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Exhibition: Don Joint: Narcissus From May 30, 2019 To August 18, 2019 At Childs Gallery

Don Joint: Narcissus

Press Release:

In western theory, the myth of Narcissus, a beautiful youth who falls in love with his own reflection, carries overt tones of homoeroticism as an essentially queer narrative in which a man experiences same sex attraction. In this exhibition, multimedia artist Don Joint explores the sensual gaze central to the Narcissus myth through his various series of works including collages, bottles, dinnerware, and other found ephemera. On display are nubile young men brashly arranged yet unaware they are the object of desiring eyes, serving as the reflection to the audience’s lustful Narcissus.

In the most widely known versions of Narcissus’ tale, the Boeotian hunter spurns the advances of his would-be lovers, earning the enmity of the gods. In retribution, Narcissus is lured to a pool where he is besotted by his reflection; upon realizing his affections will never be returned, he wastes away until only a namesake flower remains. The story gives us our modern term narcissism, encompassing extreme vanity, egotism, and megalomania, but it is also a tale of both invitation and rejection: beauty so enticing that it invites the viewer’s gaze yet rejects it at the same time.

Don Joint’s works enjoy this same duality. His beautiful models, mostly photographed by the artist himself, beg the attention of an audience. Unapologetically posed to showcase their comeliness, they often meet the viewer’s eyes with come-hither looks. But Joint has removed his models from any tactile interaction with their admirers. Placed in bottles, on plates, and patchwork collages, they reject their adoration, eliciting a passion that cannot be reciprocated. Like a stationary reflection, Joint has fixed his Narcissi in time by positioning them within the confines of artistic assemblages.

The artist’s various series each have cheeky names including Boys in a Bottle, Dirty Dishes, and Whatnots that give a clever nod towards the bold nature of the work. With each individual piece, Joint presents a fantasy of idealism, attractive and hedonistic youths whose beauty will never fade, à la Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray. The Gray character, of course, is influenced by the Narcissus tale, and his story carries similar nuances of homoeroticism. Joint pointedly taps into the idea of a queer gaze throughout his work while asking the viewer to see as Narcissus saw, feel as he felt. Taking in works like Boys in a Bottle: Poison, it is not hard to imagine the startling moments when attraction becomes desire becomes obsession. Pieces such as Whatnots: Three of Me and Dirty Dishes VIII also reflect upon the oft cited but woefully misinformed notion that same-sex desire is an inherently narcissistic form of attraction. Joint gleefully and expertly uses Narcissus as a framework with which to explore all these ideas; to him, the myth is a fruitful playground of alluring men through which one can navel-gaze upon both self and sexuality.

The exhibition is held to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall riots and will take place during Pride Month. A selection of artwork by other LGBTQ artists including Paul Cadmus, George Platt Lynes, and Emily Lombardo will also be on display. A reception and Pride Brunch will be held June 8 from 11-2pm. Childs Gallery is located just a short walk away from Copley Square, the start of the Boston Pride Parade.

On exhibit until August 18th, 2019
By Don Joint: Waldemeer Twins Iii At Childs GalleryQuick View
22×30IN.
$6,500
Waldemeer Twins III
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Waldemeer, The Twins At Childs GalleryQuick View
32×2312IN.
$6,500
Waldemeer, The Twins
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Waldemeer Twins Ii At Childs GalleryQuick View
32×2312IN.
$6,500
Waldemeer Twins II
Collage By Don Joint: [small Collage] At Childs GalleryQuick View
1112×1812IN.
$2,500
[Small Collage]
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Teddy, From The Susquehanna River Summer Series At Childs GalleryQuick View
1012×1314IN.
$2,250
Teddy, from the Susquehanna River Summer Series
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Ray I, From The Susquehanna River Summer Series At Childs GalleryQuick View
12×1514IN.
$2,250
Ray I, from the
Mixed Media By Don Joint: What Nots: Pride At Childs GalleryQuick View
2114×13IN.
$2,250
Whatnots: Pride
Collage By Don Joint: Ray Ii, From The Susquehanna River Summer Series At Childs GalleryQuick View
12×1512IN.
$2,250
Ray II, From the
Mixed Media By Don Joint: L'ideal Photograveure At Childs GalleryQuick View
12×7IN.
$2,000
L'ideal photograveure
By Don Joint: Whatnots: Twinkie Server At Childs GalleryQuick View
10×10IN.
$2,000
Whatnots: Twinkie Server
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: Long Jack At Childs GalleryQuick View
1134×5IN.
$1,750
Boys in a Bottle: Long Jack
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: Plug At Childs GalleryQuick View
14×312IN.
$1,500
Boys in a Bottle: Plug
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: Four Doses At Childs GalleryQuick View
4×412IN.
$1,500
Boys in a Bottle: Four Doses
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: He Gave Me 50 At Childs GalleryQuick View
1212×312IN.
$1,000
Boys in a Bottle: He Gave me 50
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: He Had A Smoke At Childs GalleryQuick View
1112×4IN.
$1,000
Boys in a Bottle:
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: Dr. Miles At Childs GalleryQuick View
834×234IN.
$925
Boys in a Bottle: Dr. Miles
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: Favorite At Childs GalleryQuick View
9×234IN.
$925
Boys in a Bottle: Favorite
By Don Joint: Whatnots: Three Of Me At Childs GalleryQuick View
5×612IN.
$925
Whatnots: Three of Me
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: For Home Use At Childs GalleryQuick View
5×112IN.
$925
Boys in a Bottle: For Home Use
Mixed Media By Don Joint: What Nots: Climax Sunbather At Childs GalleryQuick View
4×4IN.
$925
Whatnots: Climax Sunbather
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boy In A Bottle: His Needs At Childs GalleryQuick View
834×312IN.
$925
Boys in a Bottle: His Needs
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: Grill Sauce At Childs GalleryQuick View
814×2IN.
$925
Boys in a Bottle: Grill Sauce
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: Kelso Beach At Childs GalleryQuick View
914×514IN.
$925
Boys in a Bottle: Kelso Beach
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: Died In Texas At Childs GalleryQuick View
934×514IN.
$925
Boys in a Bottle: Died in Texas
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: Moan At Childs GalleryQuick View
734×312IN.
$925
Boys in a Bottle: Moan
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: He Showed Up Every Day At Childs GalleryQuick View
9×5IN.
$925
Boys in a Bottle:
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Boys In A Bottle: Mustang Boy At Childs GalleryQuick View
812×212IN.
$925
Boys in a Bottle: Mustang Boy
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Dirty Dishes Xiii At Childs GalleryQuick View
10×10IN.
$550
Dirty Dishes XIII
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Dirty Dishes Viii At Childs GalleryQuick View
10×10IN.
$550
Dirty Dishes VIII
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Dirty Dishes X At Childs GalleryQuick View
10×10IN.
$550
Dirty Dishes X
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Dirty Dishes I At Childs GalleryQuick View
9×9IN.
$550
Dirty Dishes I
By Don Joint: Dirty Dishes Xviii At Childs GalleryQuick View
9×9IN.
$550
Dirty Dishes XVIII
By Don Joint: Dirty Dishes Xx At Childs GalleryQuick View
9×9IN.
$550
Dirty Dishes XX
By Don Joint: Dirty Dishes Xiv At Childs GalleryQuick View
9×9IN.
$550
Dirty Dishes XIV
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Dirty Dishes Xvii At Childs GalleryQuick View
9×9IN.
$550
Dirty Dishes XVII
Mixed Media By Don Joint: Dirty Dishes Xi At Childs GalleryQuick View
10×10IN.
$550
Dirty Dishes XI
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