Style as Substance is inspired by a road trip, some unlikely encounters and an unfinished play.

“Reverse chalk outlines for geriatric psychiatrics, because they took their vitamins and believed in an eighth wonder; walk it off, walk around, Mr. Poet and Ms. Artist.”

– The Northeaster

“A glazed sidewalk, a burned tie-dye brain rod, intercontinental death fantasies, and an urn for new beginnings.”

– The Girl From The North Country

“Repurposed past slid onto surfaces like butter on toast. Isn’t it amazing how anything can glow?”

– The Texan

(Excerpts from the yet-to-be-completed play, Style As Substance)

Synopsis of the play, Style as Substance:

An artist and a poet take a road trip from New York City to Houston. Along the way, they meet many novel individuals. Before they even leave New York, a Kentucky transplant trying to become an actress emphatically shares her cat troubles, a Rastifarian from New Jersey tries to sell them the rest of her marijuana and a chef from Pennsylvania explains to them the history of the Mennonites and why Classical Art still matters.

While momentarily broken down in Philadelphia, they meet the first of three other artists. The Northeaster feeds them and changes their oil. The poet pays The Northeaster with a poem. Next, they meet a Midwestern girl and she gives them a case of CD’s to listen to on the rest of their journey. The artist pays her with some fruit from the Northeaster. When they are almost in Houston, they meet a curly-mustached cowboy from Austin, who gives them each a bottle of Lone Star to celebrate their arrival in “the biggest nation in the country.” With each encounter, their understanding of American landscape and culture becomes more muddled, leaving them to question the difference between style and substance.

Upon returning home, they decided to write a play about their adventures and call it Style As Substance.

David Shelton and Shane Tolbert got their hands on a copy of the script, and this is the exhibition based on the play.

Installation View   

Installation View   

Eric Veit "Bananas"  

Eric Veit "Pears"  

Installation View   

 

Eric Veit (Left and Right) Rachael Milton (Center)

Installation View   

Michael Berryhill "Doo-et"  

Michael Berryhill "Bird Dream"  

Rachael Milton "Instructional Vase"  

Installation View   

Installation Shot   

Installation Shot   

Michael Berryhill "Mantis"  

Michael Berryhill "Uggle Duggle"