Vacation Friends: It's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: August 14-20, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Take Shelter from the Summer heat with these Untold TV Recommendations: from Elvis to Tracy Morgan this week's #SetTheVCR is Killing It.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 7-13, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    You maybe Summering but with this #SetTheVCR post is All Up In The Biz of TV recommendations. Only Murders In The Building returns so we should kick off this TV week with a Clue.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 31-August 6, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Welcome to the Paradise of TV Recommendations: this week's #SetTheVCR is bursting with blockbusters and concludes with a Lollapalooza livestream. Not bad for the dog days of Summer.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: DCEU Is Pee-Ew | Batgirl vs HBO MaxAugust 5, 2022
    Sammy & Rob Gaudette discuss and review the status of the DCEU following the cancellation of Batgirl on HBO Max. Rob still has hope.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: Contact Photography Festival 2022 | Culture SnapMay 12, 2022
    Sammy is joined by photographer Henry VanderSpek aka Culture Snap to discuss and recommend a happy handful of Contact Photography Festival exhibitions.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: A Taylor Hawkins MemorialMarch 28, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss the shocking and sad passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: All The Batmans | Keaton To Nipples to BatfleckMarch 10, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss All The Batmans: from Michael Keaton to Ben Affleck.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: 2021 Induction Ceremony | Rock & Roll Hall of FameNovember 25, 2021
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss their happy highlights from the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

  • Yaron Weitzman (Tanking to the Top) and Sammy Younan in My Summer Lair 148
    Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers
    by Sammy Younan
    My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan reviews Yaron Weitzman's Tanking to the Top. Trust The Process of The Philadelphia 76ers?
  • New Book Alert: January 10-14, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
  • New Book Alert: January 3-7, 2022
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
  • New Book Alert: November 8-12, 2021
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.
  • New Book Alert: November 1-5, 2021
    by Sammy Younan
    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

Copyright © 2023 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme