new art at ellO tests superstitions

An exhibit called “Good Luck/Bad Luck” could have gone either way. But combining images of black cats, broken mirrors and witchcraft on Friday the 13th seems to have pushed any luck toward bad.

The current group show at ellO art gallery in downtown Portsmouth examines luck and superstitions through photography, painting, drawing and the exhibit’s hard times. “The show has been kind of cursed,” said co-owner John Fanning. “We’ve had some bad luck. It’s hilarious how it fits the theme.”

The opening reception on Friday, June 13, was held in conjunction with the city’s monthly Art ’Round Town gallery walk, and Nicholas Campolo performed a multimedia show of sound and sight called “Venn Died.” The exhibit runs through Monday, July 7.

One of the highlights of the show, work by Cristina Ochoa, was damaged in the mail on its way from Colombia. Ochoa sent a voodoo doll filled with empty pill capsules and a container of Spanish words that can be pinned on it. The fragile body of the doll ripped at one seam and some pills spilled out. Still, the piece is on display as an example of bad luck, along with prints of the voodoo in use.

Ochoa also devised a “Love Shot Travel Kit” of harmless beauty products that appear to be injected like a drug. The package is intended to test the boundaries of legal and illegal in a strange package from Columbia, but the original was too pricey to send to the gallery at this time. A poster similar to an advertisement is on display to show the concept, as well as a letter stating nothing illegal was found in the package. 

Other artwork that was mailed didn’t arrive in time for the opening. Nicola Vinciguerra, of Italy, has sent a print of her digital work, and Team Uncool, a collective from South Africa, sent 10 original works on paper. Space was reserved for them, awaiting the mail.
Despite the risk, Fanning said he seeks out international work and local art. “I like the idea of the art world being a world,” he said.

New Hampshire artists on display include Matthew Soltesz, whose photography of an abandoned farm in Madbury follows up on a location that has fallen on bad luck; Sylvea Johnson, whose amorphous figures explore identity and image; and Bill DeGrandpre, who contributed a mixed media piece on a computer motherboard. Other artists in the show with local ties are Tim Ratliff, Antoine Goguet, Pam Pritzker, Seraphim Zeta, Tatiana Foster and Glenn DiLando, who is one of ellO’s co-owners.

Annie Ridlon, of Massachusetts, drew comic strips and other drawings in permanent marker, a dicey move. The images include Lady Luck in a casino and a fortune teller with tarot cards. The comics portray bad luck turned good, such as in “The Black Cat,” when an old man goes out in the rain and finds a cat that brings him personal sunshine.

Dan Crosby and Andrew Chugg, Vermonters under the name Black Cat Chinese Rat, presented a dozen images of graffiti and broken glass inspired by a house they thought was cursed. The only downside to these was that they didn’t make it a baker’s dozen, matching the reception date with 13 pieces.

The ellO gallery is located at 110 State St., Portsmouth, 603-433-9110. “Good Luck/Bad Luck” runs through  July 7.