Over 20 artists will soon find out if they are on Santa’s naughty or nice list.
Local artists such as Don Picton, Ariel Hodge, Ann Pasteur, and others might be securing their fate for a stocking full of coal as they take over the walls at Yetee Gallery for the Bad Santa show on Friday, December 5.
You better watch out. Bad Santa is coming to town.
“I feel like some of the lyrics from “Santa is Coming to Town” always struck me as being a bit unsettling,” said art teacher and Bad Santa curator Chris Hodge.
Hodge, of Aurora, thought it would be fun to invite local artists to do their best to add a little naughty streak to the jolly red gift-giver. There will even be an art battle with a few, famed local artists creating art on the scene.
“It will be a fun, but sort of a twisted look at the holiday season,” Hodge said.
Although Bad Santa will diverge from the familiar, rosy-cheeked St. Nicholas, it will surely bring smiles to his grown up fans. Since artists are given complete freedom with the theme, Hodge said to expect a lot of creative takes on the holidays.
One of the artists, Roz Anomaly, is known for making bone jewelry and wearable cat urns. Another artist, Don Picton, is becoming popular for his ironic cult art, like a black mass kit and Frankencutie, a plastic resin toy that has the head of Frankenstein and the body of a leggy woman.
Oak Park artist Ann Pasteur dreams up whimsical watercolor paintings, and Ariel Hodge cuts fantastical silhouettes with precision. Other artists include Steven DuCharme, Greg Padgett, Kim Fredericks, Becky Mancuso, Amy Murphy, Chris Evans, Brian Busch, and more.
Bad Santa opens for one night only at the Yetee Gallery, 110 Cross St. in Aurora, from 7 to 11:30 p.m. on December 5. There will be pizza, a special visit by the Mad Mixologist, an art battle, and lots of holiday art.
