The Games We Play 2.5 of Robots and Waterguns

Artist: Charvis Harrell

Show Run: Friday, August 9 – Friday, September 27

Gallery Hours: Mon – Fri, 10 am - 6pm

Artist Website

Exhibit Description:

The show will feature two 4x15 feet board games, about serious issues, but will also have a section dedicated to the beautiful genius Lonnie Johnson, who as a very young child almost burned his parents' house trying to make rocket fuel. He built a robot as a high school science fair project, worked for NASA and invented the Super Soaker.

An installation will feature larger than life board games that show the difficult realities young people face today, plus youthful expressions of joy. The “Stuck on Stupid" game is based on the Teachings of Jane Elliots famous Brown eye Blue eye experiment and shows the stark reality that children face along with the fact that schools today are more segregated than at the time of Brown vs. The Board of Education. The paintings were first displayed at the Presidio in San Francisco.

Artist Statement:

If there is any truth to the saying "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," then the strength of Charvis Harrell’s art comes from an autoimmune disease called Sarcoidosis. A third generation Brick Mason, art became the vehicle to cope with the emasculated condition of losing both good health and a career. I started making art as a way to give my children lessons about life and culture that was hidden from them, and to talk about difficult things that needed to be explained, and to also pay tribute to the people that are brave enough to make a difference in society. Reclaimed materials are a recurring theme of my practice. I see it as a metaphor for how a person can feel worthless like trash and with the right amount of time and care it can be transformed to be something beautiful. By focusing on seeing the beautiful aspect in things considered waste, I was able to reclaim my own life as well. Through years of hard work and dedication his collection has been chosen for National Juried Competitions, University shows and solo tours. He has works in the collection of several museums, the private collection of Barry Jenkins made on the set of " The Underground Railroad" and for Black Hall Studios made on the set of "Lovecraft Country", and his work is represented internationally through Cabinet39 in Flanders, Belgium.