Dan Barry: There Are Dangers

"Hatred can rot away at a person’s intelligence. Enemy mentality will poison the spirit of a nation, incite cruel mortal struggles,destroy a society’s tolerance, and hinder a nation’s progress towards freedom and democracy.”- Liu Xiaobo (1955-2017) Amidst times when faith and hope in democracy are at an all-time low, and communities, once united, are further broken down into their isolates, a solo exhibition of work by Dan Barry could not be any more timely. Barry is known for making open-ended narratives about the self as much as he is known for his political statements. However, the story that develops with this show is one intentionally reflecting the culmination of failures society has dredged upon us. This is not going to be a polarizing exhibition; Barry intentionally reflects upon the sentiments held by many and poses questions about the backslide of our civil society. Dan states, “There is a long history of art being a powerful tool of social and political change. But first and foremost, the creation of these artworks helps me sort through the facts, and process the accompanying emotions. The resulting artworks are often challenging images that are cloaked in a veil of beauty. They serve as both defiance and refuge. By that I mean, I hope that people can find comfort, solace and community in the works, knowing that they are not alone. However the same artworks comment upon, draw attention to and protest against the rise of fascism and dismantling of our nations foundation and strength. It is my intention that these artworks will live on as a historical record of a critical moment of American’s history. Lastly, the creation of beauty in difficult times is in itself an act of resistance. Oppressors want to demoralize and make people give up. Through the continued making of artworks, politically charged and/or simply beautiful, I remain defiant and resilient.” More Info below.