The Smith Ding

Recent Paintings by Amy "BannerQueen" Johnquest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Northampton, MA - The Oresman Art Gallery at Smith College presents,
"The Smith DING," recent paintings by area artist Amy "BannerQueen"
Johnquest from June 8th through August 19, 2005. An afternoon reception 
will be held on Friday, July 8, noon - 4:00 p.m. Both the reception and
exhibition are free and open to the public.

Current events and pop culture mix with influences from the rich
history of traveling carnivals and circuses in Johnquest's work.
"Sideshow banners, like today's advertising, use grandiose depictions
and verbiage that promise us more than what the reality behind the
screen delivers," says Johnquest. In 1998 Johnquest created her first
sideshow banner for a downtown Northampton music store window, "Half
Man Half Beast Accordion Player." "At that moment I was struck with a
keen sense of finding my way home." Since then Johnquest has been
exploring her art through this genre, attracting commissions from
notables such as Bruce Springsteen, The Disney Magazine, American
Express and more.

In this exhibition Johnquest tips her hat to the college by including
famous Smith alumni: Gloria Stienem, Julia Child, and (seated in Mr.
T's lap) Nancy Reagan. Johnquest plays with text in a painterly way as
well as finding double entendres and curiosities in the language of
signage. The exhibition's title "The Smith Ding," is derived from carny
terminology. A "ding show" is an added attraction in the back end of a
sideshow or circus. It is a "free" show, but the patron is usually
"dinged" for a donation before leaving. By using a moral theme the
patron is left with a feeling of guilt for not paying up. "I'm not
trying to pull such psychological strings, rather the title is a
metaphor for this jewel box of a little gallery being the back end of
the big top Smith Museum."

Johnquest received her B.F.A. from Kent State University in Ohio and
has exhibited her art in various venues and galleries throughout the
United States. Her current BannerQueen projects here in the Pioneer
Valley include the window of Big E's grocery store as part of the East
Hampton Windows project; Dog Day at Quonquont Farm in Whately; the play
"The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" by Bertholt Brecht for Old Deerfield
Productions; and cover art for the Massachusetts Review. You can always
see one of her banner paintings peering out at Main Street from the
Fresh Pasta Co. window in Northampton. Johnquest also acts as director
for the Taber Art Gallery at Holyoke Community College.

The Oresman Gallery is located next to the Smith Museum in Hillyer
Hall, on the campus of Smith College, Northampton, MA. Hours: Mon. -
Fri. 8:30 - 4:30


pictured: Ms. Mobius, 2005, 38" x 84" casein & acrylic on cotton mesh


FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT AMY JOHNQUEST (413)628-4037