Team Macho vs. Blank Walls

I would gladly accept artwork by Team Macho rather than have blank walls in my home, office or studio. Their work is fun, colourful and full of whimsy and whatnot. Their show "Fancy Action Now" at Magic Pony coincides with the launch of their new book by the same name, but I have to say, it looks more like a battlefield than an exhibition.

I've seen this before. The Royal Art Lodge show at the Power Plant a few years ago had the same sort of hate-on for blank space between artworks. One interesting result from this is that the show itself feels like a collage, but unfortunately it tends to diminish the impact of each individual piece.

This is too bad because there is a lot neat work in this show. There is a painting of a pigeon using a parachute to float towards the earth. A group portrait puts the members of Team Macho in the company of Lucille Ball, Conan O'Brien, Clark Gable and Jeremy Irons, among other familiar faces. A cute bunny drinks blood from a baby bottle. And so on.

It's good stuff. It's just too bad so much of it gets lost in the mix. It's on until sunday so I recommend going a few times before it's gone, make sure to see it all.

Fancy Action Now is at Magic Pony (694 Queen St. West) until June 17th.