Youth Vernacular

I recently took the time to visit the Bristol Historical Society and look at artist Joe Keo's show, Youth Vernacular. Wow. It's really good!

I like all kinds of art, but sometimes I am really puzzled by some contemporary work. Joe's work appears simple from looking at it, but it's really quite deep. I was lucky to be there when Joe was there and he gave a little artist tour of the work. His explanations made the work make sense to me and I thought it was great. I'm not sure I would have had the same level of appreciation if I didn't have the benefit of hearing him talk about it.

I'm going to go back to read the little cards on the walls that he wrote for each work. I didn't have the time to do that then, and after all, I had the real deal giving me the explanation, so maybe they would help quite a bit.

A lot of his show is quite clever and all of it involves playing with words, except for the portraits of Joe's beautiful family. Those are just portrait paintings, and they're well done.

Joe was born and raised in Bristol and still lives here. He's a graduate of Bristol Eastern High School and the University of Hartford art school, where he earned top honors in sculpture. He's a smart, talented and funny guy. He's also a very nice young man. The photo is from his first year at art school.

The historical society is worth your support, too, by the way, and the Young Artist series there is really terrific. I hope you take the time to check it out.

The Bristol Historical Society Museum, at 98 Summer St., is open from 10-2 on Wednesdays and noon to 4 on Saturdays. It's free, but give them a few bucks to keep the lights on, never mind keep up the building. It's the only historical society Bristol has, so give a hand if you can.

Joe Keo Brings His Art Home

The man pictured above with the coffee/tea pot is Joe Bun Keo of Bristol, who is kicking off the Young Artists series at the Bristol Historical Society this year. The photo on the right, I believe, is from his show at the University of Hartford, where he graduated last spring and won the school's top prize in sculpture.

There's a reception on Friday at 7, with food, wine, music and best of all, ... Joe and his artwork. I wrote about him and why he never thought he'd have an exhibit in Bristol for Thursday's edition of The Bristol Press, so check it out there, please (http://www.bristolpress.com/) and if you find it at all interesting, support this talented local artist by attending his show. That's Joe down below, too. He's a fine young man, filled with brains and optimism, not to mention a humorous and lively art spirit.

P.S. on Friday morning: The story ran today. Sorry if you looked Thursday and could not find it. Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/ylsk6kb.

If I could, I would be at Joe's show tonight, but I cannot. I hope he gets a nice turnout, though, with a friendly hometown crowd.

Whatever you think of his art, give him credit for having the guts to put on a show -- and funding it HIMSELF. I should have put in my story that Joe's show is self-funded, but I didn't. Now there are mean and ignorant comments at the end of my story on the Press site griping about how their tax money was used to fund this. Not true. A few of Joe's supporters made donations, but most of the money for the show came from Joe himself. He works full time as a shipping clerk. And donations collected at the show will benefit the Bristol Historical Society, not Joe. (If you want to support Joe, give him your donation directly. And throw a few bucks in the donation box if you can to show the historical society that you're glad they're having a young artist series there.)