Joe's Exploding Art

 

"Joe Wallace, the founder of Joe's Exploding Zoo, is a visual artist based in Springfield, Illinois." That's what the opening of my artist statement is supposed to say, along with some mention of me being an abstract painter.

The artist statement is supposed to say that I do artwork that explores the after-midnight side of life, that I work on paper i abstract ways that incorporates surrealist text and ghosts of ideas.

But I have taken a very non-traditional path in the world of visual art, and I tend not to play by the rules. You are meant to write all your "What motivates me as an artist" nonsense in the third person, set your prices for your work aspirationally high, and try to cultivate an audience of rich patrons for your work. Or at least patrons with a lot of disposable income.

So what you find here is my serious work--much of it on heavy watercolor paper and made with ink, acrylic paint, found objects, rubber stamps, and text--but created at a reasonable size and for a price that both supports my ability to keep making this work AND doesn't ask you to put your TV in the pawnshop to own. We support each other's desires in this way.

No artificial intelligence is used to create my work on paper, and when you purchase one of these originals from me, you help support my work to continue providing meaningful, edgy, and thoughtful artwork for real people to enjoy and contemplate.

This work is uncompromised by fear or political retribution. I do not preemptively censor my work, nor do I allow it to be tainted with censorship.

At press time, I am putting the touches on a new series of work on 11x17 paper, and originals will be available for purchase soon. The new work is part of a book project associated with Illinois Department of Sound. Details on the art and the book pending.