Gallery 1988 honors ‘Step Brothers’

Gallery 1988, in Venice, Calif., celebrated the four-year anniversary of “Step Brothers” release  by giving the movie a tribute consisting of several paintings and sculptures. “Step Brothers” is about two middle-aged men, Dale and Brennan, played by none other than John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell. They are forced against their will to become roommates when their parents get married. The two get into a whirlwind of mischievous and humorous problems as they try to reconstruct their lives, their parents’ marriage, and their newfound brotherhood.

“I want to pay tribute to movies that will never have a tribute dedicated to them,” said Jensen Carp one of the owners of Gallery 1988. “It is a movie that might not mean a lot to others but it means a lot to us.” Those feelings are greatly demonstrated by the beautiful art hanging along the walls of the gallery.

Gallery 1988 is nicely decorated, spacious, despite being a small venue, and it had a mellow vibe. The “Step Brothers” art depicted many different scenes in the movie and varied in style. There were three pieces in particular that were impressive .

The first being Glen Brogan’s “Dale & Brennan,” which was simple yet complex and beautiful. It depicts the two men on a boat that has been placed on top of a tree.

The second was Ken Garduno’s “Hello Miss Lady,” a portrait of Dale and Brennan in tuxedos. The painting is an adaption of a clip in the movie where Dale and Brennan go on several job interviews. The title is a popular quote from this scene.

Finally, Tim Maclean’s “Research and Development: Putting In The Man Hours,” a viewer favorite, displayed a bee on a pink flower and Dale trying to drench it with white out. It is a stunning painting with bright colors and so much emotion.

Tribute shows are particularly interesting because they focus on a theme that is well known. People experience an artists interpretation of someone else’s creation and such a method of expression is brave and deserves respect.

Gallery 1988 is located at 214 Pier Ave. just east of Main St. Their next exhibit is “Around the World in an 80’s Daze” begins Sept. 28th and ends October 20th. The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.