Review
"Something about William Shatner's face resembles both Giuseppe Arcimboldo's "Portrait with Vegetables" and the actor Joe Pesci: Arcimboldo's portrait, because both invite the exaggeration of facial swellings and literalized craggy terrain without loss of the original facial reference; Pesci, because that sweet smile and generous bulge distracts yet accentuates the tiny eyes darting back and forth like the calm before the storm, whether that storm is a snide pun, a Nascar hoot via hidden camera, or an inspired rendition of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds". Handsome and chiseled in his early years, Shatner's physical and pop cultural metamorphosis into a one-man-show is the subject of 75 artists in Uppercase Gallery's Shatner Show, which runs until August 31 at Art Central. This invitation for artists to contribute works featuring Mr. Shatner has allowed Uppercase to exhibit a large spectrum of tributes, from devoted fandom, to biting satire of the cult of Shatner's persona-shtick. Some of the artists work confirms a certain expectation of how Mr. Shatner s filmic-televisual appearances come off at first as instantly-digestible egomania diffused gently by self-deprecation. "I mean look look at my quality!" Shatner intones in his charming actor-slick sincerity in one of the many streaming videos in the Shatner Show section of Uppercase Gallery's "Captain's Blog". "If you pinch me, do I not bleed?" he asks, poking fun at the satisfaction of audience sympathy for such a sensitive guy who is, after all, just being himself." --http://www.beatroute.ca/view_article.php?sectionID=1&articleID=1076
"The gallery's self-proclaimed mastermind, Janine Vangool, came up with the idea of a Shatner show after listening to the actor's CD while driving across Canada. New and established artists from across the continent contributed works. The results include a bust of Shatner made from more than 9,000 Lego pieces, Shatner as Bonhomme, Shatner portraits, Shatner driving the last spike and Shatner as Kirk embraced by a Gorn, a reptilian humanoid space creature. "It's kind of about him as the centre of the universe," said artist Katie Radke. There are 76 works on view, one for each year of Shatner's age." --http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2007/06/23/shatner-calgary.html
"The show and book include 80 original renditions of pure, unadulterated Shatnerescence, ranging from beatific and noble Captain Kirks of yore to the contemporary dietary-fibre advocate. There's also an impressive assortment of "Rock-it" Men, Denny Cranes and T.J. Hookers; an anthropomorphic feline "Chat-ner;" Lego-sculpture Shatners and much, much more. While the Calgary contributions understandably outnumber those from other regions, the project is not limited to local content. "I purposefully wanted to have a good grouping of up-and-coming artists and Calgarian artists, as well as a good mix of Canadian and American, as well as male and female. So it was conscious all the way through to get that mix," Vangool says. "About 80 percent of my initial list said 'yes,' and of the people who declined, most of them said they were just too busy. I think just one of them said they didn't like Shatner." The works range in tone from what Vangool diplomatically deems "playful reverence," to genuinely sobering pieces dealing with the darker side of Shatner's life, including two works depicting the death of his third wife, Nerine Kidd, who drowned in his backyard pool in 1999. "They're both really touching and lovely," Dresser notes. "Those were two pieces that were very powerful and surprising that I'm very happy to have in the show." --http://www.canada.com/cityguides/calgary/story.html?id=42106d4a-a8c4-41ee-8648-8ad21e2af3cd&k=45195&p=1
"The gallery's self-proclaimed mastermind, Janine Vangool, came up with the idea of a Shatner show after listening to the actor's CD while driving across Canada. New and established artists from across the continent contributed works. The results include a bust of Shatner made from more than 9,000 Lego pieces, Shatner as Bonhomme, Shatner portraits, Shatner driving the last spike and Shatner as Kirk embraced by a Gorn, a reptilian humanoid space creature. "It's kind of about him as the centre of the universe," said artist Katie Radke. There are 76 works on view, one for each year of Shatner's age." --http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2007/06/23/shatner-calgary.html
"The show and book include 80 original renditions of pure, unadulterated Shatnerescence, ranging from beatific and noble Captain Kirks of yore to the contemporary dietary-fibre advocate. There's also an impressive assortment of "Rock-it" Men, Denny Cranes and T.J. Hookers; an anthropomorphic feline "Chat-ner;" Lego-sculpture Shatners and much, much more. While the Calgary contributions understandably outnumber those from other regions, the project is not limited to local content. "I purposefully wanted to have a good grouping of up-and-coming artists and Calgarian artists, as well as a good mix of Canadian and American, as well as male and female. So it was conscious all the way through to get that mix," Vangool says. "About 80 percent of my initial list said 'yes,' and of the people who declined, most of them said they were just too busy. I think just one of them said they didn't like Shatner." The works range in tone from what Vangool diplomatically deems "playful reverence," to genuinely sobering pieces dealing with the darker side of Shatner's life, including two works depicting the death of his third wife, Nerine Kidd, who drowned in his backyard pool in 1999. "They're both really touching and lovely," Dresser notes. "Those were two pieces that were very powerful and surprising that I'm very happy to have in the show." --http://www.canada.com/cityguides/calgary/story.html?id=42106d4a-a8c4-41ee-8648-8ad21e2af3cd&k=45195&p=1
Product Description
From his iconic Captain James T. Kirk through the steely resolve of TJ Hooker, the wisdom of Walter H Bascom, the irreverence of Denny Crane or the seemingly hundreds of smaller roles that have filled his career (one of our personal favorites being the Commander Buck Murdock in Airplane 2), William Shatner has shown an uncanny ability to alternately (and sometimes simultaneously) embrace and transcend those preconceptions about him. Perhaps this is nowhere exhibited better than on his recent musical album with Ben Folds: speaking (not singing, of course) with open candor at times about his fortunes and failings, it becomes clear that the person who has played these characters has so much more to say than the characters themselves. Now in his 76th year, he continues to produce with a voracity and enthusiasm unrivaled by his peers. Whether it s a comedic or dramatic role, a gameshow, voice-work for a documentary or animated program, or even a seemingly lowly breakfast cereal commercial, each thing he touches is elevated to a plane that s all his own. With playful reverence to this entrancing icon and fascinating individual, Uppercase Gallery has created The Shatner Show: an exhibition and book of artwork depicting William Shatner, featuring the work of 76 artists and illustrators from Canada and the US. Mr. Shatner has endorsed the project and provided the following statement: Every artist has their muse. Leonardo was inspired by the ceiling in the great chapel. Michelangelo found his art in the Italian marble. Who am I to stand in the way of all these fine artists and artisans who want to use my lumpy, aging face for inspiration? Some creators love a great sunset; some have in mind my bloodshot eyes. Nevertheless, out of awe, amusement, or pity, you should come and see this unique show. William Shatner on The Shatner Show, 2007
