Julie Seabaugh
“I love it! This is fantastic!” praised Jay Johnston shortly before tumbling backward into two strategic rows of prop thimbles at Saturday's opening of The Mr. Show Show: An Artistic Tribute to Mr. Show with Bob and David.
For three hours the Nerdist Showroom at Meltdown Comics celebrated works from nearly 100 artists inspired by David Cross and Bob Odenkirk's seminal sketch series, aired on HBO from 1995-1998. Though pieces commemorating favorites “The Story of Everest” and “Titannica” proved the most popular, items ranged widely, from the more straightforward to the purely conceptual – plus an intricate leather belt by comic David Huntsberger featuring Globochem's “magical, pan-sexual, non-threatening spokesthing” Pit-Pat.
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John Ennis with artist Sara Radovanovitch; Credit: Julie Seabaugh
Like Johnston, fellow castmember John Ennis noted the specificity of styles and tones represented. In particular, he said, Sara Radovanovitch's “Emergency Psychic Hotline” portrait and Liezl Estipona's “Mr. (Freak) Show” polyptych “really capture the energy and truth in something we did 20 years ago.”
In addition to the evening's “Altered State of Drugachusettts” photo booth and live music courtesy of Milk Machine from “The Joke: The Musical,” co-curators Nico Colaleo, Sara Pocock and NerdMelt program director Danielle N. Kramer look forward to Odenkirk performing a full hour at 7 p.m. on May 22.
“It will be just amazing to see him perform in front of our homage to him and David and all the other talented and funny people on the show who were the very reason why so many of us are working and loving comedy today,” enthuses Kramer. “We're so honored to have him.”
Turn the page from more art from the show.
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Jay Johnston plus thimble collection, intact; Credit: Julie Seabaugh
Danielle N. Kramer; Credit: Julie Seabaugh
“The Altered State of Drugachusetts” photo booth; Credit: Julie Seabaugh
Mood music courtesy of “The Joke: The Musical”'s Milk Machine; Credit: Julie Seabaugh
Credit: Courtesy of Owen Dennis
“Kedzie” by Kent Osborne; Credit: Julie Seabaugh
“Mr. Bob & Mr. David” by Nathan Smith; Credit: Julie Seabaugh
“Life is Precious” by Willy Roberts; Credit: Julie Seabaugh
Mr. Show Show opening attendees; Credit: Julie Seabaugh
Credit: Courtesy of Sara Graley
Credit: Courtesy of Sara Graley
The exhibit runs through May 24. For information on purchasing remaining pieces, contact MrShowArtShow@gmail.com.
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