This past Saturday, Greg ‘Craola’ Simkins enthralled his devoted fans with the debut of his recent body of work “Where Am I?” at Merry Karnowsky Gallery . With such an open-ended question, ‘Craola’ invites viewers to step into what he calls 'The Outside', a world full of unexpected wonder inhabited by unusual characters, who may be the only ones that can help us discover where we are. Multiple story lines cross paths in the most whimsical ways and are embedded with one another through remarkable detail. The excitement of the show began outside the gallery with a line of anxious 'Craola' supporters. As the crowd grew throughout the night, viewers were led into the gallery by roaring amazement. Simkins humbly stood in front of his largest masterpiece, signing autographs and taking pictures to show his appreciation. "Where Am I?" expands on Simkins' imaginative world and surpasses the boundaries of a comfort zone. With a child-like enthusiasm, he embraces the unexplainable surroundings and encourages viewers to do the same with only curiosity guiding us through each painting. Simkins reminds us to awaken our childhood curiosity and maintain a youthful sense of adventure. Although whimsical in appearance, "Where Am I?' addresses a question we've all asked ourselves, whether it's in a literal sense or rhetorical, it comes down to questioning our state of being and feeling lost among our surroundings.
The imagination of a child feeds off of the unknown and grows through adventure. By digging deep within ourselves and stepping out of our element, we can find the eagerness to explore and feel excitement for not knowing what's to come. "Where Am I?" will be on view through June 20th. Don't miss out on viewing this collection of exceptional work in person. In the meantime, enjoy a few pictures of the opening night.
