Local Boy Makes Good
An Art Review of
Tony Machi’s Exhibit
Passionately Curious
It’s always inspiring to see someone with local roots or history make contributions that are substantial enough to be lionized.
How lionized?
Enough to have a retrospective exhibit at Erie Art Museum.
How’s that for success?
Presently at EAM Passionately Curious showcases the art of Pittsburgh-bred Tony Machi (That’s local enough, right?), who, in the late 1960’s, attended Edinboro State College (which became Edinboro University which is presently PennWest Edinboro), experimenting with different mediums and becoming an early progenitor of Performance Art. Throughout his career Machi has produced art that’s traversed many genres: sculptures, photographs, assemblages and filmed subjects and more.
’54 Ford (1969) is a large painting that portrays a multi-level field of flames; its title no doubt referring to the flames jobs on the many hot rods Machi must’ve witnessed while growing up. Another car-themed creation, ’57 Chevy, (2023; see above) offers the viewer a model car immersed in water within a glass jar. Homage to the classic craft project the Ship in a Bottle?
Within the exhibit’s program Machi claims my work, whether my fine art or my performance art is all largely created without purpose or metaphor.
Really?
Gazing at Rotting Peaches, (2012) a three-photo triptych of decaying fruit, it’s hard not to see meaning–as it serves as a classic example of a memento mori.
Inri (for non-Latin speakers it’s an abbreviation of Jesus of Nazarene, King of the Jews), (2021; see above) is a sculpture/assemblage of multiple skateboards fashioned within the shape of a holy cross.
Two assemblages, yet one artwork, Cancer 1 & 2 (2010) is an amalgamation of found objects that speak of life’s risks: photos of women’s breasts, casino dice, dead leaves, a black burglar mask suggests that tragedy and life’s frailty can occur to anyone.
Among Machi’s artistic credentials is film documentarian”of which within the exhibit there is a dearth. One would expect several film clips or even snapshots from his early Performance Art days, yet there’s very little to document this.
A companion piece to the exhibit is the release of Machi’s book, We All Look, But Rarely See: My Time and Space as a Performance Artist (1968-1974). It’s one part autobiographical, one part art history, and one part tip of the hat to his artistic influences.
To borrow a quote from EAM’s online information about the tome: It should inspire art students and art teachers alike, as well as anyone willing to reach far enough.
Yet, I’ll go further. To experience Machi’s artworks from 50+ years firsthand should be the true inspiration.
GG
Tony Machi will be signing copies of his book, We All Look, But Rarely See, June 1, from 6-8 p.m. at the Erie Art Museum. There will be a $ 50.00 admission charge. Passionately Curious continues through October 15. For more information, contact the Erie Art Museum or visit erieartmuseum.org.
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